I don't suspect guerrila marketting here, but more people interested are finding or remembering things and posting them because it's topical.

Guerilla marketting for Dune would be the reports of worms in the local park's new sandpit. Sadly, park department shut that down by replacing the sand with tan bark. :(

By complete chance I started rereading the books. Currently on the 5th. It lined up well with that movie being announced.

Having watched the movie: it's nailed the opening. Part two has me excited

I suspect Dune is loved by a large chunk of the HN demographic. In fact, IIRC I first heard of Dune in an Ask HN thread “what books do you recommend?” where it was one of the most recommended books.

When I saw the two Dune items, I thought that Frank Herbert had died.

It turns out that he did die. In 1986.

All of northern california is stuck inside with the first real rain we've had since ~April, catching up on indoor projects