Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920–February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the series is a classic of the science fiction genre. The Dune saga, set in the distant future and taking place over millennia, explores comp ...