Every Dune Book Ranked Worst To Best

The Dune series launched a massive sci-fi franchise. With more films and TV shows in development, here are the six books ranked from worst to best.

Frank Herbert's six-book Dune series has influenced the sci-fi genre for over 50 years - here's how they rank. Focused on the desert planet Arrakis, the first book follows Paul Atreides, a young man pre-destined by a powerful order of witches known as the Bene Gesserit to be a messiah. What initially appears to be an epic adventure following a Chosen One-type character grows into something far more complex when the series spans for several thousand years.

Linking these books are extensive themes and philosophies regarding power, corruption, hero-worship, capitalism, and ecology - themes that have consistently attracted readers over the years, providing the series a consistent and loyal fan base, and a reputation for being the forefather of much of modern sci-fi. Frank Herbert wrote six Dune books before his death in 1986. Since then, his son Brian Herbert continued the series with fellow author Kevin J. Anderson, further expanding the Dune universe and all the intricate lives contained within it.

To date, there are two film adaptations, a television adaptation of Children of Dune, an upcoming Dune prequel on HBO Max, and a vast array of novels, short stories, and graphic novels that expand on Dune's lore. Here are Frank Herbert's six Dune books, ranked from worst to best.

6. Dune Messiah (1969) 

The second novel, Dune Messiah, is the series' shortest book and was considered to be highly disappointing upon its release. Twelve years after the events in Dune, Paul Atreides is now worshiped all over the known universe and continues his reign as Emperor. Paul spends most of the book in a deep depression, feeling like he has lost control of his influence over the universe because a massive, prophesied jihad led by Dune's Fremen people is violently killing billions in Paul's name. Dune Messiah demystifies Paul as the hero archetype, showing the weight of power on him and the dangers of his extreme influence. However, while it further expands on key Dune themes and introduces the notable Ixians and Bene Tleilaxu, Dune Messiah feels overall like a benchmark in an otherwise epic series. While certainly more enjoyable than its reputation has made it to be, it's still the weakest in the series.

5. Chapterhouse: Dune (1985)

Written just a year after the series' previous installment is Chapterhouse: Dune. The planet Rakis (formerly Arrakis) has been completely destroyed, making Chapterhouse: Dune the only book in the series to take place on an entirely different planet. Being that the Dune books span millennia, readers have to connect with characters and elements introduced sometimes well into the series. However, a constant in the series is Dune's debatably real main character Duncan Idaho and the Bene Gesserit order. Getting a book entirely told from the viewpoint of the cunning Bene Gesserit order and the power games they play throughout the galaxy is really gripping to read. However, because most of Dune's main characters - and even the main planet - is gone, Chapterhouse: Dune feels like the series is being stretched out. Despite Herbert intending for it to be the series' penultimate book before his death, Chapterhouse: Dune might have been better off as a standalone novel in the franchise that expands the lore - a Dune epilogue, perhaps.

4. Heretics Of Dune (1984)

Heretics of Dune takes place 1500 years after God Emperor of Dune's heavily built-up events. Making their return are Dune's iconic sandworms, which were essentially extinct in God Emperor of Dune. Due to there being so many new characters introduced in Heretics of Dune, it can make the reader feel like having to switch gears in the series upon first getting into the book. Even the planet names change slightly due to so much time passing in Dune's universe. However, Heretics of Dune marks the center shift towards the Bene Gesserit, which appeared more as an important supporting influence in the previous Dune books. Heretics of Dune also feels more action-packed than the other books, which many readers may find more investing.

3. Children Of Dune (1976)

Children of Dune is perhaps the most divisive Dune book, but it builds Dune up to be the epic series that it is. Paul Atreides plays a nearly non-existent role as the series shifts its focus to his children, Leto II and Ghanima. Dune's melange drug in utero combined with Paul's Kwizatz Haderach influence made Leto and Ghanima pre-born, connecting them to millions of past lives. More is discovered about the sandworms and the purpose they serve in creating melange, which launches much more fodder into the series, especially in the later books. If nothing else, Children of Dune is worth reading to see Leto's fascinating character arc. Children of Dune's influence on the series grows more upon reflection and may make for a better re-reading experience.

2. God Emperor Of Dune (1981)

God Emperor of Dune is by far the most philosophy-centric of the Dune books. Having its philosophy's mouthpiece be Leto II as a giant, 3,500-year-old omnipotent man-worm makes for sci-fi at its most fun. Duncan Idaho has higher prominence in the book, something that Jason Momoa's Dune 2021 Duncan Idaho gives more potential to than previous adaptations. His role is to serve Leto II's vague Golden Path, which causes questions and disagreements warring with Duncan's fierce loyalty to House Atreides and Leto II's tyrannical rule. God Emperor feels like a grand, exciting climax of the previous three books. However, keeping it from the number one spot is the heavy execution of Leto's (Herbert's) frequent pontificating. For this reason, God Emperor is also divisive, much like Children of Dune. Nonetheless, it's one of Dune's most memorable books.

1. Dune (1965)

Dune is the ultimate foundation for so much to come in the series. However, despite its cliffhanger ending, it still works so well as a standalone about a young man moving to a new planet and having everything in his life change. Fighting over Dune's melange spice, houses around the galaxy plot ways to gain control over the most precious resource in the universe. From the famous Litany Against Fear to its extensive world-building, Dune's 617 pages burst with iconic lines, scenes, characters, and elements. Densely packed with a detailed plot and intriguing themes, Dune masterfully makes the otherwise grandiose series still feel like a cherry-on-the-top - a rewarding series to indulge in for further exploration if the reader wishes to truly go deeper.