From archive (archive) Subject: Re: Dorsai! From: allbery@ncoast.UUCP (Brandon Allbery) Organization: Cleveland Public Access UN*X, Cleveland, Oh Date: 18 Nov 87 00:34:12 GMT As quoted from <5632@rutgers.rutgers.edu> by BREEBAAR@HLERUL5.BITNET: +--------------- | Given the fact that I like almost everything I have read by Gordon R. Dickson. | Given the fact that I have read only the first book in his Dorsai-series. | Given the fact that I did not like it at all (unrealistic, unsympathetic | characters, and I don't really like war stories (though I like Starship Trooper | and am probably the only person other than R.A.H. himself who does)) | | Given these facts: will I like any other books in the series, and if yes | which ones ? +--------------- You may have problems. Not with the war stories, but with the believability. DIckson's series including DORSAI! is not a series about the Dorsai, or about war: it is the Childe Cycle, and is about mankind maturing as a race. I *strongly* suggest that you read NECROMANCER if you want to get some idea of what is going on. *SPOILERS* follow. Hit 'n' NOW if you don't want to read them. Believability: Yes, the Dorsai are "superhuman". But not really; you must understand the history of the Childe Cycle universe. In NECROMANCER, human society (like ours but slightly more futuristic) fragments with the discovery of a relatively safe means of interstellar travel. Humanity splinters into a number of Splinter Cultures, each of which picks some particular aspect of humanity and makes it the primary component of society. Among the Splinter Cultures are, by planet: * Dorsai -- mercenary warriors * Harmony, Association ("Friendlies") -- religion * Newton, Venus -- scientists * Mara, Kultis ("Exotics") -- the mind (psychology and parapsychology) Some of the lesser Cultures: * Ste. Marie -- farmers; also religion (all Catholics) * Ceta -- merchants, business * Dunnin's World -- fishermen * Coby -- miners * Cassida -- technocrats The reason for the splintering of humanity is described in NECROMANCER. It amounts to a need for humanity to expand its horizons. While the Dorsai are the most visible (to readers) of the Splinter Cultures, they are not the only culture examined; see, for example, SOLDIER, ASK NOT -- referring to the tendency of Friendlies to gain interstellar credit by acting as low-priced mercenaries (sword fodder for those who can't afford the Dorsai) -- which examines the culture of the Friendlies. At the current time, only these two have been fully explored, although we get looks at Ste. Marie ("Brothers") and Ceta ("Lost Dorsai"). The most recent book, THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA, looks at the surviving Splinter Cultures in some depth; Ceta has been taken over by the "Others", and the scientists of Newton and technocrats of Cassida have pretty much faded out of existence, but we see the three major Splinters (Dorsai, Friendlies, Exotics) plus Coby. More is on its way; expect it to concentrate on what Dickson considers to be the three-legged stool upon which humanity rests -- war, religion, and (for lack of a better term) psychology. The entire cycle ranges from Sir John Hawkmoon (14th century) to the end of the "trilogy" started by THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA (the names are currently CHANTRY GUILD and CHILDE) (24th century). It is expected to be by no means tilted toward war; among others, Dickson has planned a book about Leonardo DaVinci as a "cusp" of the growth of mankind. (It is also relevant that THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA makes it clear that the Dorsai will be destroyed as a culture.) Dickson describes his plans for the Childe Cycle in the Preface to THE DORSAI COMPANION. (Again, the Dorsai have always been the most visible to readers. I don't know why; I'd *love* to see a book about the Exotics. But it's the Dorsai books that sell.) -- Brandon S. Allbery necntc!ncoast!allbery@harvard.harvard.edu {hoptoad,harvard!necntc,{sun,cbosgd}!mandrill!hal,uunet!hnsurg3}!ncoast!allbery From archive (archive) Subject: Author Lists: Gordon R Dickson From: JWenn.ESAE@XEROX.COM Date: 30 Jan 89 08:53:16 GMT Gordy Dickson is another author mostly famous for one series, in this case it's the Dorsai. I like this series, the earlier ones in particular (I haven't read The Chantry Guild yet, but felt that The Final Encyclopedia could have easily been cut in half). I would like to see some more attention on the other exotic peoples sometime. Aside from that, you'll notice that he's had many collections released in the last few years. These are generally composed of stories from the 50's and 60's. In terms of his other work, I can recommend Time Storm, Way of the Pilgrim, & The Hoka Stories (incredibly silly but fun). [C] == Short Story Collection. [J] == The book is for juveniles (however you define them) [O] == Omnibus. Includes other books. aka == Also known by this other title. includes == This book wholely includes the other rev == revision of an older title /John arpa: JWenn.ESAE@Xerox.com ---------------------------------------------------------------- Dickson, Gordon R[upert] [,B.A.] [Canada, U.S.A., 01/11/1923- ] The Childe Cycle of books: [a projected three part cycle, past-present-future, Dorsai is future] The Dorsai Sequence: The Genetic General [1960] Three To Dorsai! [1975] [O] Necromancer [1962] [aka "No Room for Man"] The Tactics of Mistake [1971] Dorsai! [1976] [rev. of "The Genetic General"] Soldier, Ask Not [1967] The Final Encyclopedia [1984] The Chantry Guild [1988] The Dorsai Companian [1986] [O] The Spirit of Dorsai [1979] [C] Lost Dorsai [1980] [C] Secrets of the Deep [1985] [O] [J] Secret Under the Sea [1960] Secret Under Antartica [1963] Secret Under the Caribbean [1964] Dilbia Series: Spacial Deliver [1961] Spacepaw [1969] Alien Art / Arcturus Landing [1981] [O] Alien Art [1973] Alien from Arcturus [1956, 1979] [aka "Arcturus Landing"] Time to Teleport / Delusion World [1981] [O] Time to Teleport [1960] Delusion World [1961] Mankind on the Run [1956] [aka "On the Run"] Naked to the Stars [1961] The Space Winners [1965] The Alien Way [1965] Mission to Universe [1965, 1977] The Space Swimmers [1967] Wolfling [1969] None But Man [1969] Hour of the Horde [1970] Danger Human [1970] [aka "The Book of Gordon R. Dickson"] [C] Mutants [1970] [C] Sleepwalker's World [1971] The Outposter [1972] The Pritcher Mass [1972] The R-Master [1973] The Star Road [1973] [C] Ancient My Enemy [1974] [C] The Dragon and the George [1976] Time Storm [1977] Home from the Shore [1978] The Far Call [1978] Pro [1978] Gordon R. Dickson's SF Best [1978] [C] Masters of Everon [1980] In Iron Years [1980] [C] Love Not Human [1981] [C] The Man From Earth [1983] [C] The Last Master [1984] [rev. of "The R-Master"] Survival [1984] Steel Brother [1984] [C] [aka "Dickson!"] Forward [1985] [C] Beyond the Dar Al-Harb [1985] [C] Invaders! [1985] [C] The Forever Man [1986] The Man the Worlds Rejected [1986] [C] Mindspan [1986] [C] The Last Dream [1986] [C] Way of the Pilgrim [1987] In the Bone [1987] [C] [includes "Gordon R. Dickson's SF Best"] The Stranger [1987] [C] Guided Tour [1988] [C] Beginnings [1988] [C] Endings [1988] [C] Earth Lords [1989] Dickson, Gordon R & Anderson, Poul In Same Universe: The Hoka Stories: Earthman's Burden [1957] [C] Hoka [1983] [C] Star Prince Charlie [1975] Dickson, Gordon R & Bova, Ben Gremlins Go Home [1974] Dickson, Gordon R & Green, Roland J Jamie the Red [1984] [character from Robert Asprin's "Thieves World"] Dickson, Gordon R & Harrison, Harry The Lifeship [1976] Dickson, Gordon R & Laumer, Keith Planet Run [1967]