I don't know which "different, well-known authors" Ed Kramer had in mind, or what was the actual cause for the project's complexities, but I wish the project was completed. While other Jacurutuans have sponsored the thread as to which authors are best suited to continue the franchise, I propose a list of authors, both alive and dead, who I would like to have seen write short stories for the Dune anthology.The trouble was, a fellow named Ed Kramer kept after me. An accomplished editor and sponsor of science fiction/fantasy conventions, he wanted to put together an anthology of short stories set in the Dune universe-- stories by different, well-known authors. He convinced me that it would be an interesting, significant project, and we talked about coediting it. All the details weren't finalized, since the project had a number of complexities, both legal and artistic.
Here they are, a list of authors acccompanied by what I think they would best write about from DUNE
William S. Burroughs -- explicit descriptions of Shai-Hulud biology, reproduction, and spice excretion; horrific, pornographic vignettes about Geidi Prime, the Harkonnens, and the Baron.
Stanislaw Lem -- cerebral exploration of the planet Arrakis' s atmosphere, ecology, orbit, and scientific history, from the point of view of an Imperial student of planetology.
Douglas Adams -- Humorous summaries and fables about Mua'dib's family and holy war.
Arthur C. Clarke -- stories ranging from the point of view of a spice harvester pilot, to a story about the tedious voyage which led to the discovery of Arrakis.
Robert Graves -- Account written by a member of House Atreides about it's private history, from the Butlerian Jihad to the time of Duke Leto.
Michael Crichton -- Cheap thrilling story about House conflict and Arakeen warfare, with political and ecological morals.
Christopher Tolkien -- Historical tale of the Zensunni wonderers, and the Fremen mythology surrounding Dune.
Robert A Heinlein -- Tales of water desire, planetary survival, and religious ecstasy among the early Zensunni inhabitants of Arrakis, and of Fremen water stealers centuries later.
William Gibson -- sparse stories about the psychology and experiences of the Guild Navigators, and the strainful effects of spice addiction and space travel.
Isaac Asimov -- Depicts a futuristic utopia on Arrakis, or, more likely, Chapterhouse, where the religions of the Orange Catholic Bible and Mua'Dib have been abolished, and where society's primary reliance is devotion to the worms and desert ecology.
That's about it.