The Dune Encyclopedia Paperback – 26 Oct. 1984

I recently re-read the 6 original Frank Herbert "Dune" novels, and read the Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson conclusion to the series, "Hunters of Dune" and "Sandworms of Dune" for the first time. Apologies to all of Frank Herbert's fedaykin out there, but I also enjoyed these last two as well. I was intrigued by the huge amount of hostility among fans towards the son's sequels, and in the course of looking further into this I kept coming upon references to this, " The Dune Encyclopedia" and decided to check it out for myself.This wasn't easy because "The Dune Encyclopedia" was never really a part of the official Dune canon, and indeed Frank Herbert in his own "Heretics of Dune" and "Chapterhouse: Dune" and Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in their numerous Dune works do contradict quite a bit of what is written in the Encyclopedia. It was written by Willis E. McNelly, and published by the same company who had published all of the original Dune novels. Frank Herbert seemed to give it his approval, although he did write in the foreword,"Some of the contributions are sure to arouse controversy, based as they are on questionable sources ... As the first "Dune fan," I give this encyclopedia my delighted approval, although I hold my own counsel on some of the issues still to be explored as the Chronicles unfold." In other words he did not consider himself bound to stick to anything mentioned for the first time in this work. You can't blame him. Dune was his creation after all. Still, the seemingly rather confusing status of this fascinating work means that it does stand outside the official canon of "Dune" works, and it is out of print, and it's highly unlikely that we'll ever see it in print again.So you have a relatively rare, non-canon "Dune" book, and therefore if you do want to get hold of a copy you're going to have to be prepared to pay quite a bit more for it than you'd have to pay for an ordinary second hand copy of any of the novels. Is it worth it? Too right it is. The Encyclopedia is written as being the work of Hadi Benotto, a scholar and archaeologist mentioned in "God Emperor of Dune". I wouldn't say it is an exhaustive companion to the Dune Universe, but it's full of full biographies of many of the characters in the first four novels, and of information about background issues which are mentioned but not expanded upon in the novels - the histories of the great Houses - the Butlerian Jihad - and so on and so forth. A lot has been rendered non-canon, but not all of it. It is in The Dune Encyclopedia, for example, that Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam is revealed to be Jessica's biological mother, a fact which is repeated in the later additions to the official canon.Don't think of this just as a source of (possibly apocryphal) information. It's a fascinating work of fiction in its own right. Yes, maybe later additions to the official canon have relegated it to a glorified piece of fan fiction, but what a work of fan fiction it is! The Legend of How Usul became Muad'Dib is almost worth the price of admission by itself, and the biographies of much loved characters from the novels are all well written and plausible. I've read this through now, and I have to say that for me, the universe that it describes so well is the familiar Duniverse Frank Herbert created so lovingly in at least the first three novels.It's for the fans, I agree. You really shouldn't read this unless you've read "Dune", "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune" at least. If you have, and like its legions of fans become a lover of the Duniverse, then you need have no qualms about reading this. It's well worth the time and money it would cost you to get hold of a copy.

Pleased to get this for just £10 as it costs £50+ on eBay. A good glossary of the 1st 6 Dune books by Frank Herbert with lots of interesting details and pictures. Perfect book for any Dune fan but they never published a second edition so it’s hard to find.

Great work, even including a kind of parable about USUL, demons and the mouse. Explains all about the Duniverse (at least about Frank Herbert's first four books; Heretics and Chapterhouse are not included, although the times of the starvation and the scattering are mentioned briefly). An interesting essay on worm metabolism, lots of theories and stories about many members of the Atreides, a lot of information about the various Idaho Gholas, etc. etc. Also the truth of the Butlerian Jihad. Enjoyable reading all together.I've just looked up all kinds of information again after reading some of the newest Dune books, and, admittedly it may be just an encyclopedia but many entries just read like a novel. Certain explanations are so much better than in the recent books. The more scientific parts are also highly informative, and I loved rereading them. I realise this encyclopedia may not be Canon - although I have always understood Frank Herbert during his life time thought it to be just fine - it sure is helpful in understanding the orginal Dune novels. I particularly like the idea that the entrees are based on findings in the primitive no-room of Leto II, as described in God Emperor of Dune. An interesting book in any case as it is a neat stand alone novel between two sets of story lines of which the last story line wasn't ended until recently (and regrettably could not be finished by Frank himsel).I can and will advise all Dune fans to try and find a copy of this book. It's great fun to read, and it gives you insights you perhaps did not understand earlier on. Don't worry about the non-canon issue. A second piece of advice is to consider all the new novels as part of a separate universe - only partly stemming from the brains of the Master Author. The universe in there partly overlaps with Frank's imagination, and you will do just fine in maintaining this book as a wonderful source of information on the original Duniverse!

This is an indispensable source of information for anyone studying the Dune series. Even though Herbert changed his mind on certain things, it gives a more complete idea what he was originally thinking.

This is a must have book if you enjoy the original and best Dune set of books. My son 'liberated' my copy so we decided to buy my own copy. Got it on Amazon at a good price, the book is reasonable condition for its age.

It was in good condition - it arrived promptly and the recipient of this Christmas gift was delighted with it.

Brilliant companion to whole Series - have all books from original to continuation

Nice contents. Good condition.