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Frank Herbert (1920-86) was born in Tacoma, Washington and worked as a reporter and later editor of a number of West Coast newspapers before becoming a full-time writer. His first sf story was published in 1952 but he achieved fame more than ten years later with the publication in Analog of Dune World and The Prophet of Dune that were amalgamated in the novel Dune in 1965.

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14 Reviews

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

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3.7 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating ideas, incredible description., December 18, 2003

By

theButterfly (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Green Brain (Mass Market Paperback)

Some time in the future, people are trying to make the Earth more habitable by destroying all of the world's insects and replacing them with genetically engineered ones that are more favorable to human populations. As the insects are faced with extinction, mutations appear that are better able to combat the new threat. Things get pretty strange, but this is by no means a bad thing.

Oh no! A *CHIGGER* has appeared inside of the insect-free zone! By the way, the chigger is half a meter long and spits acid. Yes, I realize that that is technically impossible. Don't worry: technicalities like that are taken care of.

Anyway, it gets better. The insects have also managed to copy the human idea of INTELLIGENCE--hence the title of the book.

The introduction and exploration of these ideas are done admirably during the first half of the novel. Then, around the half-way point, the whole tone and direction of the story changes. And this is when it gets REALLY good. The final chapters are composed of pages and pages of description. Sound boring, does it? Not in the least. This is the best description I have ever read in my life. The mood is perhaps described best as "Poe-esque"--subtle psychological descriptions that pull you right into the story, make you really understand how the characters feel. It takes you right along with the characters, providing real empathy, fear, love, anger and understanding all the way. Of course, it's more than JUST description. The Master brings so much into the writing in ways that only he can do. There's just no way to describe it--like everything Frank Herbert, you need to read it for yourself to know what it's like. I didn't really like the very last chapter, but I suppose nine out of ten ain't too bad.

The philosophical theme of the story is basically deep ecology or something similar to it. Herbert really shows his conservationist side in this one. Also, a lot of it kind of reminds me of Nietzche.

This is a very short novel (208 pages), but every page Frank Herbert writes is worth ten pages written by a lesser author. If you are a Frank Herbert fan--or a fan of intelligent fiction in general--you should definitely check out this book.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It wasn't that bad., November 22, 2004

By

William Frappel "Billy" (The Moon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Green Brain (Mass Market Paperback)

Dune was one of the most amazing books I have ever read. It was a feast for the mind. This book on the other hand was a light snack. Wich I think Mr. Herbert intended. I have nothing bad to say about this novel. It is an interesting story with a cool ending. The guy who did the first reveiw took it too seriously. Lighten up!

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9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another outstanding Herbert yarn..., May 17, 2000

By

"a9farns" (Oakland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Green Brain (Paperback)

Here the concept of consciousness is grappled with. The insects are part of a greater collective mind that manifests itself and communicates with human adversaries. Very interesting interface, makes your own brain start to cook in its very juices just to think about it all. Reminds me of the Death World series by "Harry Harrison" I wonder if it's ok to plug both in this one space.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Insects fighting back
I am a huge fan of Frank Herbert's work. Dune was one of the first science fiction books that I read. Read more

Published 8 months ago by Joseph A. Capdepon II

4.0 out of 5 stars Good yarn
While it is Dune that is Frank Herbert's greatest work, his other works should never be overlooked. I enjoyed this book rather much. Read more

Published on March 4, 2009 by M

3.0 out of 5 stars The Green Brain

This is a science fiction novella first published in 1966, one year after the classic Dune. One of the big themes of Dune is, of course, ecology. Read more

Published on September 5, 2007 by duchess

4.0 out of 5 stars A Short View of a Long Idea
An interesting book in the light it sheds on Dune. You can read the entire Dune series a number of times and get so caught up in the political/religious/sexual etc. Read more

Published on April 4, 2007 by Rob Darling

1.0 out of 5 stars Do not waste your time.
When I choose to read a book, I do so for one of two major reasons: 1. Fun, 2. Insight. If the book is not fun, then I at least want to be presented with a story that makes me... Read more

Published on February 5, 2004 by Mike Compton

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Drifts Away.....
A story of pending ecological apocalypse that takes place
in the rain forests of Brazil sometime later in this century. Read more

Published on July 25, 2003 by M. Packo

3.0 out of 5 stars The Green Brain
This is a book that studies the human mind when in a deserted place with no one to help them. An interesting book at the start but it loses steam and never seems to take the next... Read more

Published on May 17, 2003 by filterite

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Herbertesque
I have read most of Frank Herbert's works, and I can say that this was one of my favorites. As usual, he comments on social morays, this time arguing for the sake of the... Read more

Published on June 26, 2000 by Patrick Jones

3.0 out of 5 stars Good books, some strange images.
If Arrakis was Brazil, and Paul was a Brazilian, and the worms were insects, and had become more actively intelligent, and the fremen were trying to destroy them, then you would... Read more

Published on May 30, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff.
Frank Herbert has written a lot of short novels. This is one of his better ones. Definitely worth picking up.

Published on December 7, 1998 by Karim Moussally

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
He looked pretty much like the bastard offspring of a Guarani Indio and some backwoods farmer's daughter, some sertanista who'd tried to forget her enslavement to the encomendero system by "eating the iron"-which is what they call lovemaking through the grill of a consel gate. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
nurse insects, one with the flute, energy pack, fountain rim, giant face, barren earth

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Joao Martinho, Rhin Kelly, Senhor Martinho, North America, Mato Grosso, Doctor Kelly, Great Crusade, Mother of God, Benito Alvarez, Travis Huntington Chen-Lhu

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