I liked this book, even though there were a lot of elements and themes that I recognised from the Dune books. I thought the characters were a little bland (but maybe that's just because reading this made me miss the Atreides family), and there were too much medical terms that I think very few readers understand. So overall not the best Frank Herbert book I have read but still very entertaining.

Honestly. If the chapters in the high-school chemistry books had catchy titles like this one, studying would've been actually ok.

Frank Herbert, best know for his Dune books, also wrote quite a few others of which this is one. And I must say, a damn good one it is.

Frank envisions a world of genetic manipulation is this book, a world governed by Optimen, mortals who have been gene manipulated to the point of living forever - almost. Virtually lost from their vocabulary are words like death, killing, murder and violence. They just don’t happen any more in this sterile controlled world.

Under the Optimen are the Folk, lesser gene manipulated mortals who only live hundreds of years. Poor them. The society is well thought out, creepy in the extreme and of course you just know it is not going to last. What perfect society ever does?

This novel tells the tale of some Folk wishing to procreate on their own, and underground resistence to the overseers (the Optimen) who grand breeding licenses to those worthy. And the womb of woman is no longer used to raise children; that job is left to vats. All people in the cities are fed a constant mixture of gas, gas which renders them sterile and infertile just in case any "viable" humans are in the population and get the funny notion of procreating on their own outside the Optimen’s control.

And the creepiest of all. Any gamete which is found to be viable (a normal reproduction capable human) during the artificial procedures to join sperm and egg, is exterminated because it would ruin the world order if it ever escaped. But the underground is fighting for just that, and they may soon win.

Cyborgs also play a pivotal roll in this society and they also have plans of their own.

Now all of this may seem old hat, especially if you have been watching the Discovery or the Space channel the last decade or so, but remember this was written back in 1966. After reading this book I can safely say Herbert is a master storyteller.

I recommend this book for its ideas, plot, suspense - hell pure entertainment.

Two sterile thumbs up.

This is what great classic science fiction is all about.

I'm a fan of Frank Herbert and read a good amount of his books. Of course, the Dune series is the stand-out. This book was average to me. You can't have a winner every time.

Views on society and genetics which where probably more revolutionary at the time of writing than today.

Mostly gripping, but peters out. Cool ideas about genetic engineering and enduring humanity. No one is quite what they seem, with layers of reveals about who's really in control and what the stakes really are. Some gender-norm intrigue. But what's with the whole promise of "nature reasserting itself?" Could it be more conveniently vague and unresolved? And the convenient last-minute utopian solution? Just as nightmarish as the problem, if you ask me. (Maybe Herbert intended this as a cynical or cautionary note, but it doesn't read that way and is just plain weird.)

This is a classic Frank Herbert novel. Don't let the small size fool you. In this novel, there are fully realised ideas. Be it genetic manipulation, resistance to oppression, or the dangers of safe life. To get so much into the space, you would expect dense writing, but Herbert is able to move the story along at a good pace. Characters are realised well, and maintain their, even if that changes along the journey. What is best about this is that shows Herbert's ability to create a world or civilisation and look at one issue. This world is not as complete as Arrakis, but readers of Dune will enjoy this one.

I got Herberted! If you've read all the Dune books you know what I mean. I think, in part, I was listening on audiobook. It reminded me of BRAVE NEW WORLD in many ways but I had liked where this story was going better. Then Herberted, meaning, your going along grooving on the genius of the story then it makes no sense. I think it happened in one chapter!! I rewound the same section several times and then tried to continue on but after the new "reveal" I couldn't get into the story anymore so I didn't finish it. So bummed!

As a fourteen year old, I stepped onto the sands of Dune, introduced to the worldview and metaphysics of Nietzsche, Cynics, Agnostics, all wholly alien to my teleological, Roman Catholic worldview. I appreciated vicariously experiencing the emotions of those in this intense metaphysical struggle, as well as having my own fears and doubts drawn with flourish across a lavish sci-fi landscape. Sumptuous and unique to anything I have experienced since (alas, even in the sequels to the first and second books), 'Dune' remains of the books I would choose to preserve in an apocalyptic library. Now I wonder if I would add another of Herbert's works to that shelf.

Many have sneered and told me that had I not read Herbert as a teenager, I wouldn't have been so impressed. Reading this book as a 34 year old, I can reply with certainty that that is incorrect. In 'The Eyes of Heisenberg', I see a very intriguing flip to Dune's thesis. The Bene Gesserit and even the Kwisatz Haderach found it necessary to manipulate humanity to turn it into a super race. Yes, I count Leto's oppression and sacrifice as such a manipulation; even if he wanted the uncontrolled violence of the Scattering, he had to provoke it. His message to Darwi Odrade in the old Sietch Tabr confirms that the Bene Gesserit also had had the ability to build the Golden Path with him.

Frankly, I think Herbert's thesis in the Dune chronicles was either a contradiction or a paradox he himself had not resolved. I truly think the story's natural end was when Paul walked into the desert in 'Dune Messiah', refusing to play a part in the totalitarian machinations any longer. His uncertainty mirrors the author's.

This book, however, flatly states not only is such control undesirable, it is ultimately impossible and undesirable. It's an incredible dystopian thriller with empathetic characterizations, intriguing world-building, and while the premise is black and white, the people and factions are not. Regarding the actual science, I am not a geneticist, but it seems at least that Herbert has superbly walked the fine balance between completely glossing over scientific facts with technobabble and getting bogged down with the science of his day, destined to become obsolete in ours. A layman should be happy with it.

I do see many complaints about the ending, calling it weak. How so?  The immortal Optimen can only defy degeneration by defying change. Changes and mutations are generally bad for existing organisms. They mean cancer and eventual, or immediate, death. The change introduced by the ultra-rational Cyborgs made perfect sense, and it made sense that fallible beings would fall for it. After all, pouring an infinite amount of water into a mug won't cause it to contain an infinite amount of water.

Yes, the solution to the problem is a stand-off. I don't mind that. Being an adult and a parent, I know that's how most conflicts can and even should end. Whenever is one side completely right? Sure, nine year olds want a big Death Star explosion at the end, but even though I still like 'Star Wars', that is a simple ending that belongs with a simple story.

I recommend this to any lover of grand sci-fi. Pax!

Five for imagination, 2 for execution

Early Frank Herbert work, somewhat dated. This book is about a future Earth in which humans have genetically "structured" their lives. Only a very select view people are able and allowed to reproduce, and even that is in a clinical setting. The major theme of the book is how this is a bad idea and that nature will, eventually, assert itself. Throw in a smattering of politics and some cyborgs and there you have it.

Not a bad effort from Herbert, but I think even he would admit (were he alive) that this is not a fully fleshed out story and is more of short story than anything else.

Definitely as must read for Herbert enthusiasts.

Nothing special. Read in one evening.