Hunters of Dune

Did You Know?

• The first five chapters of the novel were available via free download from the official Dune website, released monthly from March until July in 2006.
• The novel is based on notes left behind by Frank Herbert for what he referred to as Dune 7.

Plot

For three years, the no-ship Ithaca has been hiding in an alternate universe from the "great enemy." It carries gholas of Duncan Idaho and Miles Teg, the Bene Gesserit Sheeana, the last Bene Tleilax Master Scytale, a group of Jews, four Futar man-beasts, and seven small sandworms. Scytale shares the secret of producing melange in tanks because the sandworms do not produce enough. The Oracle of Time speaks to Duncan and returns the no-ship to the regular universe, where it is discovered by Daniel and Marty, who attempt to capture it but fail.

On Chapterhouse, Murbella, leader of the merged Honored Matres and Bene Gesserit, tries to form the New Sisterhood while managing fatal bickering between Bellonda and Doria. The Spacing Guild approaches her for more spice, but she refuses and threatens to cut them off. The Chapterhouse sandworms produce little melange, so the Bene Gesserit use stockpiles. The Lost Tleilaxu have returned from the Scattering, using Face Dancers for espionage until the Face Dancers kill Elder Burah and replace him.

They replace all Lost Tleilaxu Elders and countless humans. Their leader Khrone sends Uxtal to serve rebel Honored Matre leader Hellica, who rules Tleilax. The Guild goes to Ix for alternative travel. Khrone and his Face Dancers, working with Daniel and Marty, offer advanced navigation technology to the Guild as if Ixian-designed, and the Guild agrees to develop it with a monopoly.