“The Godmakers” is a decent and short science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, the author of the acclaimed “Dune” series.  The story is set in a future universe where an interstellar human civilization  is starting to expand and rediscover lost planets 500 years after catastrophic war.  The protagonist, Lewis Orne, works for a government agency that makes contacts with lost planets, with the aim to identify planets where there's a risk of war.

The novel is pretty fast paced, which makes sense given that it was originally published as 4 short stories.  However, the novel also veers too much into woohoo mysticism, especially in the last part, where Orne undergoes a series of trials and rituals that are vaguely explained and hard to follow. The novel also lacks the action and suspense that made “Dune” so captivating, and relies more on dialogue and exposition. 

Another flaw of the novel is the portrayal of women, who are mostly relegated to a subservient role, either as wives, concubines, or servants. Dune had several strong women.

I used to say that Dune was my favorite book, but after rereading it recently I find that Dune's  woohoo mysticism is annoying, with the book being carried on the strength of the intrigue and action. The Godmakers is not as strong, but it is a fast and decently fun read.