Reviews

While no doorstopper like Dune, this story does play well to Herbert’s strengths as a writer by using science fiction to confront the fundamental questions of existence.

sapien85's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

The last part is the worst part. Otherwise reminded me of Foundation a lot.

jailyn_faith70's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

gggggggg_g's review against another edition

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3.0

A regular at work convinced me to give Herbert another try. I'm glad I did, but Jesus Christ (pun intended) the main character was an insufferable twat.

bereza's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

jeremybost's review against another edition

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2.0

Not much action. Mostly about some guy thinking deep thoughts about the universe and solving a few problems. 50% or more of the book was philosophical stuff which I mostly disagreed with.

And the end of the book was about him finally using his "God" powers. Blah.

olityr's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Sometimes I think Frank Herbert wanted to write philosophy but thought no one would read it unless he disguised it as fiction.

Oddly, there's a section early in the book that seems to be the short story Missing Link from the Great Classic Science Fiction collection I read in 2022.

Favorite quotes:

"You must understand that peace is an internal matter. It has to be a self-discipline for an individual or for an entire civilization. It must come from within. If you set up an outside power to enforce peace, this outside power will grow stronger and stronger. It has no alternative. The inevitable outcome will be an explosion, cataclysmic and chaotic. That is the way of our universe. When you create paired opposites, one will overwhelm the other unless they are in delicate balance."
"The most misguided effort of sentience is the attempt to alter the past, to weed out discrepancies, to insist on fellow happiness at any price. To refrain from harming others is one thing, to design and order happiness for others, and enforce delivery, invites an equal and opposite reaction."
"When a wise man does not understand, he says: "I do not understand." The fool and the uncultured are ashamed of their ignorance. They remain silent when a question could bring them wisdom."

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