Frank Herbert’s Dune went down in history as a timeless sci-fi classic, and Denis Villeneuve’s hit adaptation introduced it to a whole new audience. A fascinating story of its own lies behind this iconic sci-fi epic, and here are five fun facts about its publication that will make you see Arrakis in a whole new light.
“Analog” Serial
Before becoming available in book form, this sci-fi epic was originally published as a three-part serial titled Dune World in the monthly sci-fi magazine Analog.
20 Rejections
Herbert’s Dune is a true classic of the sci-fi genre, but not everyone recognized its brilliance at first. This novel was reportedly submitted to 20 publishers…and they all rejected it!
Unlikely Publisher
Once Herbert finally found a home for Dune, he joined forces with a pretty unlikely publisher. A Philadelphia-based printing house Chilton Books agreed to put it on the shelves in 1965, despite being best known for publishing auto repair manuals.
Slow Start
Despite becoming a huge hit in the decades to come, Dune was off to a slow start in the beginning. Chilton bosses weren’t happy with the sales and even went as far as to fire the editor Sterling Lanier, who urged them to take a risk with Herbert’s book.
First Nebula Award Winner
Despite its slow start, Dune eventually won over sci-fi fans and it was the first recipient of the Nebula Award for the best novel, created with science fiction or fantasy books in mind.