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A man stands above the Florence dunes, watching the
A man stands above the Florence dunes, watching the

sand blow. Once, nothing grew here. The dunes moved
sand blow. Once, nothing grew here. The dunes moved

and shifted, grew and spread. But now, grass grows
and shifted, grew and spread. But now, grass grows

here. It was introduced by humans to anchor the dunes,
here. It was introduced by humans to anchor the dunes,

to keep them stable, to make them into something else.
to keep them stable, to make them into something else.

This gives the man an idea.
This gives the man an idea.

♪ "Hypothetical" by Surasshu ♪
♪ "Hypothetical" by Surasshu ♪

The year was 1957. The man: Frank Herbert. Even if you
The year was 1957. The man: Frank Herbert. Even if you

were a science fiction fanatic back then, it's unlikely that
were a science fiction fanatic back then, it's unlikely that

you'd have known his name. At this point, he'd only
you'd have known his name. At this point, he'd only

written one novel: The Dragon in the Sea - a near-future
written one novel: The Dragon in the Sea - a near-future

story about a world running out of resources, where
story about a world running out of resources, where

submarine crews from the West tried to steal
submarine crews from the West tried to steal

underwater oil reserves from the East to fuel their
underwater oil reserves from the East to fuel their

ongoing war. While it was first published in Astounding,
ongoing war. While it was first published in Astounding,

you're as likely to find it in the thriller section today as
you're as likely to find it in the thriller section today as

you are in the sci-fi shelves. But he, out on those dunes,
you are in the sci-fi shelves. But he, out on those dunes,

was looking for a new story. Not a sci-fi story, though.
was looking for a new story. Not a sci-fi story, though.

He'd actually gone to those dunes for a very different
He'd actually gone to those dunes for a very different

purpose. You see, he'd spent much of his career as a
purpose. You see, he'd spent much of his career as a

journalist and he'd gone out to the Oregon coast in
journalist and he'd gone out to the Oregon coast in

hopes that he could get some magazine to pay him to
hopes that he could get some magazine to pay him to

do a story about how the dunes were being reclaimed.
do a story about how the dunes were being reclaimed.

Truth was, it was actually even simpler than that. He
Truth was, it was actually even simpler than that. He

really was down there mostly in hopes that he'd find
really was down there mostly in hopes that he'd find

someone to underwrite him so he could be nearer to his
someone to underwrite him so he could be nearer to his

wife, who was living in Florence, Oregon at the time. But
wife, who was living in Florence, Oregon at the time. But

the image of those dunes, in a picture he took as his
the image of those dunes, in a picture he took as his

little charter plane rose into the sky above them,
little charter plane rose into the sky above them,

becoming waving golden ripples on a fine ocean of
becoming waving golden ripples on a fine ocean of

sand, would stay with him. Dune wouldn't be completed
sand, would stay with him. Dune wouldn't be completed

for years yet. Perpetually broke, he would become a
for years yet. Perpetually broke, he would become a

political speech writer, try his hand and fail at writing for
political speech writer, try his hand and fail at writing for

TV, learn about zen, move to San Francisco, rejoin the
TV, learn about zen, move to San Francisco, rejoin the

newspaper industry as a night editor for the San
newspaper industry as a night editor for the San

Francisco Examiner, study the I Ching, and dive yet
Francisco Examiner, study the I Ching, and dive yet

deeper into Jungian philosophy before the book came
deeper into Jungian philosophy before the book came

out. But, the whole time, he plugged away at the work.
out. But, the whole time, he plugged away at the work.

Something in him knew that this piece, his "desert story"
Something in him knew that this piece, his "desert story"

was the one, the thing that would finally let him break
was the one, the thing that would finally let him break

through. And eight years after he spent that day on the
through. And eight years after he spent that day on the

Oregon coast, looking at how European beach grass
Oregon coast, looking at how European beach grass

was transforming the sands, he turned out to be right.
was transforming the sands, he turned out to be right.

But the path to Dune, as we know it, was a long one.
But the path to Dune, as we know it, was a long one.

Dune, itself actually began as a haiku. Yeah. The
Dune, itself actually began as a haiku. Yeah. The

181,000 word novel began as a poem less than eighteen
181,000 word novel began as a poem less than eighteen

words long. There was a method in this madness,
words long. There was a method in this madness,

though. Herbert felt that the haiku was the perfect form
though. Herbert felt that the haiku was the perfect form

for expressing images of nature and setting a tone. If he
for expressing images of nature and setting a tone. If he

could get it right there, he'd know what he had to deliver
could get it right there, he'd know what he had to deliver

on for the whole novel. From there, he researched
on for the whole novel. From there, he researched

ecology, psychology, tribal cultures from arid regions
ecology, psychology, tribal cultures from arid regions

across the globe, and ESP. He would draw inspiration
across the globe, and ESP. He would draw inspiration

from everything and bring it back to his book. Once, on a
from everything and bring it back to his book. Once, on a

trip to Mexico, he was walking through an arroyo, heard
trip to Mexico, he was walking through an arroyo, heard

his footsteps echoing off the banks, and immediately
his footsteps echoing off the banks, and immediately

began to pen notes about drum sand. But as
began to pen notes about drum sand. But as

enthusiastic about his novel as he was, others were less
enthusiastic about his novel as he was, others were less

so. Publisher after publisher rejected the novel, telling
so. Publisher after publisher rejected the novel, telling

him, "It's just too long!" or that "People can't even get
him, "It's just too long!" or that "People can't even get

through the first hundred pages." Others found his idea
through the first hundred pages." Others found his idea

of a trilogy strange, because what we now have as the
of a trilogy strange, because what we now have as the

first Dune book was actually originally three separate
first Dune book was actually originally three separate

books that luckily got put into one. But unlike other
books that luckily got put into one. But unlike other

multi-part sci-fi novels of the time, there's no great jump
multi-part sci-fi novels of the time, there's no great jump

chronologically or distance-wise between the episodes.
chronologically or distance-wise between the episodes.

And so the rejections rolled in. One after another, each
And so the rejections rolled in. One after another, each

of the big sci-fi publishers passed. But one person saw
of the big sci-fi publishers passed. But one person saw

it and knew its value: John W. Campbell. Perhaps the
it and knew its value: John W. Campbell. Perhaps the

last great hurrah of an illustrious career, Campbell
last great hurrah of an illustrious career, Campbell

decided to serialize it and publish it in Analog magazine
decided to serialize it and publish it in Analog magazine

under the name "Dune World". As the first part was
under the name "Dune World". As the first part was

being published, Campbell and Herbert went back and
being published, Campbell and Herbert went back and

forth in long, philosophical letters about things like the
forth in long, philosophical letters about things like the

nature of time and the difficulty of writing characters
nature of time and the difficulty of writing characters

with superpowers that were just too good. Herbert took
with superpowers that were just too good. Herbert took

many of Campbell's suggestions like not killing Alia and
many of Campbell's suggestions like not killing Alia and

worked to refine parts he'd recommended, like better
worked to refine parts he'd recommended, like better

clarifying the holes in Paul's future sight, even as early
clarifying the holes in Paul's future sight, even as early

parts of the serialized novel hit the stamps. But as
parts of the serialized novel hit the stamps. But as

Herbert prepared the second and third sections for
Herbert prepared the second and third sections for

Analog magazine, more rejections were arriving every
Analog magazine, more rejections were arriving every

day. It looked like the book was never going to find a life
day. It looked like the book was never going to find a life

as anything but a set of magazine pieces. But in the
as anything but a set of magazine pieces. But in the

background, something was slowly starting to happen.
background, something was slowly starting to happen.

People were taking notice. Analog was still the greatest
People were taking notice. Analog was still the greatest

of the sci-fi magazines, and Campbell still had many
of the sci-fi magazines, and Campbell still had many

friends in the science fiction community. People were
friends in the science fiction community. People were

reading the story, and other science fiction authors were
reading the story, and other science fiction authors were

talking about the story. Then, it got nominated for a
talking about the story. Then, it got nominated for a

Hugo. Sure, it lost to Here Gather the Stars, but it didn't
Hugo. Sure, it lost to Here Gather the Stars, but it didn't

really matter. The story had fans. And one of those fans
really matter. The story had fans. And one of those fans

was from an unlikely source. His name was Sterling
was from an unlikely source. His name was Sterling

Lanier, the editor of Chilton Books. Herbert and his
Lanier, the editor of Chilton Books. Herbert and his

agent hadn't sent a copy to Chilton because they were a
agent hadn't sent a copy to Chilton because they were a

publisher of car repair manuals. But Lanier had read the
publisher of car repair manuals. But Lanier had read the

story in Analog and liked it so much, he hunted down
story in Analog and liked it so much, he hunted down

Herbert's agent and made them an offer. He wanted to
Herbert's agent and made them an offer. He wanted to

print all three books as one hard-bound novel named
print all three books as one hard-bound novel named

Dune. Herbert ecstatically accepted. They went all out
Dune. Herbert ecstatically accepted. They went all out

with radio ads and newspaper clips. As Herbert himself
with radio ads and newspaper clips. As Herbert himself

leaned on his old journalist and bookstore connections
leaned on his old journalist and bookstore connections

to get it more notice. Prestigious science fiction authors
to get it more notice. Prestigious science fiction authors

were already starting to call it, "one of the greatest
were already starting to call it, "one of the greatest

science fiction novels of all time."
science fiction novels of all time."

And within a year, the newly formed Nebula Awards
And within a year, the newly formed Nebula Awards

were planning to name it Best Novel. And Harlan Ellison
were planning to name it Best Novel. And Harlan Ellison

was writing Herbert to ask him if he could make it to the
was writing Herbert to ask him if he could make it to the

award ceremony dinner. But in the short term, the
award ceremony dinner. But in the short term, the

publishers were right. It cost too much to print and too
publishers were right. It cost too much to print and too

few people bought it, because it was part of a niche
few people bought it, because it was part of a niche

genre at the time. Sterling Lanier lost his job. But, he
genre at the time. Sterling Lanier lost his job. But, he

was supportive of Herbert and the book to the end. He
was supportive of Herbert and the book to the end. He

sent Frank a note saying that he'd made an important
sent Frank a note saying that he'd made an important

and powerful book and that he was glad he got to be a
and powerful book and that he was glad he got to be a

part of it even if, humble to the last, he said that his
part of it even if, humble to the last, he said that his

contribution to it was largely seeing something great
contribution to it was largely seeing something great

and finding out how to reach Herbert's agent from John
and finding out how to reach Herbert's agent from John

Campbell. And he ended the note by saying he hoped to
Campbell. And he ended the note by saying he hoped to

meet Frank Herbert in person one day. I don't know if
meet Frank Herbert in person one day. I don't know if

they ever did. The next year, though, Dune sales began
they ever did. The next year, though, Dune sales began

to pick up. And although Analog rejected a sequel,
to pick up. And although Analog rejected a sequel,

Galaxy picked it up. Hip colleges started to teach the
Galaxy picked it up. Hip colleges started to teach the

book in literature classes and it got buzz as an
book in literature classes and it got buzz as an

underground masterpiece. Dune not only survived, it
underground masterpiece. Dune not only survived, it

soon became the center of the science fiction universe.
soon became the center of the science fiction universe.

So continue your training and keep trusting Yueh
So continue your training and keep trusting Yueh

implicitly, because we begin our pilgrimage to
implicitly, because we begin our pilgrimage to

Arrakis Proper next time. What could go wrong?
Arrakis Proper next time. What could go wrong?

Oh, yeah. Uh, that.
Oh, yeah. Uh, that.

♪ "Hypothetical" by Surasshu ♪
♪ "Hypothetical" by Surasshu ♪