Dune Encyclopedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| US 1st edition cover | |
| Author | Dr. Willis E. McNelly |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Dune universe |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Berkley |
| Released | 1 June 1984 |
| Media Type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 526 |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-425-06813-7 |
The Dune Encyclopedia is a collection of essays written by Dr. Willis E. McNelly and 42[1] other contributors as a companion to Frank Herbert's classic science fiction series which began with Dune. The Encyclopedia was published in paperback in 1984[2]. No further editions are planned due to copyright issues.
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[edit] Overview
The Dune Encyclopedia describes in great detail many aspects of the Dune universe not found in the novels themselves, such as biographies of the major characters, the languages of Fremen, Galach, and Spacing Guild (including alphabets and pronunciation), and shortened summaries of the plots of the novels. The encyclopedia also includes explanations of the armies, major schools (Bene Gesserit, Mentats, Sword Masters of Ginaz, etc.), and major industries (including the spice melange), as well as descriptions of future technologies and artwork on the major characters and concepts of the novels. Currently out of print, it is in great demand by fans.
[edit] Canon dispute
The canon status of The Dune Encyclopedia is a matter of some dispute. The book was published by Berkley Books, an imprint of Putnam, the publisher of all of Frank Herbert's Dune novels. The cover called the work "complete" and "authorized." Additionally, Frank Herbert approved the book, considering it "amusing" and "fascinating" (see quote below), and reputedly wrote some of it himself and drew on it. However, he did not hesitate to render it erroneous through later developments in his Dune series (the book was compiled and published some time between God Emperor of Dune and Heretics of Dune, although Herbert "read large portions of God Emperor of Dune, then in the final stages, to McNelly during the compiling of the volume so that McNelly could keep abreast of developments."[3]). Herbert himself wrote the forward for the Encyclopedia (dated November 1983) which noted:
Here is a rich background (and foreground) for the Dune Chronicles, including scholarly bypaths and amusing sidelights. Some of the contributions are sure to arouse controversy, based as they are on questionable sources ... I must confess that I found it fascinating to re-enter here some of the sources on which the Chronicles are built. As the first "Dune fan," I give this encyclopedia my delighted approval, although I hold my own counsel on some of the issues still to be explored as the Chronicles unfold.
It is also worth noting that the nature of The Dune Encyclopedia itself makes its canonical status somewhat unique; the book is written as an encyclopedia published within the Dune universe itself, rather than claiming to contain absolute fact about this universe. Thus, much of the information (such as the biographical or historical) may be seen as a possible later interpretation by "historians" and not the absolute truth of the matter. One could conceivably hold The Dune Encyclopedia to be canon in this sense while agreeing that some of its information is downright wrong.
Many of its ideas go directly against the prequel trilogies Prelude to Dune and Legends of Dune, written later by Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert's son) and Kevin J. Anderson, as well as their novels Hunters of Dune and Sandworms of Dune, which they state complete the original series. Brian Herbert and Anderson have also stated that when writing these books they drew on Frank Herbert's own notes, left behind after his death.
Brian Herbert has declared The Dune Encyclopedia non-canon on the official Dune website, with the consent of Dr. Willis E. McNelly:
THE DUNE ENCYCLOPEDIA reflects an alternate "DUNE universe" which did not necessarily represent the "canon" created by Frank Herbert. Frank Herbert's son, Brian Herbert, writing with Kevin J. Anderson, IS continuing to establish the canon of the DUNE universe. This is being done with the full approval of the owner of the DUNE copyright, the Herbert Limited Partnership.
[edit] Selected content
The Dune Encyclopedia is written in the form of an encyclopedia within the fictional Dune universe, often citing non-existent fictional written works. No reference is made to which information is taken directly from the works of Frank Herbert himself, and which has been invented.
The Encyclopedia invents extensive, alternate biographies for key characters not developed in Frank Herbert's original series, including Princess Irulan, Lady Margot Fenring, Lady Anirul Corrino and Reverend Mother Mohiam. In the case of Mohiam, the Encyclopedia makes the controversial claim that she was secretly the mother of Jessica Atreides. This was later rendered canon in the Prelude to Dune series; according to authors Brian Herbert and Anderson, this fact was pulled directly from Frank Herbert's working notes for the original Dune series [1].
In the Encyclopedia, the Butlerian Jihad is attributed to "Jehanne Butler"; in the Legends of Dune series, it is established that Serena Butler and her son Manion are the namesakes of the Jihad. The extended biography for Ghanima Atreides states that she and Farad'n Corrino had 10 children, named Trebor, Lliwis, Regor, Tismenus, Boris, Eleanor, Helene, Elaine, Jeunne and Noree.
Included in the Encyclopedia is an invented list of Great Houses supposedly in existence at the beginning of Paul Atreides' reign as Emperor. The list includes House Ordos[4], a House which does not appear in any canon Dune work but was later used by Westwood Studios for their Dune video games. The Encyclopedia also invents a list of all Emperors of the Known Universe[5], back to the creation of the Empire.
[edit] References
- ^ McNelly, Willis E. The Dune Encyclopedia, 1 June 1984, pg. 525-526, ISBN 0-425-06813-7 (US edition)
- ^ The Dune Encyclopedia was also released in hardcover by Putnam Adult a month later, 13 July 1984 (ISBN 0-399-12950-2)
- ^ pg 124 of Touponce 1988
- ^ The Dune Encyclopedia, pg. 273
- ^ The Dune Encyclopedia, pg. 200-205
- Touponce, William F. (1988), Frank Herbert (Twayne's United States Authors Series), Boston, Massachusetts: Twayne Publishers, ISBN 0-8057-7514-5; PS3558.E63Z89
- McNelly, Willis E. The Dune Encyclopedia, October 1984. ISBN 0-552-99131-7 (UK edition)
