Dorsai Spirit
Gordon R. Dickson
(Sr. Staff Reviewer - D. H. BROWN)
2002 TOR Books
ISBN: 0312877641
Throughout humanity's Fourteen Worlds, no group is as feared & respected as the Dorsai, who are the ultimate warriors, known for their deadly rages, their ferocious independence, & an unbending sense of honor. Their mastery of the arts of war has made the Dorsai the most valued mercenaries in the universe.
This is an omnibus of Gordon R. Dickson's classic science fiction adventures. In Dorsai!, originally published in 1959, Donal Graeme, a uniquely talented Dorsai with powers beyond those of ordinary men, ventures to the stars, & the world of the Dorsai is changed forever.
In The Spirit of Dorsai, written in 1979, we meet the women of the Dorsai, in whom the warrior spirit also resides. When the mercenary Dorsai go to their wars, it is their women who defend their home planet from the predators of the universe.
Sr. Staff Reviewer D. H. BROWN writes:
While thumbing through the TOR website recently, the title leaped out Dorsai Spirit by Gordon R. Dickson. Being in the know, I was a bit surprised because Gorden R. Dickson had passed away a while back. So I requested the Editors at Tor to send me a copy for review.
Being completely in the dark I had supposed it a previously unpublished manuscript. When the book arrived, I eagerly opened it to find it was a reprint of the original Dorsai of 1959 & the Spirit of Dorsai. (1979) Rather than being disappointed, I found myself harkening back to about 1960 when I first encountered the Dorsai.
What an exciting time! What an exciting read! For the son of traveling missionarries, I only had time to check it out from a local library & read it before we left that town. What has always stayed with me is that this was the same time I had read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers.
I know that from then on anything written in the subset military sci-fi was, in my mind, judged by these two definitive works.
Over the years, I devoured every book in the Dorsai series & all of the rest of Mr. Dickson's writings. No matter at what place or age I found myself, seeing a book on the racks with that name emblazened on its cover, ensured me I was going to have a fine read!
I also found that encapsulated within my military experience, I had a tendency to judge my commanders by the template of command & honor portrayed by the characters within the Dorsai saga.
So, I had in my hands this reprint of these two well-remembered books of my youth, which I began to devour.
What a revelation! What an exciting read! What a beautiful way to relive my youth! Thank you TOR for resusciating this master's work.
I encourage anyone who read it in their teens, or has a teen who has never read it, to buy this book & re-experience & experience for the first time, the craftsmanship of Gordon R. Dickson.
Four teapots for a reprint. I'm glad that I have lived long enough to be able to lend my voice to the chorus that has raised praise to this author's visions.
This is one author that has to be on a sci-fi fan's priority list. So wherever you are, Mr. Dickson, preen the feathers of your wings & know we still remember you, here on earth.
D. H. BROWN
A RebeccasReads.Com Sr. Staff Reviewer
Reviewer's Bio:
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries. In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow. During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN). While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.
D. H. BROWN has worked as a Logistics and Weapons Specialist in Viet Nam; day laborer; Director of Security; Armored Car Driver; Police Officer; Professional Hunting Guide; Trapper; Dog Sledder; Homesteader; Truck Driver; General Contractor; Minister; Editor; Writer; Speaker; Restaurateur; Movie Producer; Antique Restoration Specialist; Personal Care Worker; PC Repair Specialist; Computer Instructor; Webmaster and Web Designer. "I write about what I know."
He lives deep in the Pacific Northwest rainforest with his wife, author and editor Rebecca and Buddy Dog, working on his next book.
Visit him at: www.dhbrownbooks.com
Books make great gifts: no calories, carbs or cholesterol!
RebeccasiReads.com
D. H. BROWN is the author of the critically acclaimed HONOR DUE and the Citizens Warrior Series. The son of missionary parents and with the help his Uncle Sam, he has touched base in more than 40 countries. In 1986 he produced the independent children's film Lessie's Rainbow. During the late 80s and early 90s, he wrote the book Common Sense and delivered the seminars of the same name for the Community Action Network of Seattle (CAN). While doing his early Vietnam recovery work, he counseled Veterans and spoke widely to men's groups in Washington state, and was a founder of The Lodge of the Wolf.