In the far future, humankind has made contact with numerous other species - Gowachin, Laclac, Wreaves, Pan Spechi, Taprisiots, and Caleban (among others) - and has helped to form the ConSentiency to govern between the species. After suffering under a tyrannous pure democracy that had the power to create laws so fast that no thought could be given to the effects, the sentients of the galaxy found a need for the Bureau of Sabotage (BuSab) to slow the wheels of government, thereby preventing it from legislating recklessly.

In Whipping Star, Jorj X. McKie, a "Saboteur Extraordinary," is a born troublemaker who has naturally become one of BuSab's best agents. As the novel opens, it is revealed that Calebans, who are beings visible to other sentient species as stars, have been disappearing one by one. Each disappearance is accompanied by millions of sentient deaths and instances of incurable insanity.

Ninety years prior to the setting of Whipping Star, the Calebans appeared and offered jump-doors to the collective species, allowing sentients to travel instantly to any point in the universe. Gratefully accepting, the sentiency didn't question the consequences. Now Mliss Abnethe, a psychotic human female with immense power and wealth, has bound a Caleban in a contract that allows the Caleban to be whipped to death; when the Caleban dies, everyone who has ever used a jump-door (which is almost every adult in the sentient world and many of the young) will die as well.

Listening Length

6 hours and 52 minutes
Author

Frank Herbert
Narrator

Scott Brick
Audible release date

June 10, 2008
Language

English
Publisher

Tantor Audio
ASIN

B001AZT9HO
Version

Unabridged
Program Type

Audiobook
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Product details

Listening Length	6 hours and 52 minutes
Author	Frank Herbert
Narrator	Scott Brick
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com Release Date	June 10, 2008
Publisher	Tantor Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B001AZT9HO
Best Sellers Rank	#141,555 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #911 in First Contact Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #2,361 in Space Opera Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) #5,569 in Alien Invasion Science Fiction

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

134 global ratings

5 star		63%
4 star		19%
3 star		10%
2 star		4%
1 star		4%

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Top reviews from the United States

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jmenzel2004rok

it's a really fun book to read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

I wish he wrote more BuSab books, whipping star is a weird and awesome book, the characters have a sense of humor, and it weirdly reminds me of a hard case crime novel. If you are unsure about buying and reading this book, just do it, you'll thank me later, and, you're welcome 😁

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Complex writing from the master of science fiction

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 6, 2016

Verified Purchase

Whipping Star gives you an introduction to Jorj X. McKie (special agent of Busab), to the Busab universe and the mystery of the Calebans. Calebans facilitate inter planetary travel and are mysterious creatures who speak in riddles. Someone is killing a Caleban and it is McKie's job to find out who and why. The book is complex and the writing is dense and the concepts discussed are difficult if you're not paying close attention. It is a thoroughly enjoyable book but to me it serves as an introduction to "The Dosadi Experiment". It's not vital that you read this book but if you are a fan of Frank Herbert and want to read a complex, intriguing book then give this a try. You won't be disappointed but it might give you more of an intellectual work-out than you might expect from a science fiction novel.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Herbert whips and misses

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 8, 2018

Verified Purchase

I read this book because it seemed like The Dosadi Experiment, which I had in paperback, was a sequel. Which is true, but I resent reading this book, and The Dosadi Experiment stands on its own.

McKie is a Saboteur Extraordinary of the Bureau of Sabotage, a strange governmental body which has grown like a cross between a vital hormonal gland in the galactic government, throwing sand in the works of a machinery of government that is too perfect. His vital mission this time is to sabotage the whipping to death of a Caleban at the hands of an evil and supremely rich woman. The Calebans gave everyone else the portals vital to interstellar civilization, and if this one dies, everyone who used a portal will die.

The Whipping Star focuses around communication with the Caleban, who clearly does not perceive space-time in the same way we do, with all the grace of a sophomore physics major in the depths of a DMT trip (trust me on this one). It's not a great premise, and someone with a more absurdist touch, like Harry Harrison, might have been able to pull it off. Frank Herbert misses any joy and wonder in the premise entirely, replacing it with a stale space opera zoo of aliens and a weirdly misogynistic antagonist.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Eric

It's about communicating with aliens.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

It's a decent story, and has interesting ideas about communicating with alien intelligences, and the consequences of miscommunication. Another great idea, the organization which the main character works for, was sadly not explored in depth. Hopefully "The Dosadi Experiment" does it justice.

Helpful

Christopher Z. Dodds

GREAT READ

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 20, 2009

Verified Purchase

This story picks up the life of saboteur extraordinary Jorj X. Mckie. He is sent on a mission to save all sentient life in the universe. On this mission he meets and befriends a calaban, a strange multi-dimensional creature who radiates emotion and bleeds purple sparks.
Most of the story is taken up with jumbled conversations between Mckie and the calaban named Fannie Mae. It is at times confusing and for some is enough to put the book down forever, but the diligent reader will be rewarded with a downright heartwarming tale.

6 people found this helpful

Helpful

Sidney W. Broach II

Absorbing prelude to the Dosadi Experiment

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 12, 2015

Verified Purchase

Whipping Star is an interesting introduction to some of the background to the world of the Dosadi Experiment, and the universe of creatures that populate it. If you enjoyed Dosadi, Whipping Star will fill out details of the Calebans. If you haven't yet read Dosadi, this will make that universe more familiar to you when you do (and you should read both). Frank Herbert at his work of building intricate civilizations in a time before Dune.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Avid reader

Not as good as dune or the dosadi experiment

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 2, 2012

Verified Purchase

I first read dosadi and realized it was a sequal., finally finding book one I was really expecting so much more. Learning about this world and its speci really appealed to me. No such luck. Its not a bad book, just not the Herbert I've come to know and love. Frankly its nearly all about communication
between two alien races with very different realities.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

B. Amberson

Loved it, of course...it's Frank Herbert

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 8, 2013

Verified Purchase

Can't believe he wrote this in the early 70's. So ahead of his time. Today's sci-fi is clever at best. Frank Herbert was all about big ideas...the kind that make you consider how the universe works, etc. As usual, a great finale with an abrupt end. Read this before you read The Dosadi Experiment...I highly recommend that one as well.

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

nutcase

Oh; it's a star?

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 8, 2017

Verified Purchase

The spoiler is in the title. The book makes much of something that is disclosed before you have read a single page.

DM SHERWOOD

Wierd

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 22, 2016

Verified Purchase

Strange (in a good sense) bit of Fiction by the auther of DUNE

STEPHEN BEROFE

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on June 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

An essential addition to any science fiction library. Fascinating, provocative and fabulously entertaining!

Amazon Customer

One Star

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 24, 2017

Verified Purchase

One star

One person found this helpful

Client Kindle

UWO

Reviewed in France 🇫🇷 on August 14, 2018

Verified Purchase

Openly bewildering. And very direct. I loved the superficial unintelligibility, that fosters a more distant unfocused attention. Probably would be considered dated by most, but definitely a period piece, an exploration in the consequences of unwitting appetite for power. Somehow still optimistic, lightly spiritual.

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