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.