Dune (novel)

File:USA Oregon Dunes.jpg, near Florence, Oregon, served as an inspiration for the Dune saga.]]

After his novel The Dragon in the Sea was published in 1957, Herbert traveled to Florence, Oregon, at the north end of the Oregon Dunes. Here, the United States Department of Agriculture was attempting to use poverty grasses to stabilize the sand dunes. Herbert claimed in a letter to his literary agent, Lurton Blassingame, that the moving dunes could "swallow whole cities, lakes, rivers, highways."The Road to Dune (2005), p. 264, letter by Frank Herbert to his agent Lurton Blassingame outlining "They Stopped the Moving Sands." Herbert's article on the dunes, "They Stopped the Moving Sands", was never completed (and only published decades later in The Road to Dune), but its research sparked Herbert's interest in ecology and deserts.{{Cite book|last=O'Reilly|first=Timothy|url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107740264|title=Frank Herbert|date=1981|publisher=Frederick Ungar Publishing Company|page=39|access-date=August 1, 2021|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806013108/https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107740264|url-status=live}}

Herbert further drew inspiration from Native American mentors like "Indian Henry" (as Herbert referred to the man to his son; likely a Henry Martin of the Hoh tribe) and Howard Hansen. Both Martin and Hansen grew up on the Quileute reservation near Herbert's hometown. According to historian Daniel Immerwahr, Hansen regularly shared his writing with Herbert. "White men are eating the earth," Hansen told Herbert in 1958, after sharing a piece on the effect of logging on the Quileute reservation. "They're gonna turn this whole planet into a wasteland, just like North Africa." The world could become a "big dune," Herbert responded in agreement.{{Cite web|last=Immerwahr|first=Daniel|title=Heresies of 'Dune'|url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/heresies-of-dune/|website=Los Angeles Review of Books|date=November 19, 2020|access-date=June 28, 2022|archive-date=June 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628235839/https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/heresies-of-dune/|url-status=live}}

Herbert was also interested in the idea of the superhero mystique and messiahs. He believed that feudalism was a natural condition humans fell into, where some led and others gave up the responsibility of making decisions and just followed orders. He found that desert environments have historically given birth to several major religions with messianic impulses. He decided to join his interests together so he could play religious and ecological ideas against each other. In addition, he was influenced by the story of T. E. Lawrence and the "messianic overtones" in Lawrence's involvement in the Arab Revolt during World War I. In an early version of Dune, the hero was actually very similar to Lawrence of Arabia, but Herbert decided the plot was too straightforward and added more layers to his story.{{Cite book|last=O'Reilly|first=Timothy|url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107740264|title=Frank Herbert|date=1981|publisher=Frederick Ungar Publishing Company|pages=43–45|access-date=August 1, 2021|archive-date=August 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806013108/https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107740264|url-status=live}}

Herbert drew heavy inspiration also from Lesley Blanch's The Sabres of Paradise (1960), a narrative history recounting a mid-19th century conflict in the Caucasus between rugged caucasian Muslim tribes and the expanding Russian Empire. Language used on both sides of that conflict become terms in Herbert's world—chakobsa, a Caucasian hunting language, becomes a battle language of humans spread across the galaxy; kanly, a word for blood feud in the 19th century Caucasus, represents a feud between Dune's noble Houses; sietch and tabir are both words for camp borrowed from Ukrainian Cossacks (of the Pontic–Caspian steppe).

Herbert also borrowed some lines which Blanch stated were Caucasian proverbs. "To kill with the point lacked artistry", used by Blanch to describe the Caucasus peoples' love of swordsmanship, becomes in Dune "Killing with the tip lacks artistry", a piece of advice given to a young Paul during his training. "Polish comes from the city, wisdom from the hills", a Caucasian aphorism, turns into a desert expression: "Polish comes from the cities, wisdom from the desert".

Another significant source of inspiration for Dune was Herbert's experiences with psilocybin and his hobby of cultivating mushrooms, according to mycologist Paul Stamets's account of meeting Herbert in the 1980s:{{Cite book|last=Stamets|first=Paul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qtsTH7ekvVYC&q=mycelium+running|title=Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World|date=2011|publisher=Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale|isbn=978-1-60774-124-4|pages=126–127|language=en|access-date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=May 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531173735/https://books.google.com/books?id=qtsTH7ekvVYC&q=mycelium+running#v=snippet&q=mycelium%20running&f=false|url-status=live}}

Frank went on to tell me that much of the premise of Dune—the magic spice (spores) that allowed the bending of space (tripping), the giant sand worms (maggots digesting mushrooms), the eyes of the Freman (the cerulean blue of Psilocybe mushrooms), the mysticism of the female spiritual warriors, the Bene Gesserits (influenced by the tales of Maria Sabina and the sacred mushroom cults of Mexico)—came from his perception of the fungal life cycle, and his imagination was stimulated through his experiences with the use of magic mushrooms.

Duke Leto Atreides of House Atreides, ruler of the ocean world Caladan, is assigned by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV to serve as fief ruler of the planet Arrakis. Although Arrakis is a harsh and inhospitable desert planet, it is of enormous importance because it is the only planetary source of melange, or the "spice", a unique and incredibly valuable substance that extends human youth, vitality and lifespan. It is also through the consumption of spice that Spacing Guild Navigators are able to effect safe interstellar travel through a limited ability to see into the future. The Emperor is jealous of the Duke's rising popularity in the Landsraad, the council of Great Houses, and sees House Atreides as a potential rival and threat. He conspires with House Harkonnen, the former stewards of Arrakis and the longstanding enemies of the Atreides, to destroy Leto and his family after their arrival. Leto is aware his assignment is a trap of some kind, but is compelled to obey the Emperor's orders anyway.

Leto's concubine Lady Jessica is an acolyte of the Bene Gesserit, an exclusively female group that pursues mysterious political aims and wields seemingly superhuman physical and mental abilities, such as the ability to control their bodies down to the cellular level, and also decide the sex of their children. Though Jessica was instructed by the Bene Gesserit to bear a daughter as part of their breeding program, out of love for Leto she bore him a son, Paul. From a young age, Paul is trained in warfare by Leto's aides, the elite soldiers Duncan Idaho and Gurney Halleck. Thufir Hawat, the Duke's Mentat (human computers, able to store vast amounts of data and perform advanced calculations on demand), has instructed Paul in the ways of political intrigue. Jessica has also trained her son in Bene Gesserit disciplines.

Paul's prophetic dreams interest Jessica's superior, the Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam. She subjects Paul to a deadly test. She holds a poisoned needle, the gom jabbar, to his neck, ready to strike should he withdraw his hand from a box which creates extreme pain by nerve induction but causes no physical damage. This is to test Paul's ability to endure the pain and override his animal instincts, proving that he is, in Bene Gesserit eyes, human. Paul passes, enduring greater pain than any woman has ever been subjected to in the test.

Paul and his parents travel with their household to occupy Arrakeen, the capital on Arrakis. Leto learns of the dangers involved in harvesting the spice, which is protected by giant sandworms, and seeks to negotiate with the planet's indigenous Fremen people, seeing them as a valuable ally rather than foes. Soon after the Atreides' arrival, Harkonnen forces attack, joined by the Emperor's ferocious Sardaukar troops in disguise. Leto is betrayed by his personal physician, the Suk doctor Wellington Yueh, who delivers a drugged Leto to the Baron Vladimir Harkonnen and his twisted Mentat, Piter De Vries.

Yueh, who delivered Leto under duress, arranges for Jessica and Paul to escape into the desert. Duncan is killed helping them flee, and they are subsequently presumed dead in a sandstorm by the Harkonnens. Yueh replaces one of Leto's teeth with a poison gas capsule, hoping Leto can kill Baron Harkonnen during their encounter. Piter kills Yueh, and the Baron narrowly avoids the gas (due to his defensive shield), which kills Leto, Piter, and the others in the room. The Baron forces Thufir to take over Piter's position by dosing him with a long-lasting, fatal poison and threatening to withhold the regular antidote doses. While he follows the Baron's orders, Thufir works secretly to undermine the Harkonnens.

Having fled into the desert, Paul is exposed to high concentrations of spice and has visions through which he realizes he has significant powers (as a result of the Bene Gesserit breeding scheme). He foresees potential futures in which he lives among the Fremen before leading them on a holy war across the known universe. Paul reveals that Jessica's father is Baron Harkonnen, a secret kept from her by the Bene Gesserit.

Paul and Jessica traverse the desert in search of Fremen people. After being captured by a Fremen band, Paul and Jessica agree to teach the Fremen the Bene Gesserit fighting technique known to the Fremen as the "weirding way" and are accepted into the community of Sietch Tabr. Paul proves his manhood by killing a Fremen man named Jamis in a ritualistic crysknife fight and chooses the Fremen name Muad'Dib, while Jessica opts to undergo a ritual to become a Reverend Mother by drinking and neutralizing the poisonous Water of Life. Pregnant with Leto's daughter, she inadvertently causes her unborn daughter Alia to become infused with the same powers in the womb. Paul takes a Fremen lover, Chani, who bears him a son he names Leto.

Two years pass, and Paul's powerful prescience manifests, which confirms to the Fremen that he is their prophesied "Lisan al-Gaib" messiah, a legend planted by the Bene Gesserit's Missionaria Protectiva. Paul embraces his father's belief that the Fremen could be a powerful fighting force to take back Arrakis, but also sees that if he does not control them, their jihad could consume the entire universe. Word of the new Fremen leader reaches both the Baron and the Emperor as spice production falls due to their increasingly destructive raids. The Baron encourages his brutish nephew Glossu "Beast" Rabban to rule with an iron fist, hoping the contrast with his shrewder nephew Feyd-Rautha will make the latter popular among the people of Arrakis when he eventually replaces Rabban. The Emperor, suspecting the Baron of trying to create troops more powerful than the Sardaukar to seize power, sends spies to Arrakis. Thufir uses the opportunity to sow seeds of doubt in the Baron about the Emperor's true plans, putting further strain on their alliance.

Gurney, who survived the Harkonnen coup and became a smuggler, reunites with Paul and Jessica after a Fremen raid on his harvester. Believing Jessica to be a traitor, Gurney threatens to kill her but is stopped by Paul. Paul did not foresee Gurney's attack and concludes he must increase his prescience by drinking the Water of Life, which is fatal to males. Paul falls into unconsciousness for three weeks after drinking the poison, but when he wakes, he has clairvoyance across time and space: he is the Kwisatz Haderach, the ultimate goal of the Bene Gesserit breeding program.

Paul senses the Emperor and the Baron are amassing fleets around Arrakis to quell the Fremen rebellion, and prepares the Fremen for a major offensive. The Emperor arrives with the Baron on Arrakis. The Sardaukar seize a Fremen outpost, killing many, including young Leto, while Alia is captured and taken to the Emperor. Under cover of an electric storm, which shorts out the Sardaukar's defensive shields, Paul and the Fremen, riding giant sandworms, destroy the capital's natural rock fortifications with atomics and attack, while Alia assassinates the Baron and escapes. The Fremen quickly defeat both the Harkonnen and Sardaukar troops, killing Rabban in the process. Thufir is ordered to assassinate Paul, who gives him the opportunity to take anything that Thufir wishes of him. Thufir stabs himself with the poisoned needle intended for Paul.

Paul faces the Emperor, threatening to destroy spice production forever unless Shaddam abdicates the throne. Feyd-Rautha challenges Paul to a knife fight, during which he cheats and tries to kill Paul with a poison spur in his belt. Paul gains the upper hand and kills him. The Emperor reluctantly cedes the throne to Paul and promises his daughter Princess Irulan's hand in marriage. Paul takes control of the Empire, but realizes that he cannot stop the Fremen jihad, as their belief in him is too powerful to restrain.

;House Atreides

• Paul Atreides, the Duke's son, and main character of the novel
• Duke Leto Atreides, head of House Atreides
• Lady Jessica, Bene Gesserit and concubine of the Duke, mother of Paul and Alia
• Alia Atreides, Paul's younger sister
• Thufir Hawat, Mentat and Master of Assassins to House Atreides
• Gurney Halleck, staunchly loyal troubadour warrior of the Atreides
• Duncan Idaho, Swordmaster for House Atreides, graduate of the Ginaz School
• Wellington Yueh, Suk doctor for the Atreides who is secretly working for House Harkonnen

;House Harkonnen

• Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, head of House Harkonnen
• Piter De Vries, twisted Mentat
• Feyd-Rautha, nephew and heir-presumptive of the Baron
• Glossu "Beast" Rabban, also called Rabban Harkonnen, older nephew of the Baron
• Iakin Nefud, Captain of the Guard

;House Corrino

• Shaddam IV, Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe (the Imperium)
• Princess Irulan, Shaddam's eldest daughter and heir, also a historian
• Count Fenring, the Emperor's closest friend, advisor, and "errand boy"

;Bene Gesserit

• Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, Proctor Superior of the Bene Gesserit school and the Emperor's Truthsayer
• Lady Margot Fenring, Bene Gesserit wife of Count Fenring

;Fremen

• The Fremen, native inhabitants of Arrakis
• Stilgar, Fremen leader of Sietch Tabr
• Chani, Paul's Fremen concubine and a Sayyadina (female acolyte) of Sietch Tabr
• Dr. Liet-Kynes, the Imperial Planetologist on Arrakis and father of Chani, as well as a revered figure among the Fremen
• The Shadout Mapes, head housekeeper of imperial residence on Arrakis
• Jamis, Fremen killed by Paul in ritual duel
• Harah, wife of Jamis and later servant to Paul who helps raise Alia among the Fremen
• Reverend Mother Ramallo, religious leader of Sietch Tabr

;Smugglers

• Esmar Tuek, a powerful smuggler and the father of Staban Tuek
• Staban Tuek, the son of Esmar Tuek and a powerful smuggler who befriends and takes in Gurney Halleck and his surviving men after the attack on the Atreides

The Dune series is a landmark of science fiction. Herbert deliberately suppressed technology in his Dune universe so he could address the politics of humanity, rather than the future of humanity's technology. For example, a key pre-history event to the novel's present is the "Butlerian Jihad", in which all robots and computers were destroyed, eliminating these common elements to science fiction from the novel as to allow focus on humanity. Dune considers the way humans and their institutions might change over time.{{cite book|title=Building Sci-fi Moviescapes: The Science Behind the Fiction|first=Matt|last=Hanson|publisher=Gulf Professional Publishing|year=2005|isbn=978-0-240-80772-0}} Director John Harrison, who adapted Dune for Syfy's 2000 miniseries, called the novel a universal and timeless reflection of "the human condition and its moral dilemmas", and said:

{{Blockquote|A lot of people refer to Dune as science fiction. I never do. I consider it an epic adventure in the classic storytelling tradition, a story of myth and legend not unlike the Morte d'Arthur or any messiah story. It just happens to be set in the future ... The story is actually more relevant today than when Herbert wrote it. In the 1960s, there were just these two colossal superpowers duking it out. Today we're living in a more feudal, corporatized world more akin to Herbert's universe of separate families, power centers and business interests, all interrelated and kept together by the one commodity necessary to all.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/03/tv/cover-story-future-myths-adrift-in-the-sands-of-time.html?src=pm |title=Cover Story: Future Myths, Adrift in the Sands of Time |first=Marilyn |last=Stasio |work=The New York Times |date=December 3, 2000 |access-date=August 21, 2015 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222224856/http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/03/tv/cover-story-future-myths-adrift-in-the-sands-of-time.html?src=pm |url-status=live }}}}

But Dune has also been called a mix of soft and hard science fiction since "the attention to ecology is hard, the anthropology and the psychic abilities are soft."{{Cite book|last=Gunn|first=James|title=Hard Science Fiction|publisher=Southern Illinois University Press|year=1986|editor-last=Slusser|editor-first=George E.|pages=79|chapter=The Readers of Hard Science Fiction|editor-last2=Rabkin|editor-first2=Eric S.}} Hard elements include the ecology of Arrakis, suspensor technology, weapon systems, and ornithopters, while soft elements include issues relating to religion, physical and mental training, cultures, politics, and psychology.{{Cite book|last=Allen|first=L. David|title=Herbert's Dune and Other Works|publisher=Cliffs Notes|year=1975|pages=7–8}}

Herbert said Paul's messiah figure was inspired by the Arthurian legend,{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZGJ3pGEuas&t=120s| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829230728/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZGJ3pGEuas&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2020-08-29 | url-status=dead|title=Rare DUNE Interview with Frank Herbert |medium=video|access-date=May 10, 2020}} and that the scarcity of water on Arrakis was a metaphor for oil, as well as air and water itself, and for the shortages of resources caused by overpopulation.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/BEWM7zIIF9c Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20101103001331/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWM7zIIF9c Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEWM7zIIF9c&t=42s|title=Frank Herbert Interview|medium=video|access-date=April 17, 2020}}{{cbignore}} Novelist Brian Herbert, his son and biographer, wrote:

{{blockquote|Dune is a modern-day conglomeration of familiar myths, a tale in which great sandworms guard a precious treasure of melange, the geriatric spice that represents, among other things, the finite resource of oil. The planet Arrakis features immense, ferocious worms that are like dragons of lore, with "great teeth" and a "bellows breath of cinnamon." This resembles the myth described by an unknown English poet in Beowulf, the compelling tale of a fearsome fire dragon who guarded a great treasure hoard in a lair under cliffs, at the edge of the sea. The desert of Frank Herbert's classic novel is a vast ocean of sand, with giant worms diving into the depths, the mysterious and unrevealed domain of Shai-hulud. Dune tops are like the crests of waves, and there are powerful sandstorms out there, creating extreme danger. On Arrakis, life is said to emanate from the Maker (Shai-hulud) in the desert-sea; similarly all life on Earth is believed to have evolved from our oceans. Frank Herbert drew parallels, used spectacular metaphors, and extrapolated present conditions into world systems that seem entirely alien at first blush. But close examination reveals they aren't so different from systems we know … and the book characters of his imagination are not so different from people familiar to us.{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |title=Dune |chapter=Afterword by Brian Herbert |year=1965 |edition=Kindle |publisher=Penguin Group |page=876}}}}

Each chapter of Dune begins with an epigraph excerpted from the fictional writings of the character Princess Irulan. In forms such as diary entries, historical commentary, biography, quotations and philosophy, these writings set tone and provide exposition, context and other details intended to enhance understanding of Herbert's complex fictional universe and themes.{{cite web |url=http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Television&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=&obj_id=26343 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316172142/http://www.mania.com/dune-remaking-classic-novel_article_26343.html |archive-date=March 16, 2008 |title=Dune: Remaking the Classic Novel |access-date=November 9, 2008 |last=Fritz |first=Steve |date=December 4, 2000 |website=Cinescape.com}}{{cite web |url=http://torforgeblog.com/2014/02/03/quotes-from-the-end-of-the-world/ |title=Quotes from the End of the World |last=Edison |first=David |website=Tor.com |date=February 3, 2014 |access-date=June 29, 2014 |archive-date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708041344/http://torforgeblog.com/2014/02/03/quotes-from-the-end-of-the-world/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web| url=http://www.dunemessiah.com/irulan.shtml |title=Collected Sayings of Princess Irulan |website=DuneMessiah.com |access-date=November 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080618071057/http://www.dunemessiah.com/irulan.shtml |archive-date=June 18, 2008}} They act as foreshadowing and invite the reader to keep reading to close the gap between what the epigraph says and what is happening in the main narrative.{{Cite book|last=Manlove|first=C. N.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/14933209|title=Science fiction : ten explorations|date=1986|publisher=Macmillan|isbn=978-0-333-36919-7|location=Basingstoke, Hampshire|pages=88–89|oclc=14933209|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=May 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531173737/https://search.worldcat.org/title/14933209|url-status=live}} The epigraphs also give the reader the feeling that the world they are reading about is epically distanced, since Irulan writes about an idealized image of Paul as if he had already passed into memory.{{Cite book|last=Touponce|first=William F.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16717899|title=Frank Herbert|date=1988|publisher=Twayne Publishers|isbn=978-0-8057-7514-3|location=Boston|pages=30|oclc=16717899|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=May 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506173809/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16717899|url-status=live}} Brian Herbert wrote: "Dad told me that you could follow any of the novel's layers as you read it, and then start the book all over again, focusing on an entirely different layer. At the end of the book, he intentionally left loose ends and said he did this to send the readers spinning out of the story with bits and pieces of it still clinging to them, so that they would want to go back and read it again."{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |title=Dune |chapter=Afterword by Brian Herbert |year=1965 |edition=Kindle |publisher=Penguin Group |pages=881–882}}

Due to the similarities between some of Herbert's terms and ideas and actual words and concepts in the Arabic language, as well as the series' "Islamic undertones" and themes, a Middle-Eastern influence on Herbert's works has been noted repeatedly.{{Cite book |title=The Seven Beauties of Science Fiction |first=Istvan |last=Csicsery-Ronay, Jr. |publisher=Wesleyan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVYxl5ued-oC&q=The%20seven%20beauties%20of%20science%20fiction%20by%20Istvan%20Csicsery-Ronay%2C%20Jr.%2C%20Istvan%20Csicsery-Ronay%20%28Jr.%29&pg=PA39 |date=November 28, 2008 |isbn=978-0-8195-6889-2 |access-date=November 10, 2020 |archive-date=January 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129181807/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZVYxl5ued-oC&q=The%20seven%20beauties%20of%20science%20fiction%20by%20Istvan%20Csicsery-Ronay%2C%20Jr.%2C%20Istvan%20Csicsery-Ronay%20%28Jr.%29&pg=PA39 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://baheyeldin.com/literature/arabic-and-islamic-themes-in-frank-herberts-dune.html |title=Arabic and Islamic themes in Frank Herbert's Dune |last=Bahayeldin |first=Khalid |date=January 22, 2004 |access-date=July 21, 2009 |publisher=Baheyeldin.com |archive-date=May 12, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512020025/http://baheyeldin.com/literature/arabic-and-islamic-themes-in-frank-herberts-dune.html |url-status=live }} In his descriptions of the Fremen culture and language, Herbert uses both authentic Arabic words and Arabic-sounding words.{{Cite book|last=Zaki|first=Hoda M.|title=Food for Our Grandmothers: Writings by Arab-American and Arab-Canadian Feminists|publisher=South End Press|year=1994|editor-last=Kadi|editor-first=Joanna|chapter=Orientalism in Science Fiction}}{{Cite book|last=Ryding|first=Karin|title=Language in Place: Stylistic Perspectives on Landscape, Place and Environment|publisher=John Benjamins Publishing Company|year=2021|editor-last=Virdis|editor-first=Daniela Francesca|chapter=The Arabic of Dune: Language and Landscape|editor-last2=Zurru|editor-first2=Elisabetta|editor-last3=Lahey|editor-first3=Ernestine}} For example, one of the names for the sandworm, Shai-hulud, is derived from {{Langx|ar|شيء خلود|lit=immortal thing|translit=šayʾ ḫulūd|label=none}} or {{Langx|ar|شيخ خلود|lit=old man of eternity|translit=šayḫ ḫulūd|label=none}}. The title of the Fremen housekeeper, the Shadout Mapes, is borrowed from the {{Langx|ar|شادوف|translit=šādūf|label=none}}, the Egyptian term for a device used to raise water. In particular, words related to the messianic religion of the Fremen, first implanted by the Bene Gesserit, are taken from Arabic, including Muad'Dib (from {{Langx|ar|مؤدب|translit=muʾaddib|lit=educator|label=none}}), Lisan al-Gaib (from {{langx|ar|لسان الغيب|translit=lisān al-ġayb|lit=voice of the unseen|label=none}}), Usul (from {{Langx|ar|أصول|translit=ʾuṣūl|lit=fundamental principles|label=none}}), Shari-a (from {{Langx|ar|شريعة|translit=šarīʿa|lit=sharia; path|label=none}}), Shaitan (from {{Langx|ar|شيطان|translit=šayṭān|lit=Shaitan; devil; fiend|label=none}}), and jinn (from {{Langx|ar|جن|translit=ǧinn|lit=jinn; spirit; demon; mythical being|label=none}}). It is likely Herbert relied on second-hand resources such as phrasebooks and desert adventure stories to find these Arabic words and phrases for the Fremen. They are meaningful and carefully chosen, and help create an "imagined desert culture that resonates with exotic sounds, enigmas, and pseudo-Islamic references" and has a distinctly Bedouin aesthetic.

As a foreigner who adopts the ways of a desert-dwelling people and then leads them in a military capacity, Paul Atreides bears many similarities to the historical T. E. Lawrence.{{cite book|url=http://tim.oreilly.com/herbert/ch03.html|title=Frank Herbert|first=Tim|last=O'Reilly|chapter=Chapter 3: From Concept to Fable|access-date=December 27, 2019|via=oreilly.com|archive-date=July 17, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717022308/http://tim.oreilly.com/herbert/ch03.html|url-status=live}} His 1962 biopic Lawrence of Arabia has also been identified as a potential influence.{{cite web |title=Lawrence of Arabia Is the Unlikely Prequel to Star Wars, Dune, And All Your Favorite Fantasy Epics |url=https://decider.com/2015/12/03/lawrence-of-arabia-star-wars-dune-sci-fi/ |via=Decider.com |website=New York Post |access-date=June 14, 2019 |date=December 3, 2015 |archive-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616084717/https://decider.com/2015/12/03/lawrence-of-arabia-star-wars-dune-sci-fi/ |url-status=live }} The Sabres of Paradise (1960) has also been identified as a potential influence upon Dune, with its depiction of Imam Shamil and the Islamic culture of the Caucasus inspiring some of the themes, characters, events and terminology of Dune.{{cite magazine |magazine=Los Angeles Review of Books |url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secret-history-of-dune/#! |first=Will |last=Collins |title=The Secret History of Dune |date=September 16, 2017 |access-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021060026/https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secret-history-of-dune/#! |url-status=live }}

The environment of the desert planet Arrakis was primarily inspired by the environments of the Middle East. Similarly Arrakis as a bioregion is presented as a particular kind of political site. Herbert has made it resemble a desertified petrostate area.{{cite book |last1=Lynch |first1=Tom |last2=Glotfelty |first2=Cheryll |last3=Armbruster |first3=Karla |title=The Bioregional Imagination: Literature, Ecology, and Place |date=2012 |publisher=University of Georgia Press |isbn=978-0-8203-4367-9 |page=230 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=flt4Uea3oOcC&pg=PA230 |access-date=June 16, 2019 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308011122/https://books.google.com/books?id=flt4Uea3oOcC&pg=PA230#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }} The Fremen people of Arrakis were influenced by the Bedouin tribes of Arabia, and the Mahdi prophecy originates from Islamic eschatology.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/03/dune-50-years-on-science-fiction-novel-world|title=Dune, 50 years on: how a science fiction novel changed the world|last=Kunzru|first=Hari|date=July 3, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=February 11, 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=February 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211143820/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jul/03/dune-50-years-on-science-fiction-novel-world|url-status=live}} Inspiration is also adopted from medieval historian Ibn Khaldun's cyclical history and his dynastic concept in North Africa, hinted at by Herbert's reference to Khaldun's book Kitāb al-ʿibar ("The Book of Lessons"). The fictionalized version of the "Kitab al-ibar" in Dune is a combination of a Fremen religious manual and a desert survival book.{{Cite news|last=Hammond|first=Joseph|date=October 18, 2021|title=Dune novels draw on Islamic motifs and have in turn inspired Muslim artists|language=en-US|work=Religion News Service|url=https://religionnews.com/2021/10/18/dune-novels-draw-on-islamic-motifs-and-have-in-turn-inspired-muslim-artists/|access-date=October 31, 2021|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=November 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106001309/https://religionnews.com/2021/10/18/dune-novels-draw-on-islamic-motifs-and-have-in-turn-inspired-muslim-artists/|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|last=Determann|first=Jörg Matthias|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k1_xDwAAQBAJ|title=Islam, science fiction and extraterrestrial life : the culture of astrobiology in the Muslim world|date=2021|isbn=978-0-7556-0130-1|location=London|pages=97|oclc=1197808773|access-date=November 20, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308011130/https://books.google.com/books?id=k1_xDwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}

In addition to Arabic, Dune derives words and names from a variety of other languages, including Navajo, Latin, Old Scandinavian ("{{lang|non|Landsraad}}"),{{cite interview|url=http://members.lycos.co.uk/Fenrir/ctdinterviews.htm|title=Vertex Interviews Frank Herbert|interviewer=Paul Turner|date=October 1973|volume=1|issue=4|access-date=November 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519171219/http://members.lycos.co.uk/Fenrir/ctdinterviews.htm|archive-date=May 19, 2009|url-status=dead}} Romani, Hebrew ("Kefitzat haderech", {{langx|he|קפיצת הדרך|translit=contracting of the path|label=none}}), Serbo-Croatian, Nahuatl, Greek, Persian, Sanskrit ("prana bindu", "prajna"), Russian, Turkish, Finnish, and Old English.{{cite book|last=Herbert|first=Frank|title=Dune|publisher=Penguin Group|year=1965|edition=Kindle|page=878|chapter=Afterword by Brian Herbert}}{{cite journal|title=Tolk de Chakobsa Phrases in Dune|url=https://fr.scribd.com/doc/260601365/Conlangs-Monthly-April-Edition|journal=Conlangs Monthly|page=31|first=Olivier|last=Simon|access-date=March 15, 2024|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053658/https://fr.scribd.com/doc/260601365/Conlangs-Monthly-April-Edition|url-status=live}} Bene Gesserit is part of the Latin legal phrase {{lang|la|quamdiu se bene gesserit}} "as long as he shall behave himself well" seen in grants of certain offices (such as judgeships) meaning that the appointee shall remain in office so long as he shall not be guilty of abusing it. Some critics miss the connotation of the phrase, misled by the Latin future perfect {{lang|la|gesserit}}, taking it over-literally (and adding an unwarranted passive) to mean "it will have been well borne", an interpretation which is not well supported by the Bene Gesserit doctrine in the story.{{Cite web|title=Tim O'Reilly - Frank Herbert: Chapter 3: From Concept to Fable - O'Reilly Media|url=https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/ch03.html|access-date=2021-11-07|website=www.oreilly.com|language=en|archive-date=May 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528051139/https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/ch03.html|url-status=live}}{{Original research inline|date=May 2024}}

Through the inspiration from The Sabres of Paradise, there are also allusions to the tsarist-era Russian nobility and Cossacks.{{cite magazine|last=Collins|first=Will|date=September 16, 2017|title=The Secret History of Dune|url=https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secret-history-of-dune/#!|magazine=Los Angeles Review of Books|access-date=October 20, 2017|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021060026/https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/the-secret-history-of-dune/#!|url-status=live}} Frank Herbert stated that bureaucracy that lasted long enough would become a hereditary nobility, and a significant theme behind the aristocratic families in Dune was "aristocratic bureaucracy" which he saw as analogous to the Soviet Union.{{Cite web|title=Tim O'Reilly - Frank Herbert: Chapter 5: Rogue Gods - O'Reilly Media|url=https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/ch05.html|access-date=2021-11-07|website=www.oreilly.com|language=en|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107074914/https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/ch05.html|url-status=live}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/5IfgBX1EW00 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20170210174612/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IfgBX1EW00&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|last=Herbert|first=Frank|date=1985-04-17|title=Frank Herbert speaking at UCLA 4/17/1985|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IfgBX1EW00|website=YouTube|publisher=University of California, Los Angeles Comm Studies}}{{cbignore}}

Dune has been called the "first planetary ecology novel on a grand scale".{{cite book |last=James |first=Edward |author2=Farah Mendlesohn |title=The Cambridge Companion to Science Fiction |url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00jame_241 |url-access=limited |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2003 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cambridgecompani00jame_241/page/n212 183]–184 |isbn=978-0-521-01657-5}} Herbert hoped it would be seen as an "environmental awareness handbook" and said the title was meant to "echo the sound of 'doom'".{{Cite book|last=Herbert|first=Frank|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15636296|title=The maker of Dune : insights of a master of science fiction|date=1987|publisher=Berkley Books|others=Tim O'Reilly|isbn=978-0-425-09785-4|edition=|location=New York|pages=249|oclc=15636296|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=May 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506105345/http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/15636296|url-status=live}} It was reviewed in the best selling countercultural Whole Earth Catalog in 1968 as a "rich re-readable fantasy with clear portrayal of the fierce environment it takes to cohere a community".{{Cite book|last=Brand|first=Stewart|title=Whole Earth Catalog|year=1968|pages=41}}

After the publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in 1962, science fiction writers began treating the subject of ecological change and its consequences. Dune responded in 1965 with its complex descriptions of Arrakis life, from giant sandworms (for whom water is deadly) to smaller, mouse-like life-forms adapted to live with limited water. Dune was followed in its creation of complex and unique ecologies by other science fiction books such as A Door into Ocean (1986) and Red Mars (1992). Environmentalists have pointed out that Dune{{'s}} popularity as a novel depicting a planet as a complex—almost living—thing, in combination with the first images of Earth from space being published in the same time period, strongly influenced environmental movements such as the establishment of the international Earth Day.{{cite book |editor=Robert L. France |title=Facilitating Watershed Management: Fostering Awareness and Stewardship |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |location=Lanham |year=2005 |page=105 |isbn=978-0-7425-3364-6}}

While the genre of climate fiction was popularized in the 2010s in response to real global climate change, Dune as well as other early science fiction works from authors like J. G. Ballard (The Drowned World) and Kim Stanley Robinson (the Mars trilogy) have retroactively been considered pioneering examples of the genre.{{Cite web|title=Dune, climate fiction pioneer: The ecological lessons of Frank Herbert's sci-fi masterpiece were ahead of its time|first=Michael|last=Berry|date=August 13, 2015|url=https://www.salon.com/2015/08/13/dune_climate_fiction_pioneer_the_ecological_lessons_of_frank_herberts_sci_fi_masterpiece_were_ahead_of_its_time/|access-date=October 29, 2021|website=Salon|language=en|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029044523/https://www.salon.com/2015/08/13/dune_climate_fiction_pioneer_the_ecological_lessons_of_frank_herberts_sci_fi_masterpiece_were_ahead_of_its_time/|url-status=live}}{{cite journal | last = Frelik | first = Paweł | title = 'On Not Calling a Spade a Spade': Climate Fiction as Science Fiction | journal = American Studies | volume =62 | issue = 1 | date = 2017 | pages = 125–129 }}

The Imperium in Dune contains features of various empires in Europe and the Near East, including the Roman Empire, Holy Roman Empire, and Ottoman Empire.{{Cite journal|last=Ower|first=John|date=1974|title=Idea and Imagery in Herbert's Dune|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3828/extr.1974.15.2.129|journal=Extrapolation|volume=15|issue=2|pages=129–139|doi=10.3828/extr.1974.15.2.129|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=May 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531173738/https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/extr.1974.15.2.129|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|last=Kennedy|first=Kara|date=April 2, 2016|title=Epic World-Building: Names and Cultures in 'Dune|url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107560903|journal=Names: A Journal of Onomastics|volume=64|issue=2|pages=99–108|doi=10.1080/00277738.2016.1159450|s2cid=192897269|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=August 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803020323/https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107560903|url-status=live}}{{Cite book|last=Rogers|first=Brett M.|title=Brill's Companion to the Reception of Aeschylus|publisher=Brill|year=2018|editor-last=Kennedy|editor-first=Rebecca Futo|chapter='Now Harkonnen Shall Kill Harkonnen': Aeschylus, Dynastic Violence, and Twofold Tragedies in Frank Herbert's Dune}} Lorenzo DiTommaso compared Dune{{'s}} portrayal of the downfall of a galactic empire to Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, which argues that Christianity allied with the profligacy of the Roman elite led to the fall of Ancient Rome. In "The Articulation of Imperial Decadence and Decline in Epic Science Fiction" (2007), DiTommaso outlines similarities between the two works by highlighting the excesses of the Emperor on his home planet of Kaitain and of the Baron Harkonnen in his palace. The Emperor loses his effectiveness as a ruler through an excess of ceremony and pomp. The hairdressers and attendants he brings with him to Arrakis are even referred to as "parasites". The Baron Harkonnen is similarly corrupt and materially indulgent. Gibbon's Decline and Fall partly blames the fall of Rome on the rise of Christianity. Gibbon claimed that this exotic import from a conquered province weakened the soldiers of Rome and left it open to attack. The Emperor's Sardaukar fighters are little match for the Fremen of Dune not only because of the Sardaukar's overconfidence and the fact that Jessica and Paul have trained the Fremen in their battle tactics, but because of the Fremen's capacity for self-sacrifice. The Fremen put the community before themselves in every instance, while the world outside wallows in luxury at the expense of others.{{Cite journal|last=DiTommaso|first=Lorenzo|date=2007|title=The Articulation of Imperial Decadence and Decline in Epic Science Fiction|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.3828/extr.2007.48.2.5|journal=Extrapolation|volume=48|issue=2|pages=267–291|doi=10.3828/extr.2007.48.2.5|issn=|access-date=September 19, 2021|archive-date=May 31, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531173741/https://www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/10.3828/extr.2007.48.2.5|url-status=live}}

The decline and long peace of the Empire sets the stage for revolution and renewal by genetic mixing of successful and unsuccessful groups through war, a process culminating in the Jihad led by Paul Atreides, described by Frank Herbert as depicting "war as a collective orgasm" (drawing on Norman Walter's 1950 The Sexual Cycle of Human Warfare),{{Cite book|url=https://www.gwern.net/docs/sociology/1950-walter-thesexualcycleofhumanwarfare.djvu|title=The Sexual Cycle of Human Warfare|date=1950|first=Norman|last=Walter|via=gwern.net|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412132316/https://www.gwern.net/docs/sociology/1950-walter-thesexualcycleofhumanwarfare.djvu|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.jacurutu.com/viewtopic.php?t=1214#p38497|title=Listening To The Left Hand|first=Frank|last=Herbert|magazine=Harper's|date=December 1973|via=jacurutu.com|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616122440/http://www.jacurutu.com/viewtopic.php?t=1214#p38497|url-status=live}} themes that would reappear in God Emperor of Dune{{'s}} Scattering and Leto II's all-female Fish Speaker army.

Gender dynamics are complex in Dune. Herbert offers a multi-layered portrayal of gender roles within the context of a feudal, hierarchical society, particularly through the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. Although the Bene Gesserit tend to hold roles that are traditionally associated with women, such as wives, concubines, and mothers, their characters transcend stereotypes as they play politics and pursue long-term strategic goals. Full gender equality is not depicted in Dune, but the Bene Gesserit use specialized training and access to high-ranking men to gain agency and power within the constraints of their environment. Their training in prana-bindu allows them to exert control over their minds and bodies, including over pregnancy, and they are skilled in hand-to-hand combat and use of the Voice to command others. Jessica's disobedience in bearing a son instead of daughter and training him in the Bene Gesserit Way is a major plot point that sets in motion the events of the novel.{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Kara |title=Women's Agency in the Dune Universe: Tracing Women's Liberation through Science Fiction |date=2021 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-3-030-89204-3 |edition= |location=Switzerland |pages=124, 131}} By setting up certain women with leaders of certain Houses in the Imperium, the Bene Gesserit can control bloodlines across generations through their secret breeding program.{{Cite book |last=Semler |first=Stephanie |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/663953010 |title=Dune and Philosophy: Weirding Way of the Mentat |date=2011 |publisher=Open Court |isbn=978-0-8126-9715-5 |editor-last=Nicholas |editor-first=Jeffery |series=Popular Culture and Philosophy |location=Chicago |pages=17 |oclc=663953010 |access-date=May 4, 2024 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531173745/https://search.worldcat.org/title/663953010 |url-status=live }} Even within the male-dominated Imperium, then, the Bene Gesserit wield reproductive power and choose which genetic markers to continue into the future.{{Cite book |last=McReynolds |first=Leigha High |title=Discovering Dune: Essays on Frank Herbert's Epic Saga |date=2022 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-8201-3 |editor-last=Nardi |editor-first=Dominic J. |series= |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |pages=145–155 |chapter=Locations of Deviance: A Eugenics Reading of Dune |editor-last2=Brierly |editor-first2=N. Trevor}}

Reverend Mother Mohiam uses skills in Truthsaying to act as the Emperor's official Truthsayer and advisor. Her role can be considered similar to that of abbesses in the medieval Church. Before Princess Irulan appears as a character who agrees to a political marriage with Paul, she acts as a historian who shapes the reader's interpretation of the story and Paul's legacy due to the excerpts from her writing that frame each chapter.

Among the Fremen, women have roles as mothers and wives and also exercise agency through combat and religious authority. Fremen women and children have a reputation for being just as violent and dangerous as Fremen men. Chani travels with Stilgar in his military party, armed like the others. After becoming Paul's concubine, she kills one of the men who comes to challenge him. Alia leads an attack against the Emperor's Sardaukar and kills Baron Harkonnen with a gom jabbar. Women also take on the role of religious leaders. Chani is a Sayyadina who presides over tribal rituals such as Paul's worm-riding test, and Reverend Mother Ramallo carries the tribe's memories and passes them along to Jessica through the Water of Life ceremony. Within the male-led sietches, Fremen women find different avenues of authority.{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Kara |title=Frank Herbert's Dune: A Critical Companion |date=2022 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-3-031-13934-5 |series=Palgrave Science Fiction and Fantasy: A New Canon |location=Switzerland |pages=80–84}}

The gom jabbar test of humanity is administered by the female Bene Gesserit order but rarely to males.{{Cite journal|last=Schwartz|first=Susan|date=2014|title=A Teaching Review of Dune: Religion is the Spice of Life|journal=Implicit Religion|volume=17|issue=4|pages=533–538|doi=10.1558/imre.v17i4.533}} The Bene Gesserit have seemingly mastered the unconscious and can play on the unconscious weaknesses of others using the Voice, yet their breeding program seeks after a male Kwisatz Haderach. Their plan is to produce a male who can "possess complete racial memory, both male and female," and look into the black hole in the collective unconscious that they fear.{{Cite book|last=Miller|first=David M.|title=Frank Herbert|publisher=Starmont House|year=1980}} A central theme of the book is the connection, in Jessica's son, of this female aspect with his male aspect. This aligns with concepts in Jungian psychology, which features conscious/unconscious and taking/giving roles associated with males and females, as well as the idea of the collective unconscious.{{Cite book|last=O'Reilly|first=Timothy|title=Frank Herbert|publisher=Frederick Ungar Publishing|year=1981|isbn=978-0-8044-2666-4}} Paul's approach to power consistently requires his upbringing under the matriarchal Bene Gesserit, who operate as a long-dominating shadow government behind all of the great houses and their marriages or divisions. He is trained by Jessica in the Bene Gesserit Way, which includes prana-bindu training in nerve and muscle control and precise perception.{{Cite web|last=Kennedy|first=Kara|date=September 8, 2021|title=Frank Herbert, the Bene Gesserit, and the Complexity of Women in the World of Dune|url=https://www.tor.com/2021/09/08/frank-herbert-the-bene-gesserit-and-the-complexity-of-women-in-the-world-of-dune/|access-date=|website=Tor.com|language=en-US|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021085928/https://www.tor.com/2021/09/08/frank-herbert-the-bene-gesserit-and-the-complexity-of-women-in-the-world-of-dune/|url-status=live}} Paul also receives Mentat training, thus helping prepare him to be a type of androgynous Kwisatz Haderach, a male Reverend Mother.

In a Bene Gesserit test early in the book, it is implied that people are generally "inhuman" in that they irrationally place desire over self-interest and reason.{{citation needed|date=October 2019}} This applies Herbert's philosophy that humans are not created equal, while equal justice and equal opportunity are higher ideals than mental, physical, or moral equality.{{cite web|last=Herbert|first=Frank|url=http://www.frankherbert.org/news/genesis.html |title=Dune Genesis|access-date=February 14, 2014 |publisher=FrankHerbert.org|work=Omni|date=July 1980 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107220342/http://www.frankherbert.org/news/genesis.html |archive-date=January 7, 2012|url-status=dead}}

{{blockquote|I am showing you the superhero syndrome and your own participation in it.|Frank HerbertHerbert liner notes quoted in Touponce p. 24}}

Throughout Paul's rise to superhuman status, he follows a plotline common to many stories describing the birth of a hero.{{Cite journal|last=Palumbo|first=Donald|date=1998|title=The Monomyth as Fractal Pattern in Frank Herbert's Dune Novels|journal=Science Fiction Studies|volume=25|pages=433–458}} He has unfortunate circumstances forced onto him. After a long period of hardship and exile, he confronts and defeats the source of evil in his tale.Tilley, E. Allen. "The Modes of Fiction: A Plot Morphology." College English. (Feb 1978) 39.6 pp. 692–706.Hume, Kathryn. "Romance: A Perdurable Pattern." College English. (Oct 1974) 36.2 pp. 129–146. As such, Dune is representative of a general trend beginning in 1960s American science fiction in that it features a character who attains godlike status through scientific means.Attebery, Brian. Decoding Gender in Science Fiction. New York: Routledge, 2002. p. 66 {{ISBN|978-0-415-93949-2}} Eventually, Paul Atreides gains a level of omniscience which allows him to take over the planet and the galaxy, and causes the Fremen of Arrakis to worship him like a god. Author Frank Herbert said in 1979, "The bottom line of the Dune trilogy is: beware of heroes. Much better to rely on your own judgment, and your own mistakes."{{Cite book|last=Clareson |first=Thomas |title=Understanding Contemporary American Science Fiction: the Formative Period |location=Columbia |publisher=University of South Carolina Press |year=1992 |pages=169–172 |isbn=978-0-87249-870-9}} He wrote in 1985, "Dune was aimed at this whole idea of the infallible leader because my view of history says that mistakes made by a leader (or made in a leader's name) are amplified by the numbers who follow without question."{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |title=Eye |chapter=Introduction |year=1985 |publisher=Berkley Books |isbn=978-0-425-08398-7}}

Juan A. Prieto-Pablos says Herbert achieves a new typology with Paul's superpowers, differentiating the heroes of Dune from earlier heroes such as Superman, van Vogt's Gilbert Gosseyn and Henry Kuttner's telepaths. Unlike previous superheroes who acquire their powers suddenly and accidentally, Paul's are the result of "painful and slow personal progress." And unlike other superheroes of the 1960s—who are the exception among ordinary people in their respective worlds—Herbert's characters grow their powers through "the application of mystical philosophies and techniques." For Herbert, the ordinary person can develop incredible fighting skills (Fremen, Ginaz swordsmen and Sardaukar) or mental abilities (Bene Gesserit, Mentats, Spacing Guild Navigators).{{Cite journal| last = Prieto-Pablos | first = Juan A. | title = The Ambivalent Hero of Contemporary Fantasy and Science Fiction | journal = Extrapolation | volume = 32 | issue = 1 | pages = 64–80 | publisher = The University of Texas at Brownsville | date =Spring 1991 | doi = 10.3828/extr.1991.32.1.64}}

{{Main|List of Dune religions}}

Early in his newspaper career, Herbert was introduced to Zen by two Jungian psychologists, Ralph and Irene Slattery, who "gave a crucial boost to his thinking".{{cite book|url=http://tim.oreilly.com/herbert/ch02.html|title=Frank Herbert|first=Tim|last=O'Reilly|chapter=Chapter 2: Under Pressure|access-date=March 26, 2019|via=oreilly.com|archive-date=December 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230080811/http://tim.oreilly.com/herbert/ch02.html|url-status=live}} Zen teachings ultimately had "a profound and continuing influence on [Herbert's] work". Throughout the Dune series and particularly in Dune, Herbert employs concepts and forms borrowed from Zen Buddhism.{{cite web |title=Unpublished interview with Frank Herbert and Professor Willis E. McNelly |date=February 3, 1969 |url=http://www.sinanvural.com/seksek/inien/tvd/tvd2.htm |via=sinanvural.com |access-date=March 21, 2019 |archive-date=February 13, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213105526/http://www.sinanvural.com/seksek/inien/tvd/tvd2.htm |url-status=live }} The Fremen are referred to as Zensunni adherents, and many of Herbert's epigraphs are Zen-spirited.{{cite book|last=Touponce|year=1988|title=Frank Herbert|chapter=Life and Intellectual Background|page=10|publisher=Twayne Publishers |isbn=978-0-8057-7514-3}} In "Dune Genesis", Frank Herbert wrote:

{{blockquote|What especially pleases me is to see the interwoven themes, the fugue like relationships of images that exactly replay the way Dune took shape. As in an Escher lithograph, I involved myself with recurrent themes that turn into paradox. The central paradox concerns the human vision of time. What about Paul's gift of prescience - the Presbyterian fixation? For the Delphic Oracle to perform, it must tangle itself in a web of predestination. Yet predestination negates surprises and, in fact, sets up a mathematically enclosed universe whose limits are always inconsistent, always encountering the unprovable. It's like a koan, a Zen mind breaker. It's like the Cretan Epimenides saying, "All Cretans are liars."}}

Brian Herbert called the Dune universe "a spiritual melting pot", noting that his father incorporated elements of a variety of religions, including Buddhism, Sufi mysticism and other Islamic belief systems, Catholicism, Protestantism, Judaism, and Hinduism.{{cite book |last=Herbert |first=Frank |title=Dune |chapter=Afterword by Brian Herbert |year=1965 |edition=Kindle |publisher=Penguin Group |page=873}} He added that Frank Herbert's fictional future in which "religious beliefs have combined into interesting forms" represents the author's solution to eliminating arguments between religions, each of which claimed to have "the one and only revelation."{{cite web |quote=During my studies of deserts, of course, and previous studies of religions, we all know that many religions began in a desert atmosphere, so I decided to put the two together because I don't think that any one story should have any one thread. I build on a layer technique, and of course putting in religion and religious ideas you can play one against the other. |first=Frank |last=Herbert |author-link=Frank Herbert |url=http://www.sinanvural.com/seksek/inien/tvd/tvd2.htm |title=Interview with Dr. Willis E. McNelly |date=February 3, 1969 |publisher=Sinanvural.com |access-date=January 26, 2010 |archive-date=February 13, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020213105526/http://www.sinanvural.com/seksek/inien/tvd/tvd2.htm |url-status=live }}

Tim O'Reilly suggests that Herbert also wrote Dune as a counterpoint to Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. In his monograph on Frank Herbert, O'Reilly wrote that "Dune is clearly a commentary on the Foundation trilogy. Herbert has taken a look at the same imaginative situation that provoked Asimov's classic—the decay of a galactic empire—and restated it in a way that draws on different assumptions and suggests radically different conclusions. The twist he has introduced into Dune is that the Mule, not the Foundation, is his hero."{{cite book|url=https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/ch05.html|title=Frank Herbert|first=Tim|last=O'Reilly|chapter=Chapter 5: Rogue Gods|access-date=May 15, 2020|via=oreilly.com|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107074914/https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/ch05.html|url-status=live}} According to O'Reilly, Herbert bases the Bene Gesserit on the scientific shamans of the Foundation, though they use biological rather than statistical science. In contrast to the Foundation series and its praise of science and rationality, Dune proposes that the unconscious and unexpected are actually what are needed for humanity.

Both Herbert and Asimov explore the implications of prescience (i.e., visions of the future) both psychologically and socially. The Foundation series deploys a broadly determinist approach to prescient vision rooted in mathematical reasoning on a macroscopic social level. Dune, by contrast, invents a biologically rooted power of prescience that becomes determinist when the user actively relies on it to navigate past an undefined threshold of detail. Herbert's eugenically produced and spice-enhanced prescience is also personalized to individual actors whose roles in later books constrain each other's visions, rendering the future more or less mutable as time progresses. In what might be a comment on Foundation, Herbert's most powerfully prescient being in God Emperor of Dune laments the boredom engendered by prescience, and values surprises, especially regarding one's death, as a psychological necessity.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

However, both works contain a similar theme of the restoration of civilization{{Cite journal|last=Grigsby|first=John L.|date=1981|title=Asimov's "Foundation" Trilogy and Herbert's "Dune" Trilogy: A Vision Reversed (La Trilogie de "Fondation" chez Asimov et la trilogie de "Dune" chez Herbert: une vision inversée)|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4239405|journal=Science Fiction Studies|volume=8|issue=2|pages=149–155|jstor=4239405|issn=0091-7729|access-date=October 14, 2021|archive-date=October 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211030040131/https://www.jstor.org/stable/4239405|url-status=live}} and seem to make the fundamental assumption that "political maneuvering, the need to control material resources, and friendship or mating bonds will be fundamentally the same in the future as they are now."{{Cite book|last=Riggs|first=Don|title=Spectrum of the Fantastic: Selected Essays from the Sixth International Conference on the Fantastic in the Arts|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=1988|isbn=978-0-313-25502-1|editor-last=Palumbo|editor-first=Donald|chapter=Future and “Progress” in Foundation and Dune}}

Dune tied with Roger Zelazny's This Immortal for the Hugo Award in 1966{{cite web|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1966-hugo-awards/|title=The Hugo Awards: 1966|website=TheHugoAwards.org|date=July 26, 2007|publisher=World Science Fiction Society|access-date=March 8, 2011|archive-date=May 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516124347/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/1966-hugo-awards/|url-status=live}} and won the inaugural Nebula Award for Best Novel.{{cite web|url=http://www.nebulaawards.com/index.php/awards/nebulas/P40/ |title=1965 Nebula Awards |publisher=NebulaAwards.com |access-date=March 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051217043400/http://nebulaawards.com/awards/archive/pastwin.htm |archive-date=December 17, 2005 |url-status=dead }} Reviews of the novel have been largely positive, and Dune is considered by some critics to be the best science fiction book ever written.{{Cite book |author=Frans Johansson |title=The Medici effect: breakthrough insights at the intersection of ideas, concepts, and cultures |publisher=Harvard Business School Press |location=Boston, Mass |year=2004 |page=[https://archive.org/details/medicieffect00fran/page/78 78] |isbn=978-1-59139-186-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/medicieffect00fran/page/78 }} The novel has been translated into dozens of languages, and has sold almost 20 million copies.{{cite web |url=http://us.macmillan.com/mobile/author/frankherbert |title=Frank Herbert |access-date=April 9, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112153604/http://us.macmillan.com/mobile/author/frankherbert |archive-date=January 12, 2016|publisher=Macmillan |quote=Today the novel is more popular than ever...It has been translated into dozens of languages and has sold almost 20 million copies}} Dune has been regularly cited as one of the world's best-selling science fiction novels.{{Cite book|last=Touponce |first=William F. |year=1988 |title=Frank Herbert |chapter=Herbert's Reputation |location=Boston, Massachusetts|publisher=Twayne Publishers imprint, G. K. Hall & Co|page=119 |isbn=978-0-8057-7514-3|quote=Locus ran a poll of readers on April 15, 1975, in which Dune 'was voted the all-time best science-fiction novel … It has sold over ten million copies in numerous editions.'}}{{cite web| title=SCI FI Channel Auction to Benefit Reading Is Fundamental | url=http://pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=4302 |date=March 18, 2003 |publisher=PNNonline.org (Internet Archive)|quote=Since its debut in 1965, Frank Herbert's Dune has sold over 12 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling science fiction novel of all time ... Frank Herbert's Dune saga is one of the greatest 20th Century contributions to literature.|access-date=September 28, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928005501/http://pnnonline.org/article.php?sid=4302 |archive-date = September 28, 2007}}

Arthur C. Clarke described Dune as "unique" and wrote, "I know nothing comparable to it except The Lord of the Rings."{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0441013597/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books |title=Dune 40th Anniversary Edition: Editorial Reviews |date=August 2, 2005 |isbn=978-0-441-01359-3 |access-date=January 26, 2010 |via=Amazon.com |last1=Herbert |first1=Frank |publisher=Penguin |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531174238/https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0441013597/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books |url-status=live }} Robert A. Heinlein described the novel as "powerful, convincing, and most ingenious."{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RxxwnkPHlfEC&q=Praise%20for%20the%20Dune%20Chronicles|title=Children of Dune|chapter=Praise for the Dune Chronicles|first=Frank|last=Herbert|date=1976|edition=2008|publisher=Penguin Publishing Group|isbn=978-1-4406-3051-4|access-date=May 24, 2020|archive-date=April 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408035258/https://books.google.com/books?id=RxxwnkPHlfEC&q=Praise%20for%20the%20Dune%20Chronicles|url-status=live}} It was described as "one of the monuments of modern science fiction" by the Chicago Tribune, and P. Schuyler Miller called Dune "one of the landmarks of modern science fiction ... an amazing feat of creation." The Washington Post described it as "a portrayal of an alien society more complete and deeply detailed than any other author in the field has managed ... a story absorbing equally for its action and philosophical vistas ... An astonishing science fiction phenomenon." Algis Budrys praised Dune for the vividness of its imagined setting, saying "The time lives. It breathes, it speaks, and Herbert has smelt it in his nostrils". He found that the novel, however, "turns flat and tails off at the end. ... [T]ruly effective villains simply simper and melt; fierce men and cunning statesmen and seeresses all bend before this new Messiah". Budrys faulted in particular Herbert's decision to kill Paul's infant son offstage, with no apparent emotional impact, saying "you cannot be so busy saving a world that you cannot hear an infant shriek".{{Cite magazine

|last=Budrys

|first=Algis

|date=April 1966

|title=Galaxy Bookshelf

|url=https://archive.org/stream/Galaxy_v24n04_1966-04#page/n33/mode/1up

|magazine=Galaxy Science Fiction

|pages=67–75

}} After criticizing unrealistic science fiction, Carl Sagan in 1978 listed Dune as among stories "that are so tautly constructed, so rich in the accommodating details of an unfamiliar society that they sweep me along before I have even a chance to be critical".{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/28/archives/growing-up-with.html |title=Growing up with Science Fiction |last=Sagan |first=Carl |date=May 28, 1978 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 12, 2018 |page=SM7 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211180058/https://www.nytimes.com/1978/05/28/archives/growing-up-with.html |url-status=live }}

The Louisville Times wrote, "Herbert's creation of this universe, with its intricate development and analysis of ecology, religion, politics, and philosophy, remains one of the supreme and seminal achievements in science fiction." Writing for The New Yorker, Jon Michaud praised Herbert's "clever authorial decision" to exclude robots and computers ("two staples of the genre") from his fictional universe, but suggested that this may be one explanation why Dune lacks "true fandom among science-fiction fans" to the extent that it "has not penetrated popular culture in the way that The Lord of the Rings and Star Wars have".{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/dune-endures |title=Dune Endures |first=Jon |last=Michaud |magazine=The New Yorker |date=July 12, 2013 |access-date=August 18, 2015 |archive-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150822023640/http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/dune-endures |url-status=live }} Tamara I. Hladik wrote that the story "crafts a universe where lesser novels promulgate excuses for sequels. All its rich elements are in balance and plausible—not the patchwork confederacy of made-up languages, contrived customs, and meaningless histories that are the hallmark of so many other, lesser novels."{{cite web|url=http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue42/classic.html |title=Classic Sci-Fi Reviews: Dune|first=Tamara I.|last=Hladik|publisher=SciFi.com|access-date=April 20, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080420150907/http://www.scifi.com/sfw/issue42/classic.html |archive-date = April 20, 2008}}

On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed Dune on its list of the 100 most influential novels.

J. R. R. Tolkien refused to review Dune, on the grounds that he disliked it "with some intensity" and thus felt it would be unfair to Herbert, another working author, if he gave an honest review of the book.Cilli, Oronzo 2019, Tolkien's Library: An Annotated Checklist. Luna Press Publishing (August 8, 2019)

The first edition of Dune is one of the most valuable in science fiction book collecting. Copies have been sold for more than $20,000 at auction.{{Cite web|url=https://historical.ha.com/itm/books/first-editions/frank-herbert-dune-first-edition-philadelphia-chilton-books-1965-first-edition-first-printing-412/a/658-26228.s|title=Frank Herbert: Dune First Edition. (Philadelphia: Chilton Books, | Lot #26228|website=Heritage Auctions|access-date=March 9, 2019|archive-date=November 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201113005538/https://historical.ha.com/itm/books/first-editions/frank-herbert-dune-first-edition-philadelphia-chilton-books-1965-first-edition-first-printing-412/a/658-26228.s|url-status=live}}

California State University, Fullerton's Pollak Library has several of Herbert's draft manuscripts of Dune and other works, with the author's notes, in their Frank Herbert Archives.{{cite web |url=http://libraryblogs.fullerton.edu/2014/02/27/remembering-science-fiction-author-frank-herbert-highlighting-his-archives-in-the-pollak-library/ |title=Remembering Science Fiction Author Frank Herbert: Highlighting His Archives In the Pollak Library |publisher=California State University, Fullerton |date=February 27, 2014 |access-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028200107/http://libraryblogs.fullerton.edu/2014/02/27/remembering-science-fiction-author-frank-herbert-highlighting-his-archives-in-the-pollak-library/ |url-status=live }}

{{see also|Dune (franchise)#Development and publication}}

After Dune proved to be a critical and financial success for Herbert, he was able to devote himself full time to writing additional novels in the series. He had already drafted parts of the second and third while writing Dune. The series included Dune Messiah (1969), Children of Dune (1976), God Emperor of Dune (1981), Heretics of Dune (1984), and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985), each sequentially continuing on the narrative from Dune. Herbert died on February 11, 1986.{{cite news |title=Frank Herbert, author of sci-fi best sellers, dies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-13feb1986-pit/4656607/ |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=February 13, 1986 |access-date=July 27, 2009 |archive-date=February 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216172036/https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-13feb1986-pit/4656607/ |url-status=live }}

Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, had found several thousand pages of notes left by his father that outlined ideas for other narratives related to Dune. Brian Herbert enlisted author Kevin J. Anderson to help build out prequel novels to the events of Dune. Brian Herbert's and Anderson's Dune prequels first started publication in 1999, and have led to additional stories that take place between those of Frank Herbert's books.{{cite web |url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19971117/35200-pw-bantam-pays-3m-for-dune-prequels-by-herbert-s-son.html |title=Bantam Pays $3M for Dune Prequels by Herbert's Son |date=November 17, 1997 |first=Judy |last=Quinn |work=Publishers Weekly |access-date=February 6, 2014 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090058/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/19971117/35200-pw-bantam-pays-3m-for-dune-prequels-by-herbert-s-son.html |url-status=live }} The notes for what would have been Dune 7 also enabled them to publish Hunters of Dune (2006) and Sandworms of Dune (2007), sequels to Frank Herbert's final novel Chapterhouse: Dune, which complete the chronological progression of his original series, and wrap up storylines that began in Heretics of Dune.

{{Further|Dune (franchise)#In other media}}

Dune has been considered an "unfilmable" and "uncontainable" work to adapt from novel to film or other visual medium.{{Cite magazine|first=Sarah|last=Kurchak|title=Why Frank Herbert's Dune Has Proved So Hard to Adapt|magazine=Time|url=https://time.com/6108404/dune-adaptations/|language=en|date=October 20, 2021|access-date=October 31, 2021|quote=Lynch's Dune was widely panned in its time.|archive-date=October 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020181221/https://time.com/6108404/dune-adaptations/|url-status=live}} Described by Wired, "It has four appendices and a glossary of its own gibberish, and its action takes place on two planets, one of which is a desert overrun by worms the size of airport runways. Lots of important people die or try to kill each other, and they're all tethered to about eight entangled subplots."{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/story/the-dune-legacy/ | title = Spice World: WIRED Traces the Dune Legacy | date = September 28, 2021 | access-date = September 28, 2021 | magazine = Wired | archive-date = September 28, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210928110756/https://www.wired.com/story/the-dune-legacy/ | url-status = live }} There have been several attempts to achieve this difficult conversion with various degrees of success.{{cite web | url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/27/denis-villeneuve-dune-david-lynch-alejandro-jodorowsky | title = Will Denis Villeneuve's Dune finally succeed where others failed? | first = Ben | last = Child | date = August 27, 2021 | access-date = September 28, 2021 | work = The Guardian | archive-date = August 27, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210827131928/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/aug/27/denis-villeneuve-dune-david-lynch-alejandro-jodorowsky | url-status = live }}

In 1971, the production company Apjac International (APJ) (headed by Arthur P. Jacobs) optioned the rights to film Dune. As Jacobs was busy with other projects, such as the sequel to Planet of the Apes, Dune was delayed for another year. Jacobs' first choice for director was David Lean, but he turned down the offer. Charles Jarrott was also considered to direct. Work was also under way on a script while the hunt for a director continued. Initially, the first treatment had been handled by Robert Greenhut, the producer who had lobbied Jacobs to make the movie in the first place, but subsequently Rospo Pallenberg was approached to write the script, with shooting scheduled to begin in 1974. However, Jacobs died in 1973.{{cite web |url=http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/timeline.asp |title=Dune: Book to Screen Timeline |publisher=Duneinfo.com |access-date=January 18, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517163719/http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/timeline.asp |archive-date=May 17, 2011 }}

File:Jodorowskys Dune.jpg

In December 1974, a French consortium led by Jean-Paul Gibon purchased the film rights from APJ, with Alejandro Jodorowsky set to direct.{{cite web |url=http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/jodorowsky/ |title=Dune: Le Film Que Vous Ne Verrez Jamais (Dune: The Film You Will Never See) |first=Alejandro |last=Jodorowsky |work=Métal Hurlant |issue=107 |year=1985 |publisher=DuneInfo.com |access-date=February 8, 2014 |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000125/http://www.duneinfo.com/unseen/jodorowsky/ |url-status=live }} In 1975, Jodorowsky planned to film the story as a 3-hour feature, set to star his own son Brontis Jodorowsky in the lead role of Paul Atreides, Salvador Dalí as Shaddam IV, Padishah Emperor, Amanda Lear as Princess Irulan, Orson Welles as Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, Gloria Swanson as Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, David Carradine as Duke Leto Atreides, Geraldine Chaplin as Lady Jessica, Alain Delon as Duncan Idaho, Hervé Villechaize as Gurney Halleck, Udo Kier as Piter De Vries, and Mick Jagger as Feyd-Rautha. It was at first proposed to score the film with original music by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Henry Cow, and Magma; later on, the soundtrack was to be provided by Pink Floyd.Chris Cutler, book included with Henry Cow 40th Anniversary CD box set (2008) Jodorowsky set up a pre-production unit in Paris consisting of Chris Foss, a British artist who designed covers for science fiction periodicals, Jean Giraud (Moebius), a French illustrator who created and also wrote and drew for Metal Hurlant magazine, and H. R. Giger. Moebius began designing creatures and characters for the film, while Foss was brought in to design the film's space ships and hardware. Giger began designing the Harkonnen Castle based on Moebius's storyboards. Dan O'Bannon was to head the special effects department.

Dalí was cast as the Emperor. Dalí later demanded to be paid $100,000 per hour; Jodorowsky agreed, but tailored Dalí's part to be filmed in one hour, drafting plans for other scenes of the emperor to use a mechanical mannequin as substitute for Dalí. According to Giger, Dalí was "later invited to leave the film because of his pro-Franco statements".Falk, Gaby (ed). HR GIGER Arh+. Taschen, 2001, p.52 Just as the storyboards, designs, and script were finished, the financial backing dried up. Frank Herbert traveled to Europe in 1976 to find that $2 million of the $9.5 million budget had already been spent in pre-production, and that Jodorowsky's script would result in a 14-hour movie ("It was the size of a phone book", Herbert later recalled). Jodorowsky took creative liberties with the source material, but Herbert said that he and Jodorowsky had an amicable relationship. Jodorowsky said in 1985 that he found the Dune story mythical and had intended to re-create it rather than adapt the novel; though he had an "enthusiastic admiration" for Herbert, Jodorowsky said he had done everything possible to distance the author and his input from the project. Although Jodorowsky was embittered by the experience, he said the Dune project changed his life, and some of the ideas were used in his and Moebius's The Incal.{{Cite web|last=Kalder|first=Daniel|date=January 25, 2011|title=Alejandro Jodorowsky's dance on the edge of meaning|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2011/jan/25/alejandro-jodorowsky|access-date=July 28, 2020|website=The Guardian}} O'Bannon entered a psychiatric hospital after the production failed, then worked on 13 scripts, the last of which became Alien. A 2013 documentary, Jodorowsky's Dune, was made about Jodorowsky's failed attempt at an adaptation.

In 1976, Dino De Laurentiis acquired the rights from Gibon's consortium. De Laurentiis commissioned Herbert to write a new screenplay in 1978; the script Herbert turned in was 175 pages long, the equivalent of nearly three hours of screen time. De Laurentiis then hired director Ridley Scott in 1979, with Rudy Wurlitzer writing the screenplay and H. R. Giger retained from the Jodorowsky production; Scott and Giger had also just worked together on the film Alien, after O'Bannon recommended the artist."The Visualists: Direction and Design", The Beast Within: The Making of Alien.{{cite book |last=McIntee |first=David |author-link=David A. McIntee |title=Beautiful Monsters: The Unofficial and Unauthorized Guide to the Alien and Predator Films |publisher=Telos Publishing |year=2005 |location=Surrey |page=27 |isbn=978-1-903889-94-7}} Scott intended to split the novel into two movies. He worked on three drafts of the script, using The Battle of Algiers as a point of reference, before moving on to direct another science fiction film, Blade Runner (1982). As he recalls, the pre-production process was slow, and finishing the project would have been even more time-intensive:

But after seven months I dropped out of Dune, by then Rudy Wurlitzer had come up with a first-draft script which I felt was a decent distillation of Frank Herbert's. But I also realised Dune was going to take a lot more work—at least two and a half years' worth. And I didn't have the heart to attack that because my older brother Frank unexpectedly died of cancer while I was prepping the De Laurentiis picture. Frankly, that freaked me out. So I went to Dino and told him the Dune script was his.

:—From Ridley Scott: The Making of his Movies by Paul M. Sammon

A draft of the screenplay for the Scott version was discovered in 2024 in the Wheaton College archives.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/ridley-scotts-lost-dune-script-found-i-dont-think-it-wouldve-made-fans-happy | first = Max | last = Evry | title = Ridley Scott's Lost Dune Script Found: 'I Don't Think It Would've Made Fans Happy' | date = December 13, 2024 | accessdate = December 13, 2024 | work = IGN }}

{{main|Dune (1984 film)}}

In 1981, the nine-year film rights were set to expire. De Laurentiis re-negotiated the rights from the author, adding to them the rights to the Dune sequels (written and unwritten). After seeing The Elephant Man, De Laurentiis' daughter Raffaella decided that David Lynch should direct the movie. Around that time Lynch received several other directing offers, including Return of the Jedi. He agreed to direct Dune and write the screenplay even though he had not read the book, was not familiar with the story, or even been interested in science fiction.Cinefantastique, September 1984 (Vol 14, No 4 & 5 – Double issue). Lynch worked on the script for six months with Eric Bergren and Christopher De Vore. The team yielded two drafts of the script before it split over creative differences. Lynch would subsequently work on five more drafts. Production of the work was troubled by problems at the Mexican studio and hampering the film's timeline.{{cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/04/movies/the-world-of-dune-is-filmed-in-mexico.html | title = The World Of 'Dune' Is Filmed In Mexico | first = Aljean | last = Harmetz | date = September 4, 1983 | access-date = October 31, 2021 | work = The New York Times | archive-date = November 1, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211101030112/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/09/04/movies/the-world-of-dune-is-filmed-in-mexico.html | url-status = live }} Lynch ended up producing a nearly three-hour long film, but at demands from Universal Pictures, the film's distributor, he cut it back to about two hours, hastily filming additional scenes to make up for some of the cut footage.{{cite web | url = https://gizmodo.com/the-story-of-dune-david-lynch-and-hollywoods-most-not-1843885321 | title = The Story of Dune, David Lynch, and Hollywood's Most Notorious Pseudonym | first = Eleanor | last = Fye | date = June 8, 2020 | access-date = October 31, 2021 | work = Gizmodo | archive-date = September 29, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210929133414/https://gizmodo.com/the-story-of-dune-david-lynch-and-hollywoods-most-not-1843885321 | url-status = live }}

This first film of Dune, directed by Lynch, was released in 1984, nearly 20 years after the book's publication. Though Herbert said the book's depth and symbolism seemed to intimidate many filmmakers, he was pleased with the film, saying that "They've got it. It begins as Dune does. And I hear my dialogue all the way through. There are some interpretations and liberties, but you're gonna come out knowing you've seen Dune."{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088153,00.html|last=Rozen|first=Leah|title=With Another Best-Seller and An Upcoming Film, Dune Is Busting Out All Over For Frank Herbert|date=June 25, 1984|website=People|volume=21|issue=25|pages=129–130|access-date=March 21, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205402/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20088153,00.html|url-status=live}} Reviews of the film were negative, saying that it was incomprehensible to those unfamiliar with the book, and that fans would be disappointed by the way it strayed from the book's plot.Feeney, Mark. "Screen of dreams." The Boston Globe. (December 16, 2007) p. N12.{{Cite web|title=The Messy, Misunderstood Glory of David Lynch's Dune|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/03/the-messy-misunderstood-glory-of-david-lynchs-em-dune-em/284316/|website=The Atlantic|date=March 14, 2014|language=en|access-date=October 31, 2021|quote=The deeply flawed film version of Frank Herbert's novel was universally hated when it premiered 30 years ago...|archive-date=March 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314222520/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/03/the-messy-misunderstood-glory-of-david-lynchs-em-dune-em/284316/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|first=Johnny|last=Oleksinski|title=David Lynch's 1984 'Dune' is still the stuff of migraines|url=https://nypost.com/2021/10/21/david-lynchs-1984-dune-is-still-the-stuff-of-migraines/|website=New York Post|language=en|date=October 21, 2021|access-date=October 31, 2021|archive-date=October 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021232606/https://nypost.com/2021/10/21/david-lynchs-1984-dune-is-still-the-stuff-of-migraines/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Dune|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dune|website=Metacritic|language=en|access-date=October 30, 2021|archive-date=October 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005002159/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dune|url-status=live}} Upon release for television and other forms of home media, Universal opted to reintroduce much of the footage that Lynch had cut, creating an over-three-hour long version with extensive monologue exposition. Lynch was extremely displeased with this move, and demanded that Universal replace his name on these cuts with the pseudonym "Alan Smithee", and has generally distanced himself from the film since.

{{main|Frank Herbert's Dune}}

In 2000, John Harrison adapted the novel into Frank Herbert's Dune, a miniseries that premiered on the Sci-Fi Channel. As of 2004, the miniseries was one of the three highest-rated programs broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070703213605/http://www.digitalwebbing.com/interviews/042104_anderson.html Kevin J. Anderson Interview ~ DigitalWebbing.com] (2004) Internet Archive, July 3, 2007.

In 2008, Paramount Pictures announced that they would produce a new film based on the book, with Peter Berg attached to direct.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/features/berg-to-direct-dune-for-paramount-1117982560/|title=Berg to direct Dune for Paramount|first=Tatiana|last=Siegel|website=Variety|date=March 18, 2008|access-date=February 15, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215215735/https://variety.com/2008/film/features/berg-to-direct-dune-for-paramount-1117982560/|url-status=live}} Producer Kevin Misher, who spent a year securing the rights from the Herbert estate, was to be joined by Richard Rubinstein and John Harrison (of both Sci-Fi Channel miniseries) as well as Sarah Aubrey and Mike Messina. The producers stated that they were going for a "faithful adaptation" of the novel and considered "its theme of finite ecological resources particularly timely". Science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson and Frank Herbert's son Brian Herbert, who had together written multiple Dune sequels and prequels since 1999, were attached to the project as technical advisors.{{cite web|last=Neuman |first=Clayton |date=August 17, 2009 |url=http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/08/brian-herbert-interview.php |title=Winds of Dune Author Brian Herbert on Flipping the Myth of Jihad |publisher=AMCtv.com |access-date=August 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921011119/http://blogs.amctv.com/scifi-scanner/2009/08/brian-herbert-interview.php |archive-date=September 21, 2009 }} In October 2009, Berg dropped out of the project, later saying that it "for a variety of reasons wasn't the right thing" for him.{{cite web|url=http://www.latinoreview.com/news/special-preview-el-guapo-spends-a-day-on-a-navy-destroyer-for-peter-berg-s-battleship-8681|title=Special Preview: El Guapo Spends A Day On A Navy Destroyer For Peter Berg's Battleship!|first=George|last=Roush|publisher=LatinoReview.com|date=December 1, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2010|archive-date=June 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628015542/http://www.latinoreview.com/news/special-preview-el-guapo-spends-a-day-on-a-navy-destroyer-for-peter-berg-s-battleship-8681|url-status=live}} Subsequently, with a script draft by Joshua Zetumer, Paramount reportedly sought a new director who could do the film for under $175 million.{{cite web|url=http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/dune-remake-update.php|title=Pajiba Exclusive: An Update on the Dune Remake|first=Dustin|last=Rowles|publisher=Pajiba.com|date=October 27, 2009|access-date=January 5, 2010|archive-date=October 30, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030165116/http://www.pajiba.com/trade_news/dune-remake-update.php|url-status=dead}} In 2010, Pierre Morel was signed on to direct, with screenwriter Chase Palmer incorporating Morel's vision of the project into Zetumer's original draft.{{cite magazine|url=http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/01/04/dune-remake/ |title=Dune remake back on track with director Pierre Morel |last=Sperling |first=Nicole |date=January 4, 2010 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=January 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114042042/http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/01/04/dune-remake/ |archive-date=January 14, 2010 }}[http://screencrave.com/2010-02-11/dune-remake-lands-new-screenwriter Dune Remake Lands New Screenwriter] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810053208/http://screencrave.com/2010-02-11/dune-remake-lands-new-screenwriter/ |date=August 10, 2011 }}, Screen Crave, February 11, 2010 By November 2010, Morel left the project.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2010/11/sands-of-time-running-short-for-paramounts-dune-adaptation-82546/ |title=Sands of Time Running Out For New Dune |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Mike |last=Fleming |date=November 8, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2010 |archive-date=December 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222194241/http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/sands-of-time-running-short-for-paramounts-dune-adaptation/ |url-status=live }} Paramount finally dropped plans for a remake in March 2011.{{cite news | first=Simon | last=Reynolds | date=March 23, 2011 | title=Dune remake dropped by Paramount | work=Digital Spy | url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a310618/dune-remake-dropped-by-paramount.html | access-date=March 24, 2011 | archive-date=September 24, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015642/http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a310618/dune-remake-dropped-by-paramount.html | url-status=live }}

{{main|Dune (2021 film)|Dune: Part Two}}

In November 2016, Legendary Entertainment acquired the film and TV rights for Dune.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2016/11/dune-frank-herbert-sci-fi-novel-legendary-rights-acquisition-1201858221/ |title=Legendary Acquires Frank Herbert's Classic Sci-Fi Novel Dune For Film And TV |first=Anita |last=Busch |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222045356/http://deadline.com/2016/11/dune-frank-herbert-sci-fi-novel-legendary-rights-acquisition-1201858221/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/legendary-dune-frank-herbert-1201923648/ |title=Legendary Lands Rights to Classic Sci-Fi Novel Dune |work=Variety |first=Justin |last=Kroll |date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=November 27, 2016 |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222044604/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/legendary-dune-frank-herbert-1201923648/ |url-status=live }} Variety reported in December 2016 that Denis Villeneuve was in negotiations to direct the project,{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-reboot-legendary-pictures-1201929280/ |title=Blade Runner 2049 Helmer Denis Villeneuve Eyed to Direct Dune Reboot |work=Variety |first=Justin |last=Kroll |date=December 21, 2016 |access-date=December 21, 2016 |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222065624/http://variety.com/2016/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-reboot-legendary-pictures-1201929280/ |url-status=live }} which was confirmed in February 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/02/01/official-dune-reboot-legendary-pictures-director/ |title=It's Official: The Dune Reboot Has Found Its Director |publisher=Bleeding Cool |first=Bill |last=Watters |date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=February 1, 2017 |archive-date=January 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107151653/https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/02/01/official-dune-reboot-legendary-pictures-director/ |url-status=live }} In April 2017, Legendary announced that Eric Roth would write the screenplay.{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Forrest Gump Writer Eric Roth to Pen Denis Villeneuve's Dune Reboot|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/dune-reboot-writer-eric-roth-denis-villeneuve-1201998001/|access-date=July 21, 2017|work=Variety|date=April 5, 2017|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215012243/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/dune-reboot-writer-eric-roth-denis-villeneuve-1201998001/|url-status=live}} Villeneuve explained in March 2018 that his adaptation will be split into two films, with the first installment scheduled to begin production in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/denis-villeneuve-says-hes-now-making-two-dune-movies-1823660070|title=Denis Villeneuve says he's now making two Dune movies, actually|first=William|last=Hughes|website=The A.V. Club|date=March 9, 2018|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=May 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528051313/https://www.avclub.com/denis-villeneuve-says-hes-now-making-two-dune-movies-1823660070|url-status=live}} Casting includes Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides,{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/dune-star-timothee-chalamet-also-loves-the-david-lynch-1829369935|title=Dune star Timothée Chalamet also loves the David Lynch version|first=Randall|last=Colburn|website=The A.V. Club|date=September 27, 2018|access-date=September 28, 2018|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927230034/https://news.avclub.com/dune-star-timothee-chalamet-also-loves-the-david-lynch-1829369935|url-status=live}} Dave Bautista as Rabban, Stellan Skarsgård as Baron Harkonnen,{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/stellan-skarsg-play-villain-legendarys-dune-1174870 | title = Stellan Skarsgard to Play Villain in Legendary's Dune | first = Borys | last = Kit | date = January 9, 2019 | access-date = January 9, 2019 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date = April 17, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210417082200/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/stellan-skarsg-play-villain-legendarys-dune-1174870 | url-status = live }} Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica,{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rebecca-ferguson-talks-star-denis-villeneuves-dune-1140223 | title = Rebecca Ferguson in Talks to Star in Denis Villeneuve's Dune | first = Borys | last = Kit | date = September 5, 2018 | access-date = January 16, 2019 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date = September 6, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180906210447/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/rebecca-ferguson-talks-star-denis-villeneuves-dune-1140223 | url-status = live }} Charlotte Rampling as Reverend Mother Mohiam,{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/charlotte-rampling-joins-timothee-chalamet-dune-1176429 | title = Charlotte Rampling Joins Timothee Chalamet in Dune | first = Borys | last = Kit | date = January 15, 2019 | access-date = January 16, 2019 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date = January 30, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190130183639/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/charlotte-rampling-joins-timothee-chalamet-dune-1176429 | url-status = live }} Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto Atreides,{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dune-movie-casts-oscar-isaac-1180655 | title = Oscar Isaac Joining Denis Villeneuve's Dune | first1 = Borys | last1 = Kit | first2 = Aaron | last2 = Couch | date = January 29, 2019 | access-date = January 30, 2019 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date = January 30, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190130053632/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dune-movie-casts-oscar-isaac-1180655 | url-status = live }} Zendaya as Chani,{{cite web | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dune-movie-zendaya-early-talks-star-1181245 | title = Zendaya Circling Denis Villeneuve's Dune | first = Mia | last = Galuppo | date = January 30, 2019 | access-date = January 30, 2019 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | archive-date = January 31, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190131145217/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dune-movie-zendaya-early-talks-star-1181245 | url-status = live }} Javier Bardem as Stilgar,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/javier-bardem-dune-reboot-1203126074/|title=Javier Bardem Joins Timothee Chalamet in Dune Reboot|first=Justin|last=Kroll|work=Variety|date=February 1, 2019|access-date=February 1, 2019|archive-date=February 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201210518/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/javier-bardem-dune-reboot-1203126074/|url-status=live}} Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck,{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/josh-brolin-dune-reboot-1203138493/|title=Josh Brolin Joins Timothee Chalamet in Star-Studded Dune Reboot|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Variety|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 13, 2019|archive-date=February 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214145013/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/josh-brolin-dune-reboot-1203138493/|url-status=live}} Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho,{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jason-momoa-dune-reboot-legendary-1203140272/|title=Jason Momoa Joins Timothee Chalamet, Javier Bardem in Dune Reboot|first=Justin|last=Kroll|website=Variety|date=February 14, 2019|access-date=February 14, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215032347/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jason-momoa-dune-reboot-legendary-1203140272/|url-status=live}} David Dastmalchian as Piter De Vries,{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/legendary-dune-david-dastmalchian-1202560175/|title=Legendary's Dune Film Adds Ant-Man and the Wasp Actor David Dastmalchian|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Amanda|last=N'Duka|date=February 19, 2019|access-date=February 19, 2019|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063048/https://deadline.com/2019/02/legendary-dune-david-dastmalchian-1202560175/|url-status=live}} Chang Chen as Dr. Yueh,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chang-chen-cast-legendarys-dune-movie-1195239|title=Chang Chen Joining Denis Villeneuve's Dune|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Aaron|last=Couch|date=March 17, 2019|access-date=March 17, 2019|archive-date=March 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319123430/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/chang-chen-cast-legendarys-dune-movie-1195239|url-status=live}} and Stephen Henderson as Thufir Hawat.{{cite web | url = https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/behold-dune-an-exclusive-look-at-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-oscar-isaac | title = Behold Dune: An Exclusive Look at Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and More | first = Anthony | last = Breznican | date = April 14, 2020 | access-date = April 14, 2020 | work = Vanity Fair | archive-date = April 14, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200414123142/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/behold-dune-an-exclusive-look-at-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-oscar-isaac | url-status = live }} Warner Bros. Pictures distributed the film, which had its initial premiere on September 3, 2021, at the Venice Film Festival,{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venice-film-festival-2021-dune-films-red-carpet-1234972195/ |title=Venice Fest Prepares to Roll Out Red Carpet for Full-Fledged Physical Edition (Exclusive) |last=Vivarelli |first=Nick |website=Variety |date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514181308/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venice-film-festival-2021-dune-films-red-carpet-1234972195/ |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |url-status=live}} and wide release in both theaters and streaming on HBO Max on October 21, 2021, as part of Warner Bros.'s approach to handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the film industry.{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/dune-set-to-premiere-on-hbo-max-one-day-early | title = Dune Set to Premiere on HBO Max One Day Early | first = Adam | last = Bankhurst | date = October 17, 2021 | access-date = October 17, 2021 | work = IGN | archive-date = October 18, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211018045820/https://www.ign.com/articles/dune-set-to-premiere-on-hbo-max-one-day-early | url-status = live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/05/dune-release-confusion-hbo-max-streaming-1234638388/ |title=Dune Release Confusion: Warner Bros. Says Denis Villeneuve's Epic Still Set for HBO Max Plan |last=Sharf |first=Zack |website=IndieWire |date=May 18, 2021 |access-date=May 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518173413/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/05/dune-release-confusion-hbo-max-streaming-1234638388/ |archive-date=May 18, 2021 |url-status=live}} The film received "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic.{{Cite web|title=Dune: Part One|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dune-part-one|website=Metacritic|language=en|access-date=October 30, 2021|archive-date=October 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026232003/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/dune-part-one|url-status=live}} It has gone on to win multiple awards and was named by the National Board of Review as one of the 10 best films of 2021, as well as the American Film Institute in their annual top 10 list.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/afi-top-films-tv-2021-dune-power-of-the-dog-succession-1234684338/|title=AFI's Top Films and TV of 2021 Include Dune, Power of the Dog, and Succession|date=December 8, 2021|access-date=January 21, 2022|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121231851/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/afi-top-films-tv-2021-dune-power-of-the-dog-succession-1234684338/|url-status=live}} The film went on to be nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning six, the most wins of the night for any film in contention.{{Cite web|url=https://www.space.com/dune-wins-6-oscars-academy-awards-2022|title=Dune wins 6 Oscars at Academy Awards|first=Jeff|last=Spry|date=March 28, 2022|website=Space.com|access-date=March 31, 2022|archive-date=March 31, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331171042/https://www.space.com/dune-wins-6-oscars-academy-awards-2022|url-status=live}}

A sequel, Dune: Part Two, was scheduled for release on November 3, 2023,{{Cite web |date=2023-05-03 |title=Dune: Part Two Trailer Promises More Action than Ever Before – The MuseVille |url=https://themuseville.com/dune-part-two-trailer-promises-more-action-than-ever-before/ |access-date=2023-05-12 |language=en-US |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512174326/https://themuseville.com/dune-part-two-trailer-promises-more-action-than-ever-before/ |url-status=dead }} but was released on March 1, 2024, due to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/dune-2-delayed-2024-strikes-1235703991/ | title='Dune: Part Two' Delayed to 2024 Amid Strikes | date=August 24, 2023 | access-date=August 25, 2023 | archive-date=August 25, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825142650/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/dune-2-delayed-2024-strikes-1235703991/ | url-status=live }} It had its world premiere at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square, London, on February 15, 2024, and opened in the United States on March 1. It received critical acclaim especially for its visual effects and has grossed over $711 million worldwide, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2024.

In 1993, Recorded Books Inc. released a 20-disc audiobook narrated by George Guidall. In 2007, Audio Renaissance released an audio book narrated by Simon Vance with some parts performed by Scott Brick, Orlagh Cassidy, Euan Morton, and other performers.

Dune has been widely influential, inspiring numerous novels, music, films, television, games, and comic books.{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Adam|title=Science Fiction|url=https://archive.org/details/sciencefiction00robe|url-access=limited|location=New York|publisher=Routledge|date=2000|pages=[https://archive.org/details/sciencefiction00robe/page/n95 85]–90|isbn=978-0-415-19204-0}} It is considered one of the most influential science fiction novels of all time, with numerous modern science fiction works owing their existence to Dune.{{cn|date=March 2025}} Dune has been referenced in numerous works of popular culture, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Chronicles of Riddick, The Kingkiller Chronicle and Futurama.{{cite web|last1=Bardinelli|first1=John|title=Dune at 50: Pop Culture Is Hooked on Spice|url=https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/dune-at-50-pop-culture-is-hooked-on-spice/|website=Barnes & Noble|access-date=April 13, 2020|date=April 30, 2015|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916102626/https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/sci-fi-fantasy/dune-at-50-pop-culture-is-hooked-on-spice/|url-status=live}} Dune was cited as a source of inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki's anime film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) for its post-apocalyptic world.{{cite book|title=Hayao Miyazaki Master of Japanese Animation|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|author=McCarthy, Helen|year=1999|pages=72–92|isbn=978-1-880656-41-9}}{{Cite web|title=Hayao Miyazaki. Exploring the early work of Japan's greatest animator {{!}} IIAS|url=https://www.iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/hayao-miyazaki-exploring-early-work-japans-greatest-animator|access-date=September 20, 2021|website=www.iias.asia|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031201403/https://www.iias.asia/the-newsletter/article/hayao-miyazaki-exploring-early-work-japans-greatest-animator|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=June 10, 2020|title=10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind|url=https://screenrant.com/facts-nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/|access-date=September 20, 2021|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=September 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920213116/https://screenrant.com/facts-nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=NAUSICAA & DUNE (JAPANESE ANIMATION NEWS & REVIEW, 7/91)|url=http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/oldstuff/naus-dune.html|access-date=September 20, 2021|website=www.nausicaa.net|archive-date=November 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211127170902/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/oldstuff/naus-dune.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Dazed|date=September 17, 2021|title=How Dune inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/54206/1/how-dune-inspired-hayao-miyazaki-s-nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind|access-date=September 20, 2021|website=Dazed|language=en|archive-date=September 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210919004412/https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/54206/1/how-dune-inspired-hayao-miyazaki-s-nausicaa-of-the-valley-of-the-wind|url-status=live}}

Dune was parodied in 1984's National Lampoon's Doon by Ellis Weiner, which William F. Touponce called "something of a tribute to Herbert's success on college campuses", noting that "the only other book to have been so honored is Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings," which was parodied by The Harvard Lampoon in 1969.{{cite book|last=Touponce|year=1988|title=Frank Herbert|chapter=Herbert's Reputation|page=119|publisher=Twayne Publishers |isbn=978-0-8057-7514-3}}

• In 1977, David Matthews became one of the first artists to dedicate an entire composition to Dune, publishing an album of the same name on CTI Records.{{Cite web |date=1977 |title=David Matthews - Dune |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/544208-David-Matthews-Dune |website=Discogs |access-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117174035/https://www.discogs.com/release/544208-David-Matthews-Dune |url-status=live }}
• In 1978, French electronic musician Richard Pinhas released the nine-track Dune-inspired album Chronolyse, which includes the seven-part Variations sur le thème des Bene Gesserit.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Richard-Pinhas-Chronolyse/release/1070353|title=Richard Pinhas – Chronolyse|date=September 21, 1978|publisher=Discogs|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312033837/https://www.discogs.com/Richard-Pinhas-Chronolyse/release/1070353|url-status=live}}
• In 1979, German electronic music pioneer Klaus Schulze released an LP titled Dune featuring motifs and lyrics inspired by the novel.{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Klaus-Schulze-Dune/release/868540|title=Klaus Schulze – Dune|date=September 21, 1979|publisher=Discogs|access-date=March 9, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312034145/https://www.discogs.com/Klaus-Schulze-Dune/release/868540|url-status=live}}
• A similar musical project, Visions of Dune, was released also in 1979 by Zed (a pseudonym of French electronic musician Bernard Sjazner).{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Zed-Visions-Of-Dune/release/2771879|title=Zed (5) – Visions Of Dune|date=September 21, 1979 |publisher=Discogs}}
• 1981 French zeuhl band Dün released their album Eros which was inspired by the Dune novel, also their band name Dün was a short form from their temporary name Dune.{{Cite web |title=Booklet CD Eros |url=https://musicbrainz.org/release/83c5c266-ed14-425d-ac9d-1b5613d33291/cover-art |publisher=Soleil Zeuhl |date=2000 |language=en, fr |access-date=2024-04-10 |archive-date=May 31, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240531174242/https://musicbrainz.org/release/83c5c266-ed14-425d-ac9d-1b5613d33291/cover-art |url-status=live }}
• Heavy metal band Iron Maiden wrote the song "To Tame a Land" based on the Dune story. It appears as the closing track to their 1983 album Piece of Mind. The original working title of the song was "Dune"; however, the band was denied permission to use it, with Frank Herbert's agents stating "Frank Herbert doesn't like rock bands, particularly heavy rock bands, and especially bands like Iron Maiden".{{cite book|author=Wall, Mick|title=Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills, the Authorised Biography (3rd ed.)|publisher=Sanctuary Publishing|year=2004|isbn=978-1-86074-542-3|page=244}}
• Dune inspired the German happy hardcore band Dune, who have released several albums with space travel-themed songs.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
• The progressive hardcore band Shai Hulud took their name from Dune.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-25 |title=Interview: Matt Fox (Shai Hulud, Zombie Apocalypse) |url=https://www.noecho.net/interviews/matt-fox-shai-hulud-zombie-apocalypse |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.noecho.net |language=en |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920040817/https://www.noecho.net/interviews/matt-fox-shai-hulud-zombie-apocalypse |url-status=live }}
• In 1988, New Zealand rock band Shihad chose their name based on "Jihad", the holy war scene from David Lynch's 1984 film.{{cite web |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/18-02-2023/twenty-one-years-ago-shihad-changed-their-name-then-all-hell-broke-loose |title=Twenty-one years ago, Shihad changed their name. Then all hell broke loose |work=The Spinoff |last=Schultz |first=Chris |date=February 18, 2023 |access-date=January 17, 2025}}
• "Traveller in Time", from the 1991 Blind Guardian album Tales from the Twilight World, is based mostly on Paul Atreides' visions of future and past.[https://archive.today/20120709111236/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200536 St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture by Craig T. Cobane] Retrieved July 12, 2008.[http://stason.org/TULARC/education-books/frank-herbert-dune/7-2-Has-Dune-inspired-other-music.html Has Dune inspired other music? – Stason.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616112430/http://stason.org/TULARC/education-books/frank-herbert-dune/7-2-Has-Dune-inspired-other-music.html |date=June 16, 2017 }} Retrieved July 12, 2008.
• The title of the 1993 Fear Factory album Fear is The Mindkiller is a quote from the "litany against fear".Album Fear is the Mindkiller by Burton C. Bell, Dino Cazares Retrieved September 10, 2020.
• The song "Near Fantastica", from the Matthew Good album Avalanche, makes reference to the "litany against fear", repeating "can't feel fear, fear's the mind killer" through a section of the song.{{cite web|url=http://www.justsomelyrics.com/503492/Matthew-Good-Near-Fantastica-Lyrics|title=Matthew Good Near Fantastica Lyrics|work=Justsomelyrics.com|access-date=August 29, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104013852/http://www.justsomelyrics.com/503492/Matthew-Good-Near-Fantastica-Lyrics|archive-date=November 4, 2015}}
• In the Fatboy Slim song "Weapon of Choice", the line "If you walk without rhythm/You won't attract the worm" is a near quotation from the sections of novel in which Stilgar teaches Paul to ride sandworms. Christopher Walken, who would later star in Dune: Part Two as Emperor Shaddam IV, appears in the music video.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/christopher-walken-dune-emperor-fatboy-slim-1352415|title=Christopher Walken Cast in Dune: Part Two, Just as Fatboy Slim Prophesied|last=Kreps|first=Daniel|date=May 12, 2022|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=March 17, 2024|archive-date=March 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240317105121/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/christopher-walken-dune-emperor-fatboy-slim-1352415/|url-status=live}}
• Dune also inspired the 1999 album The 2nd Moon by the German death metal band Golem, which is a concept album about the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.golem-metal.de/Downloads/Docs/download.php?file=Golem-1999-The2ndMoon.doc|title=Golem lyrics and info: The 2nd Moon (1999)|publisher=Golem-metal.de|access-date=July 10, 2009|archive-date=December 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221203445/http://www.golem-metal.de/Downloads/Docs/download.php?file=Golem-1999-The2ndMoon.doc|url-status=live}}
• The song "The Eyes of Ibad" from Panchiko's 2000 EP D>E>A>T>H>M>E>T>A>L, takes its name from Dune, referencing the blue-in-blue eyes of the Fremen.
• Dune influenced Thirty Seconds to Mars on their self-titled debut album.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022232229/http://www.marsdust.com/30stm.htm|archive-date=October 22, 2006|title=Space, symbols, and synth-rock imbue the metaphoric musical world of 30 Seconds To Mars|work=Mars Dust|publisher=Mysterian Media|last=Lowachee|first=Karin|author-link=Karin Lowachee|year=2003|url=http://www.marsdust.com/30stm.htm}}
• The Youngblood Brass Band's song "Is an Elegy" on Center:Level:Roar references "Muad'Dib", "Arrakis" and other elements from the novel.{{cite web|url=http://www.youngbloodbrassband.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000929173838/http://www.youngbloodbrassband.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2000|title=Re-Direct|publisher=Youngblood Brass Band|access-date=August 29, 2012}}
• The debut album of Canadian musician Grimes, called Geidi Primes, is a concept album based on Dune.{{cite web|first=Kevin EG|last=Perry|url=https://www.nme.com/features/our-album-of-the-year-winner-grimes-the-full-nme-cover-feature|title=Our Album Of The Year Winner Grimes – The Full NME Cover Feature|work=NME|publisher=IPC Media|date=December 4, 2015|access-date=September 6, 2016|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407190845/https://www.nme.com/features/our-album-of-the-year-winner-grimes-the-full-nme-cover-feature-629|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/31/claire-boucher-grimes-art-angels|title=Grimes: 'In my life, I'm a lot more weird than this'|last=Aroesti|first=Rachel|date=October 31, 2015|work=The Guardian|access-date=June 22, 2017|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=September 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916212735/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/31/claire-boucher-grimes-art-angels|url-status=live}}
• In 2015, the Baltimore-based band Tendrills released a psych rock album called 10,191. The album's title, sound, emotionality, and some of its lyrics were inspired by the Dune novels.{{cite web |url=https://tendrills.bandcamp.com/album/10191 |title=10,191 by Tendrills |author=Tendrills |year=2015 |access-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220174729/https://tendrills.bandcamp.com/album/10191 |url-status=live }}
• Japanese singer Kenshi Yonezu, released a song titled "Dune", also known as "Sand Planet". The song was released on 2017, and it was created using the voice synthesizer Hatsune Miku for her 10th anniversary.{{cite web|url=https://vgperson.com/vocalinterview.php?view=hachicut2|title=Kenshi Yonezu/Hachi - Sand Planet|work=CUT Magazine|date=September 22, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2022|archive-date=September 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902185207/https://vgperson.com/vocalinterview.php?view=hachicut2|url-status=live}}
• Sleep's 2018 album The Sciences features a song, Giza Butler, that references several aspects of Dune.{{Cite AV media notes |title=The Sciences |type=vinyl liner notes |author=Sleep |year=2018 |publisher=Third Man Records |id=TMR 547}}
• Tool's 2019 album Fear Inoculum has a song entitled "Litanie contre la peur (Litany against fear)".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-tool-return-from-a-long-hiatus-with-fear-inoculum-879842/|title=Tool Return From a Long Hiatus With Fear Inoculum|last=Hermes|first=Will|date=September 4, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=September 15, 2019|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109151406/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-tool-return-from-a-long-hiatus-with-fear-inoculum-879842/|url-status=live}}
• "Rare to Wake", from Shannon Lay's album Geist (2019), is inspired by Dune.{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2021/10/shannon-lay-geist-interview/|title=Shannon Lay Is Doing This for Herself|date=October 7, 2021|access-date=October 8, 2021|work=Spin|first=Grant|last=Sharples|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007171202/https://www.spin.com/2021/10/shannon-lay-geist-interview/|url-status=live}}
• Heavy Metal band Diamond Head based the song "The Sleeper" and its prelude, both off the album The Coffin Train, on the series.

{{Further|List of games based on Dune}}

There have been a number of games based on the book, starting with the strategy{{ndash}}adventure game Dune (1992). The most important game adaptation is Dune II (1992), which established the conventions of modern real-time strategy games and is considered to be among the most influential video games of all time.{{cite book|last1=Loguidice|first1=Bill|last2=Barton|first2=Matt|chapter=Spicing Up Strategy in Real Time|title=Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time|date=2012|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-136-13758-7|pages=65–76|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65|access-date=April 14, 2020|archive-date=March 8, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308011125/https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA65#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}

The online game Lost Souls includes Dune-derived elements, including sandworms and melange—addiction to which can produce psychic talents.{{Cite book|last1=Shah|first1=Rawn|last2=Romine|first2=James|year=1995|title=Playing MUDs on the Internet|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc.|isbn=978-0-471-11633-2|page=213}} The 2016 game Enter the Gungeon features the spice melange as a random item which gives the player progressively stronger abilities and penalties with repeated uses, mirroring the long-term effects melange has on users.{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/enter-gungeon-best-active-items/|title=Enter The Gungeon: 10 Best Active Items That You Need To Find|first=Matthew|last=D'Onofrio|date=March 23, 2021|website=Game Rant|access-date=June 14, 2022|archive-date=June 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614184334/https://gamerant.com/enter-gungeon-best-active-items/|url-status=live}}

Rick Priestley cites Dune as a major influence on his 1987 wargame, Warhammer 40,000.{{cite web|url=http://cardboardsandwich.com/features/blood-dice-and-darkness-how-warhammer-defined-gaming-for-a-generation/|title=Blood, dice and darkness: how Warhammer defined gaming for a generation|author=Owen Duffy|date=December 11, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518214819/http://cardboardsandwich.com/features/blood-dice-and-darkness-how-warhammer-defined-gaming-for-a-generation/|archive-date=May 18, 2016}}

In 2023, Funcom announced Dune: Awakening, an upcoming massively multiplayer online game set in the universe of Dune.{{Cite web|url=https://duneawakening.com/|title=Dune Awakening|website=Dune Awakening|access-date=September 27, 2023|archive-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927035638/https://duneawakening.com/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/dune-awakening-release-date-gameplay-trailers|title=Dune Awakening - everything we know so far|first=Jake Green last|last=updated|date=August 3, 2023|website=TechRadar|access-date=September 28, 2023|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928175431/https://www.techradar.com/news/dune-awakening-release-date-gameplay-trailers|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/dune-awakening-guide/|title=Dune Awakening: Everything we know so far about the open-world Dune MMO|first1=Alyssa MercanteContributions from Jasmine|last1=Gould-Wilson|first2=Josh West last|last2=updated|date=October 7, 2022|website=gamesradar|access-date=September 28, 2023|archive-date=September 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928175431/https://www.gamesradar.com/dune-awakening-guide/|url-status=live}}

The Apollo 15 astronauts named a small crater on Earth's Moon after the novel during the 1971 mission,{{cite book|title=Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert|url=https://archive.org/details/dreamerofdunebio00herb|url-access=registration|first=Brian|last=Herbert|date=2004|page=[https://archive.org/details/dreamerofdunebio00herb/page/244 244]|publisher=Macmillan |isbn=978-0-7653-0646-3}} and the name was formally adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1973.{{cite web|url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1662|title=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Dune on Moon|publisher=Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov|access-date=October 16, 2016|archive-date=December 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161211135354/https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/1662|url-status=live}} Since 2009, the names of planets from the Dune novels have been adopted for the real-world nomenclature of plains and other features on Saturn's moon Titan, like Arrakis Planitia.{{cite web |url=https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?/archives/369-New-Name,-Descriptor-Term,-and-Theme-Approved-for-Use-on-Titan.html |title=USGS Astrogeology Hot Topics: New Name, Descriptor Term, and Theme Approved for Use on Titan |first=Jennifer |last=Blue |publisher=Astrogeology.usgs.gov |date=August 4, 2009 |access-date=September 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101075856/http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/HotTopics/index.php?%2Farchives%2F369-New-Name%2C-Descriptor-Term%2C-and-Theme-Approved-for-Use-on-Titan.html |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=TITAN&featureType=Planitia,%20planitiae |title=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Planitiae |publisher=Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov |access-date=January 3, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016163143/http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=TITAN&featureType=Planitia,%20planitiae |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=TITAN&featureType=Labyrinthus,%20labyrinthi |title=Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Labyrinthi |publisher=Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov |access-date=January 3, 2015 |archive-date=October 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111016163143/http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/SearchResults?target=TITAN&featureType=Labyrinthus,%20labyrinthi |url-status=dead }}

{{portal|Novels}}

• {{annotated link|Soft science fiction}}
• {{annotated link|Hydraulic empire}}
• {{annotated link|Genetics in fiction}}
• {{annotated link|Space travel in science fiction}}
• {{annotated link|Religious order}}

{{Reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite news

| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50302788

| title = 100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts

| work = BBC News

| date = November 5, 2019

| access-date = November 10, 2019

| quote = The reveal kickstarts the BBC's year-long celebration of literature.

| archive-date = November 8, 2019

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191108030557/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-50302788

| url-status = live

}}

}}

• {{cite book |last=Britt |first=Ryan |title=The Spice Must Flow |publisher=Penguin Random House LLC |year=2023 |isbn=9780593472996}}
• {{cite book| last=Clute | first=John | author-link=John Clute | author2=Nicholls, Peter | title=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction | location=New York | publisher=St. Martin's Press | page=1386 | year=1995| isbn=978-0-312-13486-0}}
• {{cite AV media| last=Clute | first=John | author-link=John Clute | author2=Nicholls, Peter | title=The Multimedia Encyclopedia of Science Fiction | location=Danbury, CT | publisher=Grolier | medium = CD-ROM | year=1995 | isbn=978-0-7172-3999-3}}
• Decker, Kevin S., ed. Dune and Philosophy: Minds, Monads, and Muad'Dib. Hoboken, NJ/Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2023.
• {{cite book |last=Huddleston |first=Tom |title=The Worlds of Dune: The Places and Cultures That Inspired Frank Herbert |location=Minneapolis, MN |publisher=Quarto Publishing Group UK |year=2023}}
• {{cite book| last=Jakubowski | first=Maxim | author-link=Maxim Jakubowski | author2=Edwards, Malcolm | title=The Complete Book of Science Fiction and Fantasy Lists | location= St Albans, Herts, UK | publisher= Granada Publishing Ltd. | page=350 |year=1983 | isbn=978-0-586-05678-3}}
• {{cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Kara |title=Frank Herbert's Dune: A Critical Companion |location=Cham, Switzerland |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year= 2022}}
• {{cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Kara |title=Women's Agency in the Dune Universe: Tracing Women's Liberation through Science Fiction |location=Cham, Switzerland |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2020}}
• {{cite book |editor1-last=Nardi |editor1-first=Dominic J. |editor2-first=N. Trevor |editor2-last=Brierly |title=Discovering Dune: Essays on Frank Herbert's Epic Saga |location=Jefferson, NC |publisher=McFarland & Co. |year=2022}}
• {{cite book |editor-last=Nicholas |editor-first=Jeffery |title=Dune and Philosophy: Weirding Way of Mentat |location=Chicago |publisher=Open Court |year= 2011}}
• {{cite book| last= Nicholls | first= Peter | author-link=Peter Nicholls (writer) | title= The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction | publisher= Granada Publishing Ltd. | page=672 | year=1979 | location= St Albans, Herts, UK | isbn=978-0-586-05380-5}}
• {{cite book |last=O'Reilly |first=Timothy |title=Frank Herbert |location=New York |publisher=Frederick Ungar |year=1981}}
• {{cite book| last=Pringle | first=David | author-link=David Pringle | title=The Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction |location=London | publisher=Grafton Books Ltd. | page=407 | year=1990 | isbn=978-0-246-13635-0}}
• {{cite book| last=Tuck | first=Donald H. | author-link=Donald H. Tuck | title=The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction and Fantasy | location=Chicago | publisher=Advent | page=136 | year=1974 | isbn=978-0-911682-20-5}}
• {{cite book |last=Williams |first=Kevin C. |title=The Wisdom of the Sand: Philosophy and Frank Herbert's Dune |location=New York |publisher=Hampton Press |year=2013}}

{{Wikiquote|Dune}}

• [http://www.dunenovels.com/ Official website for Dune and its sequels]
• {{ISFDB title|2036}}
• {{cite interview|url=http://members.lycos.co.uk/Fenrir/ctdinterviews.htm |title=Vertex Interviews Frank Herbert |first=Paul |last=Turner |date=October 1973 |volume=1 |issue=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519171219/http://members.lycos.co.uk/Fenrir/ctdinterviews.htm |archive-date=May 19, 2009 }}
• [http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/dune/context.html Spark Notes: Dune], detailed study guide
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20161021062751/http://www.dunequotes.com/ DuneQuotes.com – Collection of quotes from the Dune series]
• [http://www.conceptualfiction.com/dune.html Dune by Frank Herbert], reviewed by Ted Gioia ([http://www.conceptualfiction.com/ Conceptual Fiction])
• {{cite web|url=http://www.litweb.net/biography/242/Frank_Herbert.html|title=Frank Herbert Biography and Bibliography at LitWeb.net|publisher=www.litweb.net|access-date=January 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402035216/http://www.litweb.net/biography/242/Frank_Herbert.html|archive-date=April 2, 2009}}
• {{cite web |first=Scott |last=Timberg |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-dune18-2010apr18,0,4546281,full.story |title=Frank Herbert's Dune holds timely – and timeless – appeal |work=Los Angeles Times |date=April 18, 2010 |access-date=November 27, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203033431/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-dune18-2010apr18,0,4546281,full.story |url-status=dead }}
• {{cite web | last=Walton |first=Jo |author-link= Jo Walton |url=http://www.tor.com/blogs/2011/01/in-league-with-the-future-frank-herberts-dune |title=In league with the future: Frank Herbert's Dune (Review) |website=Tor.com |date=January 12, 2011 |access-date=November 27, 2013}}
• {{cite web |url=http://nautil.us/issue/25/water/to-save-california-read-dune |title=To Save California, Read Dune |work=Nautilus |first=Andrew |last=Leonard |date=June 4, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104014105/http://nautil.us/issue/25/Water/to-save-california-read-dune |url-status=dead }}
• [https://factbehindfiction.com/dune Dune by Frank Herbert] – Foreshadowing & Dedication at Fact Behind Fiction
• [https://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/index.csp Frank Herbert] by Tim O'Reilly
• [https://dunescholar.com DuneScholar.com] – Collection of scholarly essays

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