Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson live on another planet. Better make that "in another universe," and they like it there just fine.

They're the veteran science-fiction novelists who formed a writing partnership 14 years ago to expand and continue the legendary six-book "Dune" series by Brian Herbert's father, Frank Herbert, through their own best-selling prequels and sequels.

Both had careers as respected science-fiction writers before their partnership, so it was a mutual love for the "Dune" universe that led them to unite their energies.

"It's everything science fiction should be," Anderson said. "It has an interesting culture, an alien planet, an intricate plot."

"It's always been sacred ground for me, and we had to be careful how we (continued the series)," Brian Herbert added.

The new "Sisterhood of Dune" (Tor, $27.99, 496 pages) is their 12th collaboration, Book 1 of a trilogy within a series, meant to explore the formation of the "Dune" universe. The two men also have co-written nine "Dune" short stories and the first of a non-"Dune" trilogy titled "Hellhole."

The "Dune" franchise is a key part of the Tor publishing imprint.

"It's the continuation of a great classic of science fiction that's a major tradition for us," said Tor president and publisher Tom Doherty. "Brian and Kevin are very respectful of Frank Herbert's legacy, and are committed to providing 'Dune' fans with more stories from the beloved universe."

The original "Dune" epic was conceived in the 1950s by the late Frank Herbert – once a writer and editor at the San Francisco Examiner – and published between 1965 and 1985, beginning with "Dune" (the first sci-fi novel to win both the Hugo and the Nebula awards) and ending with "Chapterhouse: Dune."

That groundbreaking series gave the sci-fi genre a sudden newfound respectability and changed how a generation of readers approach fantastic fiction. The books were unlike anything sci-fi fans had seen – more intellectual and intricate, and very demanding of its readers (though some critics have called it "ponderous" in parts). It's been termed "science fiction's answer to 'The Lord of the Rings.' "

The collective "Dune" books have sold millions of copies worldwide, with new fans coming to the series each time Herbert and Anderson publish a title. The franchise – books, movies, video games, board games, action figures – is as close to a perpetual-motion machine as you'll find in any genre of fiction.

You can call the "Dune" epic science fiction, but it transcends that. The story is soaked in so much intrigue, politics, spirituality and adventure that it makes the royal courts and frontier empires of, say, ancient Rome and Egypt look like elementary school playgrounds.

At its bones, the "Dune" story is set in a universe where separate feudal empires – "noble houses" – scheme for control of the addictive spice called "melange." It's a precious commodity that slows aging, heightens consciousness and can bestow seemingly mystical powers on its users. Melange is found only on a desert planet called Arrakis. Mining it can be deadly, as the deposits of melange are guarded by gigantic, ill-tempered sandworms that swim through the sand dunes like blue whales cruising Earth's oceans.

Author collaborations are uncommon, so how did this one come about? After Frank Herbert's death in 1986, Brian Herbert considered continuing his father's work, but moved past the notion. Then, in 1991, he began researching his dad's biography, "Dreamer of Dune," a five-year project that brought him closer to picking up the "Dune" story.

"I was denying I would continue the series, but (subconsciously) I was preparing myself to do it," he said.

In 1997, as he and his new writing partner, Anderson, prepared their first "Dune" book, Herbert made a remarkable discovery. While settling his late parents' estates, he discovered a treasure trove of Frank Herbert's notes for a seventh "Dune" book.

"I went into a safe deposit box and found a floppy disk," Herbert recalled. "Dad had written on it, 'Dune 7 Notes.' It held 30 pages of outlines and character ideas."

Inspired by that, Herbert "started digging around in some boxes in my storage loft." He re-examined what he'd long thought to be old manuscripts and discovered instead "over 1,000 pages of working notes, ideas and unpublished scenes that Dad had used to write the series. (In life) my mother was in touch with another realm, and I felt (her spirit) was pointing the way for me then."

Most of the notes were used for "pointing us in certain directions, but we did edit a few of his scenes into our novels," he said.

In a separate phone conversation, Anderson described how their collaboration began. Frank Herbert's last "Dune" novel ended with a cliffhanger, he said, "so it was clear he wasn't done with the story, and I always wanted to know the ending."

When he heard that Brian Herbert might continue the series, "I sent him a letter out of the blue, asking if I could do it if he wasn't going to, or if he was interested in doing it together."

They talked on the phone and "hit it off instantly." They met, brainstormed and formed a partnership.

The two have developed a template for each new writing project, meeting face-to-face and "spending days brainstorming characters and outlining the story," Anderson said. They divide the chapters and story lines between them "and we each write our own."

After that, they take turns editing the manuscript, "writing as many as 12 drafts until we're both satisfied." Anderson lives in Colorado Springs, while Herbert is near Seattle; communication is most often done by fax and email.

Writing a new generation of "Dune" books is one way Brian Herbert continues to "rediscover" his father. That, and finding him within the pages of "Dune."

"In re-reading 'Dune' so many times, I noticed that Duke Leto Atreides has great hopes for (his son) Paul Atreides, similar to the hopes my father had for me," Herbert said. "I see things in their relationship that are similar to the ones I had with my father.

"By the way," he added, "my mother was the role model for Lady Jessica Atreides, except that Lady Jessica is not a white witch, in touch with the paranormal realm, as my mother was."

Worldwide fans of the "Dune" collection are legion and, Herbert said, "very demanding. They feel strongly about keeping up the quality of the 'Dune' universe, and they have their own images of how it should be.

"We try very hard not to disappoint them, but we are writing in a different, more modern style than Frank Herbert," he said. "We think we've updated 'Dune' for a modern readership without dumbing it down."

Though Herbert's lengthy bibliography is diverse, with many solo novels (he recently published two religious thrillers, for instance), one way or another most of his life has been touched by "Dune."

"I remember Dad reading chapters of it to Mom in 1960," he said.

Can the "Dune" phenomenon be summed up?

"No, but I can say the story of Paul Atreides is the core of it, and Paul's story is one of a heroic journey. It's an old story that still resonates with us as human beings."

BRIAN HERBERT

What: A reading and book signing by the co-author (with Kevin J. Anderson) of "Sisterhood of Dune"

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Barnes & Noble, 1725 Arden Way, Sacramento

Information: (916) 565-0644

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Call The Bee's Allen Pierleoni, (916) 321-1128.

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