''Eye'' (1985) is a collection of 13

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

by American writer

Frank Herbert Franklin Patrick Herbert Jr. (October 8, 1920February 11, 1986) was an American science-fiction author, best known for his 1965 novel Dune (novel), ''Dune'' and its five sequels. He also wrote short stories and worked as a newspaper journalist, ...

. All of the works had been previously published in magazine or book form, except for "The Road to Dune".

Introduction

Herbert discusses

David Lynch David Keith Lynch (January 20, 1946 – January 16, 2025) was an American filmmaker, visual artist, musician, and actor. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Lynch was often called a "visionary" and received acclaim f ...

's film ''

Dune A dune is a landform composed of wind- or water-driven sand. It typically takes the form of a mound, ridge, or hill. An area with dunes is called a dune system or a dune complex. A large dune complex is called a dune field, while broad, flat ...

'' and his own participation in the production, and lists scenes that were shot, but cut from the released version.

Short fiction

* "Rat Race" * " The Dragon in the Sea" - A

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a Film genre, genre combining the thriller (genre), thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting ...

originally serialized as ''Under Pressure'' in ''

Astounding ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William Cl ...

'' magazine from December 1955 through February 1956. It was revised and expanded into a novel in 1956. The version in this collection is the original short version, only 36 pages long. * "

Cease Fire A ceasefire (also known as a truce), also spelled cease-fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions often due to mediation by a third party. Ceasefires may be ...

" * " A Matter of Traces" - A short story first appearing in ''

Fantastic Universe ''Fantastic Universe'' was a U.S. science fiction magazine which began publishing in the 1950s. It ran for 69 issues, from June 1953 to March 1960, under two different publishers. It was part of the explosion of science fiction magazine publishi ...

'' magazine in 1958. It is notable for the introduction of the character Jorj X. McKie, saboteur extraordinaire, and is the first story set in the ConSentiency universe. * "Try to Remember" - A linguist who tries to decipher the language of a race of frog-like extraterrestrials. * " The Tactful Saboteur" - A novelette which appeared in ''

Galaxy Science Fiction ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' was an American digest-size science fiction magazine, published in Boston from 1950 to 1980. It was founded by a French-Italian company, World Editions, which was looking to break into the American market. World Edi ...

'' magazine in 1964. It was republished in ''The Worlds of Frank Herbert'' in 1971, and established the setting for Herbert's ConSentiency universe. It is a sequel to the above story " A Matter of Traces". * "The Road to Dune" - Set in Herbert's ''Dune'' universe, this short "guidebook" takes the form of a guidebook for pilgrims to the planet

Arrakis Arrakis ()—informally known as Dune and later called Rakis—is a fictional desert planet featured in the ''Dune'' series of novels by Frank Herbert. Herbert's first novel in the series, 1965's ''Dune'', is considered one of the greatest sc ...

, following the fall of

Padishah Emperor Multiple organizations of the ''Dune'' universe dominate the political, religious, and social arena of the setting of Frank Herbert's Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels, and derivative works. Set tens of thousands of year ...

Shaddam IV ''Dune (franchise), Dune'' is a science fiction media franchise that originated with the 1965 Dune (novel), novel of the same name by American author Frank Herbert. ''Dune'' is frequently cited as the best-selling science fiction novel in histor ...

. It was illustrated by Welsh artist

Jim Burns Jim Burns (born 10 April 1948) is a Welsh artist born in Cardiff, Wales. He has been called one of the Grand Masters of the science fiction art world. In 1966 he joined the Royal Air Force, but soon thereafter he left and signed up at th ...

. The "guidebook" discusses the major sights in the capital city, Arrakeen, including the Grand Palace and Temple of Alia. It also features images (with descriptions) of some of the devices and characters presented in the novels, including Paul's personal

ornithopter An ornithopter (from Greek language, Greek ''ornis, ornith-'' 'bird' and ''pteron'' 'wing') is an aircraft that flies by flapping its wings. Designers sought to imitate the flapping-wing flight of birds, bats, and insects. Though machines may dif ...

, an Ixian

glowglobe Technology is a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' series of science fiction novels written by Frank Herbert, and derivative works. Herbert's concepts and inventions have been analyzed and deconstructed in at lea ...

Princess Irulan Princess Irulan is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. She first appears in ''Dune (novel), Dune'' (1965), and is later featured in ''Dune Messiah'' (1969) and ''Children of Dune'' (1976). T ...

Duncan Idaho Duncan Idaho is a fictional character in the Dune (franchise), ''Dune'' universe created by Frank Herbert. He was introduced in the first novel of the series, 1965's ''Dune (novel), Dune'', and became a breakout character. He was revived in 1969' ...

, and Reverend Mother Mohiam. * "By the Book" * "Seed Stock" * "Murder Will In" * "Passage for Piano" * "Death of a City" * " Frogs and Scientists"

Reception

Dave Langford reviewed ''Eye'' for ''

White Dwarf A white dwarf is a Compact star, stellar core remnant composed mostly of electron-degenerate matter. A white dwarf is very density, dense: in an Earth sized volume, it packs a mass that is comparable to the Sun. No nuclear fusion takes place i ...

'' #83, and stated that "It's a good anthology, free of the grotty potboilers which filled out earlier collections. I would have preferred another 'real' short story or two in place of the extract from ''The Dragon in the Sea'' (which deserves to be read in context): otherwise, OK."

Awards

''Eye'' was nominated for a

Locus Award The Locus Awards are an annual set of literary awards voted on by readers of the science fiction and fantasy magazine '' Locus'', a monthly magazine based in Oakland, California. The awards are presented at an annual banquet. Originally a poll ...

for best short story collection in 1986, but lost to

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...

's collection '' Skeleton Crew''.

References

External links