The Green Brain

Frank Herbert - 1966

This was Frank Herbert’s first publication following his signature classic Dune. It may suffer in comparison, but why compare? It’s a compelling and provocative story in its own right. Humanity has finally found a way to eradicate all insect pests, allowing it to confidently build housing in the depths of the jungles. Little do the masterminds suspect that bugs have not only collectively built up an immunity to insecticides, but – due to severe mutation – they’ve all neurologically linked to each other and formed a hive mind that thinks and plans. The insects also have the ability to mass together into human and other shapes in order to spy on humans and to intimidate as needed. Possibly an influence on movies like Phase IV and Mimic, The Green Brain is especially notable for the ecological themes that Herbert was known for, along with the idea of adaptation and the untapped potential of human (or animal) intelligence.

“A person cries out in life because it's lonely and because life's been broken off from whatever created it. But no matter how much you hate life, you love it too. It's like a caldron boiling with everything you have to have, but very painful to the lips.”