Frank Herbert worked from 1958-63 creating one of the signature works of science fiction. "Dune," published in 1965 — after being rejected at least 20 times — is one of the genre's masterpieces, the story of the desert world of Arrakis featuring feuding interplanetary factions and one of the most unique characters of the genre, the prophet-turned-messiah Paul Muad' Dib.

Writing the story consumed Herbert, according to his son, Brian, who has taken up the mantle of "Dune" in books co-written with Kevin J. Anderson.

"I felt isolated from him when I was growing up," says Herbert, who will appear Friday with Anderson at Mystery Lover's Bookshop in Oakmont to promote "The Winds of Dune," the latest installment in the series. "He needed to have the house completely quiet. His study was pretty much off limits; my brother went in there anyway and messed up all the papers, but I was smart enough to stay out of there. I got the feeling as I was writing the biography of dad ("Dreamer of Dune") that the characters he created in the study were competition for me and my brother and half sister. ... Those were the children of his imagination, and it seemed like they got all the attention."

Brian Herbert later reconciled with his father as a young adult, noting he had at "least 12 years of being very close to my dad" before Frank Herbert died in 1986. The last book the elder Herbert published, "Chapterhouse Dune," ends with a cliffhanger; clearly, he planned to continue the series.

There were pitfalls in taking up the story written by Frank Herbert, who had mapped approximately 25,000 years of "Dune" history prior to his death. Publishers were wary of continuing the series without its creator, and diehard fans also voiced concerns.

"It's the best-selling science fiction book of all time," says Anderson, who has written books for the "Star Wars" and "X-Files" franchises. "But I also think it's the best science fiction book of all time. Frank Herbert wrote a classic, so for us to be trying to fill those shoes is quite a challenge."

"There was a lot of doubt, and it's understandable," says Brian Herbert, who noted fans became more forgiving when "Dune: House Atreides" was published in 1999. "They have a stake in the 'Dune' universe, whether they are fans or editors or publishers. We're just trying to meet those high standards."

Notes that Frank Herbert left behind that Brian Herbert found after his father died have served as guides through 11 novels the pair has written. But it's the spirit of "Dune" that most informs their work.

Start with the main character, the young Paul Atreides, who becomes Paul Muad' Dib. Over the course of the novels he is transformed into a prophet, a messiah and a chillingly cunning tyrant. In "Winds of Dune," which falls chronologically after "Dune Messiah," his behavior at the end of Frank Herbert's last book — abandoning his just-born children and disappearing into the desert of Arrakis — is explained.

"In my mind and in my heart, as a fan, and for many fans, Paul Atreides is one of the greatest heroes of science fiction," Anderson says. "But Frank Herbert did some terrible things to him, and when you read how he acts in 'Dune Messiah,' a lot of the things he does are virtually inexcusable. How can you sympathize with him• ... You have to get into this character. What would change somebody so much• What would drive him to do that?"

One of the other aspects of "Dune" is its many layers. It can be read as an adventure story, as a psychological novel, or a commentary on political machinations. Brian Herbert said his father told him that he wanted to weave his ideas about ecology, politics, religion and psychology into the fabric of an adventure story. The elder Herbert also wanted readers to come away from the books with "detritus, pieces of the characters, still clinging to them," he says. "The reader, dad said, would then want to go back and read an entirely different layer in the novel."

There is one element, however, that perhaps only Brian Herbert can recognize.

"As I read ('Dune') I can see my parents in there and hear my father's voice," he says. "I understand him a lot better as I re-read the book. ... When I go out on book tours, I meet people who actually knew him and tell me wonderful stories about him and my mom. I get to know them a lot better. ... People come out and tell me they read it at a very young age and it influenced them and they want to read it again. It's become part of the fabric of our society. It's extremely important to me."

Additional Information:

Appearance

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Admission: Free; reservations requested

Where: Mystery Lovers Bookshop, Oakmont

Details: 412-828-4877, www.mysterylovers.com

Additional Information:

Capsule review

Fans of Frank Herbert's 'Dune' series will find all of the author's motifs and touchstones intact in 'The Winds of Dune.' Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert's son) and Kevin J. Anderson have retained the essence of the classic science fiction novel and tied up some of the loose ends of the unfinished series. Those coming into the book without prior knowledge of 'Dune,' however, might be a bit confused. Better they start with the classic 'Dune' and 'Dune Messiah' before attempting this more-than-satisfying extension of the series.

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