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guthrie · 7th January 2005, 10:02 PM

*puffs out chest*
I have and have read just about everything that Herbert wrote in terms of fiction except for some book whose name I am not even sure of.

I can reccomend "the godmakers", even though its poorly cobbled together from some short stories, and you should read the short story as well, its a little different from the book.

His short stories are mostly very good, one or two suck, but they are generally thought provoking. They are in 2 or three collections, including "The priests of Psi" and "the worlds of Frank Herbert", and "Eye".

"Whipping Star" is very good, it took me at least 2 readings before I understood just how well he is writing the miscommunication between the 2 main characters. Following on from that book, you need to read "The Dosadi Experiment". It is a wonderful book. It suffers a little from being a bit too sparse and slightly rushed towards the end, but the legal system posited in it, as well as the broad oversight of human nature is incredible, it is almost as good as "Dune". It is set in the same universe as "Whipping Star", and there is also a short story in one of the collections set in the same universe. There are one or two continuity wibbles I think, but not enough to destroy anything.

Of course you should also read the second Dune trilogy, it gets more palatable for normal tastes after "god emperor of Dune".

I'm not so keen on the Pandora trilogy, it essentially restates Herberts general philosophy and outlook but slightly messed up, as if having someone else write it with him got in the way, and then theres the odd way it end in the first book but the 2nd book is different in the future. The first book would just about do as a story on its own.

So, anyone got any more comments about the books?

7th January 2005, 10:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
guthrie Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 19	Re: Herbert's other stuff puffs out chest I have and have read just about everything that Herbert wrote in terms of fiction except for some book whose name I am not even sure of. I can reccomend "the godmakers", even though its poorly cobbled together from some short stories, and you should read the short story as well, its a little different from the book. His short stories are mostly very good, one or two suck, but they are generally thought provoking. They are in 2 or three collections, including "The priests of Psi" and "the worlds of Frank Herbert", and "Eye". "Whipping Star" is very good, it took me at least 2 readings before I understood just how well he is writing the miscommunication between the 2 main characters. Following on from that book, you need to read "The Dosadi Experiment". It is a wonderful book. It suffers a little from being a bit too sparse and slightly rushed towards the end, but the legal system posited in it, as well as the broad oversight of human nature is incredible, it is almost as good as "Dune". It is set in the same universe as "Whipping Star", and there is also a short story in one of the collections set in the same universe. There are one or two continuity wibbles I think, but not enough to destroy anything. Of course you should also read the second Dune trilogy, it gets more palatable for normal tastes after "god emperor of Dune". I'm not so keen on the Pandora trilogy, it essentially restates Herberts general philosophy and outlook but slightly messed up, as if having someone else write it with him got in the way, and then theres the odd way it end in the first book but the 2nd book is different in the future. The first book would just about do as a story on its own. So, anyone got any more comments about the books?