Two must-have classic novels of military science fiction are now reprinted in this omnibus edition honoring one of science fiction's most influential authors.
Dorsai, the foundation novel of Dickson's Childe Cycle, introduces Donal Graeme, a warrior in a culture of fiercely independent men and women who discovers within himself talents that will help him change the course of history. The Spirit of Dorsai tells two stories of Dorsai heroes: Amanda Morgan, who must face a military force bent on the destruction of Dorsai culture, and Ian Graeme, who struggles to avert a disaster while he wrestles with grief and rage over his brother's murder.
Dickson creates a complex and convincing political, historical, and social framework inhabited by compelling characters who never lose their blend of humanity and heroism. The Spirit of Dorsai is a smoothly written balance of strategy, tactics, and the individuals behind them that still sets a standard for military science fiction. --Roz Genessee
From Publishers Weekly
Fans of Gordon R. Dickson's Childe Cycle will welcome Dorsai Spirit, the posthumous omnibus edition containing the novels Dorsai! and The Spirit of Dorsai. The former, published in 1959, tells the heroic tale of Dorsai warrior and "superman" Donal Graeme, whose "courage was unquestioned" and who became a legendary leader; the latter, published two decades later and set 100 years after Donal's day, focuses on the Dorsai women, especially a trifecta of powerful Amandas. Introduction by David Drake.Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Review
“Dickson is among the best storytellers we have ever had.” —Poul Anderson
Book Description
Two cornerstone novels of the acclaimed “Childe Cycle” return to print in an omnibus edition—with an introduction by David Drake.
Throughout humanity’s Fourteen Worlds, no group is as feared and respected as the Dorsai. The ultimate warriors, they are known for their deadly rages, and ferocious independence...and unbending honor. No one man rules the Dorsai, but their mastery of the arts of war has made them the most valuable mercenaries in the human universe.
Dorsai! is the saga of Donal Graeme, the uniquely talented Dorsai, with powers beyond those of ordinary men. Once he ventures to the stars, the world of the Dorsai will be changed forever.
And The Spirit of Dorsai, written two decades later, is Dickson’s great novel of the women of the Dorsai. For the warrior spirit of the Dorsai does not, cannot reside solely in the men of that race—for when the mercenary Dorsai go to their wars, it is their women who defend their home planet from the predators of the universe. And defend it they do: their home planet has never fallen to an invader, though space is full of the corpses of those who have tried.
Through three generations, the unconquerable Amanda Morgan has embodied this warrior spirit. She is more than one lone woman; she is...the spirit of the Dorsai.
In this single volume is a pair of military SF classics every fan will want to own.
About the Author
Gordon R. Dickson was the Hugo- and Nebula-winning author of many classics of fantasy and science fiction, most famously the Childe Cycle (also known as the Dorsai series). He died in 2001.
Dorsai Spirit: Two classic novels of the Dorsai, Vol. 1 FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Throughout humanity's Fourteen Worlds, no group is as feared and respected as the Dorsai. The ultimate warriors, they are known for their deadly rages, ferocious independence...and unbending honor. No one man rules the Dorsai, but their mastery of the arts of war has made them the most valuable mercenaries in the human universe." "Dorsai! is the saga of Donal Graeme, a uniquely talented Dorsai with powers beyond those of ordinary men. Once he ventures to the stars, the world of the Dorsai will be changed forever." The Spirit of Dorsai, written two decades later, is Dickson's great novel of the women of the Dorsai. The warrior spirit of the Dorsai does not, cannot reside solely in the men of that race - for when the mercenary Dorsai go to their wars, it is their women who defend their home planet from the predators of the universe. And defend it they do: their home planet has never fallen to an invader, though space is full of the corpses of those who have tried.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Exit Strategy, the much-hyped open source novel by columnist and commentator Douglas Rushkoff (Coercion, ecstasy Club), is both a moral allegory and a "hypertext labyrinth of references and cross-references" creating a "community riff on our bizarre age." It can be as daunting as it sounds: the tale of a modern Joseph who's caught between the opposite worlds of hackers and venture capitalists sometimes nearly gets buried beneath the footnotes added by readers of the novel's online version, who were told to imagine that the novel had been discovered in the 23rd century ("wedgie: an attack meant to cause pain and embarrassment simultaneously," writes a helpful contemporary reader to future humans). (Soft Skull, $16 paper 340p ISBN 1-887128-90-5) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
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