Soldier, Ask Not (original 1967; edition 1980)

Soldier Ask Not - Gordon R. Dickson
This book is a little different, in that the superman depicted is in this case a supervillain. With his basic supermanipulationcharisma abilities he isn't throwing cars around, but can cause some really bad military conflicts.

Set in the 23rd century, that are quite a few colonised worlds and a few different cultural/political groupings for him to cause havoc on as the Dorsai and others try to stop him.

http://freesf.strandedinoz.com/wordpress/2007/02/soldier-ask-not-gordon-r-dickso... ( )

Short book, but a long read. Definitely not some of Dickson's finest prose (though possibly not his worst, either). Given that it was written in 1967 and was one of his earliest Dorsai books, I'll have to let that slide.

I mainly read it to fill in the gaps in the Dorsai series, as the main character is central to the later part of the series, and the events in the story are often referred back to. But the protagonist is intentionally unlikeable and unsympathetic up until the last few pages of the book. Though you see that coming a mile away, it still makes it hard to really be too interested in his story.

Plus, Dickson had two cities named "Blauvain". On two different planets. In two different planetary systems.

Blauvain.

This encompasses how a good editor could have improved this tale. But I suppose this early in his career, Dickson might have found it difficult to get one (or unnecessary given the quality of the writing of that era).

I'd suggest this book only if you are dedicated to having read the entire Dorsai series, most of which is far more interesting than this tale. ( )

http://pergelator.blogspot.com/2008/11/books.html ( )

I think this book isbetter than Necromancer, but is not as good as Tactics of Mistake. Tam Olyn's character is a little too insistant on his integrity, especially regarding his objectivity. The validity of faith is finally affirmed at the end, while, for the most part its value is drown in Olyn's perspective. The ending is a little pat, and Olyn's obsession a bit transparent, but the inside depiction of the Friendlies is indespensible to the Childe Cycle. It's possible that even this small group of reporters ... a group that can synthesize the splinters. ( )

See Tactics of Mistake. ( )