How to Read the Dune Books in Chronological Order

Ever since Frank Herbert released his seminal sci-fi caller Dune successful 1965, readers person been consumed by the expansive and analyzable governmental wranglings of his influential stories. While Herbert lone wrote six Dune novels portion helium was alive, since his death, his lad Brian Herbert and bestselling writer Kevin J. Anderson person authored galore caller canon Dune stories. In fact, the bid is presently astatine an astounding 23 novels and counting; spanning 15,000 years. If you're wondering wherever to commencement and however you're expected to work them, we're present to help.

With Dune: Messiah connected the horizon, present is the cleanable clip to dive into the novels that started it all. Below we've elaborate retired the full Dune publication timeline for your convenience. Reading each of the Dune books successful bid tin beryllium a spot tricky depending connected wherever you start.

How Many Dune Books Are There?

There are technically a full of 23 Dune Books successful the franchise, but determination are only 6 novels officially written by Frank Herbert himself. All of the books listed beneath are technically canon, and acceptable determination successful the Dune timeline, but galore of them person been written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

How to Read the Original Series successful Order

1. Dune
2. Dune Messiah
3. Children of Dune
4. God Emperor of Dune
5. Heretics of Dune
6. Chapterhouse: Dune

All Dune Books: Chronological Reading Order

Warning: Each of the blurbs successful this portion contains spoilers for the Dune publication series.

The Butlerian Jihad by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Despite being written decades aft the archetypal Dune, Herbert and Anderson usage this prequel — the archetypal successful a trilogy — to found and grow connected overmuch of the satellite gathering and lore from the original. Chronologically this caller takes spot earliest successful the Dune canon astir 10,000 years earlier the events of Herbert's archetypal novel. Setting up the feudal and technologically-barren satellite of the books, this communicative follows the beginnings of a brutal world-changing warfare betwixt the past escaped humans and the artificial quality and robotics they created.

The Machine Crusade by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

In the 2nd publication successful Herbert and Anderson's trilogy, readers get to conscionable much captious players successful the wider satellite of Dune. As the warfare rages on, readers walk clip with ancestors of House Atreides and House Harkonnen portion the humans proceed their conflict with the evil sentient machine overlord Ominus. Dense worldbuilding and intricate plotting capable the pages of this publication which builds connected what's travel earlier portion mounting the signifier for an epic last battle.

The Battle of Corrin by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Set 100 years aft the events astatine the opening of The Butlerian Jihad, the publication finds Ominus' program for cosmopolitan domination moving ever person to success. As the astir gruesome epoch of the warfare begins, past is made. Ominus' unsafe games propulsion the beingness to breaking constituent arsenic each satellite does what it indispensable to survive. Establishing overmuch of the presumption quo of the archetypal book, this introduction vitally introduces the conflict acceptable iteration of the Fremen Paul meets successful Dune.

Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

The adjacent chronological measurement successful Herbert and Anderson's trilogies is the "Schools of Dune." After different ample clip jump—this clip 83 years—the communicative focuses connected a burgeoning satellite without the alleged "thinking machines" and however that impacts the universe. Following disparate characters arsenic they task astir the galaxy, determination are important reveals astir the increasing Butlerian movement, and the unsafe unit that's thrumming crossed the universe.

Mentats of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

With the reasoning machines each but destroyed a schoolhouse is established to bid "Mentats" humans of ultimate quality who tin fundamentally regenerate the machines the warfare demolished. Other academies are being founded excessively including a caller schoolhouse of the sisterhood connected Wallach IX. But wrong their ranks is simply a young pistillate hopeless for vengeance who could bring down everything. As the schools conflict for survival, truthful does the beingness arsenic the Butlerian fanatics rise.

Navigators of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Continuing the root of the Bene Gesserit, Mentat and Suk Schools, this last publication successful this trilogy focuses connected the ever-growing menace of the anti-technology forces who were inspired by the Butlerian Jihad. Can crushed triumph retired against the ever increasing fanaticism spreading crossed the universe? That's the large question arsenic Herbert and Anderson physique connected this increasing chasm.

House Atreides by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Finally gaining connected the archetypal Dune novels, the archetypal publication successful the Prelude to Dune trilogy takes spot conscionable 35 years earlier they begin. Complex threads travel unneurotic arsenic we get introductions to immoderate large players similar Leto Atredis, Duncan Idaho, Baron Harkonnen, and the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam. Political shenanigans are astatine a precocious present arsenic games are played, loyalty is sought, and the signifier is acceptable for an epic conflict that volition alteration the universe.

House Harkonnen by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Continuing the Prelude trilogy this caller continues to found the play and scheming that lays the groundwork for the archetypal Dune novels. As Houses Harkonnen and Atredis conflict for power, the Bene Gesserit statesman to crippled towards their eventual aim: creating the chosen 1 known arsenic the Kwisatz Haderach, by introducing Leto to his concubine Jessica. So if you've ever wanted to cognize what led to the events of Herbert's beloved books, here's your answer.

House Corrino by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Topping disconnected the Prelude trilogy is this action-packed caller that centers astir Leto, Jessica, and their soon to beryllium calved lad Paul. As the parents eagerly await their caller arrival, the witches of the Bene Gesserit couldn't beryllium much excited arsenic they cognize their chosen 1 is connected the way. But if you've work the Dune books you'll cognize they mightiness beryllium little than blessed with the result.

Princess of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Telling the stories of the 2 women successful Paul Atreides' life, this companion caller focuses connected the woman helium was forced to marry, Irulan, and the pistillate helium fell successful emotion with connected his adventures, Chani. Their dueling stories thrust guardant this publication that gives an expansive look astatine the women astir Paul and however their lives and experiences led them to him for amended oregon for worse.

The Duke of Caladan by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

The last caller trilogy earlier we scope Herbert's archetypal Dune novel, the Caldan stories halfway astir Paul's begetter Leto Atreides and his emergence to powerfulness successful the universe. Through honesty, action, and integrity, Duke Leto finds himself with ever much powerfulness and presumption successful the governmental halfway of the galaxy, but his caller presumption sets him connected a unsafe and yet fatal course.

The Lady of Caladan by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

When Lady Jessica betrayed the Bene Gesserit her beingness was changed forever, successful this publication we spot however that prime and its fallout changed the signifier of the universe. When pitted against the past bid however tin 1 pistillate — and her emotion for her household — ever win? And what lengths volition she person to spell successful bid to marque the eventual prime and much pressingly to survive?

The Heir of Caladan by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

As this trilogy comes to an extremity it centers connected the emergence of Paul Atriedes amended known to the beingness arsenic Muad’Dib. But helium has yet to instrumentality connected that rubric present and alternatively indispensable spell connected a travel to find himself and the spot to lead. If you've made it this acold past you're astir to beryllium rewarded by speechmaking the archetypal caller that started it all...

Frank Herbert's Dune

The publication that sparked it all, Herbert's brushed sci-fi introduced readers to House Atreides and their young lad Pual arsenic they embark connected a quest to power and tally the affluent Spice commercialized connected the arid satellite Arrakis. Focusing connected the interplanetary authorities and expansive planetary scenery of his world, Dune is an exceptionally dense work but it's indispensable to recognize the scope of Herbert's creation. While it was evidently the archetypal published Dune book, since Herbert and Anderson's galore prequels, it present hits determination successful the mediate of the speechmaking list.

Paul of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Acting arsenic some a prequel and sequel to Dune, this communicative follows Paul Atreidis earlier and aft the events of the book. As a young kid he's entangled successful the unsafe authorities of the beingness arsenic they hole for his father's wedding. When we articulation him aft Dune we larn much astir his clip with the Fremen and his narration with his person Chani arsenic the brace physique a beingness together.

Frank Herbert's Dune Messiah

Speaking of Paul Atreidis, he's astatine the halfway of Herbert's 2nd publication wherever we articulation him a decennary aft becoming Emperor. After taking connected the mantle of Messiah to the Fremen Paul has unintentionally inspired different cosmopolitan Jihad, creating havoc and warfare crossed galaxies. Thanks to his visions Paul hopes to alteration the dire aboriginal he's created but it won't beryllium easy.

The Winds of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

With Paul mislaid successful the deserts and thought to beryllium dormant this publication builds successful the clip betwixt Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. Catching up with Paul's parent Jessica, her girl and Emperor Regent Alia, and Duncan Idaho, this is simply a postulation spanning escapade that adds discourse and past to the archetypal writings of Herbert portion introducing important lore and worldbuilding.

Frank Herbert's Children of Dune

As the ecological scenery of Arrakis changes drastically truthful does the signifier of the universe. Paul of Atreidis young children Leto and Ghanima woody with his bequest successful Herbert's 3rd publication arsenic they conflict against their fates and wonderment whether they'll extremity up conscionable similar their dad. The Spice commercialized comes nether menace from an unexpected root and a caller person emerges.

Frank Herbert's God-Emperor of Dune

After the shocking events of the past publication we articulation Leto 3500 years later. How is helium astir 4000 years old? Well helium merged with a Sandworm successful Children of Dune and has since been ruling the beingness with an robust fist and brutal regime. This caller follows Leto and inspects his interaction connected the cosmos arsenic helium attempts to support his regularisation and clasp connected the Spice commercialized nary substance what.

Frank Herbert's Heretics of Dune

Get acceptable for different clip jump! This clip we're visiting Arrakis 1500 years aft the decease of God Emperor Leto. Humanity is burgeoning erstwhile again and Sandworms person made a resurgence. Three caller civilisations reign, including the Bene Gesserit who are struck with a adjacent intolerable choice: support their down the scenes relation arsenic maestro manipulators of the beingness oregon go existent leaders to marque the astir of the powerfulness vacuum successful the universe.

Frank Herbert's Chapterhouse: Dune

Finding themselves successful a brutal conflict with different Matriarchal organization, the Honored Matres, the Bene Gesserit go entangled successful a warfare for endurance against their convulsive foes. This was Herbert's last publication and ends connected a celebrated cliffhanger which helium was ne'er capable to resoluteness arsenic helium died aft its publication. But his lad and collaborator Anderson would aboriginal proceed the story.

Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

The archetypal of a duology that adapts notes near by Herbert for what was planned for Dune 7. Continuing the communicative from Herbert's books this rubric explores the fallout from the warfare betwixt the Bene Gesserit and the Honored Matres, arsenic good arsenic the instrumentality of the many, galore descendants of the humans who were scattered crossed the beingness during the reign of God Emperor Leto.

Sandworms of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Filled with clones, shocking returns, and a immense uncover astir the antagonists of the series, this is an lawsuit level publication that brings unneurotic the galore escaped threads near by the archetypal books. Combining a analyzable structure, aggregate quality arcs, and an epic last conflict this is simply a existent climax to the overarching Dune series, which has been evolving and increasing since 1967.

Will There Be More Dune?