Reading order · 3 books · 1999 to 2001 · Set in the Dune universe
Prelude to Dune Books in Order
Prelude to Dune is set in the decades before Dune, following young Leto Atreides, Duncan Idaho and the rise of the households that Frank Herbert’s readers know.
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Series facts
- Books
- 3
- Published
- 1999 to 2001
- First book
- Dune: House Atreides
- Latest
- Dune: House Corrino (2001)
- Setting
- Set in the Dune universe
The reading order
Every Prelude to Dune book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
3 books · Set in the Dune universe
- 1Dune: House Atreides1999With Leto Atreides IDecades before Dune, young Leto Atreides is sent to the machine world of Ix for his education, a boy named Duncan Idaho escapes the Harkonnens, and a young Bene Gesserit, Jessica, is being prepared for her destiny.Buy on Amazon
- 2Dune: House Harkonnen2000With Leto Atreides ILeto is now Duke of Caladan, while Gurney Halleck escapes from the Harkonnen slave pits and Ix falls under the control of the Tleilaxu.Buy on Amazon
- 3Dune: House Corrino2001With Leto Atreides IEmperor Shaddam plots to replace the spice with an artificial substitute, while Jessica, pregnant, is held at the emperor’s court.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read House Atreides, House Harkonnen and House Corrino in order.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Leto Atreides I | Duncan Idaho | Baron Vladimir Harkonnen | Lady Jessica | Gurney Halleck |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Dune: House Atreides | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 2 Dune: House Harkonnen | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
| 3 Dune: House Corrino | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the Prelude to Dune books
6 characters from Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson’s chart, with the number of Prelude to Dune books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Leto Atreides IDuke of House Atreides | 3 | Dune: House Atreides 1999 |
| Duncan IdahoSwordmaster of House Atreides | 3 | Dune: House Atreides 1999 |
| Baron Vladimir HarkonnenLeto's enemy | 3 | Dune: House Atreides 1999 |
| Lady JessicaBene Gesserit concubine of Duke Leto | 2 | Dune: House Harkonnen 2000 |
| Gurney HalleckWarrior-troubadour | 2 | Dune: House Harkonnen 2000 |
| Paul AtreidesLeto's son | 1 | Dune: House Corrino 2001 |
Crossovers with Brian Herbert & Kevin J. Anderson’s other series
- Caladan: Leto Atreides I also appears in 3 of its books