High-Opp [Kindle Edition]

Frank Herbert (Author)

Book Description

A never-before-published novel by Frank Herbert, author of the international bestseller DUNE.


EMASI—Each Man A Separate Individual!

That is the rallying cry of the Seps, the Separatists engaged in a class war against the upper tiers of a society driven entirely by opinion polls.

Those who score high in the polls, the High-Opps, live in plush apartments, with comfortable jobs, every possible convenience. But those who happen to be low-opped, find themselves crowded in Warrens, with harsh lives and brutal conditions.

Daniel Movius, Ex-Senior Liaitor, rides high in the opinion polls until he becomes a casualty, brushed aside by a very powerful man. Low-opped and abandoned, Movius finds himself fighting for survival in the city’s underworld. There, the opinion of the masses is clear: It is time for a revolution against the corrupt super-privileged. And every revolution needs a leader.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank Herbert, the visionary author of Dune, wrote more than twenty other novels, including Hellstrom’s Hive, The White Plague, The Green Brain, and The Dosadi Experiment. During his life, he received great acclaim for his sweeping vision and the deep philosophical underpinnings in his writings. His life is detailed in the Hugo-nominated biography Dreamer of Dune, by Brian Herbert. Other Frank Herbert novels available from WordFire Press include Destination: Void, The Heaven Makers, Direct Descent, The Jesus Incident (with Bill Ransom), and his last-published novel, Man of Two Worlds, coauthored with his son Brian Herbert.

Product Details

• File Size: 305 KB
• Print Length: 223 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1614750386
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: WordFire Press (March 11, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007JDN9RM
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,330 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Frank has been gone for a long time April 9, 2012

By Alexandre Brisebois

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Frank Herber has been gone for a long time, but reading this book was entertaining and refreshing. I wish more of these unpublished books would pop up. It doesn't feel as complex or as developed as some of his other publications. But it was a good read non the less.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining and Enlightening Dystopian Vision June 11, 2012

By Chantal Boudreau

Format:Kindle Edition

It is surprising and fantastic when a dystopian novel written decades ago seems to be in tune with what is currently happening in the world, be it the voyeuristic and controlling government in "1984", or the entertainment-drugged masses, bred to their social status in "Brave New World". "High-Opp" offers this kind of precognitive insight, a hint of "Future Shock"-esque vision from Mr. Herbert.

As with the typical format for a dystopian novel, the story begins with an attempt at a utopia gone wrong. What was originally intended to be the ultimate of democratic processes where everyone has equal access to resources so that no one is left wanting and no voice is ignored, has become corrupted. The survey voting system that was supposed to allow everyone an equal say in government has been secretly usurped and is being manipulated by a handful of now high ranking officials or "High-Opps", the majority of which are now in their current position because of the family they were born into, just like royalty. There are exceptions, like one official who was clever, ambitious and resourceful enough to rise from the bottom ranks to the top, Daniel Movius, and the story begins with his downfall, once an abuser of the corrupt system, and now a victim of it.

Not surprising, feeling slighted and vengeful, he is willing to join the resistance, the "Seps " and the book follows his struggles from there: his alliances, his manoeuvring and his attempts to use the way the system works to counter his antagonists.

I really enjoyed this book, with a great deal of detail woven into the narrative, delightfully flawed characters - the protagonist is not always all that likable, enhancing the sense of realism in the book - and plenty of action and intrigue surrounding the politics and the posturing. If I had only one complaint, it was that I found the very ending of the book a little unrealistic and over-the-top. Other than that, the story was an entertaining and enlightening read.

I'd like to give this a 4.5, but with the limitations of a 5 star rating system, I'd have to say I'm more inclined to give it a 5 than a 4. I'd recommend it to anyone who would appreciate a stimulating dystopian tale that mirrors many current-day events.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read and Great Time May 23, 2012

By Robert Dickson

Format:Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed this 'old/new' tale by Frank Herbert. It is one of the few that I have read other than his Dune novels and I truly enjoyed it. Hidden in this tale of revolution, is a great story about a singular man himself. I look forward to taking the opportunity to read more of these 'rediscovered' greats.