Scan barcode
A review by hwillustrator
Hellstrom's Hive by Frank Herbert
3.0
Frank Herbert’s writing is neat and, appropriately for this novel, effortlessly efficient - it has that readable quality that allows you to quickly devour a whole book, regardless of content. So in that sense, I loved the process of reading this, especially as it feels like a while since I last read some good sci-fi.
There’s some interesting mirroring between the ‘hive’ society and the police-state that is investigating them, with both viewing individuals as essential to the whole, yet ultimately disposable. The hive also represents nature/ecology, desperately trying to survive against human annihilation. There is always as sense that the hive will fight back, and as horrific as their society in many ways, I felt myself rooting for it.
There are some really inventive, horrifying ideas in this novel (especially related to breeding) but these often felt like they weren’t fully explored. Personally I would’ve liked to have seen more from the other workers in the hive, and less of the human infiltrators. The ending felt abrupt and not all that satisfying, although it makes sense if you view the hive as an analogy for communism. 3.5 stars overall!
There’s some interesting mirroring between the ‘hive’ society and the police-state that is investigating them, with both viewing individuals as essential to the whole, yet ultimately disposable. The hive also represents nature/ecology, desperately trying to survive against human annihilation. There is always as sense that the hive will fight back, and as horrific as their society in many ways, I felt myself rooting for it.
There are some really inventive, horrifying ideas in this novel (especially related to breeding) but these often felt like they weren’t fully explored. Personally I would’ve liked to have seen more from the other workers in the hive, and less of the human infiltrators. The ending felt abrupt and not all that satisfying, although it makes sense if you view the hive as an analogy for communism. 3.5 stars overall!