It is really straight forward... It starts with the "Chronicles" the main story line then the rest are "prequels" The prequel series takes place before and in between the books in the main "Chonicle series. In my view the correct reading order (after the chonicles) is the order the series have been published since that is the way the authors told the story. Reading in "timeline order" may make the stories less enjoyable since there might be information you lack, there might be spoilers and you might not understand the significance of events. The reading /publishing order. 1# Chronicles Book 1-8 Dune Dune Messiah Children of Dune God Emperor of Dune Heretics of Dune Chapterhouse: Dune Hunters of Dune Sandworms of Dune #2 Prelude to Dune The series takes place in the years leading up to the events in the original novel Dune and explores the origins of some of its characters. The series begins four decades before the events of Dune, with an eager Crown Prince Shaddam plotting to succeed his aging father Elrood IX, young House Atreides heir Leto becoming close with the ruling family of the important technology world Ix, and the Bene Gesserit scheming behind the scenes to create the Kwisatz Haderach. As the series progresses, Leto becomes the new Atreides Duke, Shaddam becomes the emperor and aligns with the Bene Tleilax in their takeover of Ix to develop synthetic spice, and the Bene Gesserit punish Baron Vladimir Harkonnen for raping one of them with a disease that slows his metabolism. The Spacing Guild, having found the Tleilaxu synthetic spice to be fatal to its Navigators, forces Shaddam to capitulate to the Landsraad, with Leto playing a role in forcing Shaddam to sign humiliating peace accords, confirming his status as the emperor's leading rival. Dune: House Atreides (1999) Dune: House Harkonnen (2000) Dune: House Corrino (2001) #3 Legends of Dune The series takes place over 10,000 years before the events of the novel Dune, and chronicles the universe-spanning war against thinking machines that would eventually become known as the Butlerian Jihad. It also explores the origins of the families and organizations that populate the distinctive universe in other Dune works. The series begins more than a millennium after a group of immortal, militant cyborgs calling themselves the Titans seized control of the entire universe in indestructible cymek bodies and then accidentally relinquished control to an artificial intelligence program called Omnius. Omnius and the immortal Titans rule over the 500 planets of the Synchronized Worlds with cruelty while a handful of free planets are united under the League of Nobles, a government using what resources it has to defend against machine aggression. A prominent figure in the human rebellion is Serena Butler, whose young son dies at the hands of the independent robot Erasmus and sparks the Butlerian Jihad, with humanity mounting a decisive offense against machine rule. This crusade against the machines lasts for nearly a century, with much loss of human life but ending in human victory at the Battle of Corrin. The Jihad also gives rise to the Bene Gesserit, the Spacing Guild, the Sardaukar army, the Landsraad, and House Corrino, whose Padishah Emperors rule the universe for the next 10,000 years until the events of Dune. The Butlerian Jihad (2002) The Machine Crusade (2003) The Battle of Corrin (2004) #4 Heroes of Dune These novels are intended to "fill in the story" between Frank Herbert's early Dune novels. Half of the story of Paul of Dune takes place between "Dune" and "Dune Messiah" as Paul's Jihad rages, Shaddam seeks to regain his throne and Princess Irulan accepts the "task of building the legend of Muad'Dib". She in turn chronicles Paul's early years (between the 2001 prequel Dune: House Corrino and Dune), which feature "his friendship with Duncan and Gurney and Duke Leto's War of Assassins against Grumman". The "Winds of Dune" chronicles events between "Dune Messiah" and "Children of Dune". Paul of Dune (2008) The Winds of Dune (2009) #5 The Great Schools of Dune he series takes place nearly a century after the "Battle of Corrin" (#3 Legends of Dune), in which the Army of Humanity finally defeats the thinking machine armies of Omnius. Now, the fledgling Bene Gesserit, Mentat and Suk Schools, as well as the Spacing Guild, are threatened by the independent anti-technology forces gaining power in the aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad. In Sisterhood of Dune, the anti-technology Butlerian movement is gaining momentum under the leadership of the popular Manford Torondo. He and his forces are scouring the universe to cleanse humanity of its reliance on convenient technologies, destroying any machinery they can find. Torondo's growing power threatens the Corrino Emperor Salvador, as well as the Sisterhood on Rossak and the Mentat School on Lampadas, each of which harbors secret technology. Space travel tycoon Josef Venport also plots to salvage machinery which he believes can be useful in his business empire. Mentats of Dune finds Gilbertus Albans carefully managing his Mentat School under the watchful eye of the fanatical Butlerians, while Raquella Berto-Anirul seeks to rebuild her own Sisterhood School on Wallach IX. To secure his control of interstellar commerce and strike a blow against the Butlerians, Venport places a trade embargo on any planet which embraces Torondo's movement. Sisterhood of Dune (2012) Mentats of Dune (2014) Navigators of Dune (2016) #6 The Caladan Trilogy Leto Atreides, Duke of Caladan and father of the Muad’Dib. While all know of his fall and the rise of his son, little is known about the quiet ruler of Caladan and his partner Jessica. Or how a Duke of an inconsequential planet earned an emperor’s favor, the ire of House Harkonnen, and set himself on a collision course with his own death. This is the story. #1 The Duke of Caladan (2020) The Chronological order of Dune (not recommended reading order) The Dune universe, set in the distant future of humanity, has a history that stretches thousands of years (some 15,000 years in total) and covers considerable changes in political, social, and religious structure as well as technology. Creative works set in the Dune universe can be said to fall into five general time periods: 1. The Butlerian Jihad: Legends of Dune prequel trilogy (2002–2004) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson; Great Schools of Dune (2014–2016) by Brian Herbert and Anderson 2. The Corrino-led Imperium: Prelude to Dune prequel trilogy (1999–2001) by Brian Herbert and Anderson; Heroes of Dune series (2008–2009) by Brian Herbert and Anderson 3. The rise of the Atreides: Dune (1965), Dune Messiah (1969), and Children of Dune (1976) by Frank Herbert; Heroes of Dune series (2008–2009) by Brian Herbert and Anderson 4. The reign and fall of the God Emperor: God Emperor of Dune (1981) by Frank Herbert 5. The return from the Scattering: Heretics of Dune (1984) and Chapterhouse: Dune (1985) by Frank Herbert; Hunters of Dune (2006) and Sandworms of Dune (2007) by Brian Herbert and Anderson This is "roughly" the chronological order of the published (Audio) books following the Dune timeline. The order is "roughly" since the events in some books happens simultaneously. NOT the order of publication NOT the recommended reading order The Butlerian Jihad "Legends of Dune" #1 The Machine Crusade "Legends of Dune" #2 The Battle of Corrin "Legends of Dune" #3 Sisterhood of Dune "Schools of Dune" #1 Mentats of Dune "Schools of Dune" #2 Navigators of Dune "Schools of Dune" #3 House Atreides "Prelude to Dune" #1 House Harkonnen "Prelude to Dune" #2 House Corrino "Prelude to Dune" #3 Paul of Dune "Heroes of Dune" #1 The Winds of Dune "Heroes of Dune" #2 The Duke of Caladan "The Caladan Trilogy" #1 Dune "Chronicles" #1 Dune Messiah "Chronicles" #2 Children of Dune "Chronicles" #3 God Emperor of Dune "Chronicles" #4 Heretics of Dune "Chronicles" #5 Chapterhouse: Dune "Chronicles" #6 Hunters of Dune "Chronicles" #7 Sandworms of Dune "Chronicles" #8