The best known SF by Frank Herbert, and possibly the best known SF period, is the Dune Saga. Without doubt, Herbert's Dune Saga is one of the best works in Science Fiction, but Dune isn't all there is to Frank Herbert. Unfortunately his other works, some of which I think are even better than Dune, have been overshadowed by the media hype surrounding Dune.
Author Information:
Born:
Died:
Occupation:
Nationality:
The Voidship/Pandora Series
The Voidship series comprises the volumes Destination: Void by Frank Herbert, The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor by Frank Herbert and Bill Ransom.
This series chronicles the developement of a concious Artificial Intelligence and the colonization of the water planet Pandora. This series is one of Herbert�s more psychological settings, deeply exploring the nature of consciousness, religion, and human interaction.
I believe these stories are a little better than the Dune Saga.
Books by Frank Herbert
Dune Saga (in series order)
1. Dune (1965)
2. Dune Messiah (1969)
3. Children of Dune (1976)
4. God Emperor of Dune (1981)
5. Heretics of Dune (1984)
6. Chapterhouse: Dune (1969)
Dune Collections:
The Great Dune Trilogy (1979)
The Second Great Dune Trilogy (1987)
The Dune Collection (1988)
Songs of Muad'dib (1992) (with Brian Herbert)
The Road to Dune (2005) (with Kevin J Anderson, Brian Herbert)
Voidship/Pandora
1. Destination: Void (1966)
2. The Jesus Incident (1978) (with Bill Ransom)
3. The Lazarus Effect (1983) (with Bill Ransom)
3. The Ascension Factor (1988) (with Bill Ransom)
Other Novels:
21st Century Sub (1956)
The Dragon in the Sea (1956) aka Under Pressure
Destination: Void (1966)
The Eyes of Heisenberg (1966)
The Green Brain (1966)
The Heaven Makers (1968)
The Santaroga Barrier (1968)
Whipping Star (1970)
Soul Catcher (1971)
The Godmakers (1972)
Hellstrom's Hive (1973)
The Dosadi Experiment (1977)
Direct Descent (1980)
The White Plague (1982)
Man of Two Worlds (1986) (with Brian Herbert)
This book sets the stage for the the three books of the Pandora Sequence.
From the Hardcover:
"The starship Earthling, filled with thousands of hybernating colonists en route to a new world at Tau Ceti, is stranded beyond the solar system when the ship’s three Organic Mental Cores—disembodied human brains that control the vessel’s functions—go insane. An emergency skeleton crew sees only one chance for survival: to create an artificial consciousness in the Earthling’s primary computer, which could guide them to their destination . . . or could destroy the human race."
Pandora, a world 80 per cent water, deadly native life, human clones and "Naturals", and a godlike artificial intelligence.
From the Hardback:
"The Jesus incident by Frank Herbert & Bill Ransom: A sentient Ship with godlike powers (and aspirations) delivers the last survivors of humanity to a horrific, poisonous planet, Pandora—rife with deadly Nerve-Runners, Hooded Dashers, airborne jellyfish, and intelligent kelp. Chaplain/Psychiatrist Raja Lon Flattery is brought back out of hybernation to witness Ship’s machinations as well as the schemes of human scientists manipulating the genetic structure of humanity."
Dune is truly one of Science Fiction's "Great Works". Visit the planet Arrakis and meet Paul, Jessica, Thewfir, Duncan, Stilgar, Gurney, Chani, and Sandworms of course...
From the Hardcover:
"Set on the desert planet Arrakis, Dune is the story of the boy Paul Atreides, who would become the mysterious man known as Muad'Dib. He would avenge the traitorous plot against his noble family—and would bring to fruition humankind's most ancient and unattainable dream.
A stunning blend of adventure and mysticism, environmentalism and politics, Dune won the first Nebula Award, shared the Hugo Award, and formed the basis of what it undoubtedly the grandest epic in science fiction."
Pandoran seas have covered all land, now mankind is divided into two camps, the Mermen living under the seas, and the Islanders - living on man made islands floating over the endless ocean.
From the Paperback:
"In The Jesus Incident Herbert and Ransom introduced Ship, an artificial intelligence that believed it was God, abandoning its unworthy human cargo on the all-sea world of Pandora. Now centuries have passed. The descendants of humanity, split into Mermen and Islanders, must reunite … because Pandora’s original owner is returning to life!"
SHARE THIS PAGE!