''The Road to Dune'' is a collection of

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

works and related material by American writers

Frank Herbert Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune (novel), ''Dune'' and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, ...

Brian Herbert Brian Patrick Herbert (born June 29, 1947) is an American author, known for his work on the ''Dune'' franchise, which was created by his father, Frank Herbert. Brian Herbert's novels include ''Sidney's Comet'', ''Prisoners of Arionn'', ''Man of ...

and Kevin J. Anderson. A companion book to the ''Dune'' novels, the book was released in September 2005.

This companion work to the ''Dune'' novels includes an alternate novel based on Frank Herbert's original notes for his 1965 novel ''

Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...

'', letters between Frank Herbert and his editor, the original article by Frank Herbert which inspired the creation of ''Dune'' — "They Stopped the Moving Sands" — as well as unused chapters from ''Dune'' and its sequel ''

Dune Messiah ''Dune Messiah'' is a 1969 science fiction novel by American writer Frank Herbert, the second in his ''Dune'' series of six novels. A sequel to ''Dune'' (1965), it was originally serialized in ''Galaxy'' magazine in 1969, and then published by ...

'' (1969), and the short stories in the ''Dune'' universe written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

''Spice Planet''

''Spice Planet'' is an alternate ''Dune'' story written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson based upon the original story outline that Frank Herbert made for ''Dune''. It features House Linkam (a version of

House Atreides ''Dune'' is an American science fiction media franchise that originated with the 1965 novel ''Dune'' by Frank Herbert and has continued to add new publications. ''Dune'' is frequently described as the best-selling science fiction novel in histor ...

) temporarily taking control of Duneworld from their rivals, House Hoskanner (the forerunner of the Harkonnens), to settle a dispute between them. The Hoskanners had received a monopoly concession on the recently discovered Duneworld, but as melange had grown in popularity in the Empire, other Houses had begun to dislike the Hoskanner's wealth and pushed House Linkam to challenge House Hoskanner. The Emperor, secretly allied with the Hoskanners, orders Linkam to take over Duneworld for two years with the promise that if they produce more melange, then they will receive the concession — otherwise it will go permanently to the Hoskanners. Much like in ''Dune'', the Hoskanners sabotage and thwart to the best of their abilities, although the Linkams enlist the help of the Imperial Planetologist to devise a way to neutralize the sandworms and vastly increase the efficiency of operations. The story has some obvious links to the original ''Dune'' novel, such as many of the same characters, but some key themes are underdeveloped in this version:

When we arranged all the chapters and read through the remarkable outline, we found that ''Spice Planet'' was a unique and worthy story in its own right, not just a precursor to ''Dune''. Although the harsh desert is very similar to the one familiar to millions of fans, the tale itself is thematically different, focusing on decadence and drug addiction instead of ecology, finite resources, freedom, and religious fanaticism.

The authors note that if Herbert had written a novel like ''Spice Planet'' rather than ''Dune'', it would have been about the length of most paperback novels and that publishing it might have been much easier."Ironically, if Frank had written ''Spice Planet'' according to his original plan — a science-fiction adventure novel about the same length as most paperback books published at the time — he might have had a much easier task finding an editor and a publishing house." pg 27, Introduction to ''Spice Planet'', ''The Road to Dune''

Letters of ''Dune''

This collection of letters details the trials and tribulations that Frank Herbert went through to have ''Dune'' published in ''

Analog Analog or analogue may refer to: Computing and electronics * Analog signal, in which information is encoded in a continuous variable ** Analog device, an apparatus that operates on analog signals *** Analog electronics, circuits which use analog ...

'' magazine and later by

Chilton Books Chilton Company (also known as Chilton Printing Co., Chilton Publishing Co., Chilton Book Co. and Chilton Research Services) is an American former publishing company, most famous for its trade magazines, and automotive manuals. It also provided ...

. The letters detail how he was encouraged to cut the length of the novel and to ease up on his descriptions of Paul Atreides's prescient powers.

"They Stopped the Moving Sands"

"They Stopped the Moving Sands" is an uncompleted article about how sand dunes were held in place by specially designed grasses. The article was never published, but was the impetus for Frank Herbert writing ''Dune''.

Missing chapters from ''Dune'' and ''Dune Messiah''

Also included in ''The Road to Dune'' are deleted chapters and alternate scenes from the first two novels in the ''Dune'' chronicles, ''Dune'' and ''Dune Messiah''. These include alternate and extended scenes between Paul and Reverend Mother Mohiam, between Paul and Dr. Yueh, between Paul and Thufir Hawat, between Paul and his father Duke Leto Atreides, the passage to Arrakis on the

Spacing Guild The Spacing Guild is an organization in Frank Herbert's science fiction ''Dune'' universe that possesses a monopoly on interstellar travel and banking. Guild Navigators (alternately Guildsmen or Steersmen) use the drug melange (also called "th ...

heighliner Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

, the escape from Arrakeen and between Paul and a

muad'dib Paul Atreides (; later known as Paul Muad'Dib, and later still as The Preacher) is a fictional character in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. He is a main character in the first two novels in the series, ''Dune'' (1965) and '' Du ...

mouse. The ''Dune Messiah'' scenes include a new chapter between

Alia Atreides Alia Atreides () is a fictional character in the ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. She was introduced in the first novel of the series, 1965's ''Dune'', and was originally killed in Herbert's first version of the manuscript. At the sug ...

and Duncan Idaho, a new introduction and a discarded ending that features the death of the conspirators Edric, the Reverend Mother Mohiam and possibly

Princess Irulan Princess Irulan is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. She first appears in ''Dune (novel), Dune'' (1965), and is later featured in ''Dune Messiah'' (1969) and ''Children of Dune'' (1976). T ...

at the hands of a Fremen mob incensed by Paul Atreides' death.

Short stories

The ''Dune'' short stories "A Whisper on Caladan Seas", "Hunting Harkonnens", "Whipping Mek", and "The Faces of a Martyr" by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson are included in this collection. The story "Dune: Sea Child", originally published in ''

Elemental An elemental is a mythic supernatural being that is described in occult and alchemy, alchemical works from around the time of the European Renaissance, and particularly elaborated in the 16th century works of Paracelsus. According to Paracelsu ...

'', a 2006 benefit anthology for children who survived the 2004 Indian Ocean

tsunami A tsunami ( ; from , ) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and underwater explosions (including detonations, ...

, is also included in the paperback edition of ''Road to Dune''.

References