The Story of Dune From Cult Novels to Visionary Sci-Fi Movies

Author Ryan Britt. 

I’m not a fan of Dune. I tried to read the book and got through the first 10 pages. I definitely skipped the 1984 original movie. I watched Dune Part One at home, it was the pandemic after all, and found it digestible. I watched Dune Part Two in the theater assuming that the immersive experience would increase my enjoyment of the movie. It didn’t.

So why did I pick up this book? I wanted to understand what made this story so interesting.  The first Dune novel was published in 1965 and has captured audience’s attention for over 50 years. There had to be something I was missing. So with this in mind, I dove into ‘The Spice Must Flow’ to see if I could get to what was the heart of the story, and why there have been multiple attempts to bring it to the silver screen over the ensuing decades. 

What is the book about

 All things Dune: It begins as a serial in ‘analog’ magazine and Britt even gives a cursory overview of every original book in the Dune canon. A personal favorite of mine is the documentary about an unmade movie version of Dune ‘Jodorowsky’s Dune’ which also makes an appearance.

I appreciated how Britt was able to put the many forms the story of Dune has taken into context, making a compelling case for why there was never a realistic way to bring the book to life before the 2021 version. There is even a discussion of the TV series. Yes, there was a Dune TV series. Speaking as a die-hard TV fan, even I didn’t know this. The show was so bad it has been erased from our collective cultural memory. The book ends on the eve of Dune Part Two’s premier taking the story from inception all the way to the present day. Truly it covers the entire Dune œuvre. 

Are there pictures

 Yes. The Dune TV series, the Dune movie series, and behind-the-scenes moments.

Is it Worth Your Time?

Having finished the book, I gained a newfound appreciation for Dune not just as a pop culture phenomenon, but as a work of art in and of itself. The environmental themes, which are often highlighted in discussions about Dune, weren’t a central focus for me. Instead, what truly impressed me was the rich tapestry Frank Herbert weaved – a universe spanning over 15,000 years, with a complex political landscape and deeply developed characters.

This richness is evident not just in the book, but also in the sprawling legacy it has spawned. From its humble beginnings as an article titled “They Stopped the Moving Sands”, Dune has evolved into a saga encompassing six novels written over two decades, along with movies, documentaries, and TV shows that have captivated audiences for over 50 years. This journey, from a single article to a sprawling multimedia franchise, is a compelling story, and one that I truly admire.

Photo Credit: Penguin Random House