The Road to DUNE (2005)

The Road to DUNE (2006)

Authors: Brian Herbert / Kevin J Anderson / Frank Herbert | Page Count: 381

'These things I tell: the sequential nature of real history cannot be repeated precisely by prescience. We grasp incidents cut out of the chain. That is why I deny my own powers. Eternity moves. It inflicts itself upon me.'

A collection of DUNE related texts that's primarily another cash-in for two of the named authors but may be of legitimate interest to fans of Frank Herbert because it contains material that he wrote for DUNE (1965) and DUNE Messiah (1969) that weren't used, for various reasons; e.g., it was deemed unnecessary; cut for length; or got rewritten prior to final publication.

Unfortunately, that material makes up just a small portion of the book's content, with much of the remainder being bloat or newly written extended universe crap. In the order it appears in the book:

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

Jodorowsky's Dune (2013)

Dir. Frank Pavich

A documentary in which Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky talks about his ambitious film version of Frank Herbert's epic Dune novel (1965), a project that he spent two-and-a-half years of his life planning, in the most creative way possible.

A lengthy pre-production began in the mid-1970s, but, unfortunately, no footage was shot and the movie was never made. If it had been, it could've been glorious, or, at the very least, spectacularly disastrous, perhaps even more than David Lynch's version - that did get made, almost a decade later.

Jodorowsky had gathered together a sparkling reservoir of immensely creative people to help him realise his vision, including fantasy artists Chris Foss, Jean 'Moebius' Giraud, and HR Giger, the latter of whom was tasked with painting a Harkonnen stronghold - how perfect is that?!

DUNE: Children of Dune: TV Miniseries (2003)

Frank Herbert's Children of Dune (2003)

Dir. Greg Yaitanes | Length: 3 episodes, approx 82 minutes each.

Most of the principal characters return for the continuation of the Dune saga, although not all of them are played by the same actor/actress.

Books II: Dune Messiah (1969) and III: Children of Dune (1976) are merged because it makes sense to do so, Unfortunately, that means it has a lot of story to cover in a short time.

It begins twelve years after the events of the previous miniseries (see Dune (2000)).

The tense political situation is ongoing, and although changed is no less problematic.

The 'abomination' is older and behaving like a Bene Gesserit bitch should, with concerns of her own that have little to do with affairs of state.

The religious beliefs that surround Muad'Dib are beginning to take its toll on the reluctant Messianic figure. His actions will have a direct result on the future of the planet.

DUNE: TV Miniseries (2000)

Frank Herbert's Dune (2000)

Dir. John Harrison | Length: 3 episodes, approx 98 minutes each.

There is a substance, a spice, found in only one place in the known universe, on Dune, a desert planet also known as Arrakis. The spice is the most important substance known to man. It prolongs life and enables interstellar travel. Without it interplanetary trade would cease and great empires would fall. That makes people nervous and nervous people often do desperate things.

The Padishah Emperor controls Dune. He's more nervous than most. People he favours are permitted to mine the spice. People that oppose him are quickly silenced and left to die. There are a number of political houses that the Emperor can use to keep the spice flowing. Each house has its own agenda. Each house has its own problems. Each house hates the other.

There's a prophecy that tells of a time when a man will come. A saviour. That time is now.

DUNE: The Music (1984)

Dune: Original Soundtrack Recording (1984)
Composed by TOTO

The soundtrack to Lynch's Dune is as patterned and layered as the film itself: mournful thoughtfulness gives way to epic hero themes that — ironically, considering the setting — have the essence of giant waves crashing on distant shores.

The most memorable motif is almost identical to part of Ronald Stein's The Haunted Palace (1963) score, but it works in both settings, so I'm able to forgive the 'coincidence'.

The individual Houses are well-represented through varied use of percussion and there's even a romantic theme or two, should you feel the need for a dreamy accompaniment to the overwhelming heroism. Track titles are super-spoilery, so if you've not seen the film that it was written for or read the Frank Herbert book the film was based upon, then approach the music with caution.

DUNE: Marvel Super Special No. 36 (1984)

Marvel Super Special: Dune (1984)

Adaptation: Ralph Macchio  |  Illustrator: Bill Sienkiewicz  |  Page Count: 64

It's a comic book adaptation of David Lynch's filmed version (1984) of Frank Herbert's novel (1965), which essentially means it's a comic of a film that was itself heavily abridged from the text it was based upon. As such, expecting anything other than functional as far as story goes is optimistic.

It begins by recreating Irulan's monologue almost verbatim. However, with such a small page count, as the story deepens, as complex events begin to overlap, the author has no choice but to get more ruthless when it comes to what gets the chop.

Many of the things you'd expect to see are either omitted, shortened or merely referred to (e.g. the hunter-seeker scene isn't shown but is referred to later, whereas the Bene Gesserit Litany against Fear is shortened.) The film's voice-overs are retained, though, in comic book thought bubbles.

DUNE: The Film(s) (1984-88)

Dune (1984)

Dir. David Lynch

A flawed but visually impressive adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel (1965) of the same name. It explores the machinations of three great houses as they each attempt to gain the upper hand over the other, in the year 10,191.

The Dune of the title is a planet upon which a commodity unique to its ecology is mined. Great power is bestowed upon whosoever controls the mining and distribution of that product. But the position also breeds immense jealousy and hatred in others, making the house chosen to oversee its operations a prime target.

While the planet itself has perils and challenges to overcome, a major focus of the story revolves around that which exists within an individual, at the forefront of which is young Paul Atreides, successor to the throne of House Atreides.

DUNE 2000: Video Game (1999)

Dune 2000 (1999)

Genre: Real-time Strategy  |  Players: 1 / Multi (link)

Developers: Westwood Studios / Intelligent Games

NOTE: Review is of the PS1 port, but I'll mention the PC version briefly at the end for obvious reasons.

Dune 2000 is a remake/update of Dune II: Battle for Arrakis (1992), originally developed by Westwood Studios, creators of the well-known Command and Conquer series. Dune was first, though, so in a way it's Westwood's RTS granddaddy.

Wikipedia states that Dune II was based on David Lynch's filmed version (1984) of Frank Herbert's seminal sci-fi novel Dune (1965), but you can make the transition to the game from the novel without needing to have seen the film, and vice-versa.

DUNE: The Original Novels (1965-85)

Dune (1965)

Author: Frank Herbert  |  Page Count: 562 (605 inc. Appendices)

"What do you despise? By this are you truly known."

-From 'Manual of Muad’Dib' by the Princess Irulan

Frank Herbert's Dune Saga is the story of the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, upon which is found a rare and valuable resource that every Great House in existence depends upon. Without it interstellar trade would end. Even the Emperor of the Known Universe would be rendered mostly powerless in all but name. Whosoever controls the retrieval and distribution of that specific resource will be a formidable foe in a never-ending and far-reaching power struggle.

The first book concentrates on the rise of a reluctant messianic figure from not-quite-humble beginnings towards something he never expected to be.

The two things are connected but are each only a small part of what the novel contains. There's a staggering amount of depth beneath the surface, exploring everything from petty feuds and familial concerns to the basic needs of evolution, ecology, society and the intersection of religion, politics and power.