≡ [PDF] Gratis Hellstrom Hive Frank Herbert 9780765317728 Books

Hellstrom Hive Frank Herbert 9780765317728 Books

Download As PDF : Hellstrom Hive Frank Herbert 9780765317728 Books

Hellstrom Hive Frank Herbert 9780765317728 Books

This first thing to know, if you read this book, is that it is helpful--though not necessary--to first watch the film The Hellstrom Chronicle. This is an Oscar winning documentary film made in 1971 about insects, but it borrows the trappings of a horror movie. The film proposes that eventually insects will replace humans as the dominant form of life on earth. It is narrated by fictional entomologist, Dr. Nils Hellstrom (portrayed by actor Lawrence Pressman.)

After the success of the film, Frank Herbert appropriated the character of Nils Hellstrom and constructed an elaborate back-story that forms the basis of the book. Hellstrom is shown not only to be a documentary film-maker, but also the leader of a secret community of humans that have chosen to pattern their society after social insects. They do this believing their choice will eventually be the salvation of the human race, and that the "wild outsider" human society will eventually self destruct. For centuries the Hive has existed in secret, waiting for they day it will inherit the earth.

The plot revolves around a secret government agency that discovers evidence linking Hellstrom to a powerful weapon. Attempting to learn more, the agency sends spies to Hellstrom's farm, ignorant of the human hive that it conceals. Eventually the two groups come into conflict.

In my opinion, this is Herbert's best work outside his Dune novels. He does several interesting things with the story. The Hive can be viewed as a surrogate for any insular group that rejects conventional society. It has various characteristics of a separatist religious group (the Amish for instance, though there is certainly no other similarity between the Amish and the Hive), of a "free love" hippie commune (more popular in 1972 than today), or of a communist "nest" that aroused paranoia in the 1950's. Indeed, the use of genetic and chemical manipulation by the Hive is somewhat akin to the old communist desire to create a "new socialist man." This comparison doesn't hold as much power today with the Cold War far behind us, but with the new paranoia surrounding the possibility of "radical terrorists" living among us, it is telling how the paranoia continues by finding new targets to focus on. And so--far from becoming dated--Hellstrom's Hive is proving to have a timeless relevance.

Another clever thing is the way Herbert sets the Hive in contrast to the Agency. While the Hive has many disgusting and repulsive practices, so too does the Agency--even though it is supposed to represent "the good guys," and "normal humanity." While the Hive is inhuman in many ways, its extreme choices are shown to have a foundation of compassion and concern for its collective members. The Hive is ultimately working toward human survival, even though its means may be disgusting. Meanwhile, the Agency is occupied by ruthless bureaucrats that forcibly draft people into its service and is no better than a mafia dedicated to extortion and thievery. It sacrifices its own members--not to achieve a collective good--but to serve selfish and secret agendas of those higher in the chain of command. The Hive's morality may be starkly alien, but it has a morality, as opposed to the amoral Agency. The result is that you end up rooting for the Hive, despite all its repulsive practices.


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Hellstrom Hive Frank Herbert 9780765317728 Books Reviews

A masterpiece.. as good as Dune
This was one of the books I remember getting from a book club years ago. I really couldn't even remember what it was about. Just that I really liked it. After all these years I finally found it again and bought one for my brother, too.
Great condition for its age.
One of my favorites from Herbert.
AWESOME
Classical Frank Herbert story.
Not Frank's most compelling story, but worth a read and way better than 99% of the tripe on offer as contemporary sci-fi
This first thing to know, if you read this book, is that it is helpful--though not necessary--to first watch the film The Hellstrom Chronicle. This is an Oscar winning documentary film made in 1971 about insects, but it borrows the trappings of a horror movie. The film proposes that eventually insects will replace humans as the dominant form of life on earth. It is narrated by fictional entomologist, Dr. Nils Hellstrom (portrayed by actor Lawrence Pressman.)

After the success of the film, Frank Herbert appropriated the character of Nils Hellstrom and constructed an elaborate back-story that forms the basis of the book. Hellstrom is shown not only to be a documentary film-maker, but also the leader of a secret community of humans that have chosen to pattern their society after social insects. They do this believing their choice will eventually be the salvation of the human race, and that the "wild outsider" human society will eventually self destruct. For centuries the Hive has existed in secret, waiting for they day it will inherit the earth.

The plot revolves around a secret government agency that discovers evidence linking Hellstrom to a powerful weapon. Attempting to learn more, the agency sends spies to Hellstrom's farm, ignorant of the human hive that it conceals. Eventually the two groups come into conflict.

In my opinion, this is Herbert's best work outside his Dune novels. He does several interesting things with the story. The Hive can be viewed as a surrogate for any insular group that rejects conventional society. It has various characteristics of a separatist religious group (the Amish for instance, though there is certainly no other similarity between the Amish and the Hive), of a "free love" hippie commune (more popular in 1972 than today), or of a communist "nest" that aroused paranoia in the 1950's. Indeed, the use of genetic and chemical manipulation by the Hive is somewhat akin to the old communist desire to create a "new socialist man." This comparison doesn't hold as much power today with the Cold War far behind us, but with the new paranoia surrounding the possibility of "radical terrorists" living among us, it is telling how the paranoia continues by finding new targets to focus on. And so--far from becoming dated--Hellstrom's Hive is proving to have a timeless relevance.

Another clever thing is the way Herbert sets the Hive in contrast to the Agency. While the Hive has many disgusting and repulsive practices, so too does the Agency--even though it is supposed to represent "the good guys," and "normal humanity." While the Hive is inhuman in many ways, its extreme choices are shown to have a foundation of compassion and concern for its collective members. The Hive is ultimately working toward human survival, even though its means may be disgusting. Meanwhile, the Agency is occupied by ruthless bureaucrats that forcibly draft people into its service and is no better than a mafia dedicated to extortion and thievery. It sacrifices its own members--not to achieve a collective good--but to serve selfish and secret agendas of those higher in the chain of command. The Hive's morality may be starkly alien, but it has a morality, as opposed to the amoral Agency. The result is that you end up rooting for the Hive, despite all its repulsive practices.