Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
While working on a magazine article, Frank Herbert visited the sand dunes near Florence, Oregon. He became fascinated with the dunes and began researching them. A little research here, some more research there, and voilà, Frank Herbert's muse planted the idea for Dune. Six years of study later, Herbert wrote one of science fiction's great epics. As for the dunes, they are still there, if you care to pay them a visit.
After Frank Herbert's death, Brian Herbert, his son, and Kevin J. Anderson continued writing the Dune series. Between the three, almost twenty Dune novels have been published, expanding the universe with prequels, sequels, and midquels. Yes, it's a lot of –quels to keep track of. For your convenience, we've listed all the novels here in chronological order according to the story. Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson co-wrote the novels in italics:
- Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
- Dune: The Machine Crusade
- Dune: The Battle of Corrin
- The Sisterhood of Dune
- Mentats of Dune
- Navigators of Dune
- Dune: House Atreides
- Dune: House Harkonnen
- Dune: House Corrino
- Dune
- Paul of Dune
- Dune Messiah
- The Winds of Dune
- Children of Dune
- God Emperor of Dune
- Heretics of Dune
- Chapterhouse Dune
- Hunters of Dune
- Sandworms of Dune
Do you want to experience all that the Dune universe as to offer? Then we suggest you start reading—like right now.(Source.)
George Lucas built Star Wars from a lot of influences. A lot a lot. Akira Kurosawa, Joseph Campbell, Fritz Lang's Metropolis and, yes, even Dune provided inspiration for old George. For example, the desert planet of Tatooine resembles Arrakis. Obi-Wan's Jedi Mind Trick seems oddly familiar to anyone aware of the Bene Gesserit Voice. And what cargo did Han Solo dump while being boarded by Imperial agents? If you guessed spice, then you're right. Want to learn more? Follow the link.
Frank Herbert can teach you a thing or five about determination in the face of rejection. Dune was rejected by not one, not ten, but twenty publishers before finding a home at Ace Books. One editor famously wrote, "I might be making the mistake of the decade, but…" before giving the big N-O. The lesson here is don't give up—or try at least twenty-one times before giving up. (Source 1.) (Source 2.)