Series of
SF books written by
Gordon R. Dickson about the first era of
space exploration and
colonization, also called the
Dorsai cycle. Humans, having settled onto 15 new worlds, have splintered into three specialized groups: the
Dorsai, whose culture is based on the
military and
warfare; the
Friendlies, based on
religion and
faith; and the
Exotics, based on
psychology and
sociology.
Many of the novels focus on the Dorsai, but the series as a whole looks at the expansion of the human race and its later contraction - why the three races must eventually return (Note: the instrument used to reunify humanity is the Final Encyclopedia, a collection of all of man's knowledge). A continuing theme throughout the series is the means by which a single person can change humanity.
Dickson had several more books planned for the Childe Cycle before his death in 2001, including the finale, Childe, and a novel about the historical figure Sir John Hawkwood. Dickson believed that Hawkwood, who lived in the 14th century, was perhaps the first person to successfully change all of humanity.
In order of publication:
Dorsai! (1959)
Necromancer (1960)
Warrior (1965)
Soldier, Ask Not (1968)
Tactics of Mistake (1971)
Brothers (1973)
Amanda Morgan (1979)
The Spirit of Dorsai (1979) {containing "Brothers" and "Amanda Morgan"}
Lost Dorsai (1980) {containing "Lost Dorsai" and "Warrior"}
The Final Encyclopedia (1984)
The Chantry Guild (1988)
Young Bleys (1991)
Other (1994)
In order of occurence:
Necromancer 2093-2094
Tactics of Mistake 2184
Amanda Morgan 2185
Warrior 2269
Soldier, Ask Not 2270-2289
Lost Dorsai 2273
Dorsai! 2276-2289
Brothers 2280
Young Bleys 2344?-2364
Other 2359-2363?
The Final Encyclopedia 2359-2366
Chantry Guild 2366-2373?