Dune: Edge of a Crysknife (2026)

Dune: Edge of a Crysknife (2026)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrators: Simone Ragazzoni / Andrea Scalmazzi / Francesco Mazzoli | Page Count: 112

The BOOM! Studios hype department are fucking hilarious. Described as a 'pivotal collection' in the 'expanded Dune universe', Edge of a Crysknife is the most vacuous, stretched-thin canvas of meaningless, desolate comicbook crap that serial franchise-milkers B. Herbert + K. J. Anderson have shat out thus far.

It promises 'two thrilling standalone stories exploring the myth and legacy of Shadout Mapes', at different times in her life. In reality, it's amateurish fanfic, with woeful dialogue that more often than not is just characters stating intentions. None of it has any weight or drama.

For those that don't already know, A Crysknife is the tooth of an Arrakis sandworm fashioned into a combat knife, traditionally wielded by Fremen warriors.

Shadout Mapes, a minor character in Frank Herbert's original DUNE (1965) novel, was of Fremen origin. I think the implication is that she is as deadly as a Crysknife blade's edge. Or mayhap that she lives her life as if on a knife edge?

DUNE: Book Covers by Ozan Korkut

DUNE: Original Novels:

Book Covers by Ozan Korkut (2015-20)

The six images above are by artist Ozan Korkut, created for Ithaki Publications' Turkish language editions of Frank Herbert's original Dune novels. It's likely that I'll eventually find time to include the final retail versions in each book's respective Book Covers post, but I found some 'clean' ones with no text or logos, which I figured would make an interesting separate post. The images above are just a thumbnail. You can find larger versions of each one below the cut. They're not a high enough resolution for printing, but they're decent enough for a crappy Blogger web page.

The DUNE Font (2023)

A link to a fascinating article titled The Mystery of the Dune Font on the Fonts In Use website. The opening paragraph is copy/pasted below the cut by way of an appetiser (used without permission but with utmost respect), but the full article is worth your time if you're interested in such things. I'm not affiliated with Fonts In Use. I simply liked the article and decided to share it.

The Mystery of the Dune Font

Putting a name to the typeface that defined the visual identity of the science fiction series and its author, Frank Herbert

Contributed by Florian Hardwig on Jan 26th, 2023. Artwork published in circa 1975.

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DUNE: The Official Movie Graphic Novel (2022)

DUNE: The Official Movie Graphic Novel (2022)

Author: Lilah Sturges | Artist: Drew Johnson | Colourist: Zid | Page Count: 120

If you look through the contents page of both this blog and my main one, The 7th and Last, you'll notice that I really like Frank Herbert's DUNE. Over the years I've read all six of the original novels multiple times.

Beyond the printed page, I've watched the David Lynch film so much that I could probably replay the entire movie in my head with a fair level of accuracy. And I've even watched the TV Miniseries about half a dozen times. Then there's the many video games, soundtracks, and previous comic book adaptations, all of which vary greatly in their relatedness and believability.

What I've not watched is the film version made by Legendary Pictures in 2021, for various reasons, none of which will add much to this review. The reason I mention it at all is because the comic book in question is an adaptation of it, not of Frank Herbert's original novel.

The film's fans claim it's very faithful to the source, so I figured I'd be in familiar territory, at least. Nevertheless, it means I'm writing about an adaptation of a film that I've not seen, which is a rarity for me. But I'll give it a try.

DUNE 2000: PS1 Music (Game Rip)

DUNE 2000  ☆  PS1 Music (Game Rip)

Dune: The Waters of Kanly (2022)

Dune: The Waters of Kanly (2022)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrator: Francesco Mortarino | Page Count: 24 x 4 issues (inc covers, etc; it's only about 82 of actual story content)

'There was a traitor among the Atreides... a traitor.'

The Herbert + Anderson machine just keep shitting them out. And while it's well-known that you can't polish a turd, it seems you can stretch it out into four parts.

Set after the Battle of Arrakeen, as it happened in Frank Herbert's first DUNE novel (1965), it follows Gurney Halleck, the weapons master of House Atreides. In order to properly comment on the story I'll need to refer to the outcome of that battle, so there will be MAJOR SPOILERS for the first novel in what follows.

Folks who've read the novel will know that from Gurney's perspective his beloved Duke is dead, as is the noble's son and the Lady Jessica, all because someone inside of House Atreides lowered the shield walls, giving the Harkonnens a strategic advantage. Gurney and about six dozen other survivors lick their wounds and take shelter with smugglers. The Waters of Kanly invents a story of what he did while he was there, before his return in the original text.

Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar (2021)

Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar (2021)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrator: Adam Gorham | Page Count: 42

[No Quote]

A one-shot story set in the DUNE universe, revolving around a Sardaukar colonel by the name of Jopati Kolona, who, according to the promotional blurb, must 'choose between duty and forgiveness', but it's not in any meaningful way, thanks to the weak characterisation and dull backstory that the 'elite' military leader is given.

Under orders from the Padishah Emperor, Shaddam IV, Col. Jopati participates in a situation that he deems dishonourable, and which gives rise to a moral dilemma.

Interestingly, the story's primary setting is the same as it was in the other one-shot by the same authors that I read recently, A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2021), which featured soldiers from the opposing army. The situations are different but occur around the same time. [1]

Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2021)

Dune: A Whisper of Caladan Seas (2021)

Authors: Brian Herbert + Kevin J. Anderson | Illustrator: Jakub Rebelka | Page Count: 41

"There is a power in memories... in stories."

An overpriced comic book adapted from the first ever DUNE universe tie-in short story from the combined incompetence of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.

It purports to be issue No. 1, but it's really just a one-shot. It's just more publisher lies. BOOM!' Studios did the same with the Blood of the Sardaukar one-shot, too.

It's set in the year 10, 191 at the Battle of Arrakeen, which occurred in Frank Herbert's first DUNE novel.

A contingent of Atreides guards get trapped in an Arrakis cave during the conflict, and slowly begin running out of food, air, hope, or anything interesting to say.

The leader of the group is Sergeant Hoh Vitt, a storyteller from a long line of storytellers, who, it's alleged, has the ability to spin a yarn that's so all-consuming and influential to men's minds that it's considered a powerful and dangerous skill.

Dune: House Atreides - Collected Comic Book Covers

Dune: House Atreides - Comic Book Covers

In Oct 2020 BOOM! Studios began publication of a comic book adaptation of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's House Atreides (1999) novel, the first of many insults from the duo towards Frank Herbert's successful DUNE universe. I read the House Atreides novel when it was first published; it was shit. I read the first few issues of the comic, regardless, not expecting much from the story; they were shit, too. But I like some of the cover art, so I've gathered it below:

DUNE: UK First Edition HC Recreation

DUNE: Gollancz UK First Edition HC Recreation

Related to the Dune Saga posts on The 7th and Last.

I love books, but I don't collect or attribute any special value to signed or First Editions. For me, the true value of a book is its content. If the content is good, then the book is good, regardless of its edition. But if I can get it in HC with art that I personally like, then I'm extra happy.

Frank Herbert's first DUNE novel is one of my favourite science-fiction books and I enjoy seeing how artists interpret the themes and settings of the story - so much so that the first post I ever made on The 7th Side was a collection of cover art for it. I wanted to include the Victor Gollancz First Edition, UK (1966) because I like the simplicity of it, but I was unable to find a good enough image. I later figured that the best way to get it featured was to respectfully recreate it, so I did. Sadly, I don't know the original artist's name(s) to credit him/her/them.

DUNE: Three-issue Limited Series (1985) - Cover Art

DUNE: Three-issue Limited Series

Published by Marvel (April - June 1985) | Cover Art by Bill Sienkiewicz

DUNE: Book Covers Selection

DUNE: Book Covers Selection

Images related to the Dune Saga posts on The 7th and Last.