You'll find this a fascinating read:
http://www.oreilly.com/tim/herbert/
Tim O'Reilly made an interview with Frank Herbert on how he created his universe, and describes the huge effort that went into it. Worth to read. Unfortunately they don't print it anymore, but hey, at least it is available online.
Re:Dune Genesis (1980)
by consultutah on Thursday August 21, 2014 @12:25PM
(#8208145)
Thank you!
I have read the entire original series 3-4 times.
I was also greatly disappointed by the sequels/prequels not written by Frank Herbert.
BUT ... the biography "Dreamer of Dune" is well worth reading - very interesting and revealing.
There were plenty of other inconsistencies as well, but as when watching any good movie, you need to suspend reality (in this case Frank Herbert's reality) and allow the story to play out.
I don't think I have the stomach to read the prequels, but I'm sure I'll come back and re-read the series again and again. Very few authors take the time to create such immersive universes.