provaprova's review against another edition
1.0
An extremely inferior essay of ideas Herbert would do much better in his later _Hellstrom's Hive_, not worth reading except for completionists.
nb_leftist's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Felt like pulp science fiction. No real stakes.
thedictator26's review against another edition
3.0
This book stirs up some excellent concepts and ideas yet it sadly fails to live up in the execution. I feel that for the scope that the author was trying to bring he needed a longer novel and a more dynamic plot. Half of the novel ends up being about three people in a boat which sadly becomes tedious and boring. The more interesting parts of the novel were ,ironically, with the non-human characters. Its a pulpy scifi novel that could have been a real scifi classic. Great ideas but poor execution. A rewrite would benefit the novel greatly.
larsinio's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of unique ideas here. Excellent Herbert writing ensures this book remains evocative and timeless. I liked the two-narrators approach.
My only complaint is that the end is a bit of a twist and it feels like there shoudl be a third act (or sequel book).
Id have google nearby to translate some of the brazillian words, so many are used that its not always obvious by context.
My only complaint is that the end is a bit of a twist and it feels like there shoudl be a third act (or sequel book).
Id have google nearby to translate some of the brazillian words, so many are used that its not always obvious by context.
angrywombat's review against another edition
1.0
OK - this is going to be a very quick review, as I dont have a lot to say about this one.
I picked this based solely on looking for a bok published in 1966... I saw Frank Herbert, thought Hey, dune was ok and gave it a read. I'm not regretting it, but I'm not so happy with the time read either.
The story is an interesting idea - humanity is "cleaning" the world of unhelpful insects in what amounts to an all out war, but it seems that the insects are fighting back with new and strange mutations... and a new intelligence! The prelude chapter follows a strange character - a hive of insects that is mimicing a human and is trying to get through the border barriers into the "green zone" of human habitation. After this surprise we follow three characters - Joao: a brazilian "pest hunter" who fills the role of the "heroic laborer" and is the designated hero. A chinese official who is just a walking stereotype of manipulative/cheating bureaucrat. Finally we have the role of "love interest", filled by a irish entemologist who part times as a seductive spy for the bureaucrat...
As I said, this has aged very badly, with some glaring plot holes (eg, how does a country hide massive desertification and starvation in an age of satellites?) and no real "character" to any of the characters. I really had to double check the "said's" to make sure I knew who was talking at any particular moment. Also the "jumping heads", where we hear the thoughts of various characters, was especially disconcerting as we swapped very quickly... sometimes we have character A talking, character B's thoughts, then back to A for their thoughts - all in the same paragraph...
I wouldn't recommend going back to read this - stick to Herbert's later (and much much better) work.
Really not to my tastes.
I picked this based solely on looking for a bok published in 1966... I saw Frank Herbert, thought Hey, dune was ok and gave it a read. I'm not regretting it, but I'm not so happy with the time read either.
The story is an interesting idea - humanity is "cleaning" the world of unhelpful insects in what amounts to an all out war, but it seems that the insects are fighting back with new and strange mutations... and a new intelligence! The prelude chapter follows a strange character - a hive of insects that is mimicing a human and is trying to get through the border barriers into the "green zone" of human habitation. After this surprise we follow three characters - Joao: a brazilian "pest hunter" who fills the role of the "heroic laborer" and is the designated hero. A chinese official who is just a walking stereotype of manipulative/cheating bureaucrat. Finally we have the role of "love interest", filled by a irish entemologist who part times as a seductive spy for the bureaucrat...
As I said, this has aged very badly, with some glaring plot holes (eg, how does a country hide massive desertification and starvation in an age of satellites?) and no real "character" to any of the characters. I really had to double check the "said's" to make sure I knew who was talking at any particular moment. Also the "jumping heads", where we hear the thoughts of various characters, was especially disconcerting as we swapped very quickly... sometimes we have character A talking, character B's thoughts, then back to A for their thoughts - all in the same paragraph...
I wouldn't recommend going back to read this - stick to Herbert's later (and much much better) work.
Really not to my tastes.
phenyl82's review against another edition
4.0
“A person cries out against life because it’s lonely, and because life’s broken off from whatever created it.”
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
3.0
Merely ok.
Written in the mid-sixties, it's full of the sort of casual sexism that give me hives. But the idea was interesting enough and the writing kept me engaged, even if the character were flat and the editing a bit slap-dash.
Written in the mid-sixties, it's full of the sort of casual sexism that give me hives. But the idea was interesting enough and the writing kept me engaged, even if the character were flat and the editing a bit slap-dash.
bruc79's review against another edition
3.0
Este é um livro ecológico que mostra a preocupação ambiental que o Frank Herbert demonstra ao longo dos seus livros.
Num mundo cruel e com excesso de população o homem limpa todos os locais exceto Mato Grosso onde os insetos são controlados por um cérebro ambiental que os controla e tenta garantir um último reduto ambiental do planeta.
Uma abordagem curiosa de 3 personagens que tentam resistir aos insetos até a um final interessante e revelador
Num mundo cruel e com excesso de população o homem limpa todos os locais exceto Mato Grosso onde os insetos são controlados por um cérebro ambiental que os controla e tenta garantir um último reduto ambiental do planeta.
Uma abordagem curiosa de 3 personagens que tentam resistir aos insetos até a um final interessante e revelador
dan1066's review against another edition
4.0
They have such a talent for occupying themselves with inconsequentials, these humans, the Brain thought. Even in the face of terrible pressures, they argue and make love and throw trivialities into the air.
Greenslaves was a novelette published in Amazing Stories in 1965. After Frank Herbert published Dune, it seemed a grand idea to take this novelette, spruce it up a bit, and put "By the author of Dune" on the front AND back covers and make some dough. Some publisher decided to retitle it The Green Brain and put a green beetle on the cover with a brain for a body and a skull for a head. Yeah. That will sell, Lads, that will sell.
Truth: I picked up this novel not for its pulpy title or pulpy cover but because Frank Herbert is the author--"the author of Dune." So the publishers were not entirely wrong. Between the pulpy look and the "author of," they made sure the novel would be purchased.
Herbert's focus in both novels are ecosystems and the matrix of life: The stability of an ecosystem is a precious commodity and nature employs agents--be they giant sandworms or cognizant beetles--to monitor and protect. The difference, though, is much of The Green Brain is rushed, many of the characters are poorly sketched and the pacing uneven. Despite these flaws, the story is still intriguing, moving in surprising directions. It's fascinating to see elements employed here which would be recycled, restructured, and stronger in Dune.
I apologize for harping on this novel's relationship with another. The question is whether or not this novel is worth reading. My answer is yes. Granted, it's difficult to take "the brain" seriously, pulsing in a cave defending insects from annihilation, but the world-building is dazzling and the material rises above mere pulp. Frank Herbert can spin a yarn even when rushed--he has that ability. This yarn isn't flawless--far from it--but it's worth a look. We should thank the greedy publishers for allowing this work to see the light of day.
Greenslaves was a novelette published in Amazing Stories in 1965. After Frank Herbert published Dune, it seemed a grand idea to take this novelette, spruce it up a bit, and put "By the author of Dune" on the front AND back covers and make some dough. Some publisher decided to retitle it The Green Brain and put a green beetle on the cover with a brain for a body and a skull for a head. Yeah. That will sell, Lads, that will sell.
Truth: I picked up this novel not for its pulpy title or pulpy cover but because Frank Herbert is the author--"the author of Dune." So the publishers were not entirely wrong. Between the pulpy look and the "author of," they made sure the novel would be purchased.
Herbert's focus in both novels are ecosystems and the matrix of life: The stability of an ecosystem is a precious commodity and nature employs agents--be they giant sandworms or cognizant beetles--to monitor and protect. The difference, though, is much of The Green Brain is rushed, many of the characters are poorly sketched and the pacing uneven. Despite these flaws, the story is still intriguing, moving in surprising directions. It's fascinating to see elements employed here which would be recycled, restructured, and stronger in Dune.
I apologize for harping on this novel's relationship with another. The question is whether or not this novel is worth reading. My answer is yes. Granted, it's difficult to take "the brain" seriously, pulsing in a cave defending insects from annihilation, but the world-building is dazzling and the material rises above mere pulp. Frank Herbert can spin a yarn even when rushed--he has that ability. This yarn isn't flawless--far from it--but it's worth a look. We should thank the greedy publishers for allowing this work to see the light of day.