The Santaroga Barrier

by Frank Herbert

Santaroga seemed to be nothing more than a prosperous farm community. But there was something ... different ... about Santaroga.

Santaroga had no juvenile delinquency, or any crime at all. Outsiders found no house for sale or rent in this valley, and no one ever moved out. No one bought cigarettes in Santaroga. No cheese, wine, beer or produce from outside the valley could be sold there. The list went on and on and grew stranger and stranger.

Maybe Santaroga was the last outpost of American individualism. Maybe they were just a bunch of religious kooks...

Or maybe there was something extraordinary at work in Santaroga. Something far more disturbing than anyone could imagine.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Mystery, Audiobook, American

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1968

About the author

Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. was an American science fiction author best known for the 1965 novel Dune and its five sequels. Though he became famous for his novels, he also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, photographer, book reviewer, ecological consultant, and lecturer.
The Dune saga, set in the distant future, and taking place over millennia, explores complex themes, such as the long-term survival of the human species, human evolution, planetary science and ecology, and the intersection of religion, politics, economics and power in a future where humanity has long since developed interstellar travel and settled many thousands of worlds. Dune is the best-selling science fiction novel of all time, and the entire series is considered to be among the classics of the genre.

Reviews

[Dragisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of Frank Herbert's work - especially his masterpiece Dune, which redefined science fiction with its intricate world-building and philosophical depth - I approached The Santaroga Barrier with high expectations. Published in 1968, this lesser-known gem from the author doesn't sprawl across interstellar empires like Dune, but it packs a punch in its compact, introspective narrative. I absolutely loved it. It's a taut psychological thriller wrapped in speculative fiction, exploring themes of isolation, consumerism, and altered states of mind with Herbert's signature intellectual rigor. I'll keep spoilers to a minimum while diving into what made it so compelling for me.

The story centers on Gilbert Dasein, a psychologist from UC Berkeley, who's hired by a shadowy investment group to investigate the enigmatic Santaroga Valley in California. This seemingly idyllic farming community is a black box to the outside world: no chain stores thrive there, residents shun national brands, and outsiders are met with polite but impenetrable resistance. Dasein arrives under the guise of a market researcher, but his personal stake is deeper - he's drawn back by his former love interest, Jenny Sorge, a native Santarogan who's now part of the valley's tight-knit fabric.

From the opening scenes, Herbert masterfully builds tension. Dasein's descent into the valley feels like crossing into another dimension, with subtle hints of something uncanny: the absence of TV glow in homes, the locals' ironclad loyalty to their co-op produced cheese, and a pervasive sense of quiet watchfulness. What starts as a professional inquiry spirals into a personal odyssey as Dasein uncovers layers of the "Santaroga Barrier" - not a physical wall, but a psychological and social one that protects (or imprisons?) its inhabitants. The plot unfolds like a detective novel infused with sci-fi elements, blending suspenseful encounters, near-misses, and revelations that challenge Dasein's sanity and worldview.

I was hooked by how Herbert transforms a mundane setting - a rural valley with cheese factories and old inns - into a labyrinth of intrigue. The pacing is deliberate but never slow; each chapter peels back another layer, building to a climax that's both intellectually satisfying and emotionally resonant. It's not action-packed like some modern thrillers, but the cerebral twists kept me turning pages late into the night.

Herbert excels at creating characters who feel real, flawed, and deeply human, and The Santaroga Barrier is no exception. Gilbert Dasein is a fantastic protagonist - intelligent, skeptical, and a bit arrogant at first, which makes his gradual unraveling all the more engaging. As a psychologist, he's armed with academic tools to dissect the valley's oddities, but Herbert cleverly turns the tables, forcing Dasein to confront his own biases and vulnerabilities. His internal monologues are rich with psychological insight, making him a relatable everyman thrust into the extraordinary.

Jenny Sorge, Dasein's ex and a key Santarogan, adds emotional depth. She's not just a love interest; she's a bridge between worlds, embodying the valley's allure and its dangers. Their relationship crackles with tension - unresolved feelings mixed with suspicion - and it grounds the story's bigger ideas in personal stakes. Supporting characters, like the gruff inn clerk, the enigmatic Dr. Larry Piaget (Jenny's uncle), and various valley locals, are vividly drawn. They aren't caricatures; each interaction reveals Herbert's keen observation of human behavior, from subtle hostilities to moments of unexpected warmth.

What I loved most is how Herbert uses these characters to explore group dynamics. The Santarogans aren't villains - they're a community that's found something profound, and their unity feels enviable yet eerie. It made me reflect: What would one sacrifice for such belonging?

On the surface, it's a mystery about a reclusive town, but dig deeper, and it's a sharp critique of consumerism and conformity. The valley's rejection of outside goods - cigarettes, beers, cheeses - mirrors a resistance to the homogenizing forces of modern capitalism. Herbert, writing in the late '60s, presciently skewers how advertising and mass media manipulate desires, contrasting it with Santaroga's self-sufficiency. It's no coincidence that the story's "secret" involves a substance that heightens awareness, echoing the mind-expanding themes in Dune's spice or even the counterculture psychedelics of the era.

The novel also delves into psychology and consciousness. What happens when a group achieves a heightened, shared awareness? Is it enlightenment or a form of control? Herbert draws on real concepts - like allergens, mental health stats, and communal bonds - to ground his speculation, making the story feel plausible and relevant. In today's world of echo chambers and social media bubbles, the "barrier" feels eerily prophetic. I appreciated how Herbert doesn't moralize; he presents the pros and cons, leaving you to ponder.

Herbert's prose is descriptive without being overwrought. He paints Santaroga with vivid sensory details - the scent of mown lawns, the glow of yellow windows, the taste of Jaspers-infused foods - that immerse you in the setting. The dialogue is crisp and revealing, often laced with subtext that heightens the paranoia. There's a subtle horror element, not in gore, but in the creeping realization that something's off, reminiscent of Invasion of the Body Snatchers or early Stephen King.

At 256 pages (based on the edition I read), it's concise, which I adored - no bloat, just pure storytelling. The structure, divided into chapters that build like psychological sessions, keeps the momentum. Herbert's background in journalism shows in his efficient, evocative style.

The Santaroga Barrier isn't as epic as Dune, but that's its strength - it's intimate, focused, and packs more ideas per page. I loved how it blends genres: sci-fi, mystery, romance, and philosophy into a cohesive whole. It's thought-provoking without being preachy, and the ending left me satisfied yet musing over its implications for hours. I wished for a bit more exploration of the valley's history. But focus on human psychology and community dynamics, turning a small-town mystery into a profound meditation on individuality versus unity, much like epic themes in Dune. If you're a Herbert fan, this is essential; if you're new to him, it's a great entry point before tackling his bigger works.

[Bryan Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm fascinated by reading other works by a writer best known for one title. It's interesting, for example, to read Bram Stoker's non-Dracula fiction. And so it is with Frank Herbert, a writer possessed of an astonishing mind, best known for the sf classic Dune, and yet someone who also produced many other novels and stories. You can't help but look for links between the lesser works and the masterpieces. If the other story appeared earlier, it seems like an antecedent. If it follows, the text appears in the giant's shadow.

Santaroga Barrier can't escape the shadow of Arrakis. Yes, it's a very different book. It takes place in contemporary America, rather than in the far-off future and across alien worlds. It's a fairly taut mystery, rather than a sprawling space opera. Its protagonist is a psychologist, rather than a galactic messiah. But the links are clear, unsurprisingly as Santaroga appeared just four years after Dune's first publication, and one year before Dune Messiah.

Let me summarize the book, first, and without spoilers. Santaroga Barrier concerns an investigation into a strange Californian town that is unusually isolated from the surrounding area. A group of investors hires Gilbert Dasein (great name) to figure out Santaroga's secrets. He quickly learns that the town's identity is based on using a mysterious substance called Jaspers, and that they've built an intentional community around its powers. Dasein is in love with a Santarogan he went to school with, and their relationship yields a romance plot.

It's a good suspense tale. Herbert feeds us clues generously, but not overmuch. Mysteries appear, to be tackled. And the second half ratchets up the tension with escalating physical challenges, including an awesome series of "accidents."

It's almost impossible to read Santaroga without seeing the historical context. Jaspers stands in for the 1960s drug culture, obviously. The intentional community echoes contemporary communes and utopian projects. Race politics appear early on, as Dasein wonders if the locals are racist, and if there are integration problems. Santarogans' critique of the rest of America jibes well with both the counterculture and also the emerging mainstream sense of self-doubt. Somewhat out of step is the idea of a heroic psychologist, which feels more like a 1940s idea, especially as contemporary reform and splinter movements within psychology don't really appear.

I was especially taken with the idea of a non-countercultural community building up a drug-based utopia. Through speech and manners Herbert carefully establishes Santarogans as ordinary middle Americans, rather than hippies: middle aged, too, rather than young. He avoids the typical Californian attitude of equating California with the rest of the nation by identifying people as having moved to Santaroga from Louisiana and New England. The novel could have connected with the back-to-the-land movement by expanding on Jaspers as a natural, rather than synthetic product, but the community is resolutely modern, complete with cars and greenhouses. (There is dislike of tv, but that doesn't seem too radical for the time; I share the attitude, myself.)

What about the Dune resonances? The big one is a drug organizing a new way of life. Jaspers isn't melange, but it's close. Dasein spends a lot of time tracking how his mental awareness changes under its impact, including speeding up of cognition and allowing access to a kind of group mind. Jaspers improves people, it's suggested, and Dasein as problem-solving hero starts talking about gods towards the end. The drug also appears in an ecological framework, as we follow its presence in multiple environmental niches.

I was very taken by the novel. It has many classic Herbert features: conversations that become cryptic, even maddening; oblique observations that set the reader's mind buzzing; a shift from concrete details to macro discussions about civilization and humanity; that nearly conspiratorial sense of multiple forces and politics overlapping, often from the shadows. Like many of his early and middle period novels other than Dune, such as the brilliant Whipping Star, Santaroga Barrier is a short and focused novel, almost a novella, which I appreciate. There are some fun jokes, like naming the hero after Heidegger's notion of being, Jaspers after Karl, and having a psychologist named Piaget.

Two off notes remain, and I can only mention them with spoiler shields on.First, the female love interest is a thin stereotype, like a 1930s Universal horror film character. Jenny has no interior life. Her education is shunted aside in favor of basic administrative work. She only lives to love and care for Dasein. She has embarrassing to read in 2018. Second, the final moments are a bit too restrained, as Gilbert and Jenny agree to marry and live within the Jaspers land. There's just a hint that Santaroga might expand, but that's left undeveloped. We don't know how the outside world will respond, including the investors who kicked off the plot.
Otherwise, recommended. Have a bottle of Santaroga beer while you read.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Santaroga Barrier by Frank Herbert
Frank Herbert has long been interested in expanded consciousness and collective or hive minds, themes that show up at least in part in many of his novels (Dune, Destination Void, The Dosadi Experiment, Helstrom’s Hive, The Green Brain, etc.) and is of central interest in The Santaroga Barrier.

The setup for the story is handled quite efficiently in the first pages. Major retail and marketing firms are frustrated by their inability to penetrate the Santaroga Valley for their consumer goods. Almost everything used in the valley is produced there (there are exceptions like gasoline, but there is only one gas station in town, and it is run by a Santarogan). The retailers want in to Santaroga and they’ve hired psychologist Gilbert Dasein to do a market study on the valley to help them solve their problem. There is only one major problem. The last two people they’ve sent to do the same project have died from what appear to be genuine accidents—and yet Dasein and the reader are immediately left to wonder if something more sinister might be involved. Dasein has one major advantage over his predecessors that is undoubtedly the reason he was chosen for this task. His college girlfriend, Jenny, whom he asked to marry him, left him at the end of her studies and returned to her home in Santaroga. Dasein has a potential “in” that the marketers and retailers want to take advantage of.

Things are weird from the moment Dasein arrives. Outsiders passing through the beautiful valley on the federal highway do not feel comfortable there when stopping at its restaurants or lone hotel. Dasein gets a different response. He is almost immediately recognized as Jenny’s young man from school (despite the fact that he’s never been there) and sort of half welcomed and half not. While Dasein struggles with himself to keep an objective view of his surroundings, it is instantly obvious to the reader that he can’t. This valley is the reason Jenny refused to marry him. She wanted them to return to her home (a place she left for without him every weekend of their schooling) and he was too proud to simply give in to her wishes without a “reasonable” explanation of why they couldn’t set up their practice somewhere else. Now he has a chance to understand the mysterious hold her home has on him.

Then the accidents begin to happen. Gas leaks into his bedroom and nearly kills him. A dangerous fall caused by tripping on a turned-up carpet almost causes him to plummet to his death. Accidents? As more and more such incidents pile up, it’s really hard to believe that they aren’t part of a conspiracy to do Dasein harm, and yet, they honestly appear to have been accidents and sometimes Santarogans save him from the peril.

Where many people would have simply given up the job and left, Dasein doesn’t for two reasons. First, he is incredibly proud and stubborn. Second, there’s Jenny, the woman he’s in love with and who honestly appears to be in love with him. Yet Jenny is part of the Santaroga mystery, working in the mysterious co-op which seems to be the heart of it. Yet it’s Jenny’s friend who rescues Dasein when he breaks into the co-op and gets over-exposed to the mysterious Jaspers.

Jaspers (and it’s never quite clear just what it is) is the heart of the Santarogan mystery. It’s consumed like a spice and it’s addictive and mind expanding. But it also becomes increasingly clear that it is something much more. It links Santarogans together at least on a subconscious level and when Dasein discovers what’s happening with the Santarogan children (and that many become brain damaged by the Jaspers) the town turns on him in a truly frightening way.

Jenny understands on some level what is happening, but no one else in the valley seems to be able to consciously credit that they are creating accidents to kill Dasein. It’s the most exciting part of the novel. Jenny has begged Dasein to leave because she loves him, he refuses, and weird things start happening and people start dying in situations clearly directed at Dasein. The reader grows to understand that the valley—jaspers—is protecting itself. The question is, will Dasein be killed, escape, or ensnared into becoming one of the Santarogans? It’s important to keep in mind that in many of his books Herbert isn’t interested in a conventional victory. You simply can’t predict how this novel is going to end.

Frank Herbert once said that he wanted half the country to think that Santaroga sounded wonderful and half to find it highly disturbing. At times, as a reader, I felt both ways, so I’d say he succeeded.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

...I guess thematically and stylistically The Santaroga Barrier is a book of it's time. It leans very heavily on the ideas Herbert used as an inspiration. What makes this book stand out is the depth of these ideas. To Herbert they were not merely interesting concepts. He delved deeply and conveyed part of that interest and understanding in this book. It does not have the epic scope and wide variety of themes of the Dune saga but of all his works outside that setting, The Santaroga Barrier is probably the most underrated. It's a short but challenging read. If you are looking to explore Herbert's work beyond Dune, this book would be a good choice.

Full Random Comments review

[Lars · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Santaroga Barrier' is as little Science Fiction as possible - no spacecrafts, no aliens, no other planets but earth - it doesn't even play in the future. It's a classical piece of Soft Science Fiction which examines the society of today, or, more precisely, of America in the late Sixties. A psychiatrist is sent to some remote valley in California to investigate why the people there don't consume as much goods as the rest of the country and why they almost never leave their valley. He discovers that the inhabitants expose all food to some drug which sharpens their senses, making it possible to realize all the flaws of the modern capitalist world (excessive TV consumption, money rules everything, false values et cetera) in a very precise way.

On the one hand, the scientist feels quite attracted to this community setting it's own values, on the other hand, he fears to get addicted to the drug and to loose his personality. The book is a discussion about the false gods of the modern world and possible ways out - ways which might lead to some totalitarian community where the crowd counts more than the individual. I really liked the book - it is well written, the protagonist has an interesting development, there is some action. But mainly, I loved the philosophical questions the work raises, especially regarding society, capitalism and absorption by the mass. If this sounds boring to you, I can just repeat myself - this is a classical piece of Soft Science Fiction.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychologist is sent to a peaceful but introverted California valley on a market study to investigate why the residents refuse to participate in the modern mass-market economy. He finds a community so intriguing but disquieting that he's torn between an equal desire to stay or to flee.

In contrast to Herbert's tendency to tell the narrative from several points of view at once (The White Plague, Dune, etc), The Santaroga Barrier finds him focusing on the main character alone. This approach puts the reader on equal footing with the confused and inquisitive narrator, moving with him and discovering as he does. The narration style fit the plot. It draws you in and forces you to consider your own alignment along with the narrator.

It's a quick and somewhat unsettling read. The unease comes from Herbert's striking ability to paint a picture of an insular community that is equally idyllic and also creepy. Herbert mentioned in an interview that he wrote the story envisioning a divisive readership with half seeing a paradise and half seeing a hell.

The premise is not new. The Santaroga Barrier shares common ground with the utopian novels of Butler, Huxley, Orwell, et al. However Herbert sets a unique scene that relies not on a possible future or an entirely different world but on the more real setting of a small town already extant within our present day nation. The story is a critique of the drug and hippie culture that was sweeping the US at the time of his writing and also strikes at the perceived ideal of suburban and small town life, what it means to be an individual, and the direction that our society is moving.

Recommended for fans of utopian literature and those who want to question their own faith in modern society.

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super weird, and that’s a good thing. Plot-wise, it’s basically about a creepy small town in America that’s super insular and where weird stuff is constantly going on. A dude called Dasein is sent in to carry out an investigation, and he rapidly finds himself on the receiving end of a series of accidents, each of which could have ended his life.

That gives the book a cloying, paranoid kind of feel, a lot of which is due to us following Dasein’s thought processes. At the same time, he’s becoming more and more Santarogan, and he’s well aware of the fact. Due to the fact that there’s a physical substance in the cheese and the beer, something a bit like LSD but which awakens all sorts of weird stuff in the brain, he might never be able to leave.

There were elements here that reminded me of Stephen King’s Desperation, and that’s a good thing. In fact, I think this is the most approachable thing that I’ve read of Herbert’s, and it’s definitely written more simply than his Dune books. I’m glad I read it!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

How many of us have wished we could find a perfect little community to live in? The Santaroga Valley appears to be that. Crime, suicide, and child misbehavior are rare. But the price for this is high, or is it? Residents become addicted to a minorly hallucinogenic spice called jaspers. It makes them healthier, calmer, and very honest and kind to the other members of their community, partially because they become more aware of what everyone around them is thinking and feeling. Indeed, if a stranger comes to the community with an intent to do something that would harm the community, the residents, guided by their hive mind, will subconsciously create deadly accidents for the stranger. Unfortunately, some of the community's children can't handle the drug and become mush-brained. Also, the hive brain would like to take over more of the country.

Herbert masterfully makes you appreciate both sides of the dilemma.

[Jose Leon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly I'm kinda iffy on giving it five stars, just thinking about the narrative alone, but I think that plus my own personal experience really just catapulted it into a really high spot in my list. I would read a major section of the book, micro dose, then reflect on the areas the book touched on in my journal. It was genuinely a great method of putting yourself in the shoes of the characters. Especially considering Gilbert Dasein was an outsider, everyone on the inside of Santaroga barrier may have seemed a bit cuckoo, but that's cuz he wasn't tapped in fully. I liked how the Jaspers allowed everyone to value things other than money. In contrast to the "civilized" world where they can't event conceive of a world where Santaroga doesn't want in on the global economy. It's incredible and really redirects light onto what everyone in this world seems to value the most. They made the Santarogans out to be crazy. Another aspect which was reallyyyy scary and had me thinking for dayssss was the thought of the collective consciousness psychedelics imposed onto those who ingested them. While it may be cool when it's mostly positive, the fact that the Jaspers was compelling its denizens to try and kill Dr. Dasein accidentally was horrifying. None of them were even aware of it. It could be seen as a survival mechanism of the mycelia, but something about its heightened level of intelligence and ability to act simultaneously as one being through multiple people was so frightening. The fact that everyone knew all the happenings of the whole town without witnessing it personally. Like when the mechanic guy exploded in the car. Chills bro. I take back what I said this book definitely does deserve those five stars, wow. I just needed to yap in order to remember parts about it I liked. Wish I could have some Jaspers coffee I bet it would fix me.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. Nice intrigue with a cool setting, but overall kinda boring and the payoff is underwhelming. Also, the parts dealing with race and gender have NOT aged well.

The Good:
Gilbert's arc of learning that capitalism is bad, actually, is alright. I like the setup of the Jaspers mystery. There's some decent action scenes, especially when Gilbert is sneaking around. The escalating "accidents" are also fine I guess.

The Bad:
Unfortunately, Gilbert's main arc is the only interesting character development. Most of the characters are pretty static and uninteresting. Jenny exists purely to give Gilbert personal conflict, Uncle Larry just dishes out exposition, Selidor is the figurehead of capitalist America, etc. On top of that, despite having a decent arc, Gilbert is overall just painfully obstinate and unlikeable. He is incapable of reading a room, constantly whines about Jaspers, and the way he just sorta repeats phrases over and over annoyed me.

The Ugly:
Whew, I was not ready for the dated portrayal of women and POC here. As a classic sci-fi fan, I am no stranger to being disappointed with representation in the genre (or often, complete lack thereof), but this book has some real... gems. In his first scene, the main black character talks about how the valley is so "accepting" that he gets called the n-word and it doesn't offend him. Gilbert threatens to rape his love interest at some point and its treated as fun and flirty. There's constant reference to the attractiveness of all the women and the skin color of all the POC. So yeah... kinda ruins any enjoyment of the book whenever it comes up. Honestly, all this book needed was an evil gay pedophile (looking at you, Dune....)

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pure pulp, from my perspective. The writing was pedestrian, and characterization shallow and unbelievable. Dasein acted like a tantrumy toddler, Jenny was an early version of a manic pixie dreamgirl, and most of the rest of the characters were cardboard cutouts. Plus, I just never could get past the thought that the real threat, in this story, is the idea that people have no right to refuse to buy commercial products, or to reject their marketing efforts. Both the "market study" that Dasein was undertaking, and the reaction of a traveling salesman who had been unable to make sales in the valley struck me as exemplary of the evil sense of entitlement that corporations seem to feel they have to our collective dollar.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Herberts' focus on economics in his books: The science (fiction) of greed driving the wheels of progress, in this case the progress of a stubborn Berkley PhD to expose the psychotropicly enhanced citizens of a North California valley, while himself becoming high on dairy produce.

The engaging array of characters and fast pace in this book make for a quick and enjoyable read. This is a good book for Creighton fans to move up to on the way to Philip Dick, with aspects of both, as Herbert's story liberates us from our mental shackles and then buries us, in Santaroga, under our inescapable biological inheritance.

[Al Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a fit of whimsy, I hereby announce I will give everyone five stars, but the reviews may not reflect it.

Not bad. Reads like an extended old Twilight Zone episode (not a criticism) and is an interesting take on the self with a little Red Menace thrown in for good measure.

[Jacob Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read by one of my favourite authors. Dripping with paranoia and mystery while delivering on most of its twists.

[Xian · Rating 2 out of 5]

Da demasiadas vueltas a la historia. Quizás hubiera funcionado mejor en formato de cuento.

[Mizuki Giffin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dating a sci fi boy is all fun and games until you find yourself reading a backlist Frank Herbert…



(Jk this was better than I expected)

[Bart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please read the full review on Weighing A Pig

I’m not too thrilled to write a review about this book. The Dune-series is among the best thing I ever read, so I hate to report that Frank Herbert didn’t even come close with The Santaroga Barrier. (...) The premise is interesting nonetheless, and Herbert manages to create an eerie vibe in the first couple of chapters.

(...)

[Joé Welsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s quite ironic when someone becomes the very thing they set out to destroy.

All in all, the Santaroga Barrier left me with a number of unanswered questions, but I think that’s part of its charm. Sometimes, it’s okay not to have everything neatly resolved. Overall, it was a compelling and enjoyable read—definitely worth the time🙏

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow weird barely begins to describe this book. I'm overly familiar with all the Dune books and was unprepared for something that takes place on this planet. I feel like this book would make a hell of a movie.

[Xabi1990 · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10. Leído en 2004.

Tras haber leído Dune que duda cabe de que esta novela decepciona.
Tiene "algo" esta historia de una comunidad rural con misterio asociado en el que se mete un psicólogo va a investigar por qué en esa zona el marketing no funciona nada.

[James Shrimpton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The version I had is an old one, so the blurb spoiled the plot until 1/3 through the book...

It's fantastic. Depth, originality, vivid characters and a steady beat. The only thing that lets it down is the ending, which didn't quite land where I wanted it to.

[Cashie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminds me of a well-written Twilight Zone episode. If that is your thing, you will love this. The story is fascinating and the conclusion was a good follow through of the world Herbert had created.

Note: the story is a product of its time—it has multiple uses of the “n” word.

[Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantástico. É tudo.

[Mike Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. All at once, philosophical, sociological, psychological, political and with action and drugs. Very cleverly written, showing his range as a writer--very different style compared with Dune

[BENJAMIN JONES · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Societies don't believe they can die... If it cannot die, it'll never face a final judgement." p. 210

[Thomas Van Zeijl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Ben De Bono · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frank Herbert revisits melange under a different name and in a different context. This, Hellstrom’s Hive, and Dune make for a fascinating trilogy on group psychology

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Herbert's tribute novel to The Puppet Masters and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Is the invader a parasite or a symbiote? Is it of Terran origin? Do the positive effects outweigh the negative effects? Do you really want to be part of hive mind? 1 in 500 have a bad reaction and are damaged. The characters are a bit thin, and there are some race and gender issues, but that might be a side effect ;)

An interesting read, should make for a good discussion.

[Em Rendleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

if I had a nickel for every time Frank Herbert wrote a storyline about an organically-sourced mind-altering substance, I'd have two nickels.

[Oriol Masats · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author must have been a tremendous blue cheese lover to write a sci-fi novel about its ban in the USA.