corymojojojo's review against another edition
3.0
The premise and tone of this book really hit well for me and I think that’s the main reason I liked it. Unfortunately it was just frankly hard to follow with all of the dense philosophical stuff (which works for Herbert sometimes but perhaps not all the time) and weird pacing of the plot. The characters’ motivations were a little hard to follow as well and I think the meaning of it all went a bit over my head. That being said, it seems like a fascinating exploration of God and religious violence and while the term “WorShip” is a bit corny, the spaceship-gaining-consciousness-to-the-point-of-becoming-god is a neat concept. Am curious enough to read the follow up eventually.
1feather4's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
wasted's review
2.0
I chose this book because I actively seek out Science Fiction that portrays believable extraterrestrials. Although described on the back cover as "a breakthrough work of speculative fiction that leaps to the end of evolution," this collaborative story by Frank Hebert (Dune) and Bill Ransom is intriguingly ambitious.
Located on a distant planet with organic life, the scene is set to explore and understand sentient underwater kelp. However, as soon as the book enters its Rising Action, a slew of unnecessary sexual innuendos and frustrations are introduced. From the predatory men in leadership positions to the biologist leading the plant research, the story falls apart.
I wanted to read about unique aliens; not lusty space travelers. Yes, Isaac Asimov's "The Gods Themselves" described the sexual reproduction of the Triads but it provided context to the story's dilemma. If it can't be interwoven well, don't.
The Jesus Incident lost me when exposure to the conscious plants caused the female biologist to feel "a sexual excitement very nearly impossible to control at times." Sorry, as a human male, I couldn't help but realize that what I was reading was a joint collaboration between two old male nerds.
I haven't read Dune yet and hope that it isn't like this.
Located on a distant planet with organic life, the scene is set to explore and understand sentient underwater kelp. However, as soon as the book enters its Rising Action, a slew of unnecessary sexual innuendos and frustrations are introduced. From the predatory men in leadership positions to the biologist leading the plant research, the story falls apart.
I wanted to read about unique aliens; not lusty space travelers. Yes, Isaac Asimov's "The Gods Themselves" described the sexual reproduction of the Triads but it provided context to the story's dilemma. If it can't be interwoven well, don't.
The Jesus Incident lost me when exposure to the conscious plants caused the female biologist to feel "a sexual excitement very nearly impossible to control at times." Sorry, as a human male, I couldn't help but realize that what I was reading was a joint collaboration between two old male nerds.
I haven't read Dune yet and hope that it isn't like this.
yeagleyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kejadlen's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, this was interesting, but after finishing it, I have no clue what the heck just happened.
larsinio's review against another edition
4.0
TJI warps into our reality a fresh new universe, while building on some of the story outlines from Destination Void. Herbert and Ransom deliver a memorable tale conerning the nature of life, consciousness, spirituality, while overlaid with a story framework of extreme genetic manipulation in a hostile world. Bill Ransom a local WA poet, i guess is reflected the character of Penille (also a poet). THis is an interesting take on
As with all Herbert books a lot of people are super smart/badass and do a lot of thinking about thinking about thinking. Its not as draining as strategy/counterstrategy from the dune series but more around the gradual spiritual awakenment several of the characters go through.
Yea theres some christianity stuff in there, but not enough to call this book a Space Christian opera. Its mostly focused in one vivid mind bendy reality sequence. Jesus is just used a symbol of sacrifice and greater human ambition - i think the book could have done a bit better in explaining why this symbolism versus other religions was used. Many an internet debate would be quelled by 1 or 2 additional sentences.
The high bar you would expect from herbert novel is thankfully maintained here. Vivid descriptions, a wide variety of characters. Surprising amount of sex and adult content for a Herbert book.. While the ending is a bit abrupt - you dont really get much closure from Raj or Hali or some others, i will eagerly anticipate the next two books in the series.
My understanding of the book was enhanced by reading Destination void first - i recommend this.
As with all Herbert books a lot of people are super smart/badass and do a lot of thinking about thinking about thinking. Its not as draining as strategy/counterstrategy from the dune series but more around the gradual spiritual awakenment several of the characters go through.
Yea theres some christianity stuff in there, but not enough to call this book a Space Christian opera. Its mostly focused in one vivid mind bendy reality sequence. Jesus is just used a symbol of sacrifice and greater human ambition - i think the book could have done a bit better in explaining why this symbolism versus other religions was used. Many an internet debate would be quelled by 1 or 2 additional sentences.
The high bar you would expect from herbert novel is thankfully maintained here. Vivid descriptions, a wide variety of characters. Surprising amount of sex and adult content for a Herbert book.. While the ending is a bit abrupt - you dont really get much closure from Raj or Hali or some others, i will eagerly anticipate the next two books in the series.
My understanding of the book was enhanced by reading Destination void first - i recommend this.
bev_reads_mysteries's review against another edition
1.0
Once upon a time in a science fictional decade far, far away there was an author named Frank Herbert. He wrote a novel called Dune and it was good. He wrote a few more Dune-related books and they were a mixture of good and bad. And he wrote a book called The White Plague and it was good as well. And then he joined up with another author (a poet) named Bill Ransom and wrote a novel called The Jesus Incident--and completely lost this member of his audience.
After having this novel (and its two companion pieces) sitting on my TBR shelf for decades, I decided that this year, with my Mt. TBR Challenge, was the year to finally tackle it and get it out the way. I'm going to confess up front--I did not read every word of the entire thing. I skimmed a great deal of the mid-section....because, let's face it, it wobbled between being down-right confusing and all-out boring. With Dune Herbert created a whole new world--lots of things going on that were unusual and different, but he managed to give the reader enough information about that world that we knew what was up and we actually cared about Paul's journey to become Muad-Dib. In The Jesus Incident, we have another whole new world....and I just don't get it and I don't really care all that much.
Well, okay. Yes, I did get it. We have this experimental group of the last survivors of Earth. They were originally set up to try and create sentience. Somewhere along the line, they succeeded and now their space vehicle, Ship, is sentient. And thinks it is god. And wants to be WorShipped. And it has brought the humans and their clones (yeah, what?) to a new "paradise" planet where they will be tested--one last time. (Apparently, there have been many "testings" prior to this that we really don't know about. Must not be important). If they fail to figure out to WorShip properly, then Ship is going to "wipe the tape," end the experiment, in a word--get rid of mankind. Nice.
Oh. And that "paradise" planet? Not so much. It's full of all kinds of predatory life that just love to kill humans/clones. And there's not enough food for everybody. Sounds like the perfect place to take your next vacation, don't you think?
You'd think that might be complex enough to hold my attention. Yeah, no. Because when it came down to it, the answer to how Ship expects to be WorShipped is a pretty lame and predictable and recycled answer. No new insights here. No real comment on the human condition or human spirituality or anything. Just not Herbert's best writing, in my opinion. One star.
After having this novel (and its two companion pieces) sitting on my TBR shelf for decades, I decided that this year, with my Mt. TBR Challenge, was the year to finally tackle it and get it out the way. I'm going to confess up front--I did not read every word of the entire thing. I skimmed a great deal of the mid-section....because, let's face it, it wobbled between being down-right confusing and all-out boring. With Dune Herbert created a whole new world--lots of things going on that were unusual and different, but he managed to give the reader enough information about that world that we knew what was up and we actually cared about Paul's journey to become Muad-Dib. In The Jesus Incident, we have another whole new world....and I just don't get it and I don't really care all that much.
Well, okay. Yes, I did get it. We have this experimental group of the last survivors of Earth. They were originally set up to try and create sentience. Somewhere along the line, they succeeded and now their space vehicle, Ship, is sentient. And thinks it is god. And wants to be WorShipped. And it has brought the humans and their clones (yeah, what?) to a new "paradise" planet where they will be tested--one last time. (Apparently, there have been many "testings" prior to this that we really don't know about. Must not be important). If they fail to figure out to WorShip properly, then Ship is going to "wipe the tape," end the experiment, in a word--get rid of mankind. Nice.
Oh. And that "paradise" planet? Not so much. It's full of all kinds of predatory life that just love to kill humans/clones. And there's not enough food for everybody. Sounds like the perfect place to take your next vacation, don't you think?
You'd think that might be complex enough to hold my attention. Yeah, no. Because when it came down to it, the answer to how Ship expects to be WorShipped is a pretty lame and predictable and recycled answer. No new insights here. No real comment on the human condition or human spirituality or anything. Just not Herbert's best writing, in my opinion. One star.
vintonole's review against another edition
3.0
Book 1 in the Series; Also at Summer 1982 Reading List #22