The Six Dune Books by Frank Herbert: A Summary

The six Dune books written by Frank Herbert are:

Dune (1965)

The first and most famous novel in the series, which introduces the desert planet Arrakis, the spice melange, the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, the Fremen, and the young Paul Atreides, who becomes the messianic Muad’Dib and leads a rebellion against the tyrannical House Harkonnen and the galactic emperor.

Dune Messiah (1969)

The sequel to Dune, which continues the story of Paul Atreides, now the emperor of the known universe, who faces a conspiracy to overthrow him and a crisis of faith as he struggles with his prescient visions and the consequences of his actions.

Children of Dune (1976)

The third novel in the series, which follows the twin children of Paul Atreides, Leto II and Ghanima, who inherit their father’s powers and legacy, and must deal with the threats of a corrupted regent, a fanatical preacher, and a mysterious figure from the desert.

God Emperor of Dune (1981)

The fourth novel in the series, which takes place thousands of years after the previous book, and depicts the reign of Leto II, who has transformed himself into a giant sandworm and rules the universe with an iron fist, while preparing humanity for a mysterious event called the Golden Path.

Heretics of Dune (1984)

The fifth novel in the series, which takes place 1,500 years after the previous book, and explores the aftermath of the scattering, a mass exodus of humanity to unknown regions of space, and the return of some of these factions, such as the Honored Matres, the Bene Tleilax, and the Bene Gesserit, who clash over the control of Arrakis and the secrets of the sandworms.

Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)

The sixth and final novel in the series, which continues the story of the Bene Gesserit, who are the last defenders of the old order, and their struggle against the Honored Matres, who are bent on destroying everything they oppose, while searching for a new home and a new hope for humanity.