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Cover of God Emperor of Dune
The Dune Chronicles · about 3,500 years after Children of Dune

God Emperor of Dune

One ruler has held the universe for millennia, and some want to bring him down

Pages587 pagesWhere to buyAmazonIn your readingnot read yet
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Do you need to read it?

Not required. It's left out of the main story but is part of the full chronological order.

Where it falls in the order

  • Main storynot included
  • Chronological4 of 6
  • Everything4 of 9
BeforeChildren of DuneAfterHeretics of Dune
Spoilers for this title

Quick recap

Leto II, half human and half sandworm, has ruled as a tyrant for 3,500 years. He controls all the spice, has dissolved the Landsraad and replaced the Fremen army with an all-female guard that obeys him blindly. At his side is yet another Duncan Idaho ghola, one of many over the millennia. Leto falls for Hwi Noree, the Ixian ambassador, even knowing she was made to seduce him. Siona Atreides, leader of a rebellion, joins Duncan to kill him. During the wedding procession they bring down a bridge and Leto falls into the river; the water tears him apart, and the sandtrout in his body scatter. Before dying, he reveals that Siona is invisible to prescience. Duncan and Siona are left with the empire.

No spoilersOpens once you mark the title as seen.
3 what changed in the movie

What changed in the movie

  1. Behind the scenesDrafted almost entirely in first person

    The first draft was almost entirely in first person. Herbert later added more third-person narration, but Leto's journal excerpts stayed.

    source ↗
  2. Behind the scenesA 1981 bestseller

    It was the No. 11 hardcover fiction bestseller of 1981. The Los Angeles Times called it rich fare and heady stuff.

    source ↗
  3. ReferenceA Duncan who keeps coming back

    Leto keeps a string of Duncan Idaho gholas at his side over the millennia. The Duncan of the films is the same character, thousands of years earlier.

    source ↗
No spoilersThe easter eggs give away parts of the title. They open once you mark it as seen.

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