The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

I was reading the topic on most read authors and I noticed only one person mentioned Frank Herbert. I really loved the Dune series but I realise the only other book by him I've read is The White Plague. I'm wondering if I've missed anything or if people only read The Dune books.

The Dune series wasn't a favorite of mine. I read another book by Frank Herbert, which was not science fiction, Soul Catcher. I remember liking it very much more than Dune, but it's not particularly highly rated here on Goodreads.

"Dune" is the only one of his I've ever really liked. I recommend it as a stand alone. I've read several others & stalled on several more.

I'm fond of the second book in the ConSentiency Universe which can be read alone: The Dosadi Experiment, in which a spy trys to be survive in a human-alien experimental society.

The Jesus Incident, the first book in the Pandora sequence, in which the computer of a spaceship decides it is God (and perhaps is) and then starts lording it over it's human settlers is great.

I would recommend The Dosadi Experiment and the Jesus Incident too. I think there was a sequel to the Jesus Incident that was good also. I liked the Dune series up to Children Of Dune, but couldn't force my way past there, though I did read the first trilogy by Kevin J. Anderson and Brian Herbert. They were OK, but didn't have the soul of Dune, as far as I was concerned, probably because they were a prequel, but I just didn't think the writing style had the same depth.

I am a great fan of Dune, and am still to read more of the sequels personally. I am aware that Herbert did write other tales away from Dune, and even in other genres and it is good to see a couple mentioned here. Do others think that his books apart from the Dune series are unfairly forgotten? Or is Dune and the first couple of sequels in the series his absolute creative peak?

James wrote: "I am a great fan of Dune, and am still to read more of the sequels personally. I am aware that Herbert did write other tales away from Dune, and even in other genres and it is good to see a couple ..."

I suspect Herbert wasn't that interested in writing Dune novels past Children of Dune. I think with all of his fans and publisher pushing for more Dune novels, it would be tough not to deliver. Though, it may appear to those who have only read Dune novels his writing ability declined after that, it is not the case in my opinion. I think his WorShip novels (The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect) written after Children are excellent. The series started with Destination: Void. Though, he co-wrote those with Bill Ransom. I suppose you could debate whether he still wrote well on his own. Has anyone read The White Plague? It seems to be the only one he wrote on his own after that.

James wrote: "...Or is Dune and the first couple of sequels in the series his absolute creative peak? "

Personally, I'd say "Dune" itself was the peak. I really like it & recommend it often as a stand alone. The next two weren't very good & I could never get into the 4th at all. I have a friend who reads every spin-off & loves them all, though.

I greatly admire Dune and Frank Herbert's follow up books in the series. I have the Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson series, but have not gotten into them yet.

Charles wrote: "I greatly admire Dune and Frank Herbert's follow up books in the series. I have the Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson series, but have not gotten into them yet."

I know what you mean about the Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson series, I have read several but they are just not as good as the original series. I have had Hunters of Dune sat on my shelf for a while to read now but just not got round to it.

Jo wrote: "I was reading the topic on most read authors and I noticed only one person mentioned Frank Herbert. I really loved the Dune series but I realise the only other book by him I've read is [book:The Wh..."


OMG White Plague kept me up at night! That book can cause some serious arguments!

We have been discussing some of Frank Herbert's short stories quite a bit on another topic, so I thought it appropriate to post a link to it here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I love the original Dune and consider it a classic part of of the sci-fi Canon. I've read the first few sequels to Dune with steadily dwindling enthusiasm and gave up before Herbert did. I don't think I've ever read, or really ever heard of, any of his other books. Am I really missing something good?

It may seem strange but I liked other novels by Herbert more than the Dune series. Maybe this is because of the high expectations, plus I saw the movie before I've read

Oleksandr wrote: "It may seem strange but I liked other novels by Herbert more than the Dune series..."

Any particular examples?

Cheryl wrote: "Any particular examples?"

The Eyes of Heisenberg and The White Plague... there was another, but i cannot now recall a title

Huh. The latter doesn't interest me, and I don't even understand the blurb for The Eyes of Heisenberg. It kinda seems intriguing, though....

I only read the original Dune series. Of it, I only really enjoyed Dune itself. It is a master piece. But because the rest of the series was bad, I never was motivated to read any of his other novels. Don't get me started on his son and Kevin J' Anderson's take on the series.

I've read somewhere Herbert worked on Dune for years and it shows. Makes me think of Ann Leckie's Ancillary Justice. She worked on it for years, always improving it after each rejections by publisher. The final draft is amazing. She wrote the other two novels in the trilogy after the first's success ratehr rapidly and it shows. They aren't great. Some writers need more time and should take it.

All this talk of Dune makes me want to buy an english edition (I've only read the French one translated in 1970), and read it again. See if it is as good as I remember it.

Marc-André wrote: "I only read the original Dune series. Of it, I only really enjoyed Dune itself. It is a master piece. But because the rest of the series was bad, I never was motivated to read any of his other nove..."

My feelings, too. I always recommend it as a standalone. I would think reading it in English would be a really good idea. I'd be interested in how well the translation worked.