Dorsai Spirit - Gordon R. Dickson Book Review

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Review Summary

Tor, Jun 2002, 25.95, 430 pp.
ISBN: 0312877641

“Dorsai”. Among the fourteen worlds, Dorsai provides one export that is in great demand. The planet consists of the best military mercenaries known in the cosmos. Donal Graeme is about to go off planet with abilities never seen before as humanity has taken a quantum leap up on the evolutionary path. This reviewer read “Dorsai” in the sixties and found it to be a fascinating tale. Though a powerful introduction to the Dorsai culture, the military tactics seem weak in a post Star Wars world. Still Donal is a great character struggling between his differences and his human frailty.

“Spirit of Dorsai”: “Amanda Morgan”. While the men go off planet to fight, women remain behind to defend Dorsai. Amanda Morgan faces an enemy with one goal in mind, the destruction of the Dorsai culture. “Brothers”. Ian Graeme feels guilt for living, grief for his dead sibling, and anger for not being able to keep his brother alive. Preferring to avenge his brother's murder, Ian must first prevent a major catastrophe from occurring. This novella (“Amanda Morgan”) and short story (“Brothers”) provide more of a historical perspective to the Dorsai, especially Amanda's story furnishing insight into the role of women in the culture.

DORSAI SPIRIT is a compilation of two previous Gordon R. Dickson's books from his Childe Cycle. The stories remain interesting and old fans will rejoice to read them while newcomers will find the tales entertaining. Yet this reviewer wonders why the memories of Mr. Dickson as one of the standard bearers of military science fiction seem weakened at least from re-reading this part of the saga.

Harriet Klausner

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar

Detailed literary breakdown of Dorsai Spirit

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%

Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV: - fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
Inner Struggle Yes
Plotlet: - search for identity/new understanding - change of heart
War or Invasion Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - warrior/knight
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
Age: - 20's-30's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic

Setting
Spaceship setting: - really, really giant spaceship/station
Takes place in spaceship? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - a fair amount of scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript

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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).

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