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The Godmakers
On the edge of a war-weary and devastated galaxy, charismatic Lewis Orne makes planetfall on Hamal. His assignment: to detect any signs of latent aggression in this planet’s population.
To his astonishment, he finds that his own latent extrasensory powers have suddenly blossomed, and he is invited to join the company of “gods” on this planet.
And people place certain expectations on their gods….
To his astonishment, he finds that his own latent extrasensory powers have suddenly blossomed, and he is invited to join the company of “gods” on this planet.
And people place certain expectations on their gods….
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
220 people are currently reading
2566 people want to read
About the author
Frank Herbert
376 books16.5k followersFranklin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
September 9, 2020
Neo and The Oracle meet to discuss Frank Herbert’s 1972 novel The Godmakers.
Neo: Thank you for meeting with me. Do you like Frank Herbert?
Oracle: Impatient, aren’t we? Here, I brought you some cookies. I liked Dune, and a couple of his other novels, but what do you think about this one?
Neo: I like that it’s a science fiction novel that includes elements of religion.
Oracle: Religion. Hmmm, you sure about that?
Neo: Well, the protagonist investigates theology on other planets, and sees how religion can be manufactured, learns how races can be manipulated into worship. He also undergoes a transformation where he becomes a god.
Oracle: A god or The God?
Neo: I thought it meant he was a god, like there could be others.
Oracle: But didn’t Herbert also suggest that the hero could also be a part of The God, that they were all connected?
Neo: Maybe, it was difficult to understand.
Oracle: Religion always is, and belief itself takes a leap of faith. Of course, this was something of a mashup of four short stories he wrote before Dune, so do you think his publishers coaxed him to put all this together to bank on his Dune success?
Neo: That seems … cynical. Is this not a story in it’s own right?
Oracle: Cynicism is an expression of understanding. Herbert certainly had some good ideas and put them together well.
Neo: I noticed this had a similar style, the same kind of structure as Dune.
Oracle: I think you’ll find many of his books have that same style. OK? I’m being told I need to go; I think you’ll have some visitors shortly. Think about gods and religion and God.
Neo: I will.
Neo: Thank you for meeting with me. Do you like Frank Herbert?
Oracle: Impatient, aren’t we? Here, I brought you some cookies. I liked Dune, and a couple of his other novels, but what do you think about this one?
Neo: I like that it’s a science fiction novel that includes elements of religion.
Oracle: Religion. Hmmm, you sure about that?
Neo: Well, the protagonist investigates theology on other planets, and sees how religion can be manufactured, learns how races can be manipulated into worship. He also undergoes a transformation where he becomes a god.
Oracle: A god or The God?
Neo: I thought it meant he was a god, like there could be others.
Oracle: But didn’t Herbert also suggest that the hero could also be a part of The God, that they were all connected?
Neo: Maybe, it was difficult to understand.
Oracle: Religion always is, and belief itself takes a leap of faith. Of course, this was something of a mashup of four short stories he wrote before Dune, so do you think his publishers coaxed him to put all this together to bank on his Dune success?
Neo: That seems … cynical. Is this not a story in it’s own right?
Oracle: Cynicism is an expression of understanding. Herbert certainly had some good ideas and put them together well.
Neo: I noticed this had a similar style, the same kind of structure as Dune.
Oracle: I think you’ll find many of his books have that same style. OK? I’m being told I need to go; I think you’ll have some visitors shortly. Think about gods and religion and God.
Neo: I will.
December 14, 2020
If I could totally pick a non-Dune book of Frank Herbert's to point at and say, "Hey, this one is all kinds of cool and fantastic!" It'd be this one.
If I needed to point to any of his non-Dune books and say, "OMG this one short novel connects all the main themes of the Dune Chronicles in a rather non-Dune way, focusing on the mechanics and propaganda and elements of religion in a possibly deeper way than the Chronicles!" I'd also nod at this book.
But here's the really interesting aspect:
Being a big fan of the Dune series, including Brian and Kevin's part in it, I read Godmakers with an eye to the deep-past, nearing the Butlerian Jihad with huge Psi talents, a nearly random confluence of events, and mysticism. I kept reading about the events here with the rediscovery of lost planets, the hints of travel through mind-powers, the alien intelligences, and the opening of awareness in a very different light.
Almost as if this was proto-guild navigation. Or the pre-prelude to the eventual AI takeover.
Please forgive me, true-fans. I like to think about these kinds of confluences in terms of Herbert's massive future history. Because -- let's make no bones about it -- his Future History is massive, complex, and wonderful. I see things in this book that tie directly to the last couple of novels that are supposed to capstone Herbert's original cycle.
I'd love to see someone truly tie that together. Or perhaps they already did. (Brian and Kevin)
I totally recommend this book, however. We don't see SF like this much at ALL anymore. Either subject or how it is handled.
Go big or go home.
If I needed to point to any of his non-Dune books and say, "OMG this one short novel connects all the main themes of the Dune Chronicles in a rather non-Dune way, focusing on the mechanics and propaganda and elements of religion in a possibly deeper way than the Chronicles!" I'd also nod at this book.
But here's the really interesting aspect:
Being a big fan of the Dune series, including Brian and Kevin's part in it, I read Godmakers with an eye to the deep-past, nearing the Butlerian Jihad with huge Psi talents, a nearly random confluence of events, and mysticism. I kept reading about the events here with the rediscovery of lost planets, the hints of travel through mind-powers, the alien intelligences, and the opening of awareness in a very different light.
Almost as if this was proto-guild navigation. Or the pre-prelude to the eventual AI takeover.
Please forgive me, true-fans. I like to think about these kinds of confluences in terms of Herbert's massive future history. Because -- let's make no bones about it -- his Future History is massive, complex, and wonderful. I see things in this book that tie directly to the last couple of novels that are supposed to capstone Herbert's original cycle.
I'd love to see someone truly tie that together. Or perhaps they already did. (Brian and Kevin)
I totally recommend this book, however. We don't see SF like this much at ALL anymore. Either subject or how it is handled.
Go big or go home.
August 18, 2014
This book may be the ultimate secret agent novel.
It could also be the most insanely ambitious work of anthropological science fiction.
It's also a gold mine for anyone interested in Frank Herbert's work.
Let me explain...
The Godmakers is a fix-up novel, a cluster of short stories smooshed into the shape of a novel. The plot concerns the adventures of Lewis Orne, an extraordinarily capable agent working for two interstellar agencies. His mission is to prevent a devastating war. As he progresses in his career - yes, Godmakers is also a bildungsroman! - his abilities and achievements escalate. The conclusion sees Orne Hence the above comment about Orne as the ultimate agent. I was reminded of other sf secret agent tales, like Joe Haldman's All My Sins Remembered or Herbert's character Jorg McKie.
Orne is also an anthropologist, although the term never appears. He analyzes each planet and society as that kind of cultural detective. In the opening segment (story) he and an ally uncover one planet's secret by studying the shape and size of its roads. In the second, my favorite, Orne cobbles together observations about another world's language, orbital mechanics, and biology to solve another mystery. Other stories use similar approaches to determine how humans work together. One of the great pleasures I find in reading Frank Herbert is how he brings the reader to that perspective.
This is the kind of stance Herbert applied through most of his career, most notably in Dune. Think of the detailed descriptions of societies powerfully shaped by environment in that book, or in Dosadi Experiment. He quickly yet deeply sketches out hypothetical anthropologies.
Godmakers resonates with many other Herbert themes. Religious engineering, a la the Bene Gesserit: check. The problem of a superhuman, a la Paul Atreides: yep. Multi-generational gynocentric political and breeding schemes, also a le Bene Gesserit: ditto. There's a painful physical-psychological test, like the one opening Dune. There is also the dialectic of social stasis and revolt, best seen in the underrated God Emperor of Dune. Glowglobes float around, and Arab/Islamic themes appear.
Some of these themes speak to the general history of American sf. Godmakers relies heavily on psionics, a concept which fairly obsessed some writers and editors in mid-century. The anthropological sf approach had many echoes, especially in the 1960s. The idea of a thoughtful, well-trained elite manipulating societies strikes a chord with many post-WWII novels.
As a whole, Godmakers is more accessible than most other Herbert. Plots and action happen very quickly. Dialog, which can reach terrific heights of complexity and suspicion in his other stories, is merely informative and rapid here. The setting is barely outlined at all. And the tone is brighter, less brooding than in, say, White Plague or the later Dune books. The conceptual work is relatively shallow.
I wouldn't recommend this to non-sf readers, since it requires some genre familiarity to work. YA readers might enjoy it, and any longtime sf reader would as well.
It could also be the most insanely ambitious work of anthropological science fiction.
It's also a gold mine for anyone interested in Frank Herbert's work.
Let me explain...
The Godmakers is a fix-up novel, a cluster of short stories smooshed into the shape of a novel. The plot concerns the adventures of Lewis Orne, an extraordinarily capable agent working for two interstellar agencies. His mission is to prevent a devastating war. As he progresses in his career - yes, Godmakers is also a bildungsroman! - his abilities and achievements escalate. The conclusion sees Orne Hence the above comment about Orne as the ultimate agent. I was reminded of other sf secret agent tales, like Joe Haldman's All My Sins Remembered or Herbert's character Jorg McKie.
Orne is also an anthropologist, although the term never appears. He analyzes each planet and society as that kind of cultural detective. In the opening segment (story) he and an ally uncover one planet's secret by studying the shape and size of its roads. In the second, my favorite, Orne cobbles together observations about another world's language, orbital mechanics, and biology to solve another mystery. Other stories use similar approaches to determine how humans work together. One of the great pleasures I find in reading Frank Herbert is how he brings the reader to that perspective.
This is the kind of stance Herbert applied through most of his career, most notably in Dune. Think of the detailed descriptions of societies powerfully shaped by environment in that book, or in Dosadi Experiment. He quickly yet deeply sketches out hypothetical anthropologies.
Godmakers resonates with many other Herbert themes. Religious engineering, a la the Bene Gesserit: check. The problem of a superhuman, a la Paul Atreides: yep. Multi-generational gynocentric political and breeding schemes, also a le Bene Gesserit: ditto. There's a painful physical-psychological test, like the one opening Dune. There is also the dialectic of social stasis and revolt, best seen in the underrated God Emperor of Dune. Glowglobes float around, and Arab/Islamic themes appear.
Some of these themes speak to the general history of American sf. Godmakers relies heavily on psionics, a concept which fairly obsessed some writers and editors in mid-century. The anthropological sf approach had many echoes, especially in the 1960s. The idea of a thoughtful, well-trained elite manipulating societies strikes a chord with many post-WWII novels.
As a whole, Godmakers is more accessible than most other Herbert. Plots and action happen very quickly. Dialog, which can reach terrific heights of complexity and suspicion in his other stories, is merely informative and rapid here. The setting is barely outlined at all. And the tone is brighter, less brooding than in, say, White Plague or the later Dune books. The conceptual work is relatively shallow.
I wouldn't recommend this to non-sf readers, since it requires some genre familiarity to work. YA readers might enjoy it, and any longtime sf reader would as well.
August 21, 2019
The Godmakers is an ambitious, thought-provoking, bold and well written novel. The opening chapter might seem a bit confusing if you aren't familiar with Herbert's style of writing, but once the story continues it takes you right into the midst of things happening in a future Universe. Our redheaded protagonist Lewis Orne lives in a postwar Universe (where everyone is terrified of great Rim wars happening again). Orne works for R&R, an organization that studies and rediscovers planets and societies. Quickly into the novel, the hero is transferred into A-I, an organization that prevents wars. But there is this thing of- the more we oppose something, the stronger it comes.....
This science fiction work could perhaps be described as a theological dystopia. The Godmakers might be read as a series of short stories set in the same Universe. This novel was developed from four short stories and every chapter has a somewhat closed feeling to it. However, the novel seemed well balanced and plotted to me. It was absolutely fascinating to read about many concepts (the strong matriarchal society that controls the politics, the genetic planning that can create superhuman powers, the multi planet society that is complex to maintain) that got further development in Herbert's Dune series. Even in this novel these themes are sufficiently well developed to make the reading seem mind-blowing at times. Moreover, it is amazing how well Herbert managed to develop these concepts in such a short novel. As I said, it is certainly an ambitious science fiction novel, one that merges religious and philosophical themes with technological and scientific progress.
Asking questions is important, but it has to be the right kind of question. “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.” Herbert certainly asks a lot of question in this one. Does he give us definite answers? That is on any reader to decide.
I wonder what somebody who hasn't read Dune would make of The Godmakers? Would it feel too overwhelming or confusing? Was my enjoyment in The Godmakers a reflection of the fact that I adored the Dune series? Are there any possible flaws in this novel that I didn't catch? Do you I really care and should I? I enjoyed reading The Godmakers so much that I cannot honestly find a flaw in it. Perhaps I shouldn't overthink it.
This science fiction work could perhaps be described as a theological dystopia. The Godmakers might be read as a series of short stories set in the same Universe. This novel was developed from four short stories and every chapter has a somewhat closed feeling to it. However, the novel seemed well balanced and plotted to me. It was absolutely fascinating to read about many concepts (the strong matriarchal society that controls the politics, the genetic planning that can create superhuman powers, the multi planet society that is complex to maintain) that got further development in Herbert's Dune series. Even in this novel these themes are sufficiently well developed to make the reading seem mind-blowing at times. Moreover, it is amazing how well Herbert managed to develop these concepts in such a short novel. As I said, it is certainly an ambitious science fiction novel, one that merges religious and philosophical themes with technological and scientific progress.
Asking questions is important, but it has to be the right kind of question. “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.” Herbert certainly asks a lot of question in this one. Does he give us definite answers? That is on any reader to decide.
I wonder what somebody who hasn't read Dune would make of The Godmakers? Would it feel too overwhelming or confusing? Was my enjoyment in The Godmakers a reflection of the fact that I adored the Dune series? Are there any possible flaws in this novel that I didn't catch? Do you I really care and should I? I enjoyed reading The Godmakers so much that I cannot honestly find a flaw in it. Perhaps I shouldn't overthink it.
April 7, 2025
The Godmakers is my favorite Frank Herbert novel. I read it the first time in high school and I’ve read it many times since in print and in audio. On the surface it is a simple adventure story—and a good one at that. Lewis Orne is a well-meaning, extremely bright young man who works for the Rediscovery and Reeducation Service trying to help planets reconnect with galactic civilization after the devastating Rim Wars of five hundred years earlier. He discovers that all is not right on the planet Hamal and he helps to prevent a military debacle there, getting himself drafted into the more cynical Investigative Adjustment Service in the process. Roughly two-thirds of the novel has him investigating similar problems with Herbert dropping hints that he is the god that the “makers” of the title have “made”—even if he doesn’t know it yet. This is where the novel becomes deeply philosophical novel. Herbert makes you think while he entertains you, which is probably why he’s so highly respected in the science fiction field.
June 9, 2010
Sadly, it's another book I didn't like too much. I picked up this 1972 copy of this out-of-print book because I'd never read anything by Herbert except the first 5 'Dune' books, and thought I'd check out a non-related work. Unfortunately, this book has none of the complexity or depth of 'Dune.'
'The Godmakers' gives us Lewis Orne, an agent for a military-style organization that is charged with enforcing peace. After a disastrous interstellar war, no sign of warlike qualities in a culture will be tolerated - and any sign of an incipient militaristic attitude would justify blasting that civilization out of existence.
The first half of the book shows us Orne in a series of episodic missions to different planets, basically swaggering around chauvinistically (yeah, yeah, we KNOW you don't like women running your life... get over it already) and saving the day.
Then, suddenly, Orne develops psi powers, and travels to the religious planet of Amel, where they decide that he has the remarkable potential to be a 'god.' Orne now must undergo psychic training ordeals... What will he do with his new and unprecedented power?
Herbert was very obviously trying to make several philosophical statements regarding peace vs. war (and the irony/futility of trying to enforce peace through military action), and religion - but the writing here is too choppy for it to seem more than awkward...
'The Godmakers' gives us Lewis Orne, an agent for a military-style organization that is charged with enforcing peace. After a disastrous interstellar war, no sign of warlike qualities in a culture will be tolerated - and any sign of an incipient militaristic attitude would justify blasting that civilization out of existence.
The first half of the book shows us Orne in a series of episodic missions to different planets, basically swaggering around chauvinistically (yeah, yeah, we KNOW you don't like women running your life... get over it already) and saving the day.
Then, suddenly, Orne develops psi powers, and travels to the religious planet of Amel, where they decide that he has the remarkable potential to be a 'god.' Orne now must undergo psychic training ordeals... What will he do with his new and unprecedented power?
Herbert was very obviously trying to make several philosophical statements regarding peace vs. war (and the irony/futility of trying to enforce peace through military action), and religion - but the writing here is too choppy for it to seem more than awkward...
May 8, 2011
I loved this book. I've loved lots of Herbert's work, particularly Dune. This, however, is a lot shorter and might be tried by someone interested in the author but not willing to commit to one of his longer books or series.
What particularly fascinated me was the operant notion of theological engineering, in other words, of controlling populations by the manipulation of their religious beliefs. Being in seminary at the time, the idea of teaching this seemed a lot more intriguing than what we were doing.
What particularly fascinated me was the operant notion of theological engineering, in other words, of controlling populations by the manipulation of their religious beliefs. Being in seminary at the time, the idea of teaching this seemed a lot more intriguing than what we were doing.
May 18, 2021
לואיס אורנה מתקדם בשורת משימות מסוכן זוטר בארגון שאמור לזהות כוכבים שוחרי מלחמה לאדם חשוב יותר ויותר ביקום.
ספר מד״ב קלאסי של יוצר חולית עם קפיצות בעלילה שלא תמיד ברור מה קורה בו ולמה. ייתכן שגם התרגום החובבני אשם בחוסר ההבנה.
(גם את חולית תמיד הערכתי על בניית העולם ופחות על העלילה)
ספר מד״ב קלאסי של יוצר חולית עם קפיצות בעלילה שלא תמיד ברור מה קורה בו ולמה. ייתכן שגם התרגום החובבני אשם בחוסר ההבנה.
(גם את חולית תמיד הערכתי על בניית העולם ופחות על העלילה)
January 11, 2008
I have to admit not reading this for a long time.
But I distinctly remember this book blowing my mind when I was younger. Herbert just sets up some of the most memorable and thought provoking scenarios in sci-fi.
He's also great at getting inside the human mind. I just can't get enough of his stories like this one.
But I distinctly remember this book blowing my mind when I was younger. Herbert just sets up some of the most memorable and thought provoking scenarios in sci-fi.
He's also great at getting inside the human mind. I just can't get enough of his stories like this one.
January 7, 2020
Oleks võinud palju pikem olla, lõpus läks kangesti kiirustamiseks. Ja seda naist, kes on kaanel, raamatus küll ei ole. Muidu väga tore, tekitas tahtmise jälle uuesti Düüni lugeda.
August 12, 2007
I first read this book by accident and after having read Dune. My brother gave me a crate of used sci-fi, haphazardly bought, as a birthday present. The Godmakers was just the first book I pulled from the box.
All in all, it's worth reading, an enjoyable book. It's got the obvious Herbert watermarks; internal monologues are often layered to the point of being nearly disjointed but neatly evoke a sense of higher order intellectual complexity, reminiscent of the drugged internal dialogue found in the Dune series.
I recommend it although not as highly as other Herbert.
All in all, it's worth reading, an enjoyable book. It's got the obvious Herbert watermarks; internal monologues are often layered to the point of being nearly disjointed but neatly evoke a sense of higher order intellectual complexity, reminiscent of the drugged internal dialogue found in the Dune series.
I recommend it although not as highly as other Herbert.
November 4, 2018
Mindnumbingly boring, poorly written, sexist, and featuring characters that are either too flat or too unsympathetic to be enjoyed. I can't believe this novel was written by the same author whose Dune series I love so much. I have read the original four stories this novel has been expanded from, and while I kind of hated the stories too, they seem to make marginally more sense than the ending of the novel does.
February 5, 2019
6/10. Media de los 9 libros leídos del autor : 7/10
Ya lo he dicho en algún otro comentarios: hablar de Herbert es hablar de Dune, clasicazo que merece la pena leerse -al menos los primeros libros de la saga- por eso de que es un ""obligado"". Y porque en verdad es interesante, original en su día y divertida de leer.
Los otros libros que he leído suyos -entre ellos este-, pasables sin más.
Ya lo he dicho en algún otro comentarios: hablar de Herbert es hablar de Dune, clasicazo que merece la pena leerse -al menos los primeros libros de la saga- por eso de que es un ""obligado"". Y porque en verdad es interesante, original en su día y divertida de leer.
Los otros libros que he leído suyos -entre ellos este-, pasables sin más.
June 9, 2014
Originally posted at Fantasy Literature. http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...
Frank Herbert’s The Godmakers is a novelized collection of four connected stories that first appeared in the pulp magazines between May 1958 and February 1960:
“You Take the High Road” (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1958)
“Missing link” (Astounding Science Fiction, February 1959)
“Operation Haystack” (Astounding Science Fiction, 1959)
“The Priests of Psi” (Fantastic Science Fiction Stories, February 1960)
The story takes place in a far future after humanity has spread to many habitable planets. However, a war has devastated communication between the planets and humans have lost contact with an unknown number of them. An intergalactic governmental agency called Rediscovery & Reeducation (R&R) finds these planets and tries to bring them back into the fold, reeducating as necessary to ensure that they’re peaceful. If the found planet seems warlike, an agency called Investigative Adjustment (I-A) is brought in to assess the situation and decide how to deal with them. Destroying an aggressive planet is an option. The goal is to avoid another intergalactic war.
At the beginning of The Godmakers, we meet Lewis Orne, a new agent for Rediscovery & Reeducation. On Orne’s first mission he visits a planet that seems, on the surface, to be a peaceful agrarian society which wouldn’t at all be threatening. But Orne pushes the panic button and explains to his baffled superior at I-A how he intuits that the inhabitants are actually quite dangerous. Because of his sharp observations and keen logic, he’s quickly promoted to an I-A job.
As a new I-A operative, Lewis Orne visits another planet where the inhabitants are thought to have stolen a spaceship. Nobody can find it but, again, using his superior critical thinking skills, Orne solves the mystery. Then he gets injured and all hope seems lost — his injuries will kill him. To everyone’s surprise, he lives. It turns out that Orne has godlike powers and, in fact, he learns that he was made by humans who were experimenting with creating gods.
At this point The Godmakers is no longer an interesting story of the exploits and adventures of a clever I-A agent, partly because we know Orne’s powers are supernatural, but mostly because Herbert’s story now becomes a dull rambling philosophical treatise about religion, the purpose of gods, ethics, war, consciousness, chaos and energy. Still, Dune fans will likely be interested to notice the development of some of the themes Herbert addresses in his master work, including a race of domineering women who want to control the government by attaching themselves to important men and even running a secret breeding program.
Award winner Scott Brick narrates Blackstone Audio’s 7-hour audio version of The Godmakers. Anyone who reads classic SF on audio will be familiar with Brick’s voice, his perfect pacing, and his intuitive understanding of the characters.
Frank Herbert’s The Godmakers is a novelized collection of four connected stories that first appeared in the pulp magazines between May 1958 and February 1960:
“You Take the High Road” (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1958)
“Missing link” (Astounding Science Fiction, February 1959)
“Operation Haystack” (Astounding Science Fiction, 1959)
“The Priests of Psi” (Fantastic Science Fiction Stories, February 1960)
The story takes place in a far future after humanity has spread to many habitable planets. However, a war has devastated communication between the planets and humans have lost contact with an unknown number of them. An intergalactic governmental agency called Rediscovery & Reeducation (R&R) finds these planets and tries to bring them back into the fold, reeducating as necessary to ensure that they’re peaceful. If the found planet seems warlike, an agency called Investigative Adjustment (I-A) is brought in to assess the situation and decide how to deal with them. Destroying an aggressive planet is an option. The goal is to avoid another intergalactic war.
At the beginning of The Godmakers, we meet Lewis Orne, a new agent for Rediscovery & Reeducation. On Orne’s first mission he visits a planet that seems, on the surface, to be a peaceful agrarian society which wouldn’t at all be threatening. But Orne pushes the panic button and explains to his baffled superior at I-A how he intuits that the inhabitants are actually quite dangerous. Because of his sharp observations and keen logic, he’s quickly promoted to an I-A job.
As a new I-A operative, Lewis Orne visits another planet where the inhabitants are thought to have stolen a spaceship. Nobody can find it but, again, using his superior critical thinking skills, Orne solves the mystery. Then he gets injured and all hope seems lost — his injuries will kill him. To everyone’s surprise, he lives. It turns out that Orne has godlike powers and, in fact, he learns that he was made by humans who were experimenting with creating gods.
At this point The Godmakers is no longer an interesting story of the exploits and adventures of a clever I-A agent, partly because we know Orne’s powers are supernatural, but mostly because Herbert’s story now becomes a dull rambling philosophical treatise about religion, the purpose of gods, ethics, war, consciousness, chaos and energy. Still, Dune fans will likely be interested to notice the development of some of the themes Herbert addresses in his master work, including a race of domineering women who want to control the government by attaching themselves to important men and even running a secret breeding program.
Award winner Scott Brick narrates Blackstone Audio’s 7-hour audio version of The Godmakers. Anyone who reads classic SF on audio will be familiar with Brick’s voice, his perfect pacing, and his intuitive understanding of the characters.
September 24, 2009
To be honest, the only reason I didn't like the book was because I didn't really understand what the heck was going on most of the time. A man in a shadowy government organization who prevents war from even being CONSIDERED on any planet, he's actually..a god? Or prophet? And a planet that's trying to overthrow the government organization is the one that...made? Him?
I'm sure it's all very simple. But I just didn't CARE. Didn't like any of the characters, didn't sympathize, didn't enjoy the writing...I mean the book's only 200 or so pages and it went on FOREVER.
I think I'm just done with Herbert, is what it is. Yes he's a fantastic writer, yes his Dune series is a classic of literature...but even those are preeetty tough to get through. This one was tough, WITHOUT the epic scale that kept sucking me back into the Dune series. Ah well. I had the same realization with Asimov: just because they're some of the most successful writers of all time, doesn't mean I'm going to like EVERYthing they do...
I'm sure it's all very simple. But I just didn't CARE. Didn't like any of the characters, didn't sympathize, didn't enjoy the writing...I mean the book's only 200 or so pages and it went on FOREVER.
I think I'm just done with Herbert, is what it is. Yes he's a fantastic writer, yes his Dune series is a classic of literature...but even those are preeetty tough to get through. This one was tough, WITHOUT the epic scale that kept sucking me back into the Dune series. Ah well. I had the same realization with Asimov: just because they're some of the most successful writers of all time, doesn't mean I'm going to like EVERYthing they do...
May 29, 2017
This book had some interesting bits at the start. Our hero had to determine whether planets were at all war-like. Even the width of a road turned out to be a clue in that. Clever. But then it stopped being clever in the second half of the book when suddenly everything suddenly became about religion. And not real religion, but lots of New Age-y talk about it. According to Wikipedia Herbert was raised Catholic, but became a Zen Buddhist. That sounds about right, it certainly explains the nonsensical chapter headings.
In the end, Herbert also turns the hero into a god. Literally. I don't know what bugs me more, the incredible cheapness of ending a story like that or all the nonsensical blathering he used to describe it all.
In the end, Herbert also turns the hero into a god. Literally. I don't know what bugs me more, the incredible cheapness of ending a story like that or all the nonsensical blathering he used to describe it all.
July 17, 2008
Another interesting religious view of the world by Herbert. This story can get tedious at times, but there are always little nuggets of phrasing that make the read worthwhile.
July 8, 2019
Para quienes hemos leído a Herbert, sabemos que el tema religioso es muy importante en sus libros, lo vimos en toda la saga de Dune y lo advertí también con mucha fuerza en El Incidente Jesús, era de esperar que tendría al mismo Herbert en esta novela que tiene el sugestivo título de Los creadores de Dios, si embargo, auque la temática es religiosa, me enfrenté esta vez a un Herbert desconocido.
Esta novela fue publicada en 1942, ya para entonces Frank Herbert era un autor consagrado y reconocido, ganador de premios nébula y Hugo, que había publicado una floja segunda parte para su magnus opera, pero en esta novela no parece que se esforzó mucho.
Lo bueno es que la narrativa si es propiamente de Herbert, incluyendo las rebuscada citas que vimos en Dune, me gustaron mucho un par de ellas. pero lo malo es que la historia no se sostiene pos sí misma y el final es casi como el de Matrix 1, no muy relevante.
Sin embargo sigo obligado a leer a Herbert y a lo que su hijo publique. tengo pendiente la segunda parte del Incidente Jesús que se llama según creo: El efecto Lázaro, el cual trataré de leer antes de que acabe el año.
Esta novela fue publicada en 1942, ya para entonces Frank Herbert era un autor consagrado y reconocido, ganador de premios nébula y Hugo, que había publicado una floja segunda parte para su magnus opera, pero en esta novela no parece que se esforzó mucho.
Lo bueno es que la narrativa si es propiamente de Herbert, incluyendo las rebuscada citas que vimos en Dune, me gustaron mucho un par de ellas. pero lo malo es que la historia no se sostiene pos sí misma y el final es casi como el de Matrix 1, no muy relevante.
Sin embargo sigo obligado a leer a Herbert y a lo que su hijo publique. tengo pendiente la segunda parte del Incidente Jesús que se llama según creo: El efecto Lázaro, el cual trataré de leer antes de que acabe el año.
September 5, 2020
According to Wikipedia, this book is the compilation of four short stories published in the late 1950's - 1960 in the science fiction pulp publications popular at the time. Wiki calls it a "bridging novel" between the Dune and ConSentiency universes. I confess I have no knowledge of ConSentiency so I can't opine on that assertion.
The four stories have a central character, but the plot of each story don't relate to each other. I was listening to this on an audio book, when each book (chapter) ended and a new one began it was hard to follow what had happened.
I enjoyed three of the four stories. They had solid plots, the main character, Lewis Orne, was an everyman place in a role he wasn't qualified to deal with. A sympathetic fellow who prevails, a time tested winning formula. The fourth story was our hero going through testing to see if he qualified to be "god". That one missed its mark with me.
I picked this book because I realized that, other than the Dune series, I hadn't read any of Herbert's other works. I can't say I was all that impressed with this one. I'll look into this ConSentiency series. maybe he recaptured the magic in that series
The four stories have a central character, but the plot of each story don't relate to each other. I was listening to this on an audio book, when each book (chapter) ended and a new one began it was hard to follow what had happened.
I enjoyed three of the four stories. They had solid plots, the main character, Lewis Orne, was an everyman place in a role he wasn't qualified to deal with. A sympathetic fellow who prevails, a time tested winning formula. The fourth story was our hero going through testing to see if he qualified to be "god". That one missed its mark with me.
I picked this book because I realized that, other than the Dune series, I hadn't read any of Herbert's other works. I can't say I was all that impressed with this one. I'll look into this ConSentiency series. maybe he recaptured the magic in that series
January 29, 2021
Lewis Orne never could have imagined the ending to his story, a young man abandoning his childhood to join the Republic and make his mark in a galaxy still pulling itself back together from war. Orne is immediately recognized for his keen intellect and deductive solutions. Growing into a superior officer in charge of rooting out aggression and war tendencies on planets, he eventually finds himself blown up in a disaster involving violent occupants of a planet.
His death is only the beginning of an exciting journey to realize himself and his new found powers after he comes back from near death.
It felt like I was reading Foundation (Isaac Asimov) and I loved it. This story is not Frank Herbert’s best work, but it dives deeply into philosophy of good and evil, explaining the balance of the force ^.^
His death is only the beginning of an exciting journey to realize himself and his new found powers after he comes back from near death.
It felt like I was reading Foundation (Isaac Asimov) and I loved it. This story is not Frank Herbert’s best work, but it dives deeply into philosophy of good and evil, explaining the balance of the force ^.^
November 23, 2018
Novela de aventuras en plan espía secreto que empieza muy curiosa, de 4 estrellas pero que el final rollo mesiánico metafísico sobre las religiones (presente siempre en las obras de Herbert pero especialmente pesado en esta). Tiene trazas de pulp en una de las historias y se ve que no les ha dado todo el desarrollo que podría. Entretenida y poco más.
July 4, 2022
It has been a long time since I've read any Frank Herbert, and this is a great reintroduction. This stacks up with the best metaphysical and political themes from Dune Messiah and God Emperor. It's a nice short read that I'll revisit.
April 14, 2024
I truly think that had this been written as a series spaced out over multiple books that it might have been as beloved as Dune
3.5/5
3.5/5
September 30, 2025
Creative, unique, well written, beautifully narrated by Scott Brick - interest wise for me around a 3, it's out there
June 23, 2023
My first Frank Herbert book that wasn't Dune. It's a good stand alone story which has the same depth and intricacy of Dune.
August 17, 2019
I enjoyed the uniqueness of this book; however, it was a bit long-winded in both the dialogue and descriptions of landscapes and people.
November 29, 2025
Accessible sci fi, fast moving plot, explores similar themes to dune without diving into politics (would suggest to someone who enjoyed the dune movies but not the books), but overall felt like a series of short stories strung together than a fully fleshed out novel.
An amazing concept, a good spy story in a sci fi setting, a few banger quotes - but bogged down by some od the prose and plot decisions.
An amazing concept, a good spy story in a sci fi setting, a few banger quotes - but bogged down by some od the prose and plot decisions.
July 30, 2022
First Frank H book I've actually read. This was great
August 8, 2019
Felt like a cross between Herbert's earlier Dune and Asimov's Foundation series, although much restricted in scale. Following a galactic human diaspora due to catastrophic war, Lewis Orne joins a team that assesses civilizations for their potential for war prior to rejoining a human confederation. Along the way, Orne discovers growing powers and must confront their source.
April 16, 2022
A classically styled sci-fi with a light tone, which was surprising to me considering his other, more serious, and famous novel. It seemed like satire about absurdity of enforcing peace with the military, overpowered characters, and religion.
Lots of time skips, which were jarring, especially the one where it skips to Orne mostly dead and in a healing pod, only briefly summarizing what caused him to be in that state.
All the female characters are weak and/or plotting. Definitely not winning any feminist points here. Plus the cover is a naked lady, for absolutely no reason. Like this was the least sexy book I’ve read so I really don’t understand this decision. And now I have to deal with the judgement from everyone who looks at my Goodreads, ugh.
The writing style is choppy, infused with philosophical meanderings, and it’s very quotable, but it feels like it’s missing some important things like character backstory and settings.
Balancing the exposition and worldbuilding descriptions in a sci-fi is a difficult task. Usually they tend to be on the wordier side, but here I believe it needed more description. When so many words are made-up sci-fi contraptions or creatures, it’s not always possible to figure out what it is with just context clues. This mixed with all the philosophical PSI spiels made it difficult to get through.
While some of this novel was interesting and insightful, the sheer amount of gibberish and the misogynistic sentiments negated any enjoyment or positive feelings I might’ve had toward this novel. After this, I’m no longer interested in reading his other novels — not even the fanboys can convince me to read Dune.
2 / 5 war-inciting conspiracies
Lots of time skips, which were jarring, especially the one where it skips to Orne mostly dead and in a healing pod, only briefly summarizing what caused him to be in that state.
All the female characters are weak and/or plotting. Definitely not winning any feminist points here. Plus the cover is a naked lady, for absolutely no reason. Like this was the least sexy book I’ve read so I really don’t understand this decision. And now I have to deal with the judgement from everyone who looks at my Goodreads, ugh.
The writing style is choppy, infused with philosophical meanderings, and it’s very quotable, but it feels like it’s missing some important things like character backstory and settings.
Balancing the exposition and worldbuilding descriptions in a sci-fi is a difficult task. Usually they tend to be on the wordier side, but here I believe it needed more description. When so many words are made-up sci-fi contraptions or creatures, it’s not always possible to figure out what it is with just context clues. This mixed with all the philosophical PSI spiels made it difficult to get through.
While some of this novel was interesting and insightful, the sheer amount of gibberish and the misogynistic sentiments negated any enjoyment or positive feelings I might’ve had toward this novel. After this, I’m no longer interested in reading his other novels — not even the fanboys can convince me to read Dune.
2 / 5 war-inciting conspiracies
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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