Preview

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

High-Opp

By: Frank Herbert
Narrated by: Scott Brick
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $13.22

Buy for $13.22

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Published posthumously, this dystopian novel was written between Frank Herbert's classics The Dragon in the Sea and Dune.

EMASI! Each Man a Separate Individual! That is the rallying cry of the Seps, the resistance force engaged in a class war against the upper tiers of a society driven entirely by opinion polls. Those who score high, the High-Opps, are given plush apartments, comfortable jobs, every possible convenience. But those who happen to be low-opped live crowded in warrens, facing harsh lives and brutal conditions.

Daniel Movius, ex-senior liaitor, rides high in the opinion polls - until he loses everything, brushed aside by a very powerful man. Low-opped and abandoned, Movius finds himself fighting for survival in the city's underworld. There, the opinion of the masses is clear: It is time for a revolution against the corrupt superprivileged - and every revolution needs a leader.

©2012 Herbert Properties, LLC (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about High-Opp

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    198
  • 4 Stars
    113
  • 3 Stars
    51
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    230
  • 4 Stars
    79
  • 3 Stars
    13
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    168
  • 4 Stars
    98
  • 3 Stars
    50
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining beginning to end

Scott Brick is one of my favorite narrators and I’ve been a Dune fan since I picked up the first book. Seeing High-Opp appear on the included list and it being just over six hours long, it was a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Deep State? Inevitable.

Somewhat dated, in that paper documents and fax machines are key technology, but this was written shortly after 1955. Good story, good performance. It's not "Dune", but still a good ride with some interesting exploration of philosophical concepts about the cyclical nature of society/civilization.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Rage against the machine

Frank Herbert's High-Opp although published posthumously in 2012, was written sometime in the decade between 1955 and 1965. In this futuristic dystopian world, the evolution of computerized polling methodologies has led to opinion polls (the 'Opp' part) to replace elections. This has created a caste system where 'high-opp' individuals (connected with high-opp activities) live as elites, while the low-opps struggle to survive. The main character, Dan has been low-opp'd after a rising star career. This leads him not only to the Sep (short for separatists) movement / resistance as well as other high-opp individuals each fighting to retain their positions and control. He also learns that the polling system has become compromised and that he was specifically low-opp'd so the 'coordinator' could move in on his girl. As a result, he takes over the ragtag band of separatists and reorganizes them to an effective insurgency.

Herbert was prescient for that era (early 60's) in recognizing the evolving sophisticated polling methodology to drive societal preferences by asking questions in specific ways. He also forecasted the growing degree of inequality as a driver for social resentment. Lastly, the developed check and balances in the dispersed governmental structures serve to not only create conflicts among the various bureaus, but also allows for gaming the system to take advantage of the lack of information flow.

The narration is well done with excellent character distinction. Pacing is smooth making for a quick listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Prelude to Dosadi

It is said this tale was used for The Dosadi Experiment and it truly shows. Still Herbert in every respect.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not Horrible

It didn't have very much depth in comparison to other books by Herbert, but I was entertained. I probably won't relisten to it, though.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Such a fantastic idea for a story, but fell short

I was so excited when I heard the premise, kind of like bourne identity or total recall but cyberpunk themed, but the execution just wasn't there. It was repetitive and slow.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good throughout last paragraph was awesome

Frank Herbert’s amazing philosophy and story pacing done very well….
Maybe not a Dune level book but quite good for a stand alone novel/novella.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a book for our times.

It started out a bit slow but then, I realized that this is a book about the modern progressive moments out come. What the future of a one world Government could look like. It's not pretty but the people over came it. Then gave it away again. Human nature can be predictable..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Pacing, Great Ending

I really enjoy Frank Herbert's novels. This one didn't disappoint at all. The story was engaging and somewhat interesting. The characters weren't necessarily bad but lacked a bit of depth. I did enjoy the ending the most. Not a fan of the narrator, unfortunately.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Nice Venture From The World of Dune

If there were sequels or prequels made to expand the world/characters of this work I wouldn't go out of my way for them but I enjoyed this nonetheless. It was nice to experience F. Herberts creative mind outside the Dune universe and he didn't disappoint. His ability to weave political nuances throughout his works has few peers. This story has nice pacing but has moments where it seems rushed which is the reason for the 4 star review. This work feels like a mixture of 1984 and Midas World but but stands strongly on its own. Short but worth the credit.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!