The Dune Encyclopedia

Rating:
Summary: reprint Reprint REPRINT!
Review: This is the only fan/guide/spinoff/whatever book that has ever equalled the original. I picked up a VERY tattered copy in a used book store years ago, not knowing what it was, for nearly nothing, and I still have it, but I would gladly pay for a hardcover reprint tomorrow.

It has a detailed history of all the planets, houses, their histories, armies, ranks, insignias, the workings of Dune, the spice industry, the mechanics of guild ships and space travel, shield technology, all the schools, such as the Mentats, the Swordmasters, the Bene Gesserit, you name it.

What's more, it's GOOD. It's not some fleshed out prequel junk like Star Wars: Episode I or Dune: House Atreides. The author thought this stuff out, came up with original concepts that are interesting to science buffs and still totally in agreement with the Dune universe.

Rating:
Summary: reprint Reprint REPRINT!
Review: This is the only fan/guide/spinoff/whatever book that has ever equalled the original. I picked up a VERY tattered copy in a used book store years ago, not knowing what it was, for nearly nothing, and I still have it, but I would gladly pay for a hardcover reprint tomorrow.

It has a detailed history of all the planets, houses, their histories, armies, ranks, insignias, the workings of Dune, the spice industry, the mechanics of guild ships and space travel, shield technology, all the schools, such as the Mentats, the Swordmasters, the Bene Gesserit, you name it.

What's more, it's GOOD. It's not some fleshed out prequel junk like Star Wars: Episode I or Dune: House Atreides. The author thought this stuff out, came up with original concepts that are interesting to science buffs and still totally in agreement with the Dune universe.

Rating:
Summary: LET'S ALL SIGN A PETITION TO GET A REPRINT!
Review: We want a reprint! I've been searching high and low for this book, and I desperately want a copy! I really want this book that is a must for all Dune fans! Maybe if a lot of us Dune fans sign this petition they'll be convinced that they won't lose any money...

Rating:
Summary: Please, reprint this book.
Review: Well, as someone here said, You have the Encyclopedia for books like Lord of the Rings, StarWars, Startrek, Wheel of Time etc... Please bring this one back to life.

Rating:
Summary: I own a copy.
Review: When I was living in London, I found a copy of this book on one of the many tables at the used book market under Waterloo Bridge. I had always enjoyed 'Dune' quite a bit (not so much the sequels). It was a snip at 5 pounds, if I recall, and I realize now (after reading these reviews) that I was lucky to purchase it.

I can't blame those of you who are clamoring for a copy, because it must seem like a very exciting idea for a book. However, the articles in the Encyclopedia vary widely in quality, as they were written by a motley collective of people at the Prof's university. Their enthusiasm is fun, but their ideas don't seem to quite gel with Herbert's work in some cases. In other words, a lot of the writing doesn't feel quite 'Dune' and the illustrations are mediocre (you're better off with your imagination or Lynch's baroque artistic vision). At times, it reminded me a little of -- and this isn't praise -- fanfic.

Still, Herbert was apparently delighted by the enterprise and agreed to its publication, which (as someone has pointed out) is more than can be said for the 'prequels.' However, keep in mind that the Encyclopedia only covers material for the first four books- the puzzles of the last two get no Herbert-approved elucidation (rats!).

It would be nice if they'd reprint the Encyclopedia for the curious (although I don't see it happening, now that the prequels are offering a lucrative competitive vision of the past), but it'd be nicer if they'd just print Herbert's notes in their rawest form so that we could just deduce for ourselves what the hell was supposed to happen next.

Rating:
Summary: Come on already, where's the reprint?
Review: Will someone kidnap the publisher and force a reprint. This book is excellent reference for the the Dune Chronicles. It greatly enhances the Dune experience, especially when Mr. Herbert piques your imagination and won't give you more, the encyclopedia satisfies your need.

Rating:
Summary: Mine's well thumbed -- like any good reference work
Review: With another God-awful post-Dune book due soon, it seems as if the blasphemers (who shall remain nameless) continue to cash in on Frank Herbert's legacy. And that's the fault of anyone who continues to buy them. It only feeds the greed.

And yet this tome, the only Dune book not written by Herbert yet endorsed by him, is out of print!

I got hooked on Dune many years ago as a teenager, right around the time Lynch's movie was coming out, and I remember flipping through the Dune Encyclopedia in a bookstore before I read the books. Something in its near-scientific comprehensiveness, it's meticulous faith to the Herbert's vision really mezmerized me.

When I finally got around to reading the first three Dune novels, I went right to that store and picked up my copy of Dune Encyclopedia. My thirst to know more about Herbert's universe was insatiable. How did the Sardaukar develop into the most fearsome tool of Corrino power? What are the other worlds of the Imperium like? How was the Guild founded? Here I found a wealth of information that made Dune much more complete and inspiring.

What's more astonishing is that the contributers are faithful Dune-thinkers. Yes this is a work of fiction, but the articles are written in the style and manner of scholarly works. In a way, this style also serves as it's own contribution to the original Dune saga: that regardless of the legendary feats of the great, the historian always has the final word.

Dune Encyclopedia is an incredible, valuable companion to Herbert's work. Find a copy and keep it safe. I still have mine, which I read regularly, with its well-worn pages and torn cover that I've mended with packing tape several times.

[If you're the publisher, please reprint it, and try to prevent another post-Dune abomination from being published while you're at it. Thanks.]

Rating:
Summary: More than a compilation
Review: With the publication of Dune: House Atreidies, it seems appropriate to revisit the Encyclopedia. Frank Herbert was a close associate of Willis McNelly and his family. Dr. McNelly was a major participant in the collaboration that created the rich universe of Dune. His noteworthy contributions are said to be the ecological vision of Arrakis, the worm life-cycle, the role of Pardot Kynes, and critical parts of the spice legends, among others. In the Encyclopedia, Dr. McNelly organized all this background material he had developed with and for Frank Herbert and presented in a fascinating, but somewhat sterile format.

It appears that in Dune: House Atreides, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson have begun the massive task of turning this information into a readable story. Their work is true to the original.

If you get a copy of the Encyclopedia, try not to be too disappointed that Dr. McNelly ran out of steam about two-thirds of the way through the alphabet.