ot one of his better works, but rereading this book in light of debates on the advantages (and disadvantages) consciousness, the current American security state, systems theory and Peter Watts stuff, this is pretty good.
The concept is that secret domestic agency discovers something odd that points to a eccentric documentary film maker and his farm in Oregon. In the process of investigating they lose 3 agents and things begin to unravel nastily and fast from there. The thing that is realistic is the way the two sides talk past each other with different agendas and goals, and misunderstanding each other about those goals drives the plot.
Yeah, its creepy (the reproductive stumps (http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=417)), but the alterations to create workers and the fact that removed from the hive, without breeders or specialized castes could recreate the Hive is a nasty bit. The creepy part is thinking about the Hivers in terms of Peter Watts thoughts on conscious thought vs. the capabilities of the neural networks that conscious thought depends on. It can also be deeply disturbing once you think about the implications.
The concept is that secret domestic agency discovers something odd that points to a eccentric documentary film maker and his farm in Oregon. In the process of investigating they lose 3 agents and things begin to unravel nastily and fast from there. The thing that is realistic is the way the two sides talk past each other with different agendas and goals, and misunderstanding each other about those goals drives the plot.
Yeah, its creepy (the reproductive stumps (http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=417)), but the alterations to create workers and the fact that removed from the hive, without breeders or specialized castes could recreate the Hive is a nasty bit. The creepy part is thinking about the Hivers in terms of Peter Watts thoughts on conscious thought vs. the capabilities of the neural networks that conscious thought depends on. It can also be deeply disturbing once you think about the implications.
The all powerful secret government agency wanted Dr. Hellstrom's Project 40.
Any move to investigate his hidden farm must be very carefully made. A team
of operatives was sent to invade a world of insect-humans more fearful than
even the agency's chief suspected. A world where specially bred scientists
with huge heads and stunted legs developed weapons that hummed with deadly
insect venom....hidden tunels immune to atomic fission....hormones for endless hyped up
sex orgies and the vats in which everyone finally ended to nourish future
generations of human insects. BACK COVER
Any move to investigate his hidden farm must be very carefully made. A team
of operatives was sent to invade a world of insect-humans more fearful than
even the agency's chief suspected. A world where specially bred scientists
with huge heads and stunted legs developed weapons that hummed with deadly
insect venom....hidden tunels immune to atomic fission....hormones for endless hyped up
sex orgies and the vats in which everyone finally ended to nourish future
generations of human insects. BACK COVER
Bookclub Edition.
Herbert is always a great read.
Herbert is always a great read.
