The Dune Series Review: From Arrakis To Beyond

Here is a Dune series review as a whole, including:

The structure of the series
Individual blurbs for each book
Personal thoughts

If you want more background information about the setting / society before you read the series review, check out A Beginner’s Introduction To The Dune Universe!

I only include the original series (with 6 books) written by the original author, Frank Herbert. After he died in 1986, his son Brian continued the Dune franchise, writing 15 more novels along with co-writer Kevin Anderson. If you want to know more about Brian’s continuation of the series, I have a separate post called The Writing Styles Of Dune.

Series Structure

Frank Herbert’s master plan for the original Dune series was to write seven books. If you look in depth, you will see the first three books work together as a trilogy, the fourth book (God Emperor of Dune) acts as a bridge, and the final three books are another trilogy. Sadly, Herbert died before writing the seventh book, so the last trilogy is left unfinished.

First Trilogy

Bridge

God Emperor of Dune (1981)

Second Trilogy

However, just because the books are subcategorized this way does not mean the books don’t flow together. The novels build off each other and many characters are alive or referenced throughout the series. Most readers don’t realize the series was structured this way (including me) and it is unnecessary to appreciate it fully.

A few mysteries are left unsolved after the ending of the sixth book (Chapterhouse : Dune). Since there is no seventh book to answer these questions, some readers are disappointed. However, a mysterious ending leaves the reader speculating and creating their own theories about what happens. If it were a concrete ending, the reader’s imagination would be limited.

Individual Summaries

Dune (1965)

House Atreides, led by honorable Duke Leto, is suddenly ordered by the Emperor to abandon their homeworld and take control of the planet Arrakis, also known as “Dune.” On Arrakis, House Atreides is betrayed by rival House Harkonnen with the Emperor’s support. As Harkonnens take over the planet and Atreides are killed one by one, Leto’s son Paul escapes into the desert. He takes refuge with the Fremen, the native population of Arrakis. Over the years, Paul strives to take back the planet given to his father and punish the Empire for conspiring against House Atreides.

SPOILER WARNING : DO NOT READ PAST HERE IF YOU PLAN ON READING THE REST OF THE SERIES

Dune Messiah (1969)

Paul Atreides, also known as Muad’Dib, rules the universe as the most powerful emperor of all time. His rule is absolute, and he is worshiped as a messiah by the warrior Fremen of Arrakis. However, other Houses dislike being controlled and fear Paul’s unique abilities. This novel follows the repercussions of Paul’s jihad and how it unfolds for all of humanity.

Children of Dune (1976)

It has been nine years since Paul’s disappearance into the desert of Arrakis. Paul’s twin children, Leto and Ghanima Atreides are the most powerful children ever born. Alia, Paul’s sister, is ruling the Empire till the children come of age. However, Alia has an internal struggle, and in the process, the Empire starts to degenerate. This book follows the children as they attempt to save themselves and the Empire all on their own.

God Emperor of Dune (1981)

Three thousand five hundred years have passed since Children of Dune. Arrakis is now a green world with lush vegetation, plenty of water, and no sandworms. Leto Atreides II, son of legendary Muad’Dib, is still on the throne. However, he is now known as the Tyrant Emperor and has become an unimaginable beast. He is attempting to save humanity, but no one can see anything positive in his actions. A distant Atreides descendant named Siona leads a rebellion against Leto II, who they call “The Worm.”

Heretics of Dune (1984)

Leto Atreides II is dead, and Arrakis is once again a desert wasteland. The God Emperor prophesied that the Empire would be returned to its former glory and that the future of human development would be ensured with his death. However, horrifying Lost Ones are returning from the Scattering, and the Empire is in destruction. This book follows the Bene Gesserit and a young girl named Sheena as they attempt to restore stability through the universe against the opposition of many forces.

Chapterhouse : Dune (1987)

The desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, has been destroyed. The Empire’s future is in the hands of the Bene Gesserit. On their home planet, Chapterhouse, the sisterhood is breeding sandworms and turning a green world into a desert one to save the Empire. There is a rush for time as the Lost Ones that have returned are bent on conquering.

Check out more Dune posts!