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Frank Herbert’s Dune series is one of the most well-known and beloved science fiction book series of all time, and for good reason. It blends an incredibly interesting and detailed world with believable character motivations and politics, with the kind of massive time-scale that is often neglected in popular material. In total, the Dune series spans about 16,000 years, making it a particularly difficult story to parse if you’re dipping in and out or reading books out of order.
And, with the huge popularity of Dennis Villeneuve’s Dune films, and the rightfully renewed interest in the series, we’ve decided to pull together a chronological read order of all the Dune series for your viewing pleasure.
If you haven’t read any Dune material yet, I’d highly recommend reading the original books (Dune, Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and finally, Chapterhouse: Dune) before diving into any of the extended series. Series author Frank Herbert wrote them in isolation, and while the remainder of the series has been built out based off of his world and notes, helmed by his son, Brian Herbert, and sci-fi author Kevin J. Anderson, some fans think the extended content has strayed a bit too far off of what the original author intended.
With that out of the way, here’s how to read the entire Dune saga in chronological order.
1. The Butlerian Jihad
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2002
- Series: Legends of Dune
If you read the original Dune (you did read it, right?), you probably remember quite a few references to a Butlerian Jihad: a war that took place tens of thousands of years in the past in which humans waged a resistance against their ‘thinking machine’ masters.
In this prequel novel, written by Frank Herbert’s son Brian Herbert alongside Kevin J. Anderson, we are treated to the full story on how humanity rose against its robotic oppressors, as well as how House Atreides and House Harkonnen became mortal enemies.
2. The Machine Crusade
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2003
- Series: Legends of Dune
Set more than two decades after the end of The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade continues the story of the war against humanity’s machine rulers. As the continual onslaught of war begins to take its toll on the human armies, splinter groups begin setting events in motion which will turn the tide of war and shift how humans view the universe around them.
And, far away on the desert planet of Arrakis, what will eventually become the Fremen begin to band together to conquer the sands.
3. The Battle of Corrin
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2004
- Series: Legends of Dune
With the end of the machine-war in sight, humans begin to believe that victory is possible, only to have that hope eradicated by fast spreading plagues that begin eliminating life across the systems. In The Battle of Corrin, we see humanity on its last legs, defending against an overwhelming enemy with nothing left to lose, while also fighting off biological warfare on an intergalactic scale.
It’s not hard to assume that humanity survives considering there’s 20 more books to read, but things are getting a bit hairy as we finish off the Legends of Dune prequel series here.
4. Sisterhood of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2012
- Series: Schools of Dune
Following the galaxy-shaping war against the machine, humanity has a new Emperor – Corrino – who has started ushering in a new age, and the building blocks of what will become the Dune universe we know and love begin to fall in place. The Bene Gesserit sisterhood is created deep in the jungles of Rossak, while the first Mentats are born care of Gilbert Albans.
At the same time, however, a militant mob of anti-technology warriors begins sweeping across the galaxy, purging anything that could be considered a threat following a hard-fought war against machines.
5. Mentats of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2014
- Series: Schools of Dune
Mentats of Dune continues the foundational story of Sisterhood before it, focusing on the efforts of Gilbert Albans as he builds out the first Mentats and clashes with the militant Bulterian fanatics, who see his efforts to teach humans the efficient thinking techniques of machines as questionable.
Elsewhere, the fanatics take aim at the VenHold Spacing Fleet, which, using the mutated Navigators that allow for intergalactic space flight, have a stranglehold on all commerce and trade.
6. Navigators of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2016
- Series: Schools of Dune
Completing the Schools of Dune trilogy, Navigators of Dune focuses on the escalating conflict between the Spacing Guild’s Navigator-led grip on commerce and the Butlerian warriors staunch anti-technology worldview.
As more and more worlds fall under Butlerian control, the schools of the Bene Gesserit, Mentat, and Navigators will need to stand against a rising tide of violence or see humanity fall into a new dark age.
7. House Atreides
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 1999
- Series: Prelude to Dune
As we drift ever closer to the beginning of Frank Herbert’s original series, the Prelude to Dune series begins to set the stage for Paul Atreides’ rise to power. Here, in House Atreides, we follow his father, Leto, as he learns to take control of his great house in the shadow of his father, Paulus, while Baron Vladimir Haroknnen learns to fear and distrust the Bene Gesserit sisterhood.
And, at the centre of power in the universe, Crown Prince Shaddam Corrino sets in motion events that will see his father assassinated and the future of the Imperium fall under his own designs.
8. House Harkonnen
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2000
- Series: Prelude to Dune
House Harkonnen continues the plot-lines introduced in House Atreides, while introducing Baron Harkonnen’s (secret) daughter Jessica to the power struggles. While she is a Harkonnen, Jessica is raised under the tutelage of the Bene Gesserit, and is destined for a run-in with the Atreides’ Duke Leto.
Meanwhile, Baron Harokneen’s physical condition continues to deteriorate, and the Bene Gesserit begin a plan to infiltrate and influence the Freman society in order to shape the future of Arrakis.
9. House Corrino
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2001
- Series: Prelude to Dune
While the last two books focused mainly on the two key families of the Dune saga, the Atreides and the Harkonnen, House Corrino focuses instead on the most powerful family in the galaxy: the house of the emperor himself.
Here, Emperor Shaddam IV’s plot to introduce his own artificial spice to the universe’s economy kicks into gear in an attempt to secure his continued reign, while the lesser houses continue their infighting.
10. Princess of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2023
- Series: Heroes of Dune
Technically the third book in the Heroes of Dune series, Princess of Dune tells the stories of two major characters in the original series, Paul’s two wives, Princess Irulan and Freman Chani. It’s a rare Dune book that doesn’t focus on the Atreides.
Set two years before Dune (1965), the book follows Irulan’s life in the Imperial Court and her complex relationship with her family, notably her father, Emperor Shaddam IV, while also detailing Chani’s time with the Freman and her father, Arrakis’ planetologist Liet-Kynes.
11. The Duke of Caladan
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2020
- Series: Caladan Trilogy
The entire Caladan Trilogy takes place throughout the year leading up to the beginning of the original Dune, and details the life, relationships and politics of the Atreides family – Duke Leto, Lady Jessica, and son Paul.
And, after an act of terrorism against Emperor Shaddam IV sends ripples through the universe, the Imperium begins feeling the threat of conflict once again.
12. The Lady of Caladan
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2021
- Series: Caladan Trilogy
Despite the name, The Lady of Caladan doesn’t necessarily focus solely on Jessica. Rather, it continues the story of The Duke of Caladan, following Duke Leto’s ongoing preparations for the House’s move to Arrakis as he’s simultaneously dragged into a game of assassins after the Emperor’s head.
The story isn’t devoid of Jessica, though. She is imprisoned by her Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, and sent to seduce another Count elsewhere in the universe, but wishes to return to her Caladan homeworld and family.
13. The Heir of Caladan
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2022
- Series: Caladan Trilogy
Taking place almost immediately before the beginning of Dune, The Heir of Caladan brings the storylines of the last two books to their end points. Jessica is living with her new beau, while Leto is taking down a terrorist syndicate from the inside: an act that ends up being the tipping point to see House Harkonnen stripped of the right to rule Arrakis.
Instead, the Emperor, impressed with Leto’s devotion, gives the planet to House Atreides and sets the gears in motion that will lead to the events of Dune.
14. Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Year of Release: 1965
- Series: Original Series
Here we are – the classic, original Dune. House Atreides begins its stewardship of Arrakis, before being betrayed and largely destroyed by House Harkonnen. Only a few survivors remain, and they are thrown to the windy deserts to survive. Paul, alongside his mother, Lady Jessica, fall in with the Freman, and kickstart a planet-wide revolution that will shake the Imperium to it’s very core.
If you haven’t read this book yet, I’d stop reading the list here and get on it. Big spoilers await below.
15. Paul of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2008
- Series: Heroes of Dune
If you were ever confused by the unexplained gap between Dune and its proper sequel Dune Messiah, Paul of Dune seeks to give you what you need. After exiling the Emperor and taking control of Arrakis at the end of Dune, Paul grapples with the reality of the destiny he has been thrust into. With an army of religious fanatics fighting for his glory, Muad’Dib begins his interplanetary assault on the old order.
At the same time, the book delves into Paul’s childhood on Caladan, and sets up the roadmap of what is to come: a universe with Paul at its centre.
16. Dune Messiah
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Year of Release: 1969
- Series: Original Series
Years after the end of Dune, Paul Atreides is Emperor of the Imperium. His fanatical jihad has overtaken much of the known universe, killing 61 billion people in the process and placing him at the top of the heap. However, the Emperor doesn’t want to lead humanity down a path to extinction and so seeks a new way forward.
However, old enemies conspire against his reign, with the Bene Gesserit frustrated that their planning failed to produce them the control of the universe they envisioned for so long, the Spacing Guild frustrated by Paul’s control of Spice, and the Tleilaxu seeking their own path to power.
17. The Winds of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2009
- Series: Heroes of Dune
Emperor Paul Atreides has vanished into the sands of Arrakis, and Lady Jessica has returned to the desert planet to attend her son’s funeral. Despite seeing all that had happened while he was in power, Jessica struggles to come to terms with the reality of Paul’s rule, and the fanatical fervour his followers still hold for him.
The Winds of Dune explores the immediate aftermath of Paul’s actions at the end of Dune Messiah, as well as how the relationships between several of the more important characters evolve in his absence.
18. Children of Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Year of Release: 1976
- Series: Original Series
Muad’Dib has been lost for almost a decade, and his sister Alia has ruled the Imperium in his stead as regent in place of Paul’s twins: Leto II and Ghanima. The pair were ‘pre-born’, are effectively adults in children’s bodies thanks to the prescience Paul bestowed upon them, and are, of course, the target of assassination for those wanting to take power for themselves.
Meanwhile, a new Freman prophet is gaining followers in the deserts of Arrakis, rallying against the Imperium’s rule.
19. God Emperor of Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Year of Release: 1981
- Series: Original Series
Well, it’s been about 3,500 years, and Leto II lives on as the eternal god emperor of the Imperium, almost entirely transformed into a sandworm – and if you can believe it, he’s bored. He’s destroyed almost all resistance, and lulled humanity into a state of near-catatonic worship in order to ensure its continued survival, but the years are long, and the God wishes to die. But, a God can’t die easily, and so he must enact a convoluted plan to bring about his own death in a way that won’t lead to humanity’s simultaneous end.
Does it work? Well, there’s four more books.
20. Heretics of Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Year of Release: 1984
- Series: Original Series
It’s been another 1,500 years since the end of God Emperor, and while Leto II’s plan kept most of humanity from remaining under the control of any one organisation, the Bene Gesserit, Tleilaxu and Ixians still maintain quite a bit of power. However, with humanity scattered amongst the stars, there are new powers emerging from outside their control.
It’s an exciting and fresh take on the Dune universe – one largely free from the grip of the Atreides family for the first time in the series.
21. Chapterhouse: Dune
- Author: Frank Herbert
- Year of Release: 1985
- Series: Original Series
A direct sequel to Heretics of Dune and Frank Herbert’s final Dune novel before his untimely death in 1986, Chapterhouse leaves a few plot threads hanging, but can still serve as a nice end point to the series.
The Bene Gesserit Sisterhood is under threat by the emerging strength of a new fanatical army, the Honored Matres, and seeks desperately to terraform the planet of Chapterhouse to become a suitable environment for the endangered sandworm species in order to gain control of the spice.
22. Hunters of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2006
- Series: Sequel Duology
Hunters of Dune, and its direct sequel Sandworms of Dune, were apparently written based on what Frank Herbert had already devised for a 7th Dune book. How much Herbert had already written and devised is a topic of hot debate, but either way, Hunters itself has had quite a mixed reception.
The book follows the continuing story of Duncan Idaho, as well as the no-ship Ithica hiding away in an alternate universe. When the ship is forced back into the known universe, and an age-old enemy reveals itself, the beginning of the end kicks off, and some familiar faces return.
23. Sandworms of Dune
- Author: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
- Year of Release: 2007
- Series: Sequel Duology
Hunters‘ sequel and the series’ final novel to date, Sandworms has the unenviable task of wrapping up a story that takes place over millennia.
The ‘great enemy’ reveals itself, and Gholas of some of history’s greatest warriors and minds fight alongside the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood to keep humanity alive. If that sounds like the end of a Marvel movie to you, rather than the end of Dune, you’re not alone. Still, the story does actually end, there storylines wrapped up across both the original and extended series are wrapped up. Whether you like the ending will ultimately be up to you.
