DUNE 7 BLOG

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Brian's Novels

MAN OF TWO WORLDS

As I have said in interviews and in DREAMER OF DUNE, my father and I did not always get along. Because of our difficulties, I did not read his classic novel Dune until I was in my mid twenties. But when I did, I was astounded by what a fantastic book it was, and I came to the opinion that it was the greatest book I had ever read. Against all odds, for more than ten years in my adulthood (until Frank Herbert's death in 1986), he and I became best friends. The perceived difficulties of my childhood in his household were forgotten, and we even wrote a novel together, Man of Two Worlds, the last book he ever wrote. Sadly, it was not published until after his death. I remember receiving my copies of the hardcover edition and seeing our photograph together on the jacket. It was a very emotional moment for me.

SIDNEY'S COMET and THE RACE FOR GOD to be Republished

Two of my earlier novels -- Sidney's Comet (1983) and The Race For God (1990) will be republished soon. We are making final arrangements with the publisher now. Concerning Sidney's Comet, Publishers Weekly wrote a glowing review in which the reviewer said that I had a "dark wit." Shortly before her death, my mother, Beverly Herbert, read that review and expressed her enthusiastic support for my writing career. The other novel, The Race For God, reached the preliminary ballot for the Nebula Award. Sidney's Comet was my first novel, and I received excellent advice on it from my father, Frank Herbert. Concerning The Race For God, unfortunately it was published after his death in 1986, but I did discuss the concept with him -- and we had a memorable lunch in Seattle where he helped me with the title. I was explaining the plot to him, and told him it was about a race for god among various competing religions, as their spaceships surged through space toward God's reported destination. Dad stopped me and exclaimed, "There's your title! The Race for God!"

-- BH