The Dune Encyclopedia

The Dune Encyclopedia (1984) – Edited by Willis E. McNelly
Corgi | ISBN: 9780552991315
Condition: Good – Some Compression and Creasing to Lower Right Corner | Sold by Crappy Old Books

Dune. A universe of desert planets, giant sandworms, political conspiracies, religious fanatics, genetically engineered superhumans and an extraordinarily valuable substance that everybody wants but which can only be obtained from one of the least hospitable places imaginable. Frank Herbert created a fictional civilisation of such staggering complexity that merely keeping track of the noble families, secret societies and competing religious beliefs can leave the average reader requiring a lengthy lie-down.

Fortunately, Willis E. McNelly decided that what this universe really needed was an encyclopedia.

And not a modest little glossary explaining what a sandworm is, either.

Welcome to The Dune Encyclopedia, an enormous and gloriously ambitious reference work devoted to the history, cultures, politics, technology, geography and personalities of Herbert’s celebrated science-fiction universe. Edited by McNelly with contributions from numerous scholars and enthusiasts, it approaches the fictional universe with the seriousness normally reserved for the Encyclopaedia Britannica, except that the subjects include interstellar empires, spice addiction and the breeding programmes of mysterious religious sisterhoods.

Here, the extraordinary civilisation of the Imperium receives the full academic treatment. Noble houses, planetary histories, scientific developments, philosophical traditions and obscure historical events are examined with a wonderfully straight face, as though some diligent historian has spent several centuries researching the political consequences of giant worms inhabiting a desert planet.

The result is a magnificent exercise in fictional scholarship.

The Bene Gesserit, the Spacing Guild, the Fremen, the Atreides and the Harkonnens all belong to a world whose complicated relationships and ancient traditions invite endless investigation. McNelly’s encyclopedia expands this mythology with invented historical accounts, cultural interpretations and elaborate background material, creating the impression of a civilisation that existed long before Herbert ever put pen to paper.

Published in 1984, the encyclopedia occupies a particularly fascinating position within Dune history. Herbert approved the project and contributed a foreword, but its contents were not intended as an authoritative extension of his novels. Some entries contain interpretations and inventions that differ from the established fictional chronology, making the volume an intriguing alternative exploration rather than definitive canon.

For serious Dune enthusiasts, however, that is part of its considerable appeal. Few fictional universes have inspired such an extraordinary attempt to document an imaginary civilisation with the thoroughness of a genuine historical reference work.

This 1984 Corgi edition, offered in Good condition by Crappy Old Books, has some compression and crumpling at the bottom right corner, affecting the cover and approximately the first twenty pages. Nothing particularly serious, but it is less than pristine, as though the book has at some point been sat upon or persuaded into a space it was reluctant to occupy.

An unusual and highly desirable companion to Herbert’s legendary science-fiction saga, particularly for collectors interested in the wider history of Dune publishing.

A monumental achievement in imaginary scholarship, proving that even fictional civilisations can develop enough historical complications to require their own encyclopedia.

And a useful reminder that the universe of Dune contains almost unlimited political ambition, religious intrigue and technological sophistication.

But apparently not enough sensible people to suggest that everyone might be happier living somewhere with a little more rain.

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