Immaculate in so many ways *chef's kiss*

Herbert takes on politics, government, and the law, as he did for religion in Dune. His usual level of insight makes for great reading, and Jorj X. McKie is always a compelling character. Right up there with Dune for Herbert’s best book, in my opinion. And the ConSentiency universe is much more interesting. Highly recommended.

And read the chapter epigraphs. Great context and humor.

Didn't realize this was a sequel until too late. Probably would've been better with the first one in place

I feel bad giving such a classic sci-fi writer such a low rating, but this book had some issues. I've been explaining it to people this way, I love his ideas, I don't always like his writing. There's far too much convenient mind-melding to make it even relatable. It’s one thing to have something like that be part of the plot, but it loses the reader when all of the important relationships are explained by magic hand-waving and instant fixes. I couldn’t relate to the characters at all, and it was hard to care about what they were doing when they didn’t mean anything to me. Conversely, he doesn’t explain major plot points until the very end and even then only obtusely. I’m all for open ended endings and ambiguity – but not in what is clearly a structural element that the main character clearly understands perfectly but that the reader is still confused as hell about even after finishing the book.
Also, he shifts POV between paragraphs with little to no warning or designation that it’s happened. Which drove me nuts.
Having said all of that – I stuck it out to finish the book because he does have interesting sci-fi ideas and there’s hints of really cool, complex characters if you’re willing to overlook the POV issues and the deus ex machine plot structure.

Érdekes történet volt ez, egy utazás az etika, a szociológia, politika, jog, felelősség, maipuláció, etc. témakörökben. Néha olyan érzésem volt, mintha a mai Magyarországról szólna a sztori, nem pedig egy messzi-messzi valaholról, mind térben és időben.
Az egyes fejezetek előtti idézetek kimondottan ráhúzhatók voltak a mai magyar - leginkább ezt ismerjük - társadalmi-gazdasági-politikai helyzetre. Úgy is érzem néha, egyfajta kísérletnek vagyunk magunk is alanyai. Mint a könyvben a dosadiiak.
Nekünk vajon sikerül majd végre?

I enjoy Science Fiction - this one is hard to explain, but for those who've read some of Frank Herbert's Dune series, this one is understandable and regularly surprising.

An experiment by two races (human and one other) who have put "volunteers" of their population on to a planet, quarantined it, and allowed the two populations struggle to find their way under very tough survival conditions.

The experiment has gone on secretly for decades, with the fear that this experiment is strictly illegal under the terms of intergalactic treaties of dozens of species. The trouble is, the intertwined species experiment is producing a subtle, powerful, and ultimately dangerous population that might threaten all other worlds ...

Should the experiment be stopped (and to hide its evidence from the view of other species, the planet quietly destroyed), or can it be stopped now, is it too late?

Another attempt to control and create destiny gone awry.

A fun unique adventure that kept me guessing, even when it was all over. Four stars because i really liked it.

Jorj Mckie investigates a survival planet to gain Bene Gesserit-like abilities in a vast spacefrog conspiracy. All the Dosadi bits are done extremely well, and the space-frog courtarena battles invoke the battle of wits in Dune.

Particularly strong and unconventional female character in Jedrik, but kind of backed into tropes at the end.

I really wish there were more Consentiency books after this - everything about the world building seems fresh and vast, ripe for many many adventures.

This is the twelfth Herbert book I've read so far, and I have to say I find it to be the most puzzling of the bunch.

I loved the premise, the execution not so much. It is an interesting read and it gains decent traction toward its mid-portion, but that last courtroom scene—well, I had to read those last 30-something pages twice. I found it hard to keep track of some of the characters' motivations and alliances.

The world-building alone was enough to keep me interested, but perhaps the plot twists would've had a greater effect on me if the explanations that matter weren't so rushed or obviated.

In a way, the purpose of the experiment in the story resembles the plot of God Emperor of Dune, in that both deal with populaces relegated to living under harsh conditions only to later be set free into the universe.

Regardless of this, I've found something of value in every Herbert book I've read.

Recently got a big box of older SciFi/Fantasy books from a good friend, and this was the first one I grabbed out of it. Really enjoyed it a lot!
Good, classic SciFi done well is exactly what I expected, and exactly what I got.
I was already a big fan of Herbert, and this did NOT let me down.

It took me a while to get through this book. Primarily because of lack of time but also because certain parts were dry for me. However, overall it was a good book. I may reread it in the future or have my 2nd book club read it next year.

If you really liked Dune and are a Frank Herbert fan then read this one. I am not a big fan of either as I find the plot slow to develop and a bit weird by my standards. However, I will say they are imaginative and after the midpoint of the book it can suck you into it.

Between 2 and 3 stars.

I came upon this book when looking through some more of Frank Herbert novels (I'm a big Dune fan).

It touches upon several different topics, such as (interstellar) cultural differences, legal systems, ethics, and many more.

I found the start of the book quite confusing, I think it would be better to read "Whipping Star" first. (It is set in the same universe, and events and characters from it are occasionally referenced.)

After several pages I came to the conclusion that I had already read this book several years ago. I could not remember sufficient details, so I decided to keep reading on.

The book is sufficiently well written to keep at it until the end, but it is nowhere near as brilliant as the Dune series. I think I would recommend it if you have already read (and enjoyed) Whipping Star.