Greats of Science Fiction

Herbert, Frank

Frank Herbert 1920 – 1986 was born in Tacoma Washington. In school he was recognized as brilliant but despite being a voracious reader he was a poor student. In addition to reading Verne, Wells and Burroughs, he purportedly read the complete works of Shakespeare by age 12 and from a very young age knew he wanted to be an author. He had a troubled home life and moved in with relatives in Oregon in 1938 and in 1939 he graduated from high school in Salem. After graduation he worked at several newspapers until being drafted into the Navy in 1943 but was medically discharged after serving six months. During this time his first wife left him, taking his young daughter with her.

After the war, Frank attended the University of Washington but never graduated. He only took classes that interested him and failed to take the required classes for a degree. It was here that he met his wife of 37 years, Beverly. She too was a writer and eventually became the family’s primary breadwinner throughout their early life together. During the 1950s, Frank worked in the newspaper business all over the West coast and dabbled in fiction. He succeeded in having several short stories and novellas published during this time and Beverly often assisted him with his writing and research.

He began research for Dune in 1959. The first short versions of the story: “Dune World” and “Prophet of Dune” were published in Analog magazine in 1963 and 1965, respectively. The full-length version was rejected by over 20 publishers but was finally accepted by Chilton (best known for its car repair manuals).

His novel 'Dune' won the Nebula in 1965 and the Hugo in 1966 and was later made into a film directed by David Lynch in 1984, and starred a young Kyle MacLachlan and music star Sting. The Dune series originated in the 1960s and 1970s, and reflects some of the cultural changes of the times: rejecting conventions, concern about the environment and ecology, mind expanding drugs and Eastern religions and philosophies. Other themes of his books include leadership, charisma and the interrelationships between religion, politics and power.  Herbert was credited by many as one of the first to popularize the terms “Ecology” and “Ecologist.”

The Universe Herbert created for “Dune” consists of layers upon layers of complexity. Many have to read the books several times to truly appreciate the nuance of inter-relationships, driving themes, motivations of characters and disparate groups and the consequence of actions.

Herbert wrote six Dune novels and was working on the seventh when he died suddenly. His son Brian, along with Kevin J. Anderson (@KevinJAnderson on Wattpad) were authorized by his Estate to write a prequel series and after Frank’s notes were discovered 10 years after his death; they completed “Dune Seven” which became “Hunters of Dune” and “Sandworms of Dune.”

Other notable books include “Hellstrom’s Hive: a dystopian story of humans living in a regimented insect-like society. He also wrote the chillingly prescient “The White Plague” a story of terrorists attempting to bio-engineer a weapon which kills only their ethnically different enemies.

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Written by WillFlyForFood