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A review by dan1066
The Green Brain by Frank Herbert
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.