House Atreides: Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Prelude to the Dune series, Volume I. Year 10,154 of the Imperial Calendar. For four decades the planet Arrakis - or Dune - has been ruled by the Harkonnen family. Iron-fisted Baron Vladimir dreams of ever-larger harvest of the precious 'spice', the chemical that prolongs life and increases mental powers. But things are changing. An idealistic young planetologist goes to live among the desert Fremen, who hold the secret to 'spice' and the giant sandworms who guard it. On the world of Caladan, Leo Atreides, the Duke's heir, prepares for his birthright.