Rating: 
Summary: Just an average book
Review: Dickson takes us back to his Dorsai universe in this novel, but overall, this novel is just another average book with glimpses of raw emotion. The most important part of this novel is the fact that we get a glimpse of the powerful Final Encyclopedia, and we get to meet the originator of this wonder. The main character begins to understand his unnatural powers of vision while on tour of the Final Encyclopedia.It is here, that Tam realizes he can see the whole picture as to his future, and the future of other cultures. Tam decides to become a newsman, and become prominent in his field. However, on a routine sweep of a battle for reporting purposes, Tam views the death of his brother-in-law in an act of cold-blooded murder. At this point, Tam becomes a little more cryptic, dark, and motivated to a devasting end. Tam's main goal is to wipe a culture out of the universe. Now, this novel presents many unique sociological and psychological issues. But overall, the plot is very bland. There is not much in the way of exciting reading found in this novel. Again, as in other Dorsai novels, you can view bits and pieces of the super-warriors in the Dorsai. But the plot is not a real mover-and-shaker. I would recommend that you read this novel only to say you read all of the books in the Dorsai series, beyond that, there is no real outstanding reason to pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Just an average book
Review: Dickson takes us back to his Dorsai universe in this novel, but overall, this novel is just another average book with glimpses of raw emotion. The most important part of this novel is the fact that we get a glimpse of the powerful Final Encyclopedia, and we get to meet the originator of this wonder. The main character begins to understand his unnatural powers of vision while on tour of the Final Encyclopedia. It is here, that Tam realizes he can see the whole picture as to his future, and the future of other cultures. Tam decides to become a newsman, and become prominent in his field. However, on a routine sweep of a battle for reporting purposes, Tam views the death of his brother-in-law in an act of cold-blooded murder. At this point, Tam becomes a little more cryptic, dark, and motivated to a devasting end. Tam's main goal is to wipe a culture out of the universe. Now, this novel presents many unique sociological and psychological issues. But overall, the plot is very bland. There is not much in the way of exciting reading found in this novel. Again, as in other Dorsai novels, you can view bits and pieces of the super-warriors in the Dorsai. But the plot is not a real mover-and-shaker. I would recommend that you read this novel only to say you read all of the books in the Dorsai series, beyond that, there is no real outstanding reason to pick up this book.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Most of Dickson's Work
Review: I'm not a fan of Dickson's novels. I think his style lacks something, and he tends to try to make connections in his novels that I could never see, try as I might. He also tends to portray his heroes as perfect, infallible...in other words, not human beings, not someone you can feel for. However, the idea behind the Childe Cycle caught my attention even at 14, when I started reading his books. In SOLDIER, ASK NOT, I think he comes closest to actually letting a character display some emotion. Tam Oleyn truly displays human qualities (albeit, usually negative ones), and Jamethon Black is probably the most sympathetic character, in my opinion, that Dickson ever created. I still don't like the prose of the book, but it shows much more feeling than the others in the series, with the exception, perhaps, of THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than Most of Dickson's Work
Review: I'm not a fan of Dickson's novels. I think his style lacks something, and he tends to try to make connections in his novels that I could never see, try as I might. He also tends to portray his heroes as perfect, infallible...in other words, not human beings, not someone you can feel for. However, the idea behind the Childe Cycle caught my attention even at 14, when I started reading his books. In SOLDIER, ASK NOT, I think he comes closest to actually letting a character display some emotion. Tam Oleyn truly displays human qualities (albeit, usually negative ones), and Jamethon Black is probably the most sympathetic character, in my opinion, that Dickson ever created. I still don't like the prose of the book, but it shows much more feeling than the others in the series, with the exception, perhaps, of THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA.
Rating: 
Summary: A refreshing look at the Splinter Cultures
Review: Of the Dorsai novels, this one presents the most balanced view of the Splinter Cultures, especially of the Friendlies. While other Dorsai novels portray the Friendlies as unsophisticated, simple minded fanatics, here they are shown in a sympathetic light, as flesh and blood humans, not caricatures. Jamethon Black is not a rabid religious fanatic, but a decent man, frustrated in love by the cruel whim of an earthman. Nor is Eldest Bright the frothing at the mouth megalomaniac we saw in the novel Dorsai, but a shrewd and strong willed man (albeit somewhat harsh and unforgiving). Other Splinter Cultures are also better developed, with more depth and personality than usual. The Exotics are less aloof and condescending, and the Dorsai are less bland. The twins Kensie and Ian Graeme are the most interesting of Dorsai characters to date. In the end, faith, not military force, technology or trickery, wins the day. The value of the religious component of humanity (i.e. the Friendlies) was recognized. I found this to be refreshing and gratifying - most science fiction (e.g. Star Trek) tends to condemn or ridicule religion, especially Christianity.
Rating: 
Summary: "shall we not revenge?"
Review: Tam is a well-painted and formidable character with a great deal of cynicism and anger to play with. See what happens when he collides with that which he doesn't believe in: a genuine man of faith.
Rating:
Summary: "shall we not revenge?"
Review: Tam is a well-painted and formidable character with a great deal of cynicism and anger to play with. See what happens when he collides with that which he doesn't believe in: a genuine man of faith.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Childe Cycle novel
Review: The best of the Childe Cycle novels, Gordon Dickson's story of man's evolution among the stars. Tam Olyn, newsman, has pledged to bring down the religious fanatics of the planets Faith and Association.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of the Childe Cycle novel
Review: The best of the Childe Cycle novels, Gordon Dickson's story of man's evolution among the stars. Tam Olyn, newsman, has pledged to bring down the religious fanatics of the planets Faith and Association.
Rating:
Summary: Getting better
Review: The third (in theory) of the Childe Cycle books, this is the first one that feels like the series is heading anywhere, with more of the main concepts (the Splinter Cultures, the Final Encyclopedia) explained in more detail and finally a sense of direction starts to emerge. This book concerns Tam Olyn, a Newsman who has an unfortunate experience with the Friendly culture (the ultra-religious people . . . though not for nothing, it would be nice for once to see a fanatical religion that isn't directly based on Christianity, it's becoming a bit of a cliche now and it would be nice to show a little bit of imagination) and basically vows to bring their entire culture down . . . not all of his manipulations make perfect sense to me frankly (a common thing with Dickson, either I'm missing the man's logic or it's just not well thought out) but it's the thought that counts and it's fun watching his plan almost come to fruition. Tam Olyn is one of the more interesting characters to come down the pipeline but he's not as much fun as the guy from Tactics of Mistake (no sense of humor and a little too full of himself . . . Paul Formain might have been boring but at least he wasn't arrogant) but he almost makes up for it with sheer intensity and his unswerving focus provides a good amount of drive to the novel. Sometimes the supporting characters are more interesting than he is though (ie Jamethon Black, although Lisa Kant and Eileen continue the trend of having female characters who, er, don't do anything) and the few Dorsai that show up clearly steal the show, making it obvious when Dickson's loyalities lie . . . what makes this book work isn't really the main plot so much as the deeper glimpse into this future history Dickson has going, while he does steal slightly from Asimov ("ontogenetics" = psychohistory last I checked) the idea of humanity splitting into the distinct groups (and then eventually rejoining) plus the stuff like the Final Encyclopedia are all great concepts and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future books (one thing does bother me, why is no one ever mentions the Scientists, be a shame to leave them out) . . . this novel is entertaining in its own right but on it's own it's merely average . . . when placed in context with the rest of the books in the Cycle, it gains a little more importance. Dickson can't write anything totally unreadable and this is clearly more interesting than the earlier books but it's not exactly a masterpiece . . . it has enough to make you keep reading and it goes by quickly. You won't feel you wasted your time but you may not feel any desire to go back and read it again either.
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