Return to Arrakis With These Stunning New Dune Book Covers

As the late 2023 launch of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part II attracts nearer, there’s no higher time to additional immerse your self in the sci-fi realm created by Frank Herbert. Next 12 months, Ace Books can be releasing extra volumes in its deluxe hardcore therapy of the Dune collection, and io9 has a primary look, in addition to an interview with artist Matt Griffin.

The books are the second and third within the collection—Dune Messiah and Children of Dune—and based on the writer, which already launched a equally souped-up version of the first book, “both of these new deluxe editions will feature an iconic new cover, stained edges and fully illustrated end papers, a beautifully designed poster on the interior of the jacket, and an introduction by Brian Herbert.” Take a have a look at each of Griffin’s new covers, making their unique debuts right here on io9!

“I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Matt Griffin again on Dune Messiah and Children of Dune,” artwork director Adam Auerbach mentioned in an announcement offered to io9. “His art for the first Dune deluxe edition struck the perfect balance between graphic power and detail. Matt carried this unique sensibility through the two deluxe sequels. In his work, he combines deep shadow with a vibrant sense of color. I think this combination is perfect for visualizing the mysterious yet vivid world of the Dune novels.”

Next up, our e-mail interview with Griffin; it has been barely edited for readability.

Cheryl Eddy, io9: These aren’t your first Dune-related ebook covers. What’s your personal relationship to Frank Herbert’s work? Are you a longtime fan of the collection?

Matt Griffin: Actually they’re my sixth and seventh! I’ve additionally performed the covers for a few of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson’s books (Sands of Dune, Duke of Caladan, Lady of Caladan, Heir of Caladan). I’m a really long-time fan sure. My intro to Arrakis was really the Lynch movie—it was a household favourite once I was rising up, so I’d have been fairly younger once I first noticed it. My Dad has all the time been into films, so I used to be uncovered to a lot of nice movies as a small child. It was watched commonly…

Then once I was about 14 I learn the ebook, and it blew my thoughts. I made a decision there after which {that a} dream of mine can be as an example it sometime, and a long time later that dream got here true. It had been some time since I learn the sequels, so once I completed re-reading Messiah and Children for this job I continued, and am now having fun with God Emperor once more. They are books you’ll be able to return to time and again.

io9: With the Denis Villeneuve films now form of commanding the pop-culture concept of what Dune is (and what it appears like), is it tougher as an artist to carry your personal interpretation to the fabric? How did you determine on the particular imagery to make use of?

Griffin: No, I don’t assume so. I actually love what Denis Villenueve (and his manufacturing designer Patrice Vermette) dreamed up, however I needed to maintain this very a lot my imaginative and prescient of what that world is like. I suppose it’s inconceivable to not produce other interpretations floating in your head, whether or not from previous masters like John Schoenherr or Bruce Pennington or up to date Dune artists like Marc Simonetti. They are so inspiring. But I do my finest to make this a direct hyperlink from ebook to picture, by way of the filter of my very own mind.

As for a way I determine, it’s a barely totally different course of than regular, which is to spotlight passages of textual content which may make for a very good illustration. With these books, my intention is extra to provide glimpses of the world and attempt to obtain a way of environment greater than the rest.

There’s additionally sure parts that you just wish to deal with, for instance within the first ebook I simply needed to do Shai Hulud. And then additionally had this picture of what a Sietch is likely to be like, in caves which were hollowed out by wind.

For the sequels, I needed to do a Guild Navigator and felt the scenes of the conspiracy towards Paul supplied an ideal oppurtunity for that. The go to to the previous Fedaykin Otheym supplied a very good alternative to point out a easy Arrakeen dwelling, impressed by Middle-Eastern courtyards. On Children, I reverted again to abandon scenes, exhibiting the Laza Tigers and Leto II in his Sand Trout go well with.

So I suppose perhaps I did lean a bit extra into scene-inspiration for these however, hopefully, with a variety of environment. I would like the viewer to really feel like they’re there as a lot as potential, as I’m once I’m studying the ebook and making the photographs.

io9: What conjures up your use of shade?

Griffin: Color is a vital a part of my work, and I feel using daring colours might be a little bit of a calling card now. But I don’t actually plan forward! It’s very a lot a strategy of enjoying round till it appears proper to me. I discussed the purpose of environment, and shade performs perhaps the largest function in that. Texture, too. When I do the desert, for instance, I would like it to really feel sizzling.

Every piece is a little bit of a battle—a battle towards being a nasty picture! So I wrestle with it, pushing and pulling and experimenting till I see one thing that makes me really feel what I would like others to really feel.

io9: When you’re engaged on a undertaking like this, how a lot inventive freedom do you may have? What’s the method of working with a writer like?

Griffin: It all the time relies on the undertaking, however within the case of those deluxe editions it’s a really liberating and trusting course of. It’s an open transient, I’m allowed to provide you with my very own recommendations for photographs that are then despatched over to the artwork director Adam Auerbach for suggestions after which approval from the Herbert property. I’ve labored with Adam for a very good variety of years now, and I feel there’s a variety of mutual belief there, the place I’m given the liberty to do my very own factor (inside purpose!); I do know he’ll steer me in the appropriate route if I want it.

There is in fact some forwards and backwards, however that typically all the time leads to a greater picture. instance is the worm from the primary ebook. I had gotten that to some extent the place I felt it was completed, however Adam and Brian [Herbert] pushed me to work on it extra. That pushing resulted in an infinitely higher piece.

Sometimes writer briefs could be very particular—which will also be a very good factor. It will help to know precisely what they’re on the lookout for. But, I feel, when it’s a property I’m clearly obsessed with, I’m allowed do my factor. They know I’m doing it with love.

io9: What is probably the most fulfilling half about creating sci-fi and fantasy artwork, each for well-known books and your personal unique works?

Griffin: I’ve all the time cherished each genres (and fusions of the 2) as a result of they stretch my creativeness. I really like studying it as a result of it challenges me to think about new issues, or watching it as a result of to me it’s an ulta-pure type of escapism. There are tropes in each, however actually the scope is limitless. Within sci-fi and fantasy, completely something is feasible and I actually love that.

For well-known books, I relish the oppurtunity to translate how I see that world. Great books make you neglect you’re studying, and it turns into a film in your head. Putting that down right into a tangible picture is difficult and rewarding in equal measure. As a story-teller [Griffin is the author of children’s book series The Ayla Trilogy] I like to provide narrative to my private work—I would like them to trace at a a lot wider world and a much wider story. In reality, almost all of my private work for the final 5 years, since my final ebook got here out in 2017, has been round one huge story—all of it’s related. And so I’m escaping into my very own universe the place something can occur. A variety of it makes use of acquainted parts—knights, samurai, bikes, and many others.—however they’re twists of these ideas, and are there as acquainted touchstones, a sort of torchlight to information you thru the doorway. But the potential is there to discover new issues and new concepts—break unfamiliar floor. And that’s by far probably the most thrilling factor on earth to me.

The deluxe hardcover releases for Frank Herbert’s Dune Messiah and Children of Dune can be out April 4, 2023. More info here.

Want extra io9 information? Check out when to count on the newest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on movie and TV, and the whole lot you must learn about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.