By Frank Herbert
This collection by the ‘World Famous Author of Dune,” was a steal at Goodwill coming in at $1.99 and selling at $3.49 back in 1985. Eye contains various short pieces by Herbert from the 1950s through to the 1980’s, including an illustrated walk through of the city of Arrakeen, from the Dune series. He also describes some interesting insights into the making of the original David Lynch film during his introduction.
Illustrations by Jim Burns are scattered throughout, though they would have been better served if they appeared in a format other than a small paperback. I would like to see this in a letter sized hard cover.
The short stories contained in Eye, follow the usual Frank Herbert themes found in his science fiction including ecology, adaptation and survival of the human race beyond earth, not to mention the creatures, which hide among us; and some that, are in us.
Most interesting and touching to me was, ‘Passage for Piano,’ where a future young colonist’s happiness and health depends on getting a half-ton concert grand piano to another planet, despite strict weight limits.
Another highlights, and Frank Herbert’s personal favorite, ‘Seed Stock,’ describes a planet colony’s ultimate survival being dependent on a member of its lowest caste.