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The Dune Encyclopedia

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The Dune Encyclopedia is a collection of essays written by fans of Frank Herbert's Dune novels. It was published in 1984 - its only edition. No further editions are planned due to copyright issues.

Publication and contents

The Dune Encyclopedia includes many rare, Dune-related pictures and drawings. The book is currently out of print, and is claimed to be in great demand by fans. The encyclopedia was written and compiled by Dr. Willis E. McNelly, a friend of author Frank Herbert, and a man who knew the Dune universe as well as Mr. Herbert did himself and others at California State University. It is a companion to Frank Herbert's classic science fiction series Dune.

With over 536 pages, it describes in great detail many aspects of the Dune universe not found in the novels themselves, such as biographies of the major characters, the languages of Fremen, Galach, and Spacing Guild (including alphabets and pronunciation), and shortened summaries of the plots of novels. The Dune Encyclopedia also includes explanations of the armies, major schools (Bene Gesserit, Mentat, Sword Masters of Ginaz, etc.), and major industries (including Spice), as well as descriptions of future technologies and artwork on the major concepts of the novels.

Canon dispute

Its canonicity is a matter of some dispute: Frank Herbert approved the work, considering it "interesting and entertaining" and reputedly wrote some of it himself and drew on it, but he also did not hesitate to render it erroneous through later developments in his 'Dune' series (the book was compiled and published some time between Heretics of Dune and God Emperor of Dune). Many of its ideas go directly against (later written) prequel trilogies, Prelude to Dune (Dune: House Atreides, Dune: House Harkonnen, Dune: House Corrino) and Legends of Dune (Dune: The Machine Crusade, Dune: The Butlerian Jihad, Dune: The Battle of Corrin), written by Kevin J. Anderson, and Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert's son). Anderson and Brian Herbert claim to use the original notes of Frank Herbert when writing those novels.

Brian Herbert has declared The Dune Encyclopedia non-canon on the official Dune site:

"THE DUNE ENCYCLOPEDIA reflects an alternate "DUNE universe" which did not necessarily represent the "canon" created by Frank Herbert. Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, writing with Kevin J. Anderson, IS continuing to establish the canon of the DUNE universe. This is being done with the full approval of the owner of the DUNE copyright, the Herbert Limited Partnership.

He also didn't allow further editions of the encyclopedia to ensure more attention to his own books.

See also

References and external links

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