Most Popular Books by Gordon R. Dickson

After the collapse of civilization, when the social fabric of America has come apart in bloody rags, when every man''s hand is raised against another, and only the strong survive. "Jeebee" Walther was a scientist, a student of human behavior, who saw the Collapse of the world economy coming, but could do nothing to stop it. Now he must make his way across a violent and lawless America, in search of a refuge where he can keep the spark of knowledge alive in the coming Dark Age. He could never make it on his own, but he has found a companion who can teach him how to survive on instinct and will. Jeebee has been adopted by a great Gray Wolf.

Gordon R. Dickson’s “Childe Cycle” of novels depicting the future of the human race has been one of the grand epics of science fiction. At the time of his death in 2001, Dickson was writing Antagonist, the tale of Bleys Ahrens’ turn toward darkness. Now Dickson’s assistant David W. Wixon has brilliantly finished the long-awaited book, working from Dickson’s copious notes. Antagonist is a fitting capstone to one of the most ambitious series in SF history. The Childe Cycle is the story of a new human evolution: the development of a real, hardwired sense of “responsibility” shared by all human beings. Donal Graeme was a Dorsai, a mercenary soldier, and also a mutant gifted with insight into the path forward for the human race. Through his gifts Donal would come to bend time and live three lifetimes—and, in the process, run into problems he had not expected: first, his own flaws, and second, the existence of another mutant, Bleys Ahrens. Following Young Bleys and Other, Antagonist advances the story of the formidably powerful Bleys Ahrens. Bleys is a man with a clear vision of the struggle in which he’s involved -- but an increasingly deficient sense of human values. He and his organization, the Others, are tracking down an elusive interplanetary opposition. Meanwhile, Bleys'' own intricate conspiracies and devisings, and his quest for power, which began with the best of motives, have become something darker and fiercer. He''s committed to his plans. They may bring about the advent of Homo superior. And they may destroy the human race.

Donal Graeme set out to re-shape the galaxy, but first he must tear it apart. Donal Graeme, Dorsai of the Dorsai, was the final link in a long genetic train, the ultimate soldier, whose breadth of vision made him a master of space war and strategy - and something even greater. He was the focus of centuries of evolution, the culmination of planned development, and through him a new force made itself felt. Dorsai were renowned throughout the galaxy as the finest soldiers ever born, trained from birth to fight and win, no matter what the odds. With Donal at their head they embarked upon the final, impossible venture: they set out to unify the splintered worlds of Mankind.

Through no fault of his own, the once human Jim Eckert had become a dragon. Unfortunately, his beloved Angie had remained human. But in this magical land anything could happen. To make matter worse, Angie had been taken prisoner by an evil dragon and was held captive in the impenetrable Loathly Tower. So in this land where humans were edible and beasts were magical--where spells worked and logic didn''t--Jim Eckert had a big, strange problem.

The black-clad mercenaries of the Friendly planets fought where their employer and their God dictated. On New Earth they pitted their fanaticism against the cold courage of the Dorsai. And the implacable hatred of one man, Tam Olyn. Olyn saw his brother-in-law shot down before his eyes. His quest for vengeance took him across half the civilised worlds, to Cassida and Frieland, to St. Marie and back to New Earth. He met men of all the splinter groups into which mankind had evolved an he used them all to bring about his revenge - until Padma the Exotic taught him how to use his special powers and the frightening knowledge of Final Encyclopaedia.

The machine that controlled all life wouldn''t tolerate any interference. People who refused to be regulated had to be disposed of - isolated, driven insane, murdered. A small group of men had dedicated themselves to fighting this Frankenstein of man''s technological achievement. Secretly they laid plans to destroy the machine and all its worksincluding the millions of people who had accepted their robot-like existence. Either way, the human race was doomed!

The Childe Cycle, also known as the Dorsai series, is Gordon R. Dickson''s future history of humankind and its ultimate destiny. Now one of its central novels return to print in a two-volume corrected edition. In The Final Encyclopedia the human race is split into three Splinter cultures: the Friendlies, fanatic in their faith; the truth-seeking Exotics; and the warrior Dorsai. But now humanity is threatened by the power-hungry Others, whose triumph would end all human progress. Hal Mayne is an orphan who was raised by three tutors: an Exotic, a Friendly, and a Dorsai. He is the only human capable of uniting humanity against the Others. But only if he is willing to accept his terrifying destiny...as savior of mankind. A towering landmark of future history, The Final Encyclopedia is a novel every SF fan needs to own.

During an action on the third planet from Arcturus, soldier Cal Truent woke up in the hospital with a sixteen-hour hole in his memory. No one knows what it is that Cal has forgotten, but his superiors can''t take the chance that it might be something deadly to his fellow soldiers -- and to Earth. Somehow Cal means to seek out whatever it is that his mind is resisting ...

General Benjamin Shore was heading for the stars under forged orders - and in defiance of the commands of the President. He was leaving Earth in an untested ship with a crew chosen by neccesity and with nothing but faith to guide him. His onlt yhope was to find habitable worlds in the unexplored reaches of space ahead. Thus began Man''s first mission to the uncharted universe. Shore had no illusions. Before him lay danger, probable disappointment - even death. But nothing had prepared him for the nightmare he would have to face on the planet of the Gray-Furs...for the menace of the Golden People who had driven all other races from Galactic Center - or for what awaited him if he returned to the world he called home!ted their robot-like existence. Either way, the human race was doomed!

Jef Robini is sent to the planet Everon find out why all efforts to create a stable colony on the planet have failed and discovers the cat-like maolots, mysterious inhabitants of Everon.

One man is mentally linked to an alien who is spearheading an invasion of Earth; a group of soldiers fight to win new space for Earth; and a small group of men fight against a machine that controls all life.

In The Dragon on the Border, Sir James, the Dragon Knight, faces his most terrifying challenge - the Hollow Men, spirits of the dead in empty suits of armour. Their weapons are all too real, and a slain Hollow Man can be resurrected within two days. As long as one of their unholy number endures, no Hollow Man can ever truly die It''s a battle that could test any dragon. Not to mention a knight. Or an American. Or all three in one!

Quarantine...Ever since Earth''s first starship crept out on sublight drive a hundred years ago and was met by an emissary of the Galactic Federation, man has lived as a prisoner in the solar system. The Federation decreed that unless man could demonstrate his technological maturity and leave the solar system via a faster-than-light drive, he would not leave it at all. All Earth knows the test that man must pass to win Galactic Citizenship and the freedom of the stars; the FTL drive is every physicist''s top priority. But what they cannot know is that they work against both an alien time-limit and human sabotage - and time is running out. Unless John Parent''s star-drive project is successful, mankind will remain trapped in the solar system, forever...

It''s obvious that Cletus Graeme--limping, mild-mannered scholarly--doesn''t belong on a battling field, but instead at a desk working on his fourth book on battle strategy and tactics. But Bakhalla has more battlefields than libraries, and Graeme sees his small force of Dorsai--soldiers of fortune--as the perfect opportunity to test his theories. But if his theories or his belief in the Dorsai lead him astray, he''s a dead man.

Stranded on the Quarantined World of Quebahr, the first high-school students selected to leave Earth for study in the Galactic Federation must overcome their lack of training and learn to adapt and survive. Reprint.

One day Kil Bruner was a solid Class A engineer in a society of World Police and citizen Files, jet-set migrants and status-ranking Stability keys. But the Police ordered Kil to forget about his missing wife Ellen - and that was a mistake. Because Kil would move Heaven and Earth to find the woman he loved. Even when the search leads to slums filled with blade-wielding thugs and criminal Ace Kings . . . to secret societies and vast, interlocked, warring conspiracies - each out to rule the Earth or destroy it. Even when the search costs Kil his freedom, his sanity, the core of his soul - and reality itself . . . Because to find Ellen, Kil will have to move Heaven and Earth. Literally.

A repressively benevolent bureaucracy, intent on limiting and harnessing the effects of an IQ-boosting drug known as R-47, is thwarted by an underground led by an R-Master, latest of the drug-produced supergeniuses. Our hero''s apolitical to start with but his chemically expanded perspective reveals the flaws in his superficial utopia. Energetically suspenseful, though the intriguing premise of an intelligence-enhancing drug might have been more fully developed.

The best of the best from a legendary master of science fiction, the first of two volumes. The Best of Gordon R. Dickson, Volume I, gathers together fourteen stories, predominantly from the first half of legendary science fiction and fantasy writer Gordon R. Dickson’s career, ranging from the early 1950s through the 1960s, including tales dragons, dolphins, aliens, werewolves, mutants and humans trying to make sense of an infinitely bewildering universe. A maiden aunt is suddenly given superpowers. An alien who looks like a large, sentient rabbit makes ominous announcement which make no sense from behind an impenetrable force shield. Humans besieged by an alien enemy refuse, against all reason, to give up fighting. And much more, in stories running the gamut from exciting adventure to stark tragedy to hysterical comedy. Plus the never before published “Love Story,” written for Harlan Ellison’s legendary, but never published anthology, The Last Dangerous Visions. And stay tuned for The Best of Gordon R. Dickson, Volume II, with another generous display of Dickson’s virtuosity, covering his brilliant career from 1970s to the century’s end. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). "Dickson is among the best storytellers we have ever had...one of the finest makers that our field has ever known."—Poul Anderson “Dickson is one of SF’s standard-bearers.”—Publishers Weekly “The grandest saga in the history of science fiction.”—Ben Bova on Dickson’s Dorsai stories

A MOST UNIQUE APOCALYPSE from Grand Master Gordon R. Dickson RIDERS ON THE TIME STORM The time storm had devastated the Earth, and all but a small fraction of humankind has vanished. In the rubble of the world, three survivors had formed an unlikely trio: Marc Despard, determined to find a way to stop the time storm; a leopard, dazed by the storm and following after Despard like a kitten; and a young woman with an unbreakable bond to the leopard. Now, Marc searches relentlessly for a clue to the nature of the storm, not guessing that the time storm threatens not just the Earth but the entire universe—and that his two companions were the only hope of reversing the distortions in the fabric of the cosmos that were about to bring an end to all of space and time . . . A classic of post-apocalyptic science fiction from Grand Master Gordon R. Dickson. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Praise for Time Storm: "Dickson has done a superb job."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson at his best. . . . One of the notable science fiction novels of the year."—Booklist "One of those rare books that holds your attention constantly. The suspense at some points is almost unbearable, leaving the reader breathless and glad the crisis has passed."—New Orleans Times-Picayune "Science fiction that seduces. . . . A masterful science fiction story told by a masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal

A classic of humorous science fiction from SF legend Gordon R. Dickson, winner of three Hugo awards, a Nebula award, and an inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. We are not alone in the galaxy—not by a longshot. And extra-solar civilization has come calling. Now, Tom Parent, his linguist wife Lucy, and their Great Dane Rex must travel the stars as ambassadors of Earth. Their mission: to prove Humanity deserves to be considered equal to the scores of established alien cultures. Earth’s acceptance hinges on building good relationships with these aliens, and the genteel Parents seem the perfect candidates for wooing extra-terrestrials. Of course, they’ll have to tread carefully among these brave new worlds that have such creatures in them! Soon what starts as a straight-forward goodwill tour is complicated when Lucy is mistaken for a Wilf—a lifeform that manipulates others toward moral behavior—and Tom accidentally joins a galactic council when he sits in the wrong chair. On top of that, their faithful hound Rex starts talking. And maybe it’s best if we don’t mention the singing gelatin-mold-like alien they have to rescue from becoming dessert. It’s action and adventure for Tom, Lucy, and Rex, and a laugh-riot for the reader in this classic novel from Science Fiction master Gordon R. Dickson! At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal

The machine that controlled all life wouldn''t tolerate any interference. People who refused to be regulated had to be disposed of - isolated, driven insane, murdered. A small group of men had dedicated themselves to fighting this Frankenstein of man''s technological achievement. Secretly they laid plans to destroy the machine and all its worksincluding the millions of people who had accepted their robot-like existence. Either way, the human race was doomed!

As a young mathematician, Jim Eckert was transported to a parallel medieval world where he found he had the ability to transform himself into a large but none-too-bright dragon named Gorbash. Jim Eckert''s daring exploits have earned him a title - Baron de Bois de Malencontri et Riveroak - and he has settled down to a peaceful life as a feudal lord, with his beloved Angela at his side. But a new peril endangers his enchanted realm - as the King of the Gnarlies teams up with the Earl of Cumberland, Jim''s longtime rival, to kidnap his adopted son, Robert. Soon Sir Jim must assume the shape of the Dragon Knight once again to rescue little Robert, and finds himself entrenched in a magical battle royal - one he''ll have to fight harder than ever to survive!

A classic of science fiction from SF legend Gordon R. Dickson, winner of three Hugo awards, a Nebula award, and an inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. The long period of civil unrest known as the Frontier Rebellion has come to an end. The Old Worlders of Earth and the colonists of the Pleiades Planets at the edge of known space have at last formed an uneasy peace. But for former Rebel highjacker Culihan O’Rourke, peace will not last long. The aliens known as the Moldaugs have returned from their long absence, and they are demanding the Old Worlders turn over the Pleiades Planets to them. If the Old Worlders fail to do so, the Moldaugs will annihilate the human race. With Old Earth aligned with the aliens against them, the colonists don’t stand a chance. But Cully O’Rourke has faced down long odds before—and he’s not one to give up his home without a fight. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal “The grandest saga in the history of science fiction.”—Ben Bova on Dickson’s Dorsai stories "Dickson is among the best storytellers we have ever had...one of the finest makers that our field has ever known."—Poul Anderson

Gordon R. Dickson has entertained readers for over two decades with his tales of Jim Eckert. Now the Dragon Knight must confront the three disas-ters that lie in wait for any visitor to the English Middle Ages: war, plague, and Plantagenets. The plague is caused by a covert invasion of shapechanging goblins who seek to take over the world. Meanwhile, Eckerts castle is invaded by Plantagenets: Edward III, his son Edward The Black Prince, and Joan, the Fair Maid of Kent. Against the background of a full-scale human-versus-goblin war, these worthies move in a swirl of intrigue and dynastic tension.

A SCIENCE FICTION CLASSIC FROM A MASTER. Celebrated author Gordon R. Dickson''s classic novel pitting good against evil, back in print. The Sleeper Wakes The energy crisis has been solved. Core Taps have been driven 300 miles into the Earth to tap into the subterranean power source at its core. The only catch: when activated, the Core Taps disrupt brain waves, sending everyone nearby into a deep, forced sleep. It’s a small price to pay for a world of plenty. Or so it seems. Rafe Harald is one of the few humans not affected by the Core Taps. Back from the Moon, where he has been preparing for humankind’s first trek into deep space, he makes his way through a shadowy night world of induced slumber. He’s come to discover the whereabouts of a missing colleague. What he’ll find is a mysterious figure known as the Old Man—and a conspiracy so devious in its design, he’ll wish it was a nightmare. But soon the Old Man will discover that he has awoken a sleeping giant in Rafe Harald. And on a planet of perpetual sleep, a new day is about to dawn. At the publisher''s request, this book is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal

There are many legends on the planet of the Dorsai, the breeding ground for heroes. Here are two of them. Lost Dorsai: The New Dorsai Companion contains the Hugo Award winning novella, Lost Dorsai, and Dickson''s classic short story "Warrior."

Professional... that was Harb Mallard. A hardened pro, able to shift the direction of developing alien cultures any way he needed to, with just a few well-placed punches to the tender spots. The Expansion Service depended on men like Mallard to boost potentially useful planets out of the Dark ages, and they put an even dozen backward worlds into his capable hands. Eleven of them were doing just fine under the supervision of Mallard''s subordinates. But the last one needed something extra - the kind of dangerous action that coudl only be risked by a real PRO.cepted their robot-like existence. Either way, the human race was doomed!

In a hidden labyrinth beneath the Canadian wilderness, dwarfish lords and ladies ride humans like horses and plot the downfall of mankind. But Bart Dybig, a steed gifted with unusual abilities, vows to surprise his captors and escape to the world above and thwart his enemies'' plans.

"Here are 9 stories of interstellar exploration, of adventure at the dawn of star flight and at the ultimate end of star flight, of man versus machine, of man versus nature, and of man versus the cosmos."--Goodreads.com

No conceivable force could penetrate Terri’s shield. Yet he was defenseless.

A classic of science fiction from SF legend Gordon R. Dickson, winner of three Hugo awards, a Nebula award, and an inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. IT’S ALWAYS HIGH NOON ON THE FINAL FRONTIER The Earth is overcrowded. Chosen by lottery, people are shunted off to the far-flung planetary colonies. But winning this lottery is no prize, for the colonist are largely ignored by the people of Earth, considered disposable. Left to defend for themselves, the colonists are plagued by low supplies and are forced to eke out a hardscrabble existence. Worse, they face an ever-looming threat from without: the alien Meda V''Dans, who routinely attack without provocation. Fortunately, the colonists have the Outposters to protect them. One such Outposter is Mark Ten Roos, a young man with a score to settle against the Meda V''Dans . . . and the will to bring a corrupt system to its knees. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #454545} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #454545; min-height: 14.0px}

There had to be a reason why that isolated human colony had been able to survive mankind''s implacable enemies. But nobody had been able to get to the quaintly named Dunroamin to find out. If they had a secret defense, it could be the answer to a hundred planets'' prayers. And Feliz Gebrod realized as he came in for a crash landing that he''d know the secret sooner than he''d expected. Except that what he encountered was a life-and-death riddle that had nothing to do with stellar defense. It was this: how can two mutually irreconcilable Utopias occupy the same space at the same time?

A classic of science fiction from SF legend Gordon R. Dickson, winner of three Hugo awards, a Nebula award, and an inductee into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame. When the first expedition from Earth reaches Alpha Centuari III, it makes a startling discovery: all life, including humankind, is governed by the Throne World. The Earth is a mere outpost in a vast star empire. Jim Keil was a superman on Earth, but on the Throne World he is nothing more than a "wolfling," a trained pet whose sole purpose is to entertain the High-Born. But Jim Keil will show the High-Born that the people of Earth aren''t so easily tamed. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal

When the Sea-Born cadets walk out of space academy in protest, the stage is set for the long impending clash between the sea and land. Can these two races co-operate, or will they destroy each other first?

One man stands between Earth and a ravening alien horde. Classic military sf in the mode of Starship Troopers and Ender''s Game from a master of the genre. The ravenous aliens known as the Horde make their way across the Universe like locusts, stripping bare entire galaxies and leaving death and destruction in their wake. Now, they stand on the edge of the Milky Way. It seems all is lost, but the denizens of our galaxy are not content to give up without a fight. To that end, a galaxy-wide defense force has been assembled, with each star system contributing their greatest warrior to the battle. Enter Miles Vander, the best a tiny backwater like Earth has to offer. Vander may be the key to destroying the Horde. But first he''ll have to prove his worthiness to his alien compatriots. A classic of military sf from Hugo and Nebula Award-winning master of science fiction Gordon R. Dickson. At the publisher''s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Praise for Time Storm by Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson has done a superb job."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson at his best. . . . One of the notable science fiction novels of the year."—Booklist"One of those rare books that holds your attention constantly. The suspense at some points is almost unbearable, leaving the reader breathless and glad the crisis has passed."—New Orleans Times-Picayune "Science fiction that seduces. . . . A masterful science fiction story told by a masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal About Gordon R. Dickson: "Dickson is one of SF''s standard-bearers."—Publishers Weekly "Dickson has a true mastery of pacing and fine understanding of human beings."—Seattle Post Intelligencer "A masterful science fiction writer."—Milwaukee Journal "Dickson is among the best storytellers we have ever has...one of the finest makers that our field has ever known."—Poul Anderson

Tis the season for treachery: The Earl of Somerset is throwing a lavish Christmas feast, a revel above all others to celebrate the holiday. But the Dark Powers have chosen this joyous time to launch a massive offensive. An army of land-hungry trolls has laid siege outside the Earl''s fortress, while a nest of venomous traitors waits to hatch its deadly plan from the inside. Now Sir James, the brave Dragon Knight, must fight a battle unlike any he has ever known - a battle no man, knight or dragon can win. Not even if he is all three in one.

Bleys Ahrens is now a political power on the planet Association, home of the Friendlies. His people--his Others, not Dorsai or Friendly or Exotic, but hybrids--are in place on all the new worlds, and are ready to take his message to the greater human public. But within his inner circle is Henry McLean, Soldier of God, and a True Faith-Holder. Henry fears for the soul of his nephew Bleys, and while he guards, he also watches, and judges. And beyond Bleys Ahrens'' control is Hal Mayne: the one man in all the human worlds who might successfully challenge Bleys in his bid for power. For Hal Mayne is the true culmination of the Cycle''s grand design. Bleys would give anything to convert Hal Mayne to his cause--or failing that, to destroy him.

From the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author of The Childe Cycle . . . the Dragon Knight returns! When Jim Eckert found himself magically transported to medieval England, he also found he could transform himself into a dragon at will. Now a baron, Jim must face his most fearsome challenge yet: the invasion of the French, who have forged an alliance with the mighty serpents of the deep.

A collection of eleven stories by the award-winning author, including "Twig," "Brother Charlie," "Call Him Lord," "Act of Creation," and "Tiger Green"