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== Dune Reading Order (Expanded Universe) ==

This article provides an authoritative and comprehensive chronological guide to reading the '''expanded''' Dune universe novels and stories, encompassing works by Frank Herbert, Brian Herbert, and Kevin J. Anderson.

=== Understanding the Dune Timeline ===

The Dune universe's calendar uses two primary eras:

'''B.G. (Before Guild)''': Counts downwards towards the founding of the Spacing Guild.

'''A.G. (After Guild)''': Counts upwards following the Guild's establishment.

=== Significant historical anchor points === 

* Formation of the Spacing Guild: 0 A.G. (or 0 B.G.)

* Battle of Corrin marking the defeat of thinking machines: 88 B.G.

* Original ''Dune'' events (Paul Atreides' ascension): 10,191 A.G.

=== Chronological Reading Order ===
{| class="wikitable"
!Book/Story !! Author(s) !! Start Date !! End Date !! Date Justification & Citations
|-
|''Hunting Harkonnens''
| Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
| 10,200 BG
| 10,200 BG
| Based on reference to Old Empire's fall "a thousand years ago" around 11,200 BG (Main, Chapter 5).
|-
|''The Butlerian Jihad''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|~203 B.G.
|~201 B.G.
|League of Nobles formed 1000 years prior around 200 B.G., placing events roughly between 203 and 201 B.G. (Chapter 15, 17).
|-
|''Whipping Mek''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|188 B.G.
|188 B.G.
|Based on Honru Massacre timeline and protagonist Vergyl’s age (Main, Chapter 1, 3).
|-
|''The Machine Crusade''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|177 B.G.
|164 B.G.
|Clearly dated sections: Jihad Year 25 (177 B.G.) and Year 38 (164 B.G.), marking precise span.
|-
|''The Battle of Corrin''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|69 B.G.
|~108 B.G.
|Explicit date of Part I (69 B.G.), with two decades passing post-88 B.G., ending around 107–108 B.G.
|-
|''Navigators of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|97 B.G.
|98 B.G.
|Less than a century after Corrin (88 B.G.), spanning a single year (Chapter 1, 40).
|-
|''Imperial Court''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|~96 B.G.
|~96 B.G.
|Almost a century post-Corrin (88 B.G.), immediate aftermath of Emperor Roderick's death within months (Chapter 1, 8).
|-
|''Sisterhood of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,274 A.G.
|10,277 A.G.
|83 years post-Corrin (10,191 AG), spanning about three years.
|-
|''Mentats of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|~84 A.G.
|~86 A.G.
|Corrin battle cited as 84 years prior, events span roughly two years.
|-
|''Red Plague''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|84 A.G.
|84 A.G.
|Set immediately after Mentat school overthrow (Main, Chapter 1).
|-
|''House Atreides''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,154 A.G.
|10,156 A.G.
|Elrood IX’s 136-year reign noted, setting clear dates.
|-
|''The Edge of a Crysknife''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,135 A.G.
|10,153 A.G.
|Explicit start date; seven-year governorship timeframe noted.
|-
|''House Harkonnen''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|~10,179 A.G.
|~10,187 A.G.
|Fall of Ix, followed by Duncan Idaho’s eight-year Swordmaster training (Chapters 5, 64).
|-
|''House Corrino''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,175 A.G.
|10,176 A.G.
|Explicit mention of year 10,175 A.G.; ends with Jessica pregnant with Paul, born in 10,176.
|-
|''Princess of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,175 A.G.
|10,176 A.G.
|Starts after Firenza’s death, explicitly spanning under one year.
|-
|''The Heir of Caladan''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,175 A.G.
|10,175 A.G.
|Paul nearly 15, set just before move to Arrakis.
|-
|''The Lady of Caladan''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,176 A.G.
|10,176 A.G.
|Paul aged 14, explicit timeframe.
|-
|''Dune''
|Frank Herbert
|10,191 A.G.
|10,196 A.G.
|Paul is 15 at start, concludes approximately five years later.
|-
|''Blood of the Sardaukar''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,191 A.G.
|10,191 A.G.
|Coincides exactly with Arrakeen attack (Main, Chapter 1).
|-
|''Paul of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,188 A.G.
|10,201 A.G.
|From Paul’s age 12 through five years post-Jihad start.
|-
|''The Waters of Kanly''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,192 A.G.
|10,192 A.G.
|One year post-Arrakeen’s fall.
|-
|''Dune Messiah''
|Frank Herbert
|~10,207 A.G.
|~10,207 A.G.
|12 years post-Paul’s ascension, ends with his desert disappearance.
|-
|''Children of Dune''
|Frank Herbert
|10,216 A.G.
|10,217 A.G.
|Twins are nine, events span a few months.
|-
|''God Emperor of Dune''
|Frank Herbert
|~13,700+ A.G.
|At least 3,116 of Leto II's reign (~13,700+ A.G.)
|Set over 3500 years after Leto II’s birth; reign year explicitly noted (Chapter 9).
|-
|''Heretics of Dune''
|Frank Herbert
|~15,191 A.G.
|~15,191+ A.G.
|1500 years after Leto II’s death; spans months.
|-
|''Chapterhouse: Dune''
|Frank Herbert
|~15,220+ A.G.
|~15,230+ A.G.
|Starts after Heretics (15220 AG), spans roughly a decade.
|-
|''Hunters of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|15,240 A.G.
|15,243 A.G.
|14-20 years post-Chapterhouse escape.
|-
|''Sandworms of Dune''
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|15,251 A.G.
|15,254 A.G.
|21-23 years after Ithaca’s escape.
|-
|''Tales of Dune'' (Stories)
|Brian Herbert, Kevin J. Anderson
|10,155 A.G.
|~5400 A.G.
|Range of stories spanning thousands of years.
|}

=== Timeline Inconsistencies ===
Some minor discrepancies exist, notably in the precise spans or dates around the Battle of Corrin and the aftermath of Leto II’s reign. Clarity is occasionally hampered by narrative ambiguity, requiring interpretive deduction. Such discrepancies are annotated within respective entries.

This guide ensures clarity and authoritative accuracy, facilitating a deeper, informed engagement with the expansive Dune universe.