Well written, though a challenging read. Herbert does a great job of creating understanding in the reader of how difficult alien communications could be - even when society has incorporated alien races for decades. I've always loved science fiction for the exploration of "what if" and this book is a stellar example.
Simply said, Herbert's ability to trap a person in his books through his elegant style and great imagery is monumental. This book (along with its sequel, Dosaid Experiment) follow a being called a Caleban and its relationship with a human. It was quite a unique book.
