Spirit of Dorsai (Childe/Dorsai Cycle, Vol. 6)

Childe Cycle #5

by Gordon R. Dickson, Fernando Fernández (Illustrator)

Throughout the universe, the Dorsai are feared and respected as the most effective soldiers humanity has ever known. But the warrior spirit of the Dorsai does not, cannot, reside solely in the men of that race - for when the Dorsai go to fight wars on distant planets, it is the women who remain behind to defend their world and their future. The home planet of the Dorsai has never fallen to any invader, although many have tried...

Through three generations, Amanda Morgan has embodied the best of the Dorsai: the selfless courage, keen intelligence, and unconquerable soul. She is more than one lone woman. She is the Spirit of Dorsai.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Military Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera, Fantasy, Military Fiction

282 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Gordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author. He was born in Canada, then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota as a teenager. He is probably most famous for his Childe Cycle and the Dragon Knight series. He won three Hugo awards and one Nebula award.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book collects two of Dickson's Dorsai novellas along with some short framing sequences. Amanda Morgan was an original, and Brothers was reprinted from the 1973 John W. Campbell memorial anthology Astounding edited by Harry Harrison. Many of Dickson's later Dorsai works seemed to me to too self-referential and required you to have read too many of his previous Dorsai books, but these two are well enough self-contained and stand pretty well on their own, though there's a lot of overlap with established characters, and their descendants. It's very good military sf, arguably still the most famous example of that sub-genre which almost single-handedly created. Dickson was a good writer and a very good storyteller, though modern readers will have a problem with his very narrowly defined gender roles. (The women stay home and mind the housekeeping while the men go off to war.) Amanda Morgan is notable in that it turns the concept a bit askew, and shows other aspects of the Dorsai lifestyle. Ace published the book in 1979, very heavily illustrated by Fernando Fernandez, and kept the illustrations intact for their mass market edition the following year.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10
An interesting interlude that retells the events surrounding the death of Kensie Graeme and the attack on Dorsai by Dow deCastries from a different point of view than in the earlier novels. And the listener is Hal Mayne from the Final Encyclopedia, a poet who apparently is much more, and about whom I expect to read more in the rest of the Childe Cycle.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two novellas wrapped in a conversation, between Amanda II & Hal Mayne as he is finding himself. Both novellas were good.

The first is about the first Amanda & expands on the end of the previous book when Dorsai was invaded. Even at 93, the first Amanda, embodies the spirit of the Dorsai as she leads the defense of her home district with warriors made up of youngsters, amputees & oldsters like herself against first line troops.

The second expands on the twins, Kensie & Ian Graeme (Graham - I think there was an change to the spelling of the name, anyway.) Ian, the dark twin shows another side of the spirit of the Dorsai.

All told, it was a good read & adds more to the series. It didn't wow me, but I'm not sorry I re-read it.

[prcardi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Storyline: 2/5
Characters: 3/5
Writing Style: 3/5
World: 2/5

I'm a Dorsai fan. I wouldn't have guessed that about myself had someone described these books to me ahead of time. I find it hard to articulate what it is that captivates me with this series. I could even sympathize and understand readers who dislike the individual books or have abandoned the sequels. There are a lot of reasons to be frustrated with this specific volume. This is another book where the Childe Cycle moves in circles, refusing to lead forward. This also appears to be a merging of two novellas strung together as flashbacks with only the barest hint of a present narrative. The two flashback are parallel tales to events from earlier books. And they're really not that interesting. I could see how they might have even originally included in the first drafts of the earlier books and then excised because they contributed so little to the story. The signature enigma and Purpose of the series makes a couple of wispy impressions here but is largely absent from the tale. These really do read as completely unnecessary and mostly unadorned side stories. Somehow I still enjoyed them. I suppose it is because I am a fan. Had I been a fan in 1979, having waited eight years for this volume, I might have been bitter, angry even. Today, however, this was a breezy read, devoured in a few hours, feeding my minor Dorsai craving, and satisfying me until I get to the sixth in the series, Lost Dorsai. I warn you, however, 1980-Dickson, that I've been forgiving for these last two volumes, and I now expect the series to spring forward.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person · Rating 5 out of 5]

My rating is for the first of the two stories in this volume entitled “Spirit of Dorsai,” an old favorite.
I read and reread this in the 1990s. This time, I listened to the audio. The Narration was excellent.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Amanda defending Dorsai for Cletus. Second Amanda in love with Ian, detailed story of Kenzie's death. Hal M. asks third Amanda to come to the Final Encyclopedia. Easy reading and nice fill in of previous stories.

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon R. Dickson really is an excellent author, and it completely shines forth in these two novels, combined in this edition. The action moves and really doesn't have a dull moment.

[Stuart Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two shorts about pivotal Dorsai individuals. Amanda Morgan is the woman Cletus Graeme was counting on for the defense of Dorsai during the events of Tactics of Mistake. She's 92 years old but still sharp. She leads the resistance when occupying forces arrive, and we get some insight into what it means to be a Dorsai woman on the homefront.

In the second part, a set of twin Dorsai generals are successful in the war on Baku. But when one of the twins is assassinated the other must do all he can to keep the Dorsai troops from burning the capital to the ground. Shows the Dorsai in action when they are not shooting, and gives an example of how the military hierarchy works.

Good stories, especially the first one, which is basically about the life of a frontier woman defending her home while the fighters are away. How she had to grow up hard and fast, and how all the Dorsai young and old are of the same ilk. The second story is mostly to show that some people keep their emotions bottled up, but it takes a toll on them just the same.

This book is kind of a filler issue in the Childe Cycle, covering some events that had occurred off camera in the previous books. But since it deals exclusively with the Dorsai it is very entertaining. It's worth a read while waiting for the next book in the series to come out and advance the storyline. That should be some time in 1980. The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these stories. The first story, Amanda Morgan, ties in closely with the end of Tactics of Mistake. Amanda herself is an interesting character, and a notably unconventional protagonist for this type of story (essentially Red Dawn in Space) as an elderly woman. She is not the cartoon action hero, but rather physically frail. This fact highlights the story's theme about the importance of moral strength over physical strength.

Brothers ties into important events in Dorsai and Soldier, Ask Not. The focus (but not the POV) here is Ian Graeme and his reaction to great personal loss. I loved this exploration of his character, and how he exemplifies another aspect of the spirit of Dorsai of the book's title.

This is my favorite of the Childe Cycle since the first book, Dorsai. It also enhances the books it ties into. It's probably not the place to start with this series, but if you've read the earlier Childe Cycle books, definitely pick this one up as well.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these stories. The first story, Amanda Morgan, ties in closely with the end of Tactics of Mistake. Amanda herself is an interesting character, and a notably unconventional protagonist for this type of story (essentially Red Dawn in Space) as an elderly woman. She is not the cartoon action hero, but rather physically frail. This fact highlights the story's theme about the importance of moral strength over physical strength.

Brothers ties into important events in Dorsai and Soldier, Ask Not. The focus (but not the POV) here is Ian Graeme and his reaction to great personal loss. I loved this exploration of his character, and how he exemplifies another aspect of the spirit of Dorsai of the book's title.

This is my favorite of the Childe Cycle since the first book, Dorsai. It also enhances the books it ties into. It's probably not the place to start with this series, but if you've read the earlier Childe Cycle books, definitely pick this one up as well.

[Mitchell Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a long setup. I don't know that I've ever read this series straight through in order. I remember bits. I certainly remembered the first story here Amanda Morgan concerning the defense of the Dorsai planet. It was nice to finally see female characters taking a major active role with the implication that they always had. The second story Brothers concerning the death of Kensie Graeme I had not remembered. And I didn't like it all that much until near the end. And the whole book came together and I realized how much it was trying to set the stage for the end of the series. I wasn't all that impressed with the art, though it was fine. In some ways this book wouldn't be a bad starting point for the series. And on to the next.

[Byron Chicklis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but rife with publishing errors

This was my least favorite of the Childe Cycle series (though I have yet to read the 6th book). It's still an interesting read, but lacks the philosophical and psychological insights of the earlier books. I should also note that this version, as of right now, is full of typographical errors. Missing periods and misspelled words are present on nearly every page, and distract from the flow of the work. Obviously, the ebook was transcribed from the paper with a computer program, and no one bothered to proof read the final copy. As such, I can only recommend it to fans of the series.

[Quad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ottimo contorno per l'ambientazione dei Dorsai. Due racconti che servono a descrivere meglio le vicende di questa strana e affascinante razza.
Prima abbiamo "Amanda Morgan". Bello e intenso. Pur sapendo già la fine (raccontata in "Tattica dell'errore"), si giunge al dunque in un modo inaspettato: ciò che può far di un libro un capolavoro. Peccato però che fosse solo un racconto. Il secondo è "Fratelli", che approfondisce le figure di Kensie e Ian Graeme, anche questi già personaggi noti della serie. Bel racconto, forse un po' troppo corto e senza una vera e propria trama.

[Al "Tank" · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall the stories are engaging. It skips around in time somewhat (mostly from story to story), which can be a bit confusing, but not a distraction.

I had trouble keeping track of names, but that's my curse in life (I'm lucky to remember my own name - grin). The first yarn took a bit longer than I'd want, but I suspect Dickson wanted to build suspense. It worked.

It's back in my library to read again.

[James]

Dickson's Childe Cycle, of which the Dorsai books form a part, is one of the most famous and beloved group of novels in science fiction. This is the story of Amanda Morgan, ancestor of Donal Graeme, who remains behind when the Dorsai men go off to war and who must help defend her world. Previous publisher: Ace.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

The second in this series that I've read, and I think I'm just not sold on Dickson's world-building and character development. The illustrations have a retro charm, but the writing itself is just proto-Baen military sci fi without much of the detail that seems to draw people to those writers.

[Trevor McGuire · Rating 2 out of 5]

My second Dickson book, and I suppose it was better than the first. It just isn't my cup of tea. The military writing is just too over the top. The the ontogenetics <-> pscychohistory is just too much for me.

[Erik Wennermark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories adding more detail/perspective to events from other books in the cycle. Good read.

[Xabi1990 · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10. Media de los 8 libros que he leído de este autor : 7/10

Mis favoritos los del ciclo Dorsai (CF militarista pero con su toque). Muy adictiva (pero simplota).

[Andy Janes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't hate it. Two fairly interesting sci-fi stories that didn't feel very related.

[Frank DeLorenzo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Enjoyed the childe series for decades. Re-read them often every couple of years. Provides a hopeful goal for humans, if we can avoid the evil individual.

[Paul Berner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spirit of Dosai

Very good read. I read the whole Dosage series about 40 years ago. I find that I still enjoy reading the series.

[John Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was Required reading

[Gabriel Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Interesting scrapings from the barrel"

[Joey Brockert]

Mr. Dickson is well known in science fiction circles as a good writer, so I bought this book. It is interesting. The Dorsai are the inhabitants of a planet humans have colonized in their expansion across the galaxy. There is little to survive on, so the wherewithal to survive has to be imported and what is exported are mercenaries.
The book starts with a introduction to a female of a certain family, Amanda, and an off world questioner. He is curious about the history of the planet and she is the one with the answers. Her ancestors helped save and create the legacy the planet lives on.
The first story is how the planet retained its independence. They were to be brought under the rule of Earth because the actions of one of the mercenaries was to be arrested as an excuse. The planet was inhabited by old, infirm, young, etc. (the healthy young were off fighting other's battles), yet they defeated the invaders.
The second story is of the death of one of the more famous mercenary and how his twin brother exacted justice for him. The crux of the story is that some things need doing by certain people to further the ends of some esoteric group that hires the mercenaries for client planets. It is all for the betterment of mankind, but some bad things do need to happen to facilitate the path to greater good.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written story but seemed like it did not have a convincing overall theme. The book was split into two different storylines about the Dorsai, but all they had in common was their ancestral lineage. Another jarring factor was that one of the stories was told in first-person perspective while the other was told in third-person perspective. It made making the jump between stories a little harder to flow.

I believe this is the third book in the series and as such, was definitely not a book you could just jump into and expect to understand all of it or be intrigued by the world enough to want to go back and read the missing novels. A shame, since the writing itself wasn't bad. I would give this three and a half stars if I could. I can't give it four since it doesn't deserve four, so must drop it down to three.

[Stuart McMillan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My reread of the Dorsai books stopped after this one.

The mythos of the Dorsai spirit is worth expanding on, and this interlinked pair of novellas tells the story of the men and women of the planet as they begin to realise their potential. We learn of the self-sacrifice of indomitable people in the face of their oppressors. We learn of the hardness of military spirit in their soldiers.

We learn that Dorsai people have, for some reason, become supermen (apart from the stay-at-home women that shows how of it's time the book is) who really can do no wrong and are largely infallible.

This triumphalism is enough for me in the series. I don't think I'll purse any more.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two entertaining stories/novelettes set in Dickson's Childe Cycle universe, tied together with brief narrative passages. They work better than some of the later novels because they're focused on single events in this future history-- lots of action, a bit of character development, and not so much distracting philosophizing. The first novelette is especially nice because it is from the point of view of an interesting and three-dimensional female character, something notably (but somewhat understandably, given the time period) lacking in the other novels written in the 50's through early 70's.

[William McGarvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read but...

The book was interesting and worthwhile reading, certainly worth four stars. Unfortunately, like so many ebooks it had a plethora of spelling errors. After a lifetime of reading actual books it is frustrating to see so many ebooks being published containing such distractions. Doesn't anyone proofread anymore?

[Chip · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are a fan of true Science Fiction these two books are a must. Gordon Dickson was one of the key authors of the great period. His Dorsai model has been used from everything including The Terminator, Borgs, and any super race concept imaginable. Shai Dorsai...