Dune: A Lesson in Vision

Abstract

In 1965, author Frank Herbert published the novel Dune, after 7 years in the making. He had serialized an earlier version in 3 parts in the science fiction magazine Analog and then reworked the story into a novel, only to experience rejection from more than 20 publishers. An executive at Chilton Books, a house previously known primarily for auto-repair manuals, agreed to publish the novel in 1965, but its market price was high, and the executive was subsequently fired because of poor sales. Nevertheless, the book's popularity grew, largely by word of mouth.