Dune: Order of books and movies, chronological and by publication

In what order should you read Dune? Start with the first book from 1965 and continue with the six novels by Frank Herbert in the order they were published. The books by his son Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are an optional bonus for fans. As for the movies, start with Denis Villeneuve. The third part of his trilogy arrives in theaters in December 2026 and adapts Dune Messiah.

Below you will find both orders, by publication and chronological. We'll advise you on what a newcomer can safely skip and compare Lynch's and Villeneuve's Dune. We have all the books together in the category Dune – Book Saga.

Dune books: Order by publication

The foundation is the six novels by Frank Herbert. They form a complete whole, even though the last book ends on a cliffhanger. Herbert died in 1986 and never wrote the seventh installment.

Since 1999, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have been expanding the world of Dune. Their books were published in this order:

• Prelude to Dune (1999–2001): House Atreides, House Harkonnen, House Corrino
• Legends of Dune (2002–2004): The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, The Battle of Corrin
• The Saga Conclusion (2006–2007): Hunters of Dune, Sandworms of Dune
• Heroes of Dune (2008–2009): Paul of Dune, The Winds of Dune
• Great Schools of Dune (2012–2016): Sisterhood of Dune, Mentats of Dune, Navigators of Dune
• Caladan Trilogy (2020–2022): Duke of Caladan, Lady of Caladan, Heir of Caladan
• Standalone Novel (2023): Princess of Dune

You can find all titles by both authors on the pages Frank Herbert and Brian Herbert.

Chronological order of Dune

Chronologically, the story spans more than ten thousand years. It begins with the war between humans and thinking machines and ends long after Paul's death. Here is the order of the books according to the plot:

1. Legends of Dune: The Butlerian Jihad, The Machine Crusade, The Battle of Corrin
2. Great Schools of Dune: Sisterhood of Dune, Mentats of Dune, Navigators of Dune
3. Prelude to Dune: House Atreides, House Harkonnen, House Corrino
4. Caladan Trilogy: Duke of Caladan, Lady of Caladan, Heir of Caladan
5. Princess of Dune
6. Dune
7. Paul of Dune
8. Dune Messiah
9. The Winds of Dune
10. Children of Dune
11. God Emperor of Dune
12. Heretics of Dune
13. Chapterhouse: Dune
14. Hunters of Dune
15. Sandworms of Dune

We do not recommend reading in chronological order as your first experience. The prequels explain secrets that Frank Herbert intentionally left hidden in Dune. If you start with them, you will lose the magic of discovery.

Frank Herbert vs. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Frank's novels are dense, philosophical, and slow-paced. They deal with religion, ecology, politics, and the dangers of charismatic leaders. Each subsequent book jumps in time and changes the main characters; God Emperor takes place three and a half thousand years after Children of Dune.

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson write differently. Their books are faster, more action-oriented, and explain more. Some fans read them as an adventurous expansion series, while others reject them due to the difference in depth. Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune hold a special status. They conclude Frank's story based on his notes for the unwritten seventh volume.

What a newcomer can safely skip

• Everything except Frank. To understand Dune, his six novels are enough.
• Maybe even part of Frank. The first three books form a complete arc about Paul and his children. After Children of Dune, feel free to stop and decide if you want to continue to God Emperor, which is the strangest book in the series.
• Prequels before Dune. Save the Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune for after you finish Frank's books.
• Bonus material. The Sands of Dune is a collection of novellas, The Road to Dune brings deleted chapters and behind-the-scenes info. Both are for dedicated fans.

Movies and series: In what order to watch Dune

Dune has reached the screen several times. The best entry point is Denis Villeneuve's trilogy:

1. Dune (2021): first half of the first book
2. Dune: Part Two (2024): second half of the first book
3. Dune: Part Three (December 2026): adaptation of Dune Messiah

If you want to know what happens in the third movie, pick up Dune Messiah. It is Frank's shortest novel and can be read over a weekend.

Lynch vs. Villeneuve

David Lynch filmed Dune in 1984 with Kyle MacLachlan as Paul. He crammed the entire first book into one movie, so the plot is condensed and sometimes hard to follow. However, the film has an unmistakable aesthetic and cult status. We don't recommend it as an entry point, but definitely as a curiosity after reading.

Denis Villeneuve split the first book into two movies and gave the story time. He sticks to the source material more faithfully and emphasizes what Frank Herbert wanted to say: Paul is not a clear-cut hero. However, he interprets some characters, especially Chani, in his own way.

Other adaptations

• Dune (2000) and Children of Dune (2003): television miniseries, which are the only ones to have adapted the second and third books as well.
• Dune: Prophecy (2024): HBO series about the origins of the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, inspired by the book Sisterhood of Dune.
• Jodorowsky's Dune (2013): a documentary about the famous film that was never made.

Dune as a graphic novel

Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson adapted the first book into a comic. It is suitable for readers who find Frank Herbert's dense text difficult. The adaptation is released in three parts:

• Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 1
• Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 2
• Dune: The Graphic Novel, Book 3: The Prophet

Dune at the table: Board games and RPGs

A classic is Dune: A Game of Conquest and Diplomacy, a new edition of the legendary 1979 game. Players negotiate, form alliances, and betray each other, just like the Great Houses in the book.

The most popular modern board game is Dune: Imperium, which combines deck-building with worker placement.

It is followed by the standalone Dune: Imperium – Uprising and the expansion Bloodlines.

For miniature lovers, there is Dune: War for Arrakis, a battle between the Atreides and Harkonnens for the desert planet. We reviewed the cooperative detective game Dune: Betrayal.

Dune: House Secrets Board Game Review

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RPG players can create their own house in Dune RPG: Adventures in the Imperium. You can find more games, books, and merch in the category Dune.

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