Direct Descent

By: Frank Herbert

Narrated by: Scott Brick

A library planet: The greatest treasure, the deadliest weapon.

Earth has become a library planet over the last several thousand years, a bastion of both useful and useless knowledge - esoterica of all types: History, science, politics - gathered by teams of "pack rats" who scour the galaxy for any scrap of information. Knowledge is power, knowledge is wealth, and knowledge can be a weapon. As powerful dictators come and go over the course of history, the cadre of dedicated librarians is sworn to obey the lawful government - and use their wits to protect the treasure trove of knowledge they have collected over the millennia.

©1980 Frank Herbert (P)2014 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

discombobulated

The transition between the first part and the second part for me was a little rough. kind of just joined the flow trying to figure out where it's going to go and where it's coming from.

Fun old time Science Fiction

I read this as a young boy, it brought back fond memories. This doesn’t have a deep story line or impossible new science, just good writing and your own imagination to bring the story alive.

Weird first story; 2nd better

I couldn’t get to care about the first story at all. The second one was easier to follow and care about. Scott Brick: 49 minutes from the end, you pronounced “unguent” as “un-gent”! You’re always better than that—I can’t believe no one caught that.

big ole libbies

This is really two short stories in the same setting, the first story is the best writing I've read from Herbert and the second one is okay. Scott Brick is always good but he is especially well suited for these.

An interesting twist of mind!

Herbert always had a most interesting twist of mind.
If you loved that in other stories you will appreciate it this short story as well.
A true hidden treasure of the author of Dune.