Line #10 Literature/TheDosadiExperiment


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_dosadi_experiment.png]]
2	''The Dosadi Experiment'' is a 1977 ScienceFiction novel by Creator/FrankHerbert; part of his ''Literature/ConSentiency'' series (less famous than his ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' series). The protagonist is Jorj X. [=McKie=], who belongs to the Bureau of Sabotage, an agency intended to moderate the totalitarian tendencies of the [=ConSentiency=], the galactic government. Other galactic players include the Caleban, extradimensional beings who provide teleportation services, and the Gowachin, frog-like humanoids who specialize in law.
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4	[=McKie=] learns from a friendly Caleban that they have helped the Gowachin with an experiment that has lasted several generations: they have "accidentally" mistransported various humans and Gowachins to a planet named Dosadi. A "God Wall" keeps them in and everyone else out. Because the planet has poisons everywhere, the millions of inhabitants live in one valley. Their artificial society, already under immense pressure, will explode unless something changes.
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6	With an assumed identity, [=McKie=] teleports to Dosadi. The ruler, a Gowachin named Broey, has concentrated his forces to defend against an expected uprising. [=McKie=] tracks down the "rebel" leader and finds Keila Jedrik, a human woman and civil servant who has orchestrated civil unrest and rebellion. As in several other Herbert works, a principal character undergoes an evolutionary gestalt.
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8	!!Contains examples of:
9	%%* ActionGirl: Keila Jedrik.
10	%%* CrapsackWorld: Dosadi is the perfect example of this trope.
11	%%* DeathWorld: Dosadi.
12	%%* EncyclopediaExposita: Nobody does it like Herbert.
13	* TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt: Dosadi might self-destruct [[spoiler: or it might take over the galaxy. Other, "minor" risks include the whole [=ConSentiency=] becoming a nastier place (if the experiment succeeds) or turning into complete madhouse as a result of leak.]]
14	* TheFederation: The [=ConSentiency=], consisting of a wide variety of alien cultures and societies.
15	* FrogMen: The Gowachins, aliens resembling large humanoid frogs. They can breathe both air and water and are highly amphibious -- their homes typically contain a number of flooded rooms and tunnels -- and go through a tadpole phase after birth.
16	%%* LawProcedural: A full-blown trial in the Courtarena.
17	%%* ThePowerOfLove
18	* PsychicLink: [=McKie=] and Jedrik [[spoiler: as a side effect of BodySwap]].
19	* ReadTheFinePrint: One would think that the Gowachin, while preparing a contract with entities having [[StarfishAliens utterly alien minds]], always sticking [[LiteralGenie to the letter]] of their obligations as they understand them, and manipulating stellar amounts of energy apparently at will, would clarify each point as much as humanly (and inhumanly) possible. But ''no one'' did a good job in this area. A lot of people [[DidntThinkThisThrough ended up with quite unexpected results]], and the whole [=ConSentiency=] barely survived.
20	* ShowingOffTheNewBody: [[spoiler: After learning they can switch bodies at will with each other, [=McKie=] and Jedrik have some interesting sex.]]
21	* TakeThat: Herbert has a couple here, aimed at his more famous work, ''Franchise/{{Dune}}''. [[spoiler: [=McKie=] is worried about being seen as some sort of Messiah; a native Dosadi replies that it would be utterly stupid for them to worship or follow him, he's just an outsider... ]]
22	* TheWallAroundTheWorld: The God Wall that surrounds Dosadi and prevents its inhabitants from leaving it or visitors from entering it.
23	* TrainingFromHell: Every living person on Dosadi is going through this just by living.
24	* ToughLove: Pretty much every parent on Dosadi (including Jedrik's) lives (or lived) this trope by necessity.

Context Literature / TheDosadiExperiment