Quarto

The Worlds of Dune

The Worlds of Dune offers readers a comprehensive journey into the tapestry of influences that shaped Frank Herbert's iconic novels, including the timeless epic, Dune. Written by Tom Huddleston, the book delves deeply into Herbert's expansive universe, unraveling the threads that he wove into his monumental creation.

Designed by Intercity, the book's aesthetic draws inspiration from the design and artwork that have brought Herbert's universe to life over nearly five decades. The cover design, featuring a modern condensed serif typeface, is reminiscent of the typographic styles prevalent on the covers of many 1960s sci-fi novels, paying homage to the genre's roots. Contrasting this, the use of an ultra-wide sci-fi-inspired sans serif typeface throughout the interior evokes contemporary interpretations of the genre, and nods to Denis Villeneuve's 2021 adaptation.

‘In writing his sci-fi masterpiece Dune, Frank Herbert drew on countless influences from history and literature to science and genetics. Given the sheer diversity of topics on offer, any book seeking to explore Herbert's influences would need a strong visual identity to tie everything together. Intercity provided just such an identity, lending the book a clarity and reader-friendliness that it wouldn't otherwise have had. They also designed a stunning textured cover, which made The Worlds of Dune feel like so much more than just another book.’

Tom Huddleston — Author

The book's cover depicts the rugged surface of Arrakis (Dune), framed by its enigmatic twin moons. This imagery, drawn from Herbert's universe, also served as the inspiration for the iconic twin sunrise scene on Tattooine in Star Wars. The illustration style harks back to the airbrush artworks that graced many 1960s sci-fi book covers, including numerous editions of Dune, and the dunes themselves are finished with a special sand varnish which adds a tactile element to the design. This illustrative style carries over to the book's section openers, where each of the four planets is represented by a simple motif, accompanied by a carefully chosen colour palette that reflects the unique ecology of each world.

The layout itself uses a creative grid structure to clearly communicate the text, at the same time as giving plenty of breathing space to the incredible imagery used throughout the book.

‘From our early briefing conversations onward Intercity got the complex idea of this book really quickly and came back with an ambitious, stylish and innovative concept. The book not only looks beautiful, but cleverly encompasses a really broad mix of visual material and wraps it all up with one of the best covers I’ve seen in ages.’

John Parton — Senior Commissioning Editor, Quarto