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The Spice Must Flow: A Dune Reading List

Get ready for the Dune movie with this guide to Frank Herbert's science fiction universe.

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Read when you’ve got time to spare.

Dune, Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel about feuding interstellar nobility, mind-altering spice, and killer sandworms, has inspired fervent devotion since it was published in 1965. But despite being one of the most influential science fiction books ever written—no Dune, no Star Wars—the franchise has never quite achieved mainstream status.

That could change with the first part of Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated film adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet, Oscar Isaac, and Zendaya. The time is now to get up to speed on lasguns, space guild navigators, and gom jabbars. Whether you’re a lifelong fan who can recite the Bene Gesserit “Litany Against Fear” or just want to know what the big deal is, read on for a curated guide to the world of Dune and its lasting impact and influence.

Image by Mlenny/Getty Images

Dune Endures

Jon Michaud
The New Yorker

It is possible that “Dune” is even more relevant now than when it was first published. If you’ve never read it, you should find time to.