Customer Reviews

Dorsai (Childe Cycle)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is acclaimed as a masterpiece of military SF but there are better examples in my opinion (both Heinlein's Starship Troopers and Haldeman's Forever War are markedly better) since this really has little to do with the actual mechanics of the military and the gritty life of a soldier as much as how soldiers fit overall in Dickson's Childe Cycle. At this point we're at book four in the cycle and really this seems to have the least to do with any of the other circulating themes (probably because it was written first and then revised retroactively to fit into what Dickson was building) since there's barely any mention of the Final Encyclopedia or the need to merge the Splinter Cultures. However, there is some crossover from Soldier, Ask Not, so at least we get a sense that everyone lives in the same universe. So we have to judge this one on its merit and honestly it's an entertaining novel, Dickson takes his now pretty much worked out universe and goes nuts by throwing Donal Graeme, a Dorsai who is slightly better than the average Dorsai, into the mix, letting him loose and causing all kinds of havok, the reason for which isn't of course clear until near the end. If you're not a fan of Dickson to begin with, this won't change your mind, Donal is perhaps his strongest character but he's still only an inch away from being a cipher and like all of Dickson's other main character he's so good at everything that it just sucks all the suspense right away, the book is a great read, but don't expect any dramatic tension at all . . . alas, this also makes the book a poor cousin of Tactics of Mistake (the main character was his ancestor) which had the same basic setup, guy really good at intuition outthinks everyone else to a ridiculous degree. On the plus side, we finally get to see a Scientist, even if he's not an average example, but at least they get a mention. Dickson also maintains his inability to write convincing female characters, Anea is a step forward and a step backward, she's a strong, opinionated character, it's just that all her opinions are wrong and she spends most of the book making snide judgements about Donal that clearly make her look stupid . . . plus there's hints of romance that never quite seem to cohere. All in all it's a satisfying read, albeit not one without flaws, it's a good example of pulp SF and Dickson's future history remains as fun as ever but it's not quite the masterpiece that many proclaim it to be. Go in with that mindset and you should have no problem at all.

"Dorsai!", by Gordon R. Dickson, is a science fiction novel set in a future wherein humanity has spread out to inhabit many different planets in several star systems. The different branches of humanity have evolved into a diverse group of different cultures. One of these branches of humanity is the Dorsai, a formidable warrior race. This novel follows the life and career of Donal Graeme, one of the Dorsai.

The 1993 TOR edition includes an introduction by David Drake, who notes that "Dorsai!" and Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers" were both first published in 1959, and together form "the standard against which the subgenre of military SF must be judged." "Dorsai!" is certainly an enjoyable and well-written space adventure. Dickson effectively structures the story; we follow Donal as he rises up the military ranks from Senior Cadet to higher levels of responsibility. Dickson fills the book with fascinating details about Donal's world. It's particularly intriguing to get glimpses of the divergent human cultures and of the conflicts that exist among them.

Along the way the book addresses many significant themes, such as military tactics, the role of religion in a military organization, and leadership. At its best, "Dorsai!" goes beyond being just a solid adventure novel and can be genuinely moving and thought-provoking. Recommended companion text: Joe Haldeman's "The Forever War," another gem of military science fiction.

I wanted to give this book more than three stars ... I really did. If Amazon and these reviews had been around when I was in my early 20s, this first time I read this book, I'd have given it five. Having just reread it, I was disappointed that it didn't stand up the way some novels of that day did.

Dorsai! is the story of a young man from a world which trains the top warriors in the sphere of human colonization. Donal is totally focused on career and assignment, to the exclusion of almost everything else in life. In an odd sort of contrivance that doesn't ring true, Donal inspires great loyalty in those around him, yet he often exhibits little to no loyalty himself. More than thirty years after my first reading, I know from experience that type of loyalty imbalance is unlikely. The military strokes of genius in the book also don't come across to the older and more experienced me as nearly so brilliant as they did 30 years ago. His first major success ... having his command climb trees to avoid a surprise attack ... is actually highly flawed in both reasoning and sound small unit tactics. (Trees provide some measure of concealment, maybe, but no actual cover from fire, and if the enemy catches on and starts dropping your trees ... BIG trouble! LOL Dickson's surmise that the enemy might not catch on where the tree based fire is coming from is just silly.) Other battles are better thought out, but not exactly the uniquely shocking plans they are presented to be.

Donal is a surprisingly unappealing hero throughout. Other than the circumstance that as the lead in the story you know you are "supposed" to pull for him, Dickson doesn't really give you ANYTHING to like about him. He is focused, humorless, and relatively uncaring in all his relationships ... except where an individual might be useful to help him achieve his plans and ambitions. Not one of the supporting characters is really fleshed out. They are caricatures set like cardboard figures around Donal as required to advance a certain bit of the plot line. This is a book that could have benefited from being far longer than it is, in order to have a chance to get to know our hero better, and other important figures in the book better as well.

Still, this is an interesting read, and as part of a series of books, you won't come away feeling that you have wasted your time on an element of the series in order to be a completest about reading it (as is the case with SEVERAL of the books in Foster's Flinx and Pip series, for example). The book does hold your interest and attention, and if it does not ring true in a few places, those places are limited in scope. If nothing else, the book does a good job of introducing the reader to the various human societies that make up Dickson's space faring human race, along with the political divides and social peculiarities. Since it is the first book in the Childe Cycle, it would be a poor choice as one to skip! LOL

I just hope that by the time I make it to "The Tactics of Mistake" (a few books later in the series), it still holds up for me. When I originally read that book I was highly impressed. I'll know the answer in a few weeks.

Donal Graeme, young soldier, gets caught up with Anea Marlivana, a Select of Kultis, and her owner, Prince William of Ceta who is dangerous to all of human civilization. Donal isn't aware of his destiny, but powers of his intuition guides him to rise up the military rank to meet his to-be-opponent William.

The story goes beyond being just a soldier adventure and therefore offers only glimpses from the military angle. The gist of the red clew is to unwind Donal's purpose in the development of the humanity as a whole. The leverage used in the story is the girl, later matured woman, Anea, who only can match Donal's hidden abilities.

The events are set in a predictable pathway, which is engaging enough, but don't expect any dramatic tension. In the light of published year, 1959, the writer has been wise to concentrate on humanity in general to keep the story classic. Terseness helps to keep the book from seeming dated: there is little description, a good thing to keep imagination at work. The Dorsai-series is not about military but in par with the same feel as other classics like Asimov's Foundation series.

If you can keep in mind the publishing year, it's easy to forgive few dints that are typical to the era. Anea is an emotional woman which Donald can't understand; still the woman is facinated by this stronger male. The interactions between the two are shattered by bursts of conflicts and Donal is eager to prove her wrong by taking more challenges. This traditional love story in its lightness is somewhat dulcet and fits to the overall tone of the novel. Donal is designed to win every obstacle which can suck all the suspense right away from some of the readers. But that was pretty obvious from the start, so instead of expecting suspense this is more like modern prince, princess and fight against evil dictator to take his throne. A tale well told.

This is not the right book to start the series. Dickson's books are best read in internal order which is somewhat: 'Necromancer' (1962, not essential), 'Tactics of Mistake' (1971, essential), The Spirit of Dorsai (1979, essential), Lost Dorsai (1980, not essential), 'Dorsai' (1959, essential), 'Soldier Ask Not' (1967, not essential), 'The Final Encyclopedia' (1984). The books marked "not essential" complete the picture but do not carry the inertia with equal force like the rest of books in the series. Whatever you do, read 'Tactics of Mistake' because this book - Dorsai -- is direct sequel.

Four (4) stars. Good, fast read, enough sweeping action and excitement, hints of romance which is sparkingly left in the shadows, female characters are used as catalysts. The story is left intriguingly open to see what is the course to follow this new genetic human, Donal.

The best book was the Tactics of Mistake. It's in the same series

The first book in one of the best sci-fi series in History, the Childe Cycle. A young man begins to manifest his differentness and alter the path of the Human Race to a new evolutionary step. Take my word for it, you want to read this book. Several of the books later in the series got all kinds of awards and you want to read them in order so start here. This is where it all begins. The next book in the series is Necromancer

I read this book back in High School, and loved it. But the years, and much more reading, have changed my impression. The story best serves to introduce the Dorsai Universe of Gordon R. Dickson. It most likely was the inspiration for all the Sci Fi mercenary novels since. However the protagonist is simply not likable or interesting. Problems are not solved by any great effort. Instead Donal Graeme simply applies his Dorsai Tactical and Strategic abilities, and the problems go away. The next two books, Soldier Ask Not, and Tactics of Mistake, are much better. Soldier Ask Not is told from the viewpoint of a Newsman from Earth, who is something of a egomaniac, who loses his brother-in-law to some Friendlies, (one of the Splinter Cultures) and spends the rest of the book seeking revenge. It is intersting in that the real heroes are the Friendlies. Tactics of Mistake tells about Donal's ancestor, and the foundng of the Dorsai culture. In Dorsai Dickson introduces a fascinating Universe, which is a great backdrop for his stories. By all means read Soldier Ask Not, and Tactics of Mistake, as well as Necromancer, a prequel to the series. But the Short Stories, Brothers, Lost Dorsai, and Act of Creation, are gems. Act of Creation, which was in a collection of his stories, and is not a typical Dorsai tale, takes place in what is almost a parallel Dorsai Universe. Brothers, and Lost Dorsai, feature the twins, Ian and Kensie, and add depth to the Dorsai Soldierly ethos. All are highly recommended.

I have been told that most sci-fi connoisseurs are men. They certaintly seem to write the most popular titles. But I've always been a sci-fi nut and there must be other women out there...this is for you. I really enjoyed this book! Enough to purchase and read "Lost Dorsai"...another in the Childe Cycle. I found the male characters complex and interesting and the setting (future, multiple worlds interacting politically, economically)fascinating. It whet my apatite enough to go searching for the other books in this series. A word of caution to female readers...the female characters are at times embarrassing...they often lack substance and seem poorly drawn or just poorly understood.This complaint ,however, did not significantly impede my enjoyment. With all "classic sci-fi" I personally find the same problem. Just keep in mind this was written by a man in 1965 (many of us weren't even born then). The way that I deal with it is to realize that it's only a "man's" perspective of what woman are like...we all know just how acurate that usually is : ) .

Great reading for action Sci-fi. Not as much character development as current novels. Great ideas and action. Dorsai is one of the best action Sci-fi series of all time

This is the story of Donal Graeme, who is a soldier of the Dorsai world. This excellent story is set in the Childe Cycle at its peak, long after the Younger Worlds have achieved independence from Earth (Tactics of Mistake) but before the coming of the Others (The Final Encyclopedia). Donal Graeme descends from a long line of Dorsai solders, the first of whom was Cletus Grahame, the protagonist of "Tactics of Mistake." Childe Cycle fans know that the soldiers of the Dorsai are mercenaries, available to the highest bidder but efficient enough so that even the poorer of the Younger Worlds can afford to hire sufficient Dorsai to maintain their independence against stronger worlds. This is the backdrop of this novel, and Dickson's speculations in this regards are quite interesting. Incidentally, this novel is co-incident in time with "Soldier, Ask Not" which is another Dorsai novel.

This story deals with Donal's ascension to become the outstanding military general of his day. This piece features some of Dickson's best writing, and this is a fairly short, snappy novel which moves at a brisk pace towards a somewhat startling conclusion. This novel also sets the stage for The Final Encyclopedia, although this will not be evident to readers until they actually read that novel. In fact, this one ties "Necromancer" (the first "Childe Cycle" novel) and "The Final Encyclopedia" together in an interesting way.

An interesting story and satisfying read. Recommended for fans of good military SF or Dickson's Childe Cycle series.