Something like 20 years ago I made the biggest mistake of my collecting life when I sold my first edition of Frank Herbert's Dune. Dune has always been my favorite book, and I have read it a dozen times, at least, but I had a young family and badly needed funds, so it went. With no hope of replacing it because of it's current value (somewhere in the area of $5k to $20k, depending on condition and whether it's signed or not), I have always hoped for a nice reprint to be done that I could put on my shelf. It has finally been done in a version worthy of it's prestige by the Folio Society. Announced in April, at a steep but not insane price of $125, I immediately ordered one. I received it in mid-May and am absolutely thrilled with it. Those of you familiar with Folio know they do exquisite work on their publications with superior bindings, paper, illustrations, and slipcases. I couldn't be happier with this production and I was even more impressed when I found out the edition by Foilo had already sold out in it's first printing within 2 weeks of it's release. A second printing is due in July for those interested but I wouldn't expect that to last much longer than the first printing as demand has been huge. As to the true first edition I used to own, I miss it everyday but that's the way it goes. Even later printings of Dune by the original publisher Chilton (of automotive repair book fame), can be worth hundreds of dollars. I believe Chilton did 8 printings before other publishers got the rights. At any rate, if you are a sci-fi fan and have never read Dune, do yourself a favor, get a copy in Pb or whatever, and read it. You won't be sorry. -- Al
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That is a well done edition. I bought it just to have it when the movie came out and it sits on my shelf still. Putnam is the publisher that got the rights to the other 5 books in the series. Chilton did Dune, then Putnam did Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse: Dune. I think the 1984 edition of Dune is the first hardbound Putnam edition of it. If you have the 1st printing, take care of it as it is going up in value. I have seen it listed for as much as $125 although I think $50 is closer to the true mark and it can be had cheaper if you are lucky. In point of fact, all the Putnam 1st printings of the above titles are no longer cheap. -- Al
Mirof, as much as I enjoy reading Dune and the sequels that Frank Herbert wrote, I have not yet read a single one of the books written by his son. I own them all, and have them lined up on my shelf, but haven't read them. How odd is that? Frank Herbert labored for years writing the original 3 books (actually all written together and then published singly from 1965 thru 1976) and then wrote the second 3 books over a shorter span of time and published them from 1981 thru 1985. Perhaps it is his son's prolific expansion of the series over so short a period of time that has held me back, as he started publishing his series in 1999 and it has grown to some 13 volumes since then, with no end in sight. I think I am afraid that the tone and feel of Brian Herbert's version will alter my enjoyment of the original. At any rate, I haven't yet read them although I might still get to them.:redface2: Despite all the new books and the 5 sequels Frank Herbert wrote, the first book, Dune, still stands on it's own and can be enjoyed in isolation of the others, if the reader so desires. -- Al
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Interesting to find this topic about Dune here. I read Dune around 20 years + ago. Continued with the 2nd and 3rd of the chronicles but after #3, must admit I was "Duned out". Also read the Dosadi Experiment by Herbert to try some of his other work. Was okay but i remember having troubling following along (back in the day). That 1st edition sounds pretty neat. Can't bring back these acts as "should of" "could of" "would of", but I've regretted things I parted with as well, including a Marx Fort Navarone that I had for many years. It happens and all we can do is look on Ebay (and other places) if we really want them in our collector hoards again.
Great topic!
Great topic!
If anyone is interested in a nice hardback of Dune, checkout Barnes and Noble website. They are selling a nicely bound currently in-print version for $20. This is a full-size HC with a special leather-like binding with a tooled design and gold lettering plus the page edges are all gilt. It is a very handsomely done book for the price. -- Al
The 2nd printing of the Folio Society edition of Dune has been out and available now for several days. As far as I know, it is identical to the 1st Folio printing in every way, (binding, ills, etc.) and price is the same $125. Of course it will be noted as a 2nd printing but that should be the only difference. I found out that the 1st printing was done in a run of 2500 copies and officially sold out in 3 weeks. I have no idea how large the 2nd printing will be but it had over 1200 preorders and if it sells out, it will no doubt gain value as the 1st printing already has. -- Al
Called Folio this AM and got the info on the 2nd printing of Dune. Folio ordered 3000 copies of the 2nd printing and they have 1600 left to this point. 1400 have gone in just a few days, mostly the preorders. There is still some time to acquire this beauty of a book. -- Al
A recent newsletter from Folio Society indicated that Dune is now going to a 3rd printing. Pretty unusual and indicative of just how popular this book is and continues to be. -- Al