Hellstrom's Hive
If ever there was a primer on
how to grow a super race of humans modeled after insect
culture, develop advanced technology underground for over
200 years and have a government-bungled reconnaissance
mission to figure out that particular operation- this is
it! UNLIKE the description on the back of the book and on
Amazon, the story doesn't get to the real root of the
'hive' until near the end with an 'Agency' operative is
lost inside, trying to escape. And the description of
this 'super-weapon' that makes islands off the cost of
Japan seems hardly a real threat...we need more land on
this planet. In addition, this 'America as a Police
State,' was as true of the story as those back-rooms in
Washington filled with smoke.
This book reads like a love story half the time, and the
rest is a sci-fi book. I got sick of reading about
characters, investing in their fears, hopes and
relationships, and then have them - one after another-
interrogated and melted down into 'soylent green' for the
hive or killed in a wanton fashion.
At this point in time the story of a hidden society with
more advanced technology and a better social structure
and the ability to live far longer than a normal human is
done (eventhought the book is form the '60's).
Sadly, this story kept me on the edge of my seat for the
duration, yet trailed off and left me with no real ending
to speak of. I was expecting more form this story, but
Herbert stuck to tried and true his style of having an
action packed, descriptive story.
P.S. I would have liked chapters.