# Frank Herbert's Dune newbie **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529 "2001-10-05T06:00:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cw)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/1 "2001-10-05T06:00:27Z")
I’m new to this great epic and just finished Dune and I am starting on Dune Messiah. Is there anything out there where I can get some further background info. on the Bene Gesserit, Butlerian Jihad, sandworm biology, etc. I’m looking for a comprehensive dictionary that contains all of the terms used in his writing. So far my web searches have turned up null and I have only found information I already knew. Also can someone describe the axolotl tanks and gholas to me, what are they in detailed terms? No spoilers please, I’m just starting Dune Messiah. ---
**Author:** ![cw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71c47a/32.png) [@cw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cw)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/2 "2001-10-05T06:40:41Z")
Also, what are No-ships in detail? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/3 "2001-10-05T07:12:14Z")
ghoulas are basically clones of someone who died from what I gathered they used some of the remains dna ect and as for the rest i think there being explained in the books brian herbert is finishing of his dads Now as for the history watch the 4 hour or more version of the movie it explains the history leading up to the first book and why technology was considered evil ---
**Author:** ![Kipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kipper)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/4 "2001-10-05T08:07:10Z")
I’ve read Dune now six or seven times. Everytime I read it I pick up on new things and occasionally have real head thwacking why didn’t I get that moments. Dune was originally written as a stand alone book and then as a triliogy, so you may find some of the later books a bit disapointing, however, like Dune, repeated readings provides new insite. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/5 "2001-10-05T10:13:20Z")
There are some new Dune books - House Atriedes, House Harnokken and House Corrino. I haven’t read them yet, but I’m looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/6 "2001-10-05T10:59:44Z")
Much as I admired “Dune” (a classic of the genre), the sequels range from mediocre to God-Awful. “Dune Messiah” is perhaps the worst, though I was unable to finish “God Awful . . . Emperor or Dune.” By that time, the series had deteriorated into preachy and purile philosophy and things like character and plot were completely missing. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/7 "2001-10-05T12:42:14Z")
Cafe Society is probably a better place for this than GQ, so I’ll move it. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/8 "2001-10-05T13:00:02Z")
There’s a book called _The Dune Encyclopedia_ by Willis McNelly that could probably answer all your questions, but it’s out of print and it seems to be hard to find a used copy. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2001, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frank-herberts-dune-newbie/85529/9 "2001-10-05T13:27:05Z")
**cw** welcome to the wonderful world of _Dune_. I have been a huge fan of the series for many years. In fact, unlike **RealityChuck** , I think that _God Emperor of Dune_ is maybe the second best book in the series. **Wendell Wagner** mentioned the _Dune Encyclopedia_, and it is a good source of information, but it is not canon. **Dave Stewart** mentioned the three new books. I have read the first two and just started on the third one earlier this week. They are set in the years just prior to the events of _Dune_ and are mainly background material. Interestinly enough, the writers (one of whom is Brian Herbert, Frank’s son) say they are using Frank’s notes, yet there are things that clearly come out of the encyclopedia. One of the books, \* House Harkonnen\* IIRC has the events surrounding the first No-Ship. Also, Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson plan to write a 7th Dune novel based on Frank’s notes. They also plan to write a trilogy that is based on the events of the Butlerian Jihad. [This](http://www.dunenovels.com/) is a good website on the books.