Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Panther (1978), Paperback, 200 pages
Description
Frank Herbert was born in Tacoma, Washington, and educated at the University of Washington, Seattle. He worked a wide variety of jobs--including TV cameraman, radio commentator, oyster diver, jungle survival instructor, lay analyst, creative writing teacher, reporter and editor of several West Coast newspapers--before becoming a full-time writer. He died in 1986.
User reviews
LibraryThing member comfypants
Ten short stories, spanning Herbert's career. None of the stories are particularly great, but most are entertaining.
"Seed Stock" - [copied/pasted from my review of "Eye"] Colonists on a new planet find survival more difficult than it should be. Pretty good story, could easily have been developed
"The Nothing" - Radiation gives most of the population super powers. There's a lot that could have been done here, but the story is just a cute take on fate/free will. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"Rat Race" - [copied/pasted from my review of "Eye"] Not a very interesting story, and surprisingly poorly written. Typical 50s sci-fi pulp magazine writing. 2/5. 6-6-08.
"Gambling Device" - Twilight-Zoney story. Kind of a corny set-up, and poorly written, but a clever ending. 3/5. 1-19-09.
"Looking for something?" - A stage hypnotist discovers that the entire world is hypnotized to not see our alien overlords. A nice story, but it would have been nice if there were some sort of resolution. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"The Gone Dogs" - A disease that only affects canines is killing off the world's dogs. I guess that's a bad thing? Stupid plot, but well-written and otherwise a good story. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"Passage for Piano" - [copied/pasted from my review of "Eye"] Focuses entirely on characters rather than ideas or suspense - not a strong direction for Herbert. 2.5/5. 6-6-08.
"Encounter in a Lonely Place" - Completely stupid ESP story, but some amusing character writing. 2.5/5. 2-4-09.
"Operation Syndrome" - A plague of insanity is spread by a telepathic machine used for entertainment. The plot is sort of awkward and occasionally boring, but it picks up as it goes and eventually gets some good suspense going. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"Occupation Force" - Very short, humorous story. Sort of the Dr. Strangelove approach to the classic aliens-visiting-Earth scenario. 3/5. 1-19-09.
"Seed Stock" - [copied/pasted from my review of "Eye"] Colonists on a new planet find survival more difficult than it should be. Pretty good story, could easily have been developed
Show More
into or followed by a novel. 3.5/5. 6-6-08."The Nothing" - Radiation gives most of the population super powers. There's a lot that could have been done here, but the story is just a cute take on fate/free will. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"Rat Race" - [copied/pasted from my review of "Eye"] Not a very interesting story, and surprisingly poorly written. Typical 50s sci-fi pulp magazine writing. 2/5. 6-6-08.
"Gambling Device" - Twilight-Zoney story. Kind of a corny set-up, and poorly written, but a clever ending. 3/5. 1-19-09.
"Looking for something?" - A stage hypnotist discovers that the entire world is hypnotized to not see our alien overlords. A nice story, but it would have been nice if there were some sort of resolution. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"The Gone Dogs" - A disease that only affects canines is killing off the world's dogs. I guess that's a bad thing? Stupid plot, but well-written and otherwise a good story. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"Passage for Piano" - [copied/pasted from my review of "Eye"] Focuses entirely on characters rather than ideas or suspense - not a strong direction for Herbert. 2.5/5. 6-6-08.
"Encounter in a Lonely Place" - Completely stupid ESP story, but some amusing character writing. 2.5/5. 2-4-09.
"Operation Syndrome" - A plague of insanity is spread by a telepathic machine used for entertainment. The plot is sort of awkward and occasionally boring, but it picks up as it goes and eventually gets some good suspense going. 3/5. 2-4-09.
"Occupation Force" - Very short, humorous story. Sort of the Dr. Strangelove approach to the classic aliens-visiting-Earth scenario. 3/5. 1-19-09.
Show Less
Language
Original publication date
Physical description
200 p.; 6.77 inches
ISBN
0586046445 / 9780586046449