Enzymatic balance, genetically-altering the population, and not thinking too much about death: the keys to immortality in The Eyes of Heisenberg. Of course, the powerful rulers eventually think about it and lose their balance based on a family vs. the system scenario that is now the Hunger-Game-standard mode (this book seems like it could be popular without the long passages of pseudo-biochem Carcass-lyrics, or a version dumbed-down created for today's teens...maybe it already has been).

Philosophically, I like (as all humans must) the exultations of the human drive, the old natural ways, the maternal instinct, the life-affirming power of mortality, the one normal guy who can make a difference. We are meant to detest these ruling class overlords, then realize their human failures and try to understand - very cool, if standard sci-fi, ideas.

Stylistically, though, this book jumped so far so fast after a huge intro that didn't even paint a full view of what this dystopia must look like, the jargon was oftentimes laughably impenetrable, and the unraveling of a massive government that could and has destroyed thousands with a wrist flick becomes a simple machine god that solves itself.

Here's a taste of some of the terminology nonsense that bogs down the beginning of the text. I'll never forget the moment when Potter "shifted his attention to the mitochondrial structures, saw the evidence of the arginine intrusion. It squared precisely with Sven's description. Alpha-helics had begun firming up, revealing the telltale striations of the aneurin shifts." Nor when, sentences later, Herbert is reduced to just listing terms with no indication of the difference between them: "the first row of pyrimidines, nucleic acids and proteins, then aneurin, riboflavin, pyridoxin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, choline, inositol, sulfhydryl..."

Bizarre ending (wherein Herbert seems confused about how much people love being pregnant) would seem to set itself up for a sequel in a cyborg vs. human confrontation future. We definitely would've gotten one if it was first published today, and I'm sure Herbert's son would crank one out if anyone showed any demand.

If you need some Dune-based tropes but don't want to read 600 pages of the next piece of that series, Herbert's got you here with Muad'dib classics like swallowing in a dry throat and glowglobes and most of the conflict occurring internally with italicized subconscious wandering around.

It's an almost fresh take on Brave New World with only the embryology parts, but, essentially why you are here, it's not Dune; the world is too undeveloped for that.

Classic Frank Herbert at his best, a very short story based in the future (of course) and what would happen if humanity found immortality. Inevitably only some could obtain the immortal status and they ruled the "folk" from their private city. The Folk were worker humans, specifically bred to do their tasks and nothing more. Only select Folk were given permits to breed and then the embryos were subjected to "cutting" by a genetic engineer to keep the population exactly how the immortals "optiman" wanted them. Only on select embryos was another Optiman allowed to be born and raised. These select few were taken from the Folk to be trained and raised with the Optimen. Of course some humans through accidental cuts fell outside the Optimens plans and create a challenge to them. The path the resistance takes, and how they are able to bring down the Optimen is a fun, quick read. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys science fiction works.

Ni fu, ni fa. Ni novela corta, ni relato largo. Ni acción, ni introspección. Por quedarse a medio camino y no decantarse, termina resultando una historia puramente anecdótica, a la que le falta estar bien definida, y donde los personajes resultan bastante planos, cuando no meramente incomprensibles.

A lo mejor es una, que tendría que dedicar un mayor porcentaje de neuronas a entender esta novela... porque lo básico, entender, se entiende... pero no va a ninguna parte ni aporta nada nuevo. Claro que también influye la cronología: de lectura, no de escritura, en este caso. En su momento probablemente tuvo mayor originalidad y valor intrínseco de los que posee llegados a este punto.

"That's the trouble with endless life... With too much repetition, everything loses meaning."
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From THE EYES OF HEISENBERG by Frank Herbert | 1966

A future Pacific Northwest US governed and ruled by the "immortal" Optimen, genetically engineering/breeding selected humans, sterilizing the larger population via a breathable gas, and an underground network of cyborgs / modified humans who partner with others and revolt against the Optimen.

It's an intriguing world, but never quite fleshed out how I had hoped. Like so many others, I came to Frank Herbert through #Dune, where there is a distinct culture and world so carefully and intricately crafted... And here, we just kind of jump in and sink or swim.

The narrative is disjointed, and it is obvious that this was an early work (1966). There were some nascent ideas that Herbert comes back to in his magnum opus, notably the communication/linguistics, modified/recreated humans and their consciousness, and the general idea of immortality.

A good book to read in an afternoon (I'm not complaining about the length).

Really good thought provoking book.

I thought the ending was a bit weak and could have been better. I did however enjoy Frank Herbert's writing. The concepts and the scenes as they were described plus the nuanced and emotional writing throughout was well done and kept the story suspenseful, emotionally engaging and interesting. A worthwhile read, I'm glad I picked it up.

I enjoyed this book, though I wish more had been given for the history of this world. It seems entirely plausible that this is a future planet in Frank Herbert's Dune, one of the societies founded in the Scattering. The ideas presented in this book are engaging if sketchy. Overall 4.5/5 stars.

Me lo he leído entero porque... Frank Herbert! Pero tiene 1,5 estrellas. No me ha llegado nada la historia ni los personajes y eso que resulta fácil empatizar con ellos. En fin, no he tenido suerte con estas últimas novelas cortas que estoy leyendo.

Another of Frank Herbert's inciteful tales of the human condition. This time looking at genetic manipulation and longevity and what it means to be alive.
I would love to find other authors with such an elevated view of humanity.

Yes, it is written by Frank Herbert, but this is not Dune. As long as you keep that in mind, it's an interesting book that does touch on some of Herbert's deeper ideas in the Dune series about the dangers of stagnation, different ways of being human, mortality, boredom, violence, and so on.

The "Optimen" are near immortal genetically-engineered humans who rule over non-genetically engineered humans. But can even such beings really control the flow of politics or know all of reality? If you're a fan of Frank Herbert and/or have a sense of what would make an interesting story and what "Heisenberg" was famous for (at least before Breaking Bad), the answer may not surprise you. But it makes for an interesting ride with plenty of Herbert-style Big Thoughts. But again, don't expect the depth of Dune.

(See also my blog review: https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2...)

I often wonder when thinking about Herbert's works whether he was intentionally writing science fiction or constructing extended essays that discuss his perceptions about the human race...

This is old school but still relevant speculative science fiction. All the more compelling because it offers its own look at class dichotomies and the possible evolution of our culture.

I find the speculation presented here kind of terrifying. Rather than three pyramids symbolizing power, we are showcased a world where three dominant races vie for dominance: the machines, the humans, and the enhanced humans, each ensuring their agendas with terrorism, genetics, and good old politicking.

The future might not so far fetched and futuristic after all.