Gordon R. Dickson at his finest. This one is oversized with larger print and has 50 ILLUSTRATIONS to bring things alive.
Read if twice - about to start my third read . . .
Read if twice - about to start my third read . . .
Another Dorsai novel, December 21, 2000
Reviewer: Jason Moll (Reading, PA United States)
This is another Dorsai novel that further follows the image created by Dickson of a superior military warrior. This novel centers around the Dorsai warrior Corunna El Mann. He is supervising the transport of an important dignitary to a planet that is undergoing some internal conflict. When El Mann gets to the planet, political chaos occurs.
It seems that the soldiers that were trained to defend a fort have deserted to help the revolutionaries. As a result, this leaves a handful of people left to defend this fortress. There are a total of five Dorsai, one of which is opposed to using weapons. This person is named Michael, and he is in charge of the band.
As the days unfold, this novel is really a book centered around the development of characters. There is not much action going on this this novel, except for the final battle scenes. This novel acutally plays more on in the internal conflict of one individual who battles what his morals are, and what his training would have him do. As a result, the book is a great study in socio-ethical conflicts located within an individual. It is easy reading, without a lot of intense descriptions. Overall, it was just an average novel.
The book also contained the short story "Warrior". The story is very easy to read, and should be used in conjunction with other Dorsai novels. The main purpose of this story is to develop the character of Ian Graeme, and further solidify his image. Again, this is easy reading, but you catch a glipse of the unique and intelligent thinking processes that Ian contains.
Reviewer: Jason Moll (Reading, PA United States)
This is another Dorsai novel that further follows the image created by Dickson of a superior military warrior. This novel centers around the Dorsai warrior Corunna El Mann. He is supervising the transport of an important dignitary to a planet that is undergoing some internal conflict. When El Mann gets to the planet, political chaos occurs.
It seems that the soldiers that were trained to defend a fort have deserted to help the revolutionaries. As a result, this leaves a handful of people left to defend this fortress. There are a total of five Dorsai, one of which is opposed to using weapons. This person is named Michael, and he is in charge of the band.
As the days unfold, this novel is really a book centered around the development of characters. There is not much action going on this this novel, except for the final battle scenes. This novel acutally plays more on in the internal conflict of one individual who battles what his morals are, and what his training would have him do. As a result, the book is a great study in socio-ethical conflicts located within an individual. It is easy reading, without a lot of intense descriptions. Overall, it was just an average novel.
The book also contained the short story "Warrior". The story is very easy to read, and should be used in conjunction with other Dorsai novels. The main purpose of this story is to develop the character of Ian Graeme, and further solidify his image. Again, this is easy reading, but you catch a glipse of the unique and intelligent thinking processes that Ian contains.
From Back of the book:
Pacifism will always be a powerful moral force, even--perhaps especially--to the Dorsai. For those of this planet of warriors born and bred are not as other men; once a Dorsai's heart is given he holds nothing back, and does not count the cost. Even if that cost be the very planet of his birth, and he becomes a LOST DORSAI.
Pacifism will always be a powerful moral force, even--perhaps especially--to the Dorsai. For those of this planet of warriors born and bred are not as other men; once a Dorsai's heart is given he holds nothing back, and does not count the cost. Even if that cost be the very planet of his birth, and he becomes a LOST DORSAI.
