Herbert Frank 02

Reviews & Overviews by Rod Cameron

The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert

Recently republished by Millennium, The Dosadi Experiment continues the adventures of Jorj X. McKie of the Bureau of Sabotage (BuSab), an organisation empowered to reducing the powers of corrupt governments by means of sabotage. In the far future, humans and aliens have joined together in a galaxy-wide federation of intelligent species: The ConSentiency. Its existence is threatened by the discovery of a secret, deadly experiment on the planet Dosadi. There the frog-like Gowachin have created a brutal society of 850 million beings, humans and Gowachin confined in an area of 40 square kilometres. However, the experiment in overcrowding is getting out of control. The beings that have bred on Dosadi are so tough and resourceful that they are capable of breaking out of their monstrous prison and overrunning the galaxy.
This reprint was a welcome excuse to re-read a memorable story. I found it to be just as credible, although not in the same league as Dune. It has also strangely dated - basically, I think that due to the length of modern novels we have come to expect 'fuller' novels. The book does stand on its own, but if you are a Frank Herbert 'completist', then I recommend that you track down a copy of Whipping Star before reading this.

Publisher: Millenium
Date: 1977
Pages: 336
Price: £6.99
Format: Paperback
Reviewed by: Rod Cameron
Review Date: January 2001