Author’s Note: Some phone conversations with Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Denis Villeneuve were initially conducted in July 2021 by the author for the Den of Geek cover story “Visions of Dune,” published in October 2021. Some quotes derived from those interviews appear throughout this book in entirely different contexts, and many quotes from those interviews were not included in “Visions of Dune.” Thus, all of the quotes appear uniquely in this book, and some for the first time. Otherwise, all other interviews conducted for this book are completely unique to these pages.
Prologue: Use the Voice, Paul
Interviews with Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Bill Ransom, John Harrison, and Denis Villeneuve, conducted by the author.
Dr. Willis E. McNelly, The Dune Encyclopedia (Berkley, 1984).
Tanya Lapointe, The Art and Soul of Dune (Insight Editions, 2020).
Bill Ransom, “Introduction,” in The Jesus Incident (Wordfire Press, 2012).
“Dune Cast Q&A with Stephen Colbert,” Nerdist, September 9, 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjLijCWt76o.
Letter from John Campbell to Lurton Blassingame, October 15, 1968. From the Willis E. McNelly Science Fiction Collection: Frank Herbert Papers, Fullerton Library, California State University, Fullerton.
Letter from John Campbell to Frank Herbert, June 3, 1963. From the Willis E. McNelly Science Fiction Collection: Frank Herbert Papers, Fullerton Library, California State University, Fullerton.
Alec Nevala-Lee, Astounding: John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction (Dey Street, 2019).
Tape recording of Willis McNelly interviewing Frank Herbert and Beverly Herbert on February 3, 1969, transcript, https://libraryguides.fullerton.edu/ld.php?content_id=16165047.
Harlan Ellison, Harlan Ellison’s Watching (Underwood-Miller, 1989).
Paul M. Sammon, “My Year on Arrakis,” Cinefantastique, September 1984.
Dune: A Recorded Interview (interview with Frank Herbert and David Lynch), cassette, Waldentapes, 1984.
William F. Touponce, Frank Herbert (Twayne Publishers, 1988).
Chapter 1: Frank Herbert’s Beard
Interview with Bill Ransom, conducted by the author.
Frank Herbert, Dune (Chilton Books, 1965, et al.)
Brian Herbert, Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert (Tor, 2003).
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, The Road to Dune (Tor, 2005).
William F. Touponce, Frank Herbert (Twayne Publishers, 1988).
Kurt Vonnegut, Mother Night (Fawcett Publications/Gold Medal Books, 1962, et al.)
Frank Herbert, “Survival of the Cunning,” Esquire, March 1, 1945, https://classic.esquire.com/article/1945/3/1/survival-of-the-cunning.
Denis Fischer, “Frank Herbert Author of Dune,” Enterprise Incidents Special: Dune, October 1984.
Chris Hodenfield, “Daring Dune,” Rolling Stone, December 6, 1984.
Daniel Immerwahr, “Heresies of Dune,” Los Angeles Review of Books, November 19, 2020, https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/heresies-of-dune/.
Tape recording of Willis McNelly interviewing Frank Herbert and Beverly Herbert on February 3, 1969, transcript, https://libraryguides.fullerton.edu/ld.php?content_id=16165047.
Dune: A Recorded Interview (interview with Frank Herbert and David Lynch), cassette, Waldentapes, 1984.
Frank Herbert, “When I Was Writing Dune,” in Heretics of Dune (Putnam, 1984).
Chapter 2: Fear Is the Mind-Killer
Interviews with Hans Zimmer, Kara Kennedy, Alicia Witt, Emmet Asher-Perrin, and Theresa Shackleford, conducted by the author.
Frank Herbert, “Afterword,” in Chapterhouse: Dune (Putnam, 1985).
Frank Herbert, Dune (Chilton Books, 1965, et al.).
“Possible Futures,” Blu-ray/DVD special feature for Dune (2021; Warner Bros./Warner Bros. Home Video, 2022).
Tape recording of Willis McNelly interviewing Frank Herbert and Beverly Herbert on February 3, 1969, transcript, https://libraryguides.fullerton.edu/ ld.php? content_ id= 16165047.
Brian Herbert, Dreamer of Dune: The Biography of Frank Herbert (Tor, 2003).
Pat Stone, “Frank Herbert: Science Fiction Author,” Mother Earth News, May 1, 1981, https://www.motherearthnews.com/sustainable-living/nature-and-environment/frank-herbert-science-fiction-author-zmaz81mjzraw/.
Kathrine Beck, “Herbert, Frank Patrick (1920–1986),” HistoryLink.org, June 9, 2021, https://www.historylink.org/File/21248.
Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, The Road to Dune (Tor, 2005).
Frank Herbert, “First Draft, Handwritten notes for Chapter 1 of ‘Spice Planet.’ ” From the Willis E. McNelly Science Fiction Collection: Frank Herbert Papers, Fullerton Library, California State University, Fullerton, https://libraryguides.fullerton.edu/ld.php?content_id=16206333.
Donald A. Wollheim, The Universe Makers (Harper & Row, 1971).
Chapter 3: Magazine Worms
Interview with Alec Nevala-Lee, conducted by the author.
Letter from John Campbell to Frank Herbert, June 3, 1963. From the Willis E. McNelly Science Fiction Collection: Frank Herbert Papers, Fullerton Library, California State University, Fullerton.
Paul Turner, “Vertex Interviews Frank Herbert,” Vertex: The Magazine of Science Fiction, October 1973.
Letter from Lurton Blassingame to Frank Herbert, May 26, 1959.
Letter from Frank Herbert to John Campbell, June 12, 1959.
Frank Herbert, The Dragon in the Sea/Under Pressure (Doubleday, Smith and Street, 1956, et al.).
Frank Herbert, “Dune World,” parts 1–3, Analog, December 1963—February 1964.
Frank Herbert, “The Prophet of Dune,” parts 1–5, Analog, January 1965—May 1965.
Denis Fischer, “Frank Herbert Author of Dune,” Enterprise Incidents Special: Dune, October 1984.
Cory Doctorow, “Read: Jeannette Ng’s Campbell Award acceptance speech . . . ,” Boing Boing, August 20, 2019, https://boingboing.net/2019/08/20/needed-saying.html.
Harlan Ellison, “Thirty-Two Soothsayers,” in Dangerous Visions (Berkley, 1967).
Letter from Mark L. Schibel to John Campbell, January 6, 1964.
Letter from Frank Herbert to Mark L. Schibel, January 29, 1964.
Letter from P. M. Strain to John Campbell, January 15, 1964.
Letter from Frank Herbert to P. M. Strain, January 29, 1964.
Letter from Russell S. Grove Jr. to Frank Herbert, April 10, 1965.
Thomas Clareson, Understanding Contemporary American Science Fiction: The Formative Period, 1926–1970 (University of South Carolina Press, 1990).
Chapter 4: Novel Repair Manual
Paul M. Sammon, “Commentary Track,” Dune (1984; Arrow Video, 2021), Blu-ray.
Lauren Panepinto, “Book Cover Trends Thru Time (Via Dune),” Muddy Colors, September 10, 2020, https://www.muddycolors.com/2020/09/book-cover-trends-thru-time/.
Frank Herbert, The Dune Audio Collection: Performed by Frank Herbert (Caedmon Audio/HarperCollins, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1994, 2007).
Karin Christina Ryding, “The Arabic of Dune,” in Language in Place, edited by Daniela Francesca Virdis, Elisabetta Zurru, and Ernestine Lahey (John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2021).
Letter from Timothy Seldes to Lurton Blassingame, July 12, 1963.
Letter from Timothy Seldes to Lurton Blassingame, August 28, 1963.
Letter from Sterling E. Lanier to Frank Herbert, January 19, 1965.
Letter from Timothy Seldes to Lurton Blassingame, January 20, 1965.
Letter from Sterling E. Lanier to Frank Herbert, March 15, 1965.
Letter from Lurton Blassingame to Frank Herbert, August 24, 1965.
Letter from Frank Herbert to Lurton Blassingame, August 27, 1965.
Mark Zaloudek, “Successful Author Was Also a Sculptor,” Herald Tribune, August 7, 2007.
Chapter 5: My Own Private Duncan Idaho
Interviews with Timothée Chalamet, Haris Durrani, Alec Nevala-Lee, and Jason Momoa, conducted by the author.
“Julie Cox Interview from Frank Herbert’s Dune,” SciFi.com, 2000. Archived by Dune Info, January 1, 2011, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buBbDTtHNH0.
Olivia Pym, “The Real-Life Heroics of Jason Momoa,” GQ (UK), August 8, 2022, https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/jason-momoa-interview-dune-3.
Brian Herbert, introduction to Dune Messiah, by Frank Herbert (DreamStar Inc., 2008).
Letter from John Campbell to Lurton Blassingame, October 15, 1968. From the Willis E. McNelly Science Fiction Collection: Frank Herbert Papers, Fullerton Library, California State University, Fullerton.
Susan Sontag, “Notes on Camp,” in Against Interpretation (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1966).
Chapter 6: Golden Paths Not Taken
Interview with Frank Pavich, conducted by the author.
Jodorowsky’s Dune, directed by Frank Pavich, Sony Pictures Classics/High Line Pictures/Camera One, 2013.
Pierre Boulle, Planet of the Apes/La planète des singes (Éditions Julliard et al., 1963).
Joe Ford and Bob Greenhut, Dune screen treatment, March 1972 (Arthur Jacobs/APJ).
Rospo Pallenberg, Dune screenplay, January 23, 1973 (Arthur Jacobs/APJ).
Alejandro Jodorowsky, “Lettre ouverte a Frank Herbert” (Open letter to Frank Herbert), L’écran fantastique, October 1984.
Emmet Asher-Perrin, “Jodorowsky’s Dune Didn’t Get Made for a Reason,” Tor.com, May 2, 2017.
“Alejandro Jodorowsky Speaks Out After El Museo del Barrio Calls Off Retrospective,” Artforum, January 31, 2019.
Canan Balan, “Healer, Rapist and Cult,” 5Harfliler, November 2, 2021, https://www.5harfliler.com/healer-rapist-and-cult/.
Chapter 7: I Am the Sandworm
Frank Herbert, Children of Dune (Putnam, 1976).
David G. Hartwell, Age of Wonders: Exploring the World of Science Fiction (Tor, 1984, 1996).
Paul Turner, “Vertex Interviews Frank Herbert,” Vertex: The Magazine of Science Fiction, October 1973.
Chapter 8: Spice Wars
Interviews with Denis Villeneuve and Kyle MacLachlan, conducted by the author.
“Virginia Madsen on Dune Casting,” Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show, September 11, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l_UJzn7L7A.
Joe Bergren, “What Dune Author Frank Herbert Said About the 1984 David Lynch Adaptation,” ET Online, October 22, 2021, https://www.etonline.com/what-dune-author-frank-herbert-said-about-the-1984-david-lynch-adaptation-flashback-174069.
Chris Hodenfield, “Daring Dune,” Rolling Stone, December 6, 1984.
Chapter 9: Dune Velvet
Interviews with Kyle MacLachlan, Patrick Stewart, and Alicia Witt, conducted by the author.
Denis Fischer, “Frank Herbert, Author of Dune,” Enterprise Incidents Special: Dune, October 1984.
Ed Naha, The Making of Dune (Berkley, 1984).
Chris Hodenfield, “Daring Dune,” Rolling Stone, December 6, 1984.
Paul M. Sammon, Future Noir: The Making of Blade Runner (Harper, 1996).
Paul M. Sammon, “My Year on Arrakis,” Cinefantastique, September 1984.
Chris Rodley and David Lynch, Lynch on Lynch (Faber and Faber, 2005).
Impressions of Dune, directed by Tim Qualtrough and Jarrod Harlow (2003), documentary special feature included with Dune, directed by David Lynch (1984; Arrow Video, 2021), Blu-ray.
“Timothée Chalamet on Lynch’s Dune,” comments from Venice International Film Festival press conference, September 3, 2021, archived by Dune Info, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJL2ul-RXGI.
“Production Notes,” special feature included with Dune, directed by David Lynch (1984; 2017), DVD.
Dune: Special Edition, directed by David Lynch (1984; Arrow Video, 2021), Blu-ray.
Chapter 10: Twilight of the Emperor
Interviews with Theresa Shackleford and Bill Ransom, conducted by the author.
Frank Herbert, God Emperor of Dune (Putnam, 1981).
Frank Herbert, “God Emperor of Dune,” Playboy, January 1981.
Comments from Philip K. Dick republished in “THE HIDDEN HISTORY OF VCON 2: Part Three” by The Graeme, WCSFAzine, August 2008, https://efanzines.com/WCSFA/WCSFAzine08.pdf.
Chapter 11: Walk Without Rhythm
Interviews with Alec Newman and John Harrison, conducted by the author.
James Van Hise, The Secrets of Frank Herbert’s Dune (I Books, 2000).
The Secrets of Frank Herbert’s Dune, directed by Michael D. Messina (New Amsterdam Entertainment, 2000), DVD.
“Behind-the-Scenes Featurette,” Frank Herbert’s Dune, directed by John Harrison (Artisan, 2000), DVD.
Deborah D. McAdams, “Dune Does It for Sci Fi,” NextTV, December 10, 2000, https://www.nexttv.com/news/dune-does-it-sci-fi-95665.
Hoai-Tran Bui, “James McAvoy, Son of Dune, Has Advice for His Father, Dune Star Timothée Chalamet,” SlashFilm, October 19, 2021, https://www.slashfilm.com/617323/james-mcavoy-son-of-dune-has-advice-for-his-father-dune-star-timothee-chalamet/.
Chapter 12: The Slow Blade Penetrates the Shield
Interviews with Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Denis Villeneuve, Theresa Shackleford, and Hans Zimmer, conducted by the author.
Tanya Lapointe, The Art and Soul of Dune (Insight Editions, 2020).
“The Training Room,” special feature included with Dune: Part One (2021), directed by Denis Villeneuve (2021; Warner Bros., 2022), Blu-ray.
“Possible Futures,” special feature included with Dune Part One (2021), directed by Denis Villeneuve (2021; Warner Bros., 2022), Blu-ray.
Zachary Pirtle, “Humans, Machines, and an Ethics for Technology in Dune,” in Dune and Philosophy, edited by Kevin S. Decker (Wiley Blackwell, 2022).
Rick Marshall, “How Dune’s Visual Effects Made an Unfilmable Epic Possible,” Digital Trends, March 23, 2022, https://www.digitaltrends.com/movies/dune-visual-effects-paul-lambert-vfx-interview/.
Anthony Breznican, “Behold Dune,” Vanity Fair, April 14, 2020, https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/behold-dune-an-exclusive-look-at-timothee-chalamet-zendaya-oscar-isaac.
Marcus Gabriel, “Roger Yuan Reveals His Role in Dune Movie Sequel,” DuneNewsNet, March 12, 2021, https://dunenewsnet.com/2021/03/roger-yuan-reveals-dune-movie-sequel-role/.
Jeff Spry, “Dune Wins 6 Oscars at Academy Awards,” Space.com, March 28, 2022, https://www.space.com/dune-wins-6-oscars-academy-awards-2022.
Zack Sharf, “Villeneuve Says ‘It’s a Miracle’ He Survived ‘Blade Runner 2049’: ‘At Least I Wasn’t Banned’ from Directing,” IndieWire, October 7, 2021, https://www.indiewire.com/2021/10/denis-villeneuve-blade-runner-2049-ban-directing-1234669852/.
Jessica Howard, “John Hodgman Says There Was Almost a ‘Dune’ Film Adaptation Written by Him and Directed by Peter Berg,” Uproxx, October 26, 2021, https://uproxx.com/movies/john-hodgman-peter-berg-dune/.
Joseph Knoop, “Here’s How Dune Managed to Avoid Using Green Screen,” IGN, November 15, 2021, https://www.ign.com/articles/dune-green-screen-fabric.
Sam Lansky, “Timothée Chalamet Wants You to Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve,” Time, October 11, 2021, https://time.com/6103203/timothee-chalamet-profile/.
Scott Mendelson, “As ‘Dune’ Passes $400 Million, Can ‘Dune Part Two’ Rewrite Box Office History?,” Forbes, February 15, 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2022/02/15/dune-alita-chalamet-zendaya-box-office-history-400m/?sh=742631325ddb.
Helen O’Hara, “Zendaya on Dune: ‘Chani Is a Fighter,’ ” Empire, August 25, 2021, https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/zendaya-dune-interview-chani-is-a-fighter/.
Chapter 13: The Sleeper Must Awaken
Interviews with Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, and Haris Durrani, conducted by the author.
Frank Herbert, ed., New World or No World (Ace, 1970).
Alexandra Straub and Rebecca Kaplan, “Philadelphia Earth Week, Fifty Years On,” Science History Institute, April 21, 2020.
Stewart Brand, The Whole Earth Catalog, fall 1968, https://monoskop.org/images/0/09/Brand_Stewart_Whole_Earth_Catalog_Fall_1968.pdf.
Epilogue: Spice Up Your Life
Meomi, The Octonauts and the Growing Goldfish (HarperCollins, 2014).
Ellis Weiner, National Lampoon’s Doon (Pocket Books, 1984).
Frank Herbert, Chapterhouse: Dune (Putnam, 1985).