The Dosadi Experiment is a challenge to read but is worth the effort.
Like its predecessor, Whipping Star, this novel is set in the ConSentiency universe and features Jorj X. McKie as its protagonist. It can be read as a stand-alone story, although reading them in the order of their publication does aid in understanding the nuances of the tale.
In the far future, humans have moved out into the galaxy and entered into a federation of worlds with several other sentient alien species. Courtesy of two of these species, instantaneous travel and communication between planets is possible.
McKie, a government agent, learns of a covert experiment being undertaken on the planet Dosadi, location unknown. His brief is to find Dosadi and uncover its secrets. What he discovers is a monstrous threat to future of the ConSentiency.
The Dosadi Experiment combines an action thriller with an in-depth exploration of the culture and politics of one of the alien species, the Gowachin. The interplay between these two elements makes the novel a bit of a challenge to comprehend - there are so many details and concepts to keep in mind - but perseverance pays dividends in the end. Thematically, there are echoes between the ethics of the experiment on Dosadi and of the Nazi experiments on humans during the Second World War.
Herbert is a natural storyteller. His combination of complex ideas and narrative tension make for a compelling and worthwhile reading experience.
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