Customer Reviews

Soldier, Ask Not: A Novel in The Childe Cycle (Tor Science Fiction)

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

 

 

I'm not a fan of Dickson's novels. I think his style lacks something, and he tends to try to make connections in his novels that I could never see, try as I might. He also tends to portray his heroes as perfect, infallible...in other words, not human beings, not someone you can feel for. However, the idea behind the Childe Cycle caught my attention even at 14, when I started reading his books. In SOLDIER, ASK NOT, I think he comes closest to actually letting a character display some emotion. Tam Oleyn truly displays human qualities (albeit, usually negative ones), and Jamethon Black is probably the most sympathetic character, in my opinion, that Dickson ever created. I still don't like the prose of the book, but it shows much more feeling than the others in the series, with the exception, perhaps, of THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.

Of the Dorsai novels, this one presents the most balanced view of the Splinter Cultures, especially of the Friendlies.

While other Dorsai novels portray the Friendlies as unsophisticated, simple minded fanatics, here they are shown in a sympathetic light, as flesh and blood humans, not caricatures. Jamethon Black is not a rabid religious fanatic, but a decent man, frustrated in love by the cruel whim of an earthman. Nor is Eldest Bright the frothing at the mouth megalomaniac we saw in the novel Dorsai, but a shrewd and strong willed man (albeit somewhat harsh and unforgiving).

Other Splinter Cultures are also better developed, with more depth and personality than usual. The Exotics are less aloof and condescending, and the Dorsai are less bland. The twins Kensie and Ian Graeme are the most interesting of Dorsai characters to date.

In the end, faith, not military force, technology or trickery, wins the day. The value of the religious component of humanity (i.e. the Friendlies) was recognized. I found this to be refreshing and gratifying - most science fiction (e.g. Star Trek) tends to condemn or ridicule religion, especially Christianity.

Dickson takes us back to his Dorsai universe in this novel, but overall, this novel is just another average book with glimpses of raw emotion. The most important part of this novel is the fact that we get a glimpse of the powerful Final Encyclopedia, and we get to meet the originator of this wonder. The main character begins to understand his unnatural powers of vision while on tour of the Final Encyclopedia.

It is here, that Tam realizes he can see the whole picture as to his future, and the future of other cultures. Tam decides to become a newsman, and become prominent in his field. However, on a routine sweep of a battle for reporting purposes, Tam views the death of his brother-in-law in an act of cold-blooded murder. At this point, Tam becomes a little more cryptic, dark, and motivated to a devasting end. Tam's main goal is to wipe a culture out of the universe.

Now, this novel presents many unique sociological and psychological issues. But overall, the plot is very bland. There is not much in the way of exciting reading found in this novel. Again, as in other Dorsai novels, you can view bits and pieces of the super-warriors in the Dorsai. But the plot is not a real mover-and-shaker. I would recommend that you read this novel only to say you read all of the books in the Dorsai series, beyond that, there is no real outstanding reason to pick up this book.

The third (in theory) of the Childe Cycle books, this is the first one that feels like the series is heading anywhere, with more of the main concepts (the Splinter Cultures, the Final Encyclopedia) explained in more detail and finally a sense of direction starts to emerge. This book concerns Tam Olyn, a Newsman who has an unfortunate experience with the Friendly culture (the ultra-religious people . . . though not for nothing, it would be nice for once to see a fanatical religion that isn't directly based on Christianity, it's becoming a bit of a cliche now and it would be nice to show a little bit of imagination) and basically vows to bring their entire culture down . . . not all of his manipulations make perfect sense to me frankly (a common thing with Dickson, either I'm missing the man's logic or it's just not well thought out) but it's the thought that counts and it's fun watching his plan almost come to fruition. Tam Olyn is one of the more interesting characters to come down the pipeline but he's not as much fun as the guy from Tactics of Mistake (no sense of humor and a little too full of himself . . . Paul Formain might have been boring but at least he wasn't arrogant) but he almost makes up for it with sheer intensity and his unswerving focus provides a good amount of drive to the novel. Sometimes the supporting characters are more interesting than he is though (ie Jamethon Black, although Lisa Kant and Eileen continue the trend of having female characters who, er, don't do anything) and the few Dorsai that show up clearly steal the show, making it obvious when Dickson's loyalities lie . . . what makes this book work isn't really the main plot so much as the deeper glimpse into this future history Dickson has going, while he does steal slightly from Asimov ("ontogenetics" = psychohistory last I checked) the idea of humanity splitting into the distinct groups (and then eventually rejoining) plus the stuff like the Final Encyclopedia are all great concepts and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future books (one thing does bother me, why is no one ever mentions the Scientists, be a shame to leave them out) . . . this novel is entertaining in its own right but on it's own it's merely average . . . when placed in context with the rest of the books in the Cycle, it gains a little more importance. Dickson can't write anything totally unreadable and this is clearly more interesting than the earlier books but it's not exactly a masterpiece . . . it has enough to make you keep reading and it goes by quickly. You won't feel you wasted your time but you may not feel any desire to go back and read it again either.

I first read this book over 20 years ago, and I read a lot of science fiction, but this is one of the few that truly stands out!

It is one of the very few I've saved to reread over and over again, and I gain different insights each time, at various points in my life. It is absolutely worth reading!

It is the story of anguish and desire for vengence so consuming that the main character sets out to commit genocide against an entire planet, to erase their line from the universe forever!

He has the power to do it too, because he learns while most people are swept along by destiny, powerless to do much about the events in their lives, he finds that he is one of the very few who has the power to control destiny, and shape it to his will.

The only thing that stands in his way is one lone soldier, Jonathan Black, a man of true faith. A man whose faith is so strong, that even if his beliefs were completely proven false, and even if he learned he had been betrayed by all his leaders, and even if his faith was completely abandoned by every other human being, he alone would still believe, and hold true to his faith.

Bottom line, OK for early teens but not something a more experienced SF reader would like. This is my first Gordon Dickson novel. I selected it after a review of Dickson's works in a SF anthology and the fact that it had the Hugo Award honor. I pick the book up at a used book store (great place to buy books) and I am glad I did not pay full price. I am a long time reader of SF, being in my 50s, and I was very disappointed: the book was a bit pretentious in plot and writing style. The main character was given capabilities that were not demonstrated convincingly. Other supporting characters such as the Exotics could have been better explored. The first part of the book was not very interesting, but I was traveling and had no other book to read so I struggled to the end. The later part of the book picked up a bit and in final analyses it was an OK book for early teens (13-14 year olds). The separation of the human race was an interesting plot concept, but not very well executed. The Asimov FOUNDATION series is a much better SF collection.

This book was recommended to me by my father. He is a literary person and I have never read a book he suggested and been let down. I've never seen my father cry. That is until I got into a discussion with him concerning this book. I could not believe how moving the book was for him and it had been years since he read it. I must admit that after reading it myself; it made a big impression on me.

The book has:

A great struggle between good and evil.
An amazing example of faith / believing in something wholeheartedly (the title eludes to it)
The main character is capable of controlling others simply by how he interacts with them

It's a great book and there is more to it than I'm capable of explaining.

The best of the Childe Cycle novels, Gordon Dickson's story of man's evolution among the stars. Tam Olyn, newsman, has pledged to bring down the religious fanatics of the planets Faith and Association.

This isn't the book you should read to start the series. If youre just starting it try Necromancer. If not...ENJOY!

This book focuses on a key figure in Final Encyclopedia and Chantry Guild. For that reason alone it is worth a read. The book is a little dry and sexist otherwise, not as rich as the newer books in the series