Heroes of Dune
A series filling gaps between Frank Herbert's early Dune novels, with three books published and a fourth still forthcoming.
Heroes of Dune is an ongoing series of novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson set in the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. The series was initially referred to as Paul of Dune by the authors as early as 2004, and was intended to fill in the story between Frank Herbert's early Dune novels. Though originally planned as a tetralogy, only three books have been published to date, with the fourth (Leto of Dune) yet to be released.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Brian Herbert / Kevin J. Anderson
- Country
- United States
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Publisher
- Spectra (1999–2001) / Tor Books (2002–present)
- Pub Date
- 1999–present
- Media Type
- Print (hardback & paperback) / Audiobook / eBook
- Italic Title
- no
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Heroes of Dune series was initially referred to as Paul of Dune by the authors as early as 2004. These novels were intended to fill in the story between Frank Herbert's early Dune novels. The books in the series are Paul of Dune (2008), The Winds of Dune (2009), and Princess of Dune (2023). Half of the story of Paul of Dune takes place between Frank Herbert's Dune (1965) and Dune Messiah (1969) as Paul's Jihad rages, Shaddam seeks to regain his throne and Princess Irulan accepts the task of building the legend of Muad'Dib. She in turn chronicles Paul's early years (set after the 2001 prequel Dune: House Corrino and before the original Dune, not after the 2020 prequel Dune: The Duke of Caladan, which actually takes place earlier), which feature his friendship with Duncan and Gurney and Duke Leto's War of Assassins against Grumman. The Winds of Dune (originally announced as Jessica of Dune) chronicles events between Frank Herbert's Dune Messiah (1969) and Children of Dune (1976), as well as events between the prequel sections of Paul of Dune and the original Dune, and events between Paul of Dune and Dune Messiah. The final two novels in the series were to be called The Throne of Dune (formerly Irulan of Dune) and Leto of Dune (formerly The Golden Path of Dune). However, in a July 2010 blog post Anderson announced that these novels had been postponed due to plans by Herbert and Anderson to publish a trilogy (later known as Great Schools of Dune) about the formation of the Bene Gesserit, the Mentats, the Suk doctors, the Spacing Guild and the Navigators, as well as the solidifying of the Corrino imperium. In January 2023, Brian Herbert announced a third Heroes of Dune novel, Princess of Dune, a prequel focused on Chani and Irulan, set two years before the events of Dune. It was released on October 3, 2023.
Reader's Guide
The Heroes of Dune series represents an effort by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson to expand the narrative gaps between Frank Herbert's original Dune novels. While only three of the planned four books have been published, the series provides additional context for key characters and events, particularly Paul Atreides and his rise to power. The Winds of Dune rose to No. 15 on The New York Times Best Seller list in its second week of publication, indicating commercial interest. The series' significance lies in its attempt to flesh out the Dune timeline, though its legacy is tempered by the postponement of the final two novels in favor of the Great Schools of Dune trilogy. The inclusion of Princess of Dune in 2023 shows continued engagement with the franchise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Heroes of Dune?
Heroes of Dune is a multi-novel series written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson that takes place within Frank Herbert's original Dune universe. The books were designed to expand the narrative between Herbert's early Dune novels.
Who wrote the Heroes of Dune series?
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson co-authored the series. The project was first referred to as 'Paul of Dune' by the duo as early as 2004 before settling on its current title.
How many books are in the Heroes of Dune series?
The series was originally planned as a four-book tetralogy, but only three volumes have been published to date. The fourth book, Leto of Dune, remains unreleased.
What is the Heroes of Dune series about?
The novels fill in the story gaps between Frank Herbert's early Dune books, exploring events and characters from that period in greater detail.
When were the Heroes of Dune books published?
The first volume, Paul of Dune, was released in 2008, while the most recent, Princess of Dune, came out in 2023.
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