The Santaroga Barrier

By: Frank Herbert

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Santaroga seemed to be nothing more than a prosperous farm community. But there was something...different...about Santaroga.

Santaroga had no juvenile delinquency, or any crime at all. Outsiders found no house for sale or rent in this valley, and no one ever moved out. No one bought cigarettes in Santaroga. No cheese, wine, beer, or produce from outside the valley could be sold there. The list went on and on and grew stranger and stranger.

Maybe Santaroga was the last outpost of American individualism. Maybe they were just a bunch of religious kooks....

Or maybe there was something extraordinary at work in Santaroga. Something far more disturbing than anyone could imagine.

©2002 Frank Herbert (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Herbert does more than carry events forward: he deals with the consequences of events, the implications of decisions." ( St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Intriguing story, but too long

This is good science fiction, but unremarkable and forgettable. Presumably it was more culturally shocking around the time of its release. Today, it has the feel of a dusty, slightly mildewed heirloom: quite lovely in its essence, but without any luster.

Jaspers is menage (spice)

the Jasper's substance or effect in this book is the beginning of the spice in the Dune series

Just a pinch of Jaspers

Fun read. Thoroughly enjoyed the slow, methodical climb into existential horror. Horror? Or was it something beautiful? Perhaps another bite of cheese will tell…

New Favorite

It's too good. A mystery, action and suspense with a morbid touch of comedy. Very different from other books by Herbert.

Herbert's strongest resonance with Camp 38

if you haven't read Camp 38 you must do so in conjunction with this book.