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y name was never actually cleared a lot of people still think I attacked those ships。〃
He scooped up a beach pebble that lay on the dock and tossed it far out on the water where he couldn't discern the splash it made。 〃If this is a victory for House Atreides； Thufir； it's bittersweet； at best。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 Rhombur said； standing next to the beached coracle。 〃But better than a defeat。〃
The old Mentat nodded； his leathery skin reflecting the harsh sun。 〃You handled yourself with an air of true honor and nobility； my Duke； and House Atreides has gained widespread respect。 That is a victory you must never discount。〃
Leto looked up at the tall towers of Castle Caladan looming high on the cliff。 His Castle； his home。
He thought of the ancient traditions of his Great House； and how he would build on them。 In his royal station he was an axis upon which millions of lives revolved。 The life of a simple fisherman might have been easier； after all； and more peaceful but not for him。 He would always be Duke Leto Atreides。 He had his name； his title； his friends。 And life was good。
〃e； young masters；〃 Thufir Hawat said。 〃It's time for another lesson。〃
In high spirits； Leto and Rhombur followed the Master of Assassins back up to the Castle。
AFTERWORD
For more than a decade there had been rumors that I would write another novel set in my father's Dune universe； a sequel to the sixth book in the series； CHAPTERHOUSE： DUNE。 I had published a number of acclaimed science fiction novels； but wasn't sure I wanted to tackle something so immense； so daunting。 After all； DUNE is a magnum opus that stands as one of the most plex； multilayered novels ever written。 A modern…day version of the myth of the dragon's treasure； DUNE is a tale of great sandworms guarding a precious treasure of melange； the geriatric spice。 The story is a magnificent pearl with layers of luster running deep beneath its surface； all the way to its core。
At the time of my father's untimely death in 1986； he was beginning to think about a novel that carried the working title DUNE 7； a project he had sold to Berkley Books； but on which there were no known notes or outlines。 Dad and I had spoken in general terms about collaborating on a Dune novel one day in the future； but we'd set no date； had established no specific details or direction。 It would be sometime after he pleted DUNE 7 and other projects。
In ensuing years I thought about my late father's unpleted series； especially after I concluded a five…year project writing DREAMER OF DUNE； a biography of this plex； enigmatic man a biography which required that I analyze the origins and themes of the Dune series。 After long consideration it seemed to me that it would be fascinating to write a book based upon the events he had described so tantalizingly in the Appendix to DUNE； a new novel in which I would go back ten thousand years to the time of the Butlerian Jihad； the legendary Great Revolt against thinking machines。 That had been a mythical time in a mythical universe； a time when most of the Great Schools had been formed； including the Bene Gesserit； the Mentats； and the Swordmasters。
Upon learning of my interest； prominent writers approached me with offers of collaboration。 But in tossing ideas around with them I couldn't visualize the project ing to fruition。 They were excellent writers； but in bination with them I didn't feel the necessary synergy for such a monumental task。 So I kept turning to other projects； avoiding the big one。 Besides； while Dad had sprinkled many provocative loose ends in the fifth and sixth books of the series； he had written an afterword for CHAPTERHOUSE： DUNE that was a marvelous dedication to my late mother； Beverly Herbert his wife of nearly four decades。 They had been a writing team in which she edited his work and acted as a sounding board for his overflow of ideas。。。so with both of them gone it seemed a fitting conclusion to leave the project untouched。
The trouble was； a fellow named Ed Kramer kept after me。 An acplished editor and sponsor of science fiction/fantasy conventions； he wanted to put together an anthology of short stories set in the Dune universe stories by different； well…known authors。 He convinced me that it would be an interesting； significant project； and we talked about coediting it。 All the details weren't finalized； since the project had a number of plexities； both legal and artistic。 In the midst of this； Ed told me he had received a letter from best…selling author Kevin J。 Anderson； who had been invited to contribute to the proposed anthology。 He suggested what he called a 〃shot in the dark；〃 asking about the possibility of working at novel length； preferably on a sequel to CHAPTERHOUSE： DUNE。
Kevin's enthusiasm for the Dune universe fairly jumped off the pages of his letter。 Still； I delayed answering him for around a month； not certain how to respond。 Despite his proven skills； I was hesitant。 This was a big decision。 By now I knew I wanted to be involved closely in the project； and that I needed to participate to such a degree in order to ensure the production of a novel of integrity； one that would be faithful to the original series。 Along with J。R。R。 Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS and a handful of other works； DUNE stood as one of the greatest creative achievements of all time； and arguably the greatest example of science fiction world…building in the history of literature。 For the sake of my father's legacy； I couldn't select the wrong person。 I read everything I could get my hands on that Kevin had written； and did more checking on him。 It soon became clear to me that he was a brilliant writer； and that his reputation was sterling。 I decided to give him a telephone call。
We hit it off immediately； both on a personal and professional level。 Aside from the fact that I genuinely liked him； I felt an energy between us； a remarkable flow of ideas that would benefit the series。 After obtaining the concurrence of my family； Kevin and I decided to write a prequel but not one set in the ancient times； long before DUNE。 Instead we would go to events only thirty or forty years before the beginning of DUNE； to the love story of Paul's parents； to the Planetologist Pardot Kynes being dispatched to Arrakis； to the reasons for the terrible； destructive enmity between House Atreides and House Harkonnen； and much more。
Before writing a detailed outline； we set to work rereading all six Dune books my father had written； and I took it upon myself to begin assembling a massive DUNE CONCORDANCE an encyclopedia of all the characters； places； and wonders of the Dune universe。 Of primary concern to us； we needed to determine where Dad had been heading with the conclusion of the series。 It was clear that he was building up to something momentous in DUNE 7； and without intending to do so he had left us with a mystery。 There were no known notes or other clues； only my memory that Dad had been using a yellow highlighter on paperback copies of HERETICS OF DUNE and CHAPTERHOUSE： DUNE shortly before his death books that no one could locate after he was gone。
In early May 1997； when I finally met Kevin J。 Anderson and his wife； the author Rebec