There is no better time to immerse yourself in the world of sci-fi created by Frank Herbert. io9 has a first look at the Dune books, which will be released by Ace Books next year. The books are the second and third in the series, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune, and according to the publisher, which already released a similarly souped-up edition of the first book. You can take a look at both of the covers on io9. The art director for Dune Messiah and Children of Dune said in a statement that he was excited to work with Matt Griffin again. The balance between graphic power and detail was struck by his artwork. Matt had a unique sense of humor. His work has a vibrant sense of color. This combination is perfect for showing the world of Dune. It has been slightly edited for clarity. These aren't your first Dune-related book covers. How do you feel about Frank Herbert's work? Do you like the series?
They're my sixth and seventh. The covers for Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson's books were done by me. I've been a fan for a long time. My introduction to Arrakis was actually Lynch's film, which was a family favorite when I was a kid. As a small child, I was exposed to a lot of great films by my father. It was watched many times.
I read the book when I was 14. It was there that I decided that my dream would be to illustrate it someday. When I finished re-reading Messiah and Children for this job, I was able to enjoy God Emperor again after a long time. You can read them over and over again.
Is it more difficult for an artist to bring their own interpretation to Dune now that the Denis Villeneuve movies are commanding the pop-culture idea of what Dune is? How did you choose the images to use?
I don't believe that. I want to keep my vision of what that world is like, even though I love what Denis Villenueve and his design team have created. It's impossible not to have other interpretations in your head, whether it's from old masters like John Schoenherr or Bruce Pennington. They are motivating. I try to make this a direct link from book to image by using my own brain.
It is a slightly different process to highlight passages of text that may make for a good illustration. I want to give a glimpse of the world and try to achieve a sense of atmosphere with these books.
For example, in the first book, I had to do a certain amount of elements. There is an image of a Sietch in a cave that has been destroyed by wind.
I wanted to do a Guild Navigator in the sequel because of the conspiracy against Paul. The visit to the old Fedaykin Otheym gave the Arrakeen home a chance to be seen. I showed the Laza Tiger and Leto II in their Sand Trout suits.
I think I leaned more into scene-inspiration for these but, hopefully, with a lot of atmosphere. I want the viewer to feel the same way I do when I read the book and make the pictures.
Is your use of color inspiration?
The use of bold colors is probably a bit of a calling card now that color is important to me. I don't have a plan. It takes a lot of time to play around until it seems right to me. The goal of atmosphere is something that color plays a big part in. It's also texture. I want the desert to be hot.
There is a battle against being a bad image. I wrestle with it until I see something that makes me feel good.
How much creativity do you have when you work on a project like this? How do I work with a publisher?
In the case of these deluxe editions, it is a very freeing and trusting process. I can come up with my own suggestions for the images which will be sent over to the art director for feedback and approval from the Herbert estate. I know Adam will steer me in the right direction if I need it, because I have worked with him for a long time.
Some back and forth can result in a better image. The worm is from the first book. I felt like it was done, but Adam and Brian pushed me to work on it more. The push resulted in a better piece.
Sometimes publisher briefs can be very specific. Knowing what they are looking for can be helpful. I think I can do my thing when it is a property I am passionate about. I'm doing it with love.
How enjoyable is it to create sci-fi and fantasy art for well-known books and your own work?
Both genres and fusions of the two are what I love the most. I like to read it because it challenges me to imagine new things, or I like to watch it because it is pure escapism. There are a few things in both of them. Anything is possible within sci-fi and fantasy.
Translating how I see that world is something I enjoy doing. It becomes a movie in your head when you read a great book. It's rewarding to put that down into a picture. Griffin is the author of children's book series The Ayla trilogy and he likes to give narrative to his personal work. All of my work for the last five years has been connected to a single big story. Anything can happen in my universe. A lot of it uses familiar elements, but they are not the same as they were in the past, and there is a torchlight to guide you through the entrance. There's a chance to explore new things and new ideas. That is the most exciting thing I've ever heard of.
Frank Herbert's Dune Messiah and Children of Dune will be available in hardcover. Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, and a box set of the first three Dune books can be pre-ordered here.
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