America is a police state, and it is about to be threatened by the most hellish enemy in the world: insects.
When the Agency discovered tha... read full description
When the Agency discovered tha... read full description
reviews
Jan 17, 2008
Kirt
rated it: 
It involves the encounter between normal Americans in the "modern day" and a strange, cultish society that has been secretly living among them since the 19th century, the Hive.
A lot of major Herbert themes are here, in particular science and human genetic potential, as well as encounter with an "alien" that's actually just another human culture.
While the people of the Hive may have settled down in the US since the 1800s, they've existed (in small numbe More...
A lot of major Herbert themes are here, in particular science and human genetic potential, as well as encounter with an "alien" that's actually just another human culture.
While the people of the Hive may have settled down in the US since the 1800s, they've existed (in small numbe More...
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Jan 13, 2011
Aishe
rated it: 
While the idea itself is quite clever, I guess my biggest preoccupation was that I kept being reminded of Dune, which I liked, but this is not Dune, and it wasn't supposed to be Dune. I suppose the author, Frank Herbert, sees his books as a way to inspire Utopia, not unlike the main character, Hellstrom, who seeks with his entomological films to prepare the way for the coming of his people's Hive to Swarm. In any case, after reading this I got the distinct and prickling feeling that Herbert was
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Mar 19, 2009
Viv
rated it:
It took me a while to get into this book, Herbert seemed to be stuck on the minutiae of the ego struggles of his main characters and building the framework of the two divergent civilisations but I was glad of it as the book progressed - after a while the mystery developed until I got a more broad picture of the scenario - the secret, strange evolution of übermensch inspired by the insect kingdom, the agency that stumbles across their existence not knowing or even suspecting the truth of what the
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Sep 04, 2009
This was a campy, fun, quick read. The plot is fantastical and gross and at times hilarious. I've never read a book with so many naked people and sex in it that was so unsexy, even disgusting. It's the first book I've read by Herbert and it made me a little more excited about reading Dune - this book is nice because it's so short compared to his longer, more famous works. I don't want to give too much away so I'll just say it's very exciting and fast-paced, a geeky, environmentalist thriller. De
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Oct 03, 2010
jobiwan6
rated it:
Like most people, I read Dune first, fell in love, then sought out his earlier books. And, like most people, was disappointed that they all weren't Dunes. What I came to realize was that most of Herbert's earliest works were stories appearing in science fiction magazines like Amazing Stories & Astounding Science Fiction, and the books were just fleshed-out versions of these short stories.
Reccuring themes throughout Herbert's writing: ecology, religion, power, the relationship More...
Nov 13, 2009
Reinhold
rated it: 
Vor einigen hunderten Jahren begann eine Gruppe von Menschen den staatenbildenden Insekten nachzueifern und gründete - von der Umwelt vollkommen unbemerkt - einen Stock. Das Leben in diesem Stock ist für uns Menschen vollkommen unvorstellbar, denn es bedeutet die vollkommene Aufgabe jeglicher Individualität und die vollständige Unterordnung unter die Bedürfnisse der Gemeinschaft. Herbert zeichnet eine Gesellschaft die genau so aufgestellt ist. Es ist eine Gesellschaft, die vielleicht in der Tat
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Nov 28, 2010
B. Jay
rated it:
I really really really liked this book. I've always been a fan of Dune but have just recently started reading Herbert's other earlier stuff. You can tell Hive is where he really starts picking up the steam that made Dune possible. Intruiging characters, culteral clashes and a view of society and personal relationships that transcends norms and general comfort- this is the stuff that great sci-fi is made of. My only complaint is that it ends too soon and leaves you wanting much much more.
Mar 05, 2009
Philana
rated it: 
Okay, this one was good simply because of the situations created. The United States was a police state and society operated with an insect-like simplicity. But nothing is as simple as it seems in a world created by Frank Herbert. Sometimes I forget how politically motivated and how social and religious trappings weighed so heavily in his writing.
Jan 29, 2012
Rebecca
rated it:
I was really excited to try another story by Frank Herbert and while there is a plethora of characters, theories and possibilities it is no Dune. Most of the characters are developed exquisitely and the settings come alive with dust, wind and scents through out the book. Good banter between key players, but no one character really stood out from the others as terribly exciting or important. The science fiction aspect, what can humans do to survive their shelf destructive nature, was unique to my
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Aug 04, 2011
Fred
rated it:
Great speculative fiction about a future in which America has become a police state, but of course that isn't enough for Frank Herbert! You have to mix in some insect creatures trying to take over the Earth! Herbert is a master, and best of all, he's from right here in Tacoma.
Jul 30, 2011
Norm
rated it:
The Hellstrom Chronicles is my all time favorite faux-umentary film, and Hellstrom's Hive is my all time favorite Frank Herbert novel. I can only imagine what kind of parties Herbert & Heinlein might have thrown.
Sep 19, 2009
Cade
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An exciting book. Government covert operations. Mysterious Religious Sects. World destroying weapons. Love. Hate. What else do you need to let your mind wander a little.
Jan 23, 2011
Taylor
rated it:
I've known a few places that fit the description of Hellstrom's hive. Good book. Hard core classic sci-fi. Not for the casual reading fame.
Jul 07, 2011
Christina
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I love the imagination required to create such a foreign yet familiar world. What a concept! So repulsive, yet purely intriguing.
Jan 23, 2009
Ron
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Fascinating books with many novel concepts... definitely a prelude to his Dune series. Excellent sci-fi reading! Thanks Corky!
Jun 19, 2010
We seem to have an early version of this as "Project 40" in Galaxy magazine #4, #5 and #6. Looks interesting.
Oct 02, 2009
Samuel
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Could read this book over and over again...one of my favorites of Herbert. Have read this one twice now.
Jun 08, 2010
Aaron
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If humans wanted to model themselves after social insects, this could be one route to do so.
Jan 16, 2010
Waltor
rated it:
Well...it was ok, it didn't really creep me out like I think it was supposed to. I think is would be really hilarious to see this made into a movie by David Lynch in his more "Twin Peaks" style.
Nov 16, 2010
Scott
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
May 13, 2010
Rachael
rated it:
This book started off slow but got really exciting at the end. I ended up really liking it, though it has a rather disturbing opinion of where humanity is going.
Feb 06, 2012
Lucas
rated it:
Very fast paced and engaging but with an unsatisfying ending. I like Herberts omniscient approach that jumps from between the inner thoughts of multiple characters paragraph to paragraph, though in one instance the straddling of both sides of a telephone call doesn't seem right.
The hive here is similar to the one in Coalescent by Stephen Baxter.
I'm not sure why the synopsis puts forth 'America is police state', the book isn't about that.
The hive here is similar to the one in Coalescent by Stephen Baxter.
I'm not sure why the synopsis puts forth 'America is police state', the book isn't about that.
Nov 11, 2008
Peter
rated it:
Since childhood I have always fantasized of living in my own hollow, with all kinds of stuff inside, completely independent from the outside world. So, naturally, despite the inhuman behaviour of the inhabitants, I find the idea of such a hive quite exciting. And maybe, as the time goes and the constant fear and fight for survival is finally over, their society will become a much better one, such is the case with humanity too.
Dec 27, 2008
Daniel
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Herbert is one of my favorite authors, and Hellstrom's Hive didn't disappoint. This stand-alone novel depicts an interesting future possibility for the human race, if it can even be called human anymore.
Dec 20, 2009
Linda
rated it:
Very...interesting...didn't seem to conclude with a discernible ending, though. Not the best sci fi book I've ever read, but not the worst.
Jan 25, 2011
Dave
rated it:
It started out fairly intriguing, but seemed to fizzle toward the last quarter.
