The idea of sentience is critical to understanding this story. What makes a being sentient? What truly is pain? How can we relate to something so vast; we can't even quantify it? Whipping Star is a life or death struggle to answer these questions and more.

The concept of time travel is always very interesting and of sentient beings who can bridge the gap of travel not only between stars but between time even more. Fannie Mae is one of those being and her struggle to keep her fellow beings alive and to communicate this need is a major part of this book.

A unique detective piece. But spoiler alert: The is about a Star being whipped to death. I mean with an actual bullwhip. Cosmoligcally kinky. There is absurd cosmic-travel techonology, silly aliens, somewhat silly cops, portal related decapitation. Definately not Dune. That's about it, it's an easy read, and a bit too silly to complain about.

Among several interesting things about this book, it has some of the most genuinely 'alien' aliens you are going to find in print SF

Classic Herbert style of buildup until the last 20 pages; a very intriguing and interesting book.

The ending is a little abrupt even for Herbert but it's a good and fun read nonetheless.

Avoid comparing this directly to Dune (despite the chairdogs), and you'll be in for a wonderfully weird pulpy romp that explores meaning and being. Herbert's investigation of language was appealing to me, though it may be dry (or uninteresting, period) for some. Frank Herbert sold me with Dune, and there was nothing in here stranger than what we encounter in the latter Dune works. I'd give it 4 out of 5 chairdogs.

A masterpiece of a short book. A page turner from start to finish, Whipping Star condenses the herbert experience into a tight, well-implemented package. Smart dialogue, incredible world building, exotic aliens and customs, and an interesting plot. This book is very well edited, i didnt think the book spent too much time in one particular area in negligence of others.

The ending is a little short, but its at least its not a cliffhanger. More detail could have been put into Athnea, i think her character had more potential, but it did not hold back the enjoyment of the book.

I can't wait to read the Dosadi Experiement

КОгато я четох за първи път в гимназията, съм запомнил книгата като криминална фантастика доста под обичайното ниво за Франк Хърбърт.
Сега при препрочитането на "Фани Мае", както е преведена на български мнението ми се затвърди, но забелязах и доста други неща. Като начало Хърбърт поставя основите на света в който развива, според мен, най-добрата си книга "Експериментът Досейди", а криминалната основа е само фон върху който се развива една от радките и много любими мои "лингвистични фантастики". Комуникацията между Маккий и кейбланът Фани Мае е изключително добре предадена. Разговор с разум, живеещ в повече измерения от хората и виждащ времето и пространството по коренно различен начин. Това, заедно с типичните за Хърбърт фини алюзии към човешката история правят четивото предизвикателство за мозъка на читателя. Все пак книгата е малко дървена (предполагам от части заради превода, защото "Досейди" има коренно различно звучене, а и още от "Бога император на Дюн" съм се убедил, че Хърбърт трябва да се чете в оригинал... Другия път).
Йори Маккий е инзвънреден саботьор към Бюсаб - институция регулаторен орган, подчинен на Обединения разум, който контролира правителства и напомня доста анархистичните идеи в творчеството на ван Вогг . Маккий получава доста странна и много отговорна задача. Трябва да саботира договор подписан между садистична милиардерка и кейблан. Кейбланите са най-странната раса в обединерния разум. Никой не знае как точно изглеждат и комуникацията с тях се ограничава до договорни отношения. Те са отговорни за s-връзките - система свързваща населените планети, която, пак според мен, Симънс е изнинджил за телепорталите в своите Хипериони. Кейбланът се е съгласил да бъде бичуван, или поне формата му в нашите три измерения, с ясното съзнание, че след определен брой удари ще изгуби живота си. Проблемът е, че е последения кейблан в нашето измерение и след смъртта му всички, които са използвал;и телепортаторната система ще умрат, а това прави 99% от индивидите от всички разумни раси. Маккий трябва да се разбере със абсолютно нечовешкия разум, за да разбере къде/кога се е скрила мъчителката му. Опитите му са постоянно съботирани от милярдерката и екипът ѝ садисти, които имат свободен достъп до s-връзлите и могат да се появят във всеки един момент навсякъде.

If you like books where the main goal of reading it is figuring out what's going on, this one might be for you. I enjoyed it quite a lot. It is a story of some very alien aliens and the communication difficulties that difference can create. It is best read when the reader is in the mood to play with abstractions.

This was a recommandation by my uncle that is a huge Sci-fi fan after I told him that I didn't like Dunes so much. I need to admit this book was more approachable, first by it's size, and then by the pace of the book. What really made me continue to read this book was the Fanny Mae's character that was intriguing. The plot had, in my opinion, some flaws that I was able to look past.
I would recommend for a first sci-fi experience, but don't have too much expectations.

At officially 192 pages this could probably be described at short story by Frank Herbert.

The disappearance of a race of beings will result in the end of all sentient life in the universe. It falls upon the protagonist McKie to make sure this does not happen. The big problem is the utter inability of all the other sentient species to communicate with the last member of the disappearing, mystery race.

The story centers around the ongoing communications between McKie and the alien known as Fannie Mae. As the story unfolds we learn who is behind what, as well as the true nature of the alien.

The manifestations of Herbert's own beliefs are very close to the surface in this story. Herbert (rightfully) distrusts big government, and the protagonist McKie belongs to the Bureau of Sabotage, and organization designed to prevent government from growing. The alien being named Fannie Mae I am sure is a barb towards government overreach in the banking and mortgage sector.

It’s part LeCarre-style spy intrigue, part 70’s sci-fi, part Herbert-style commentary on the divine. If I hadn’t been consumed with reading for work, this would have been a much faster read for me, and was thoroughly enjoyable, tho there were moments where it felt like it dragged a bit with the intrigues. Definitely looking forward to the Dosadi Experiment.