Rating: 
Summary: What a poor perspective of Mormonism!
Review: ...This is not a book version of the anti-Mormon film The Godmakers. Rather, it's Frank Herbert's oldie, but goodie science fiction novel about a civilization out to use technology to create a godlike entity. Cool stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: Herbertalicious!
Review: ...This is not a book version of the anti-Mormon film The Godmakers. Rather, it's Frank Herbert's oldie, but goodie science fiction novel about a civilization out to use technology to create a godlike entity. Cool stuff.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for Herbert enthusiasts
Review: A novel predating all but Dune from the Dune series, actually takes place an unknown number of years after the scattering. Dune and Herbert fans will enjoy finding the references to the Dune universe. The story itself, while quite enjoyable, is only a bit more than a number of short stories connected by the main character as he progresses towards self discovery. Herbert continues to explore social, political, and religious issues and how they intertwine. If you're a Herbert fan and come across a copy to buy, do so.
Rating:
Summary: To clear up the confusion
Review: Although some will jump at this book and see a few similarities with the Mormon religion, there are just as many similarities to Buddhism and Shinto. Much like Dune, this book provokes thoughts into both the philosophical and metaphysical. At first asking a reader to ask, "If man WERE to create a god, what would the consequences be?" Through the following chapters, however, the reader is forced to wonder if interference in other cultures for the sake of industry and economics is moral right, it is also a book that forces the reader to wonder whether attempting to dominate other cultures in the hope of peace is feasible, or whether it is moral. With the three concepts intertwined the message is more along the lines of "By interfering with other cultures and forcing them into our image of peace and nationality, are we playing God?" Like any Herbert novel, it both entertains and enlightens. I highly recommend this novel to intellectuals and the philosophically inclined, as well as those who have an interest is great science fiction.
Rating: 
Summary: A Frank Herbert great, it is a truly thought provoking novel
Review: Although some will jump at this book and see a few similarities with the Mormon religion, there are just as many similarities to Buddhism and Shinto. Much like Dune, this book provokes thoughts into both the philosophical and metaphysical. At first asking a reader to ask, "If man WERE to create a god, what would the consequences be?" Through the following chapters, however, the reader is forced to wonder if interference in other cultures for the sake of industry and economics is moral right, it is also a book that forces the reader to wonder whether attempting to dominate other cultures in the hope of peace is feasible, or whether it is moral. With the three concepts intertwined the message is more along the lines of "By interfering with other cultures and forcing them into our image of peace and nationality, are we playing God?" Like any Herbert novel, it both entertains and enlightens. I highly recommend this novel to intellectuals and the philosophically inclined, as well as those who have an interest is great science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Hate on paper
Review: As an EX-Mormon, I can still say that this is one of the most misleading, hate-filled books on the market. It has often been used in various fundamentalists churches, whose believers are far less devoted to searching for the truth than are Mormons. It has also been frequently used (along with its film version) to stoke the fires of hate in areas where Mormons are erecting temples. If you think that anti-Mormon hate doesn't exist you need only look at the controversies surrounding the construction of Mormon temples around the country - Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Forest Hills, Tennessee, and, most recently, in Boston. The National Conference of Christian & Jews, The National Council of Churches, and many, many other interfaith associations, have denounced this book as dishonest and hateful. Even many career anti-LDS scholars have criticized it's truthless-ness. Save your money, your time, and that precious space between your two ears for something far more intelligent, like, say, Fawn Brodie's "No Man Knows My History".
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, if awkward
Review: Frank Herbert asks interesting questions, here, but the writing seems a little awkward, as though he were unsure of how to communicate his awesome ideas. While the writing here is not as good as it eventually became, and some of the story is awkward, it is well worth reading. If you're a Herbert fan, then you should enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting...
Review: I don't know what people are talking about in regards to mormism. This book is building block for what eventually became Dune.
If taken in that context you can see how the world of Arrakis evolved.
Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: I just recently completed this one, even though it sat on my shelf for siz years after buying it. The individual episodes all seem to be fertile material for entire books. Instead, the reader is shown glimpses of fascinating alien worlds only to be whisked to the next scene. All in all, I found it very fun to read.
Rating: 
Summary: unremarkable, but a bit murky
Review: I read this book about a year ago and filed it away in the category "not-top-notch but-with-some-interesting-stuff". Now that I take it down from the shelf I don't have the faintest what was interesting about it, but am sure I don't care to read it again. Looks murky, with ritual that smacks of the occult. Is this really SF? Not Herberts best work.
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