Dune Books in Order
by Frank Herbert · Science Fiction, Space Opera, Epic
The best way to read Dune is in publication order for most readers. If you want the in-universe timeline, use the chronological order below.
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The recommended path
What is this?In publication order — start with frank herbert's original dune (1965) and read his six-book canon in publication order. the brian herbert and kevin j. anderson prequels, interquels, and sequels expand the universe in every direction and are best read after the canon, not before — they assume you already know arrakis, the great houses, and where paul atreides' story ends up.
- 1965#1DuneAug 1965
- 1969#2Dune MessiahJul 1969
- 1976#3Children of DuneApr 1976
- 1981#4God Emperor of DuneMay 1981
- 1984#5Heretics of DuneApr 1984
- 1985#6Chapterhouse: DuneApr 1985
- 1999#7Dune: House AtreidesOct 1999
- 2000#8Dune: House HarkonnenOct 2000
- 2001#9Dune: House CorrinoOct 2001
- 2002#10Dune: The Butlerian JihadSep 2002
- 2003#11Dune: The Machine CrusadeSep 2003
- 2004#12Dune: The Battle of CorrinAug 2004
- 2006#13Hunters of DuneAug 2006
- 2007#14Sandworms of DuneAug 2007
- 2008#15Paul of DuneSep 2008
- 2009#16The Winds of DuneAug 2009
- 2012#17Sisterhood of DuneJan 2012
- 2014#18Mentats of DuneMar 2014
- 2016#19Navigators of DuneSep 2016
- 2020#20Dune: The Duke of CaladanOct 2020
- 2021#21Dune: The Lady of CaladanSep 2021
- 2022#22Dune: The Heir of CaladanNov 2022
- 2023#23Princess of DuneOct 2023
Dune is Frank Herbert’s science-fiction saga set in a far-future feudal interstellar empire built around the spice melange — a substance mined on the desert planet Arrakis that makes interstellar travel, prescience, and long life possible. The original six novels, published between 1965 and 1985, follow the Atreides family across thousands of years and form the core canon of the series.
Since 1999, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson have extended the Duniverse with seventeen additional novels grouped into several arcs: the Prelude to Dune House trilogy, the Legends of Dune Butlerian Jihad trilogy, the Heroes of Dune interquels, the Great Schools of Dune trilogy, and the Caladan trilogy — plus Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune, the two-book finale built from Frank Herbert’s own notes. Twenty-three novels in total, with more on the way.
Dune in Publication Order
What is this?The order in which the books were released.
Dune in Chronological Order
What is this?The order of events inside the story's world — different from publication order because of prequels.
Dune Release Dates
When each book in the series was published.
Where to start
What is this?If you're new to Dune, this is the simplest on-ramp.
Frank Herbert's genre-defining 1965 novel — Paul Atreides arrives on the desert planet Arrakis, the only source of the spice melange, and is pulled into a power struggle that reshapes an interstellar empire.
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