Godmakers explores concepts of war and peace, good government and religious belief. It can be seen as a bridging novel between the all-human Dune universe and the ConSentiency universe series.
The novel expands four short stories: "You Take the High Road" in Astounding Science Fiction, May 1958; "Missing link" in In the far future a massive galactic empire stretched across the galaxy. However, a devastating series of wars — the Rim Wars between — destabilized and cut off numerous planets from the control of the galactic center. Five hundred years later two organizations, the Rediscovery and Reeducation Service (R & R) and I-A (Investigative Adjustment), seek to reintegrate planets — often if deemed dangerous with whatever force is necessary — that have lost contact with the galactic center. The overarching purpose of both organizations is to prevent another Rim War.