The Dosadi Experiment — Herbert 1977 Putnam 1st Ed

📖 The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert (1977, G.P. Putnam’s Sons) — a first edition hardcover of Herbert’s ConSentiency universe novel, originally serialized in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine. This copy is in very good condition with original unclipped dust jacket featuring cover art by Paul Alexander.

QUICK FACTS

• Author: Frank Herbert (1920–1986), creator of the Dune saga
• Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York (Berkley Publishing Corporation)
• Year: 1977 (first edition, first printing)
• Format: Hardcover in dust jacket
• Pages: 336 | SBN: 399-12022-X
• Condition: Very Good / Very Good+ — full report below

THE STORY

Set in the ConSentiency universe established in Herbert’s short stories and the novel Whipping Star, The Dosadi Experiment follows Jorj X. McKie, a Saboteur Extraordinary of the Bureau of Sabotage and the only human admitted to practice law before the Gowachin bar. McKie is drawn into an investigation of Dosadi, a planet isolated behind an impenetrable “God Wall” and secretly populated with 89 million humans and Gowachin in the narrow valley city-state of Chu. Fifteen generations of extreme overcrowding, poisonous environment, and manipulative government have produced a culture of extraordinary violence and cunning. McKie joins forces with Keila Jedrik, a human native who has orchestrated an eight-generation plan to break free of the God Wall, and together they unleash the Dosadi population upon the ConSentiency itself.

THIS EDITION

Published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons and distributed by Berkley Publishing Corporation, this first edition appeared simultaneously in Canada through Longman Canada Limited, Toronto. The book was Herbert’s first new science fiction novel since the best-selling Children of Dune (1976). The copyright page bears SBN 399-12022-X and Library of Congress control number 77-3653. The original jacket price of $8.95 is unclipped. The dedication reads: “In memory of Babe because she knew how to enjoy life.”

COVER ART / DESIGN

The dust jacket features cover art by Paul Alexander: a dramatic scene of a cracked sphere erupting with flames against a dark background, suggesting the contained violence of Dosadi breaking free. Jacket design is by Lynn Hollyn. The spine displays the title in gold metallic lettering against black cloth, with “Berkley Putnam” at the base. The back panel lists other Herbert titles from the Berkley/Putnam science fiction catalog, including Children of Dune, The Santaroga Barrier, and Whipping Star.

WHY IT MATTERS

• The Dosadi Experiment is the second full-length novel in Herbert’s ConSentiency universe, expanding the Bureau of Sabotage mythology introduced in Whipping Star
• Originally serialized as a four-part serial in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine (May–August 1977), demonstrating the story’s commercial appeal before book publication
• Features Herbert’s most complex exploration of political manipulation, overcrowding, and the weaponization of law — themes that echo across his broader body of work
• First edition copies with intact dust jackets are increasingly sought by collectors of 1970s science fiction and Herbert completists

FREQUENTLY ASKED

What edition is this? First edition, first printing, published 1977 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons. SBN 399-12022-X. No subsequent printing statements on the copyright page.

What condition is it in? Very Good / Very Good+ — full condition report below.

Is the dust jacket included? Yes, original unclipped dust jacket with $8.95 price intact on front flap.

FOR COLLECTORS

This first edition with original unclipped dust jacket and intact price represents the earliest collectible state of Herbert’s ConSentiency universe fiction. The Paul Alexander cover art and Lynn Hollyn jacket design are characteristic of the bold visual style that defined 1970s science fiction hardcovers. Copies with the original belly band (as issued) command premium prices; this copy does not include the belly band.

Condition Report

Overall Grade: Book: Very Good (VG)/Very Good+ (VG+) / Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)/Very Good+ (VG+)

Cover & Spine: Black cloth with clean gold metallic lettering. Boards are solid with sharp corners, some minimal wear at tips and spine head and tail.

Dust Jacket: Jacket displays light age-toning to rear panel and minor rubbing to the edges and corners. Original price of $8.95 is unclipped on front flap.

Text Block & Pages: Text block is lightly age-toned. Interior pages are clean, flat, and free of markings or inscriptions. Block upper edge lightly speckled.

Binding: Binding is square and tight with solid hinges. No loose, torn or folded pages.

See accompanying images for full condition details. Will ship promptly, carefully packaged.

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