The Godmakers (novel)

Last updated
The God Makers
The Godmakers (1972).jpg
Author Frank Herbert
Cover artist Vincent DiFate
LanguageEnglish
Genre Science fiction
Publisher Putnam
Publication date
1972
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (hardback & paperback)
ISBN 0-399-11006-2
OCLC 534343
813/.5/4
LC Class PZ4.H5356 Go PS3558.E63
"The Priests of Psi" was the cover story for the February 1960 issue of Fantastic Fantastic 196002.jpg
"The Priests of Psi" was the cover story for the February 1960 issue of Fantastic

The God Makers (1972) is a science fiction novel by Frank Herbert. Some later editions used a variant title, The Godmakers. [1]

Contents

Publication history

The novel The Godmakers expands upon a storyline appearing in four short stories over a decade earlier:

Plot summary

The story focuses on Lewis Orne, an agent for a government agency which develops 'lost planets.' After correctly identifying a warlike civilization on the planet Hamal, he is drafted into Investigative Adjustment (I-A), which manages dangerous planets. Under the auspices of I-A, he travels to various planets in order to maintain peace throughout the galaxy. At the same time, the priests of the planet Amel, who practice 'religious engineering', set about creating a god, something they have done numerous times before:

We do not know from what creature or thing the god will be born', the Abbod said. 'It could be one of you.[ This quote needs a citation ]

After resolving a number of dangerous situations, Lewis is injured and has a near-death experience. Following this, his psychic powers develop, and after passing a series of tests he becomes a god.

Reception

Colin Greenland reviewed The Godmakers for Imagine magazine, and stated that "For all his ever-expanding cosmic perspective, Herbert still writes characters who look and sound as if they'd been cut off the backs of cornflake packets." [3]

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References

  1. "Title: The Godmakers".
  2. "Title: The God Makers".
  3. Greenland, Colin (January 1985). "Fantasy Media". Imagine (review) (22). TSR Hobbies (UK), Ltd.: 45.