Dickson, Gordon R. 1923–2001
Dickson, Gordon R. 1923–2001
(Gordon Rupert Dickson)
PERSONAL:
Born November 1, 1923, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; died January 31, 2001, in Richfield, MN; came to United States in 1936; naturalized citizen; son of Gordon Fraser (a mining engineer) and Maude Leola (a teacher) Dickson. Education: University of Minnesota, B.A., 1948, graduate study, 1948-50.
CAREER:
Writer. Military service: U.S. Army, 1943-46.
MEMBER:
Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Mystery Writers of America, Science Fiction Writers of America (president, 1969-71), Science Fiction Research Association, Minnesota Science Fiction Society.
AWARDS, HONORS:
Hugo Award, 1965, for Soldier, Ask Not; Nebula Award, Science Fiction Writers of America, 1966, for short story "Call Him Lord"; E.E. Smith Memorial Award for imaginative fiction, 1975; August Derleth Award, British Fantasy Society, 1976, for The Dragon and the George; Jupiter Award, 1978, for Time Storm; Hugo Award nomination, 1978, for Time Storm, and 1979, for The Far Call; Hugo Award, 1980, for Lost Dorsai; Hugo Award for Best Novelette, World Science Fiction Society, 1981, for The Cloak and the Staff.
WRITINGS:
SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY NOVELS
Alien from Arcturus (bound with The Atom Curtain, by Nick Boddie Williams), Ace Books (New York, NY), 1956, revised edition published as Arcturus Landing, 1979.
Mankind on the Run (bound with The Crossroads of Time, by Andre Norton), Ace Books (New York, NY), 1956, published as On the Run, 1979.
Time to Teleport [and] The Genetic General, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1960, expanded edition of the latter published as Dorsai! (also see below), DAW Books (New York, NY), 1976.
Delusion World [and] Spacial Delivery, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1961, reprinted, 1978.
Naked to the Stars, Pyramid Publications (New York, NY), 1961, reprinted, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1980.
Necromancer (also see below), Doubleday (New York, NY), 1962, published as No Room for Man, Macfadden, 1963, reprinted under original title, DAW Books (New York, NY), 1978.
The Alien Way, Bantam (New York, NY), 1965.
Mission to Universe, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1965, revised edition, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1977.
(With Keith Laumer) Planet Run, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1967.
Soldier, Ask Not, Dell (New York, NY), 1967.
The Space Swimmers, Berkley Publishing (New York, NY), 1967.
None but Man, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1969, reprinted, Baen Books (New York, NY), 1989.
Spacepaw, Putnam (New York, NY), 1969.
Wolfling, Dell (New York, NY), 1969.
Hour of the Horde, Putnam (New York, NY), 1970.
Sleepwalker's World, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1971.
Tactics of Mistake (also see below), Doubleday (New York, NY), 1971.
The Outposter, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1972.
The Pritcher Mass, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1972.
The R-Master, Lippincott (Philadelphia, PA), 1973, revised edition published as The Last Master, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1984.
Three to Dorsai! (contains Necromancer, Dorsai!, and Tactics of Mistake), Doubleday (Garden City, NY), 1975.
(With Harry Harrison) The Lifeship, Harper (New York, NY), 1976, published as Lifeboat, Futura (London, England), 1978.
The Dragon and the George, Ballantine (New York, NY), 1976.
Time Storm, St. Martin's (New York, NY), 1977, reprinted as Timestorm, Baen (New York, NY), 1992.
The Far Call, Dial (New York, NY), 1978.
Pro, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1978.
Home from the Shore, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1978.
Spirit of Dorsai, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1979.
Masters of Everon, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1980.
Lost Dorsai, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1980, revised edition, Sphere (London, England), 1988, new revised edition published as Lost Dorsai: The New Dorsai Companion, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1993.
The Cloak and the Staff (novelette), published in Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Stanley Schmidt, 1980.
Love Not Human, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1981.
(With Roland Green) Jamie the Red, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1984.
Beyond the Dar al-Harb, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1985.
The Dorsai Companion, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1986.
The Forever Man, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1986.
Way of the Pilgrim, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1987.
The Chantry Guild, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1988.
The Earth Lords, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1988.
(With Troy Denning and Cory Glaberson) Dorsai's Command, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1989.
Wolf and Iron, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1990.
The Dragon Knight, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1990.
Young Bleys, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1991.
The Dragon on the Border, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1992.
The Dragon at War, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1992.
The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1994.
Other, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1994.
The Magnificent Wilf, Baen (New York, NY), 1995.
The Dragon and the Djinn, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1996.
The Dragon and the Gnarly King, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1997.
The Dragon in Lyonesse, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1998.
Hokas Pokas!, Alibris (Emeryville, CA), 1999.
The Right to Arm Bears (collection including Special Delivery, Spacepaw, and "The Law-Twister Shorty"), Baen (New York, NY), 2000.
The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, Tor Books (New York, NY), 2000.
Dorsai Spirit, Tor (New York, NY), 2002.
The Human Edge, Baen (Riverdale, NY), 2003.
(With David W. Wixon) Antagonist, Tor (New York, NY), 2007.
YOUNG ADULT SCIENCE-FICTION NOVELS
Secret under the Sea (also see below), Holt (New York, NY), 1960.
Secret under Antarctica (also see below), Holt (New York, NY), 1963.
Secret under the Caribbean (also see below), Holt (New York, NY), 1964.
Space Winners, Holt (New York, NY), 1965.
Alien Art, Dutton (New York, NY), 1973.
(With Ben Bova) Gremlins, Go Home!, St. Martin's (New York, NY), 1974.
(With Poul Anderson) Star Prince Charlie, Putnam (New York, NY), 1975.
Secrets of the Deep (includes Secret under the Sea, Secret under Antarctica, and Secret under the Caribbean), Critic's Choice Paperbacks (New York, NY), 1985.
(With Ben Bova) Hour of the Gremlins, Baen (Riverdale, NY), 2002.
COLLECTIONS OF SHORT SCIENCE FICTION
(With Poul Anderson) Earthman's Burden, Gnome Press (New York, NY), 1957.
(With others) Five Fates, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1970.
Danger—Human, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1970, published as The Book of Gordon R. Dickson, DAW Books (New York, NY), 1973.
Mutants: A Science Fiction Adventure, Macmillan (New York, NY), 1970.
(With Poul Anderson and Robert Silverberg) The Day the Sun Stood Still: Three Original Novellas of Science Fiction (contains A Chapter of Revelation by Anderson, Thomas the Proclaimer by Silverberg, and Things Which Are Caesar's by Dickson), Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1972.
The Star Road, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1973.
Ancient, My Enemy, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1974.
Gordon R. Dickson's SF Best, Dell (New York, NY), 1978, revised edition published as In the Bone: The Best Science Fiction of Gordon R. Dickson, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1987.
In Iron Years, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1980.
(With Poul Anderson) Hoka!, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY), 1983.
The Man from Earth, Tor (New York, NY), 1983.
Survival!, Pocket Books (New York, NY), 1984.
Dickson!, NESFA (Boston, MA), 1984, revised edition published as Steel Brother, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1985.
Forward!, Baen (New York, NY), 1985.
Invaders!, Baen (New York, NY), 1985.
The Last Dream, Baen (New York, NY), 1986.
The Man the Worlds Rejected, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1986.
Mindspan, Baen (New York, NY), 1986.
Stranger, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1987.
Beginnings, Baen (New York, NY), 1988.
Ends, Baen (New York, NY), 1988.
Guided Tour, Baen (New York, NY), 1988.
EDITOR
Rod Serling's Triple W: Witches, Warlocks and Werewolves, Bantam (New York, NY), 1963.
Rod Serling's Devils and Demons, Bantam (New York, NY), 1967.
(With Poul Anderson and Robert Silverberg) The Day the Sun Stood Still, Nelson (Nashville, TN), 1972.
1975 Annual World's Best Science Fiction, DAW Books (New York, NY), 1975.
Combat SF, Doubleday (New York, NY), 1975.
Nebula Award Winners Twelve, Harper (New York, NY), 1979.
The Harriers, Baen (New York, NY), 1991.
(With Martin G. Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh) Robot Warriors, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1991.
(With Martin Harry Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh) Bootcamp 3000, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1992.
(With Martin Harry Greenberg and Charles G. Waugh) Space Dogfights, Ace Books (New York, NY), 1992.
Harriers #2: Blood and Honor, Baen (Riverdale, NY), 1993.
OTHER
Dickson!, NESFA Press (Cambridge, MA), 1984.
The Final Encyclopedia, Tor Books (New York, NY), 1984.
(Creator, with David Drake, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Christopher Stasheff) Blood and War, Baen (Riverdale, NY), 1993.
Author of about 200 short stories and novelettes, some of which appear in anthologies. Also author of radio plays.
SIDELIGHTS:
Gordon R. Dickson was a prolific and accomplished author of science fiction and fantasy. He is best known for his humorous series beginning with The Dragon and the George and also for his uncompleted "Childe Cycle," a lengthy series of books intended to explore the evolutionary potential of mankind. In his early career, Dickson wrote numerous radio plays, westerns, and lots of science fiction. Gradually his work moved into the more magical realm of fantasy. His work is notable for its skillful blend of serious, even tragic, issues and a light, comic tone. He frequently used the standard plot devices of a youth's initiation or a gifted hero battling to save his society.
Dickson's "Childe Cycle" is a multivolume epic that was intended to span a period of time from the early fourteenth century to the late twenty-fourth century. Begun in 1956, the cycle was never completed, but the books within it—which include Dorsai!, Necromancer, Soldier, Ask Not, and The Chantry Guild—present Dickson's vision of humanity's evolutionary potential. It is the "principal showcase for [Dickson's] ideas and artistry," observed a contributor to St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers. In it, the same hero is reincarnated as a Warrior, to develop his intuition; as a Man Philosopher, to develop his empathy; and as a Faith-Holder, to develop his creativity. Ultimately, he must find and assimilate his "Twin Enemy" in order to achieve his fullest potential.
Although the series beginning with The Dragon and the George is superficially more lighthearted than the "Childe Cycle," at times it "hovers close to tragedy," according to a writer for St. James Guide to Fantasy Writers. The fantasy kicks off with an unassuming, twentieth-century mathematics professor being launched back to medieval times, in a place where magic is a force to be reckoned with. The professor, Jim Eckert, also finds that he can occasionally transform himself into a dragon. His discomfort with this power, and with life in the Middle Ages in general, form the ongoing joke of the series, a joke Dickson sustains admirably, according to many commentators. "Dickson walks an impossibly thin line between showing medieval life as it really was (short, dangerous, hard on peasants) and a gloriously romantic vision of noble deeds done for noble reasons," wrote the contributor to St. James Guide to Fantasy Writers. The tragic element comes from the knights' callous treatment of those really in need, with all their nobility devoted to an inhuman set of ideals. Taken as a whole, the books are "funny, charming, satirical, melancholic and generous."
Dickson's work frequently made the point that apparent opposites must learn to cooperate, whether that was in the form of humans and aliens, darkness and light, or some other halves of a duality. One of the most unusual manifestations of this was in his book Wolf and Iron. Set in the near future, when economic collapse has ruptured society, a man called Jeebee is crossing the United States trying to reach his brother's ranch in Montana. Along the way, Jeebee meets and befriends a captive wolf, then begins bonding and traveling with the animal. "Dickson's meticulous research and the breadth of his imagination are manifested in the absorbing, credible details," praised Sybil Steinberg in Publishers Weekly. The author has "created the most human, best-realized character of his career," she noted.
Dickson's numerous novels include many other stand-alone adventures, such as Way of the Pilgrim, which finds nine-foot-tall aliens lording over the earth and all of its inhabitants. Called the Aalaag, the aliens in battle armor appear invulnerable and view humans as little more than chattel. Shane Evert, however, is one of the few humans able to learn the aliens' language, which leads him understand the aliens' inner feelings. As a result, he starts a nonviolent revolution in hopes that the aliens will leave if humans prove to be of no use to them. "Shane Evert's character is carefully drawn," noted Gerald Jonas in the New York Times Book Review.
The Dragon Knight continues the saga of Jim Eckert and his wife, Angela. One day Jim is astonished to find himself transformed in a dragon and seeks help from his magician neighbor, S. Carolinus, who makes Jim his apprentice. "The scenes describing diplomatic relations among the dragons are particularly fine," noted Sybil Steinberg in Publishers Weekly. The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll continues the adventures of Jim and Angela in a story that, according to Booklist contributor Dennis Winters, contains "a wealth of wit and range of invention."
The Dragon and the Djinn is a follow-up to The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll and features Jim discovering that he has magical abilities. The story revolves around Jim agreeing to help Sir Brian Neville-Smythe find the missing father of his love, Geronde, leading him to the Muslim land of Palmyra. A Publishers Weekly contributor noted that the author's "fascination with the cultures of that area proves infectious." The Dragon and the Gnarly King features Jim in control of his ability to change into a dragon and becoming more accustomed the world where he and Angela now must live. "Comfortably genuine characters, wit, the insightful juxtaposition of modern protagonists, ‘real’ medieval life and the fantastic make for a highly enjoyable read," noted a Publishers Weekly contributor.
In the next installment of the story, titled The Dragon in Lyonesse, Jim must face the magical dark powers that threaten King Arthur and his knights. "The latest installment is one of the series' best," wrote Roland Green in Booklist. In The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, Jim has become Sir James, and finds himself caught between Prince Edward, the Black Prince, and his father, the king. In the meantime, a goblin army is employing the plague to kill people. "Dickson's erudite medievalism shows to advantage here as he spins off numerous plot developments," wrote Roland Green in Booklist. Library Journal contributor Jackie Cassada noted the "cast of believable and engagingly fallible characters."
Young Bleys, another installment of the "Child Cycle," finds Bleys Ahrens sent to live on a farm on a forgotten planet with his uncle while his half-brother Dahno is recruited into an interstellar organization called the Others, which Bleys eventually takes over as he plans dominate other worlds. Publishers Weekly contributor Sybil Steinberg noted that "the book is engaging." Other, published in 1994, features Bleys out to unite humanity's many diverse strains, from the intellectuals to the Dorsai warriors. Along with his half-brother Dahno, Bleys finds himself facing an overwhelming government army of mercenaries. Writing in Booklist, Roland Green noted that the author "has again produced a superbly crafted, rewarding book." A Publishers Weekly contributor called the novel "never less than interesting."
Antagonist was published in 2007, after Dickson's death in 2001, and was largely written by David W. Wixon based on Dickson's notes and outlines. This last installment of the "Child Cycle" features Bleys Ahrens in his efforts to save the earth despite his uncle's disapproval, who sees his nephew as a megalomaniac who has gotten off track and fallen into the spell of intrigue. Furthermore, Ahrens is being betrayed by his half-brother. Jackie Cassada, writing in the Library Journal, called the novel a "satisfying, far-future adventure."
BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:
BOOKS
Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 8: Twentieth-Century American Science-Fiction Writers, Gale (Detroit, MI), 1981.
St. James Guide to Fantasy Writers, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1996.
St. James Guide to Science Fiction Writers, St. James Press (Detroit, MI), 1996.
Thompson, Raymond H., Gordon R. Dickson: A Primary and Secondary Bibliography, G.K. Hall (Boston, MA), 1983.
PERIODICALS
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March, 1980, Tom Easton, review of Home from the Shore, p. 167, and of Spirit of Dorsai, p. 168; August, 1980, Jay Kay Klein, "Biolog: Gordon R. Dickson," p. 39; August, 1984, review of The Man from Earth, p. 282; October, 1984, review of The Last Master, p. 145; May, 1987, review of The Forever Man, p. 179; May, 1989, review of The Chantry Guild, p. 178; November, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 177; May, 1991, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 1991; September, 1991, Tom Easton, review of Young Bleys, p. 161; July, 1993, Tom Easton, review of The Dragon at War, p. 266; March, 1995, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, p. 162; July, 1995, Tom Easton, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, p. 306; October, 1996, Tom Easton, review of The Dragon and the Djinn, p. 145.
Bloomsbury Review, September, 1989, review of The Chantry Guild, p. 22; September, 2002, Tom Easton, review of Dorsai Spirit, p. 137.
Booklist, August, 1983, review of The Man from Earth, p. 1447; September 1, 1986, review of The Forever Man, p. 34; September 1, 1987, review of Way of the Pilgrim, p. 30; October 1, 1998, review of The Chantry Guild, p. 220; January 1, 1989, review of The Earth Lords, p. 754; April 1, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 1532; February 1, 1991, review of Young Bleys, p. 1099; April 15, 1991, review of The Harriers, p. 1627; February 15, 1992, Roland Green, review of The Dragon on the Border, p. 1065; November 1, 1992, Sally Estes, review of The Dragon at War, pp. 492, 495; September 15, 1994, Roland Green, review of Other, pp. 118, 121; December 1, 1994, Dennis Winters, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, pp. 657, 660; June 1, 1995, Roland Green, review of The Magnificent Wilf, pp. 1736, 1741; January 1, 1996, reviews of The Dragon and the Djinn, pp. 798, 802; August, 1997, Roland Green, review of The Dragon and the Gnarly King, p. 1886; October 1, 1998, Roland Green, review of The Dragon in Lyonesse, p. 313; December 15, 2000, Roland Green, review of The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, p. 794; March 15, 2007, Frieda Murray, review of Antagonist, p. 33.
Book Report, March, 1992, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 60.
Bookwatch, August, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 3.
Chronicle, April, 2004, Don D'Amassa, review of The Human Edge, p. 36.
Extrapolation, winter, 1995, Susan M. Butvin, review review of The Final Encyclopedia, p. 360.
Fantasy Review, December, 1985, review of Beyond the Dar al-Harb, p. 17; January, 1986, review of Invaders!, p. 18; February, 1986, review of Steel Brother, p. 20; July, 1986, review of The Dorsai Companion, p. 24; March, 1986, review of The Outposter, p. 18; June, 1986, review of The Last Dream, p. 19; October, 1986, review of The Forever Man, p. 23; January, 1987, review of The Man the Worlds Rejected, p. 35; May, 1987, review of Stranger, p. 39; June, 1987, reviews of In the Bone: The Best Science Fiction of Gordon R. Dickson and Way of the Pilgrim, p. 35.
Guardian (Manchester, England), February 14, 2001, "Gordon Dickson," profile of author.
Kirkus Reviews, August 15, 1984, review of The Final Encyclopedia, p. 779; July 15, 1986, review of The Forever Man, p. 1068; March 15, 1987, review of Way of the Pilgrim, p. 423; April 15, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 541; October 1, 1990, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 1344; March 15, 1991, review of Young Bleys, p. 365; November 1, 1994, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, p. 1448; July 1, 1997, review of The Dragon and the Gnarly King, p. 992; August 15, 1998, review of The Dragon in Lyonesse, p. 1162; November 15, 2000, review of The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, p. 1583.
Kliatt Young Adult Paperback Book Guide, spring, 1986, review of Invaders!, p. 20; April, 1992, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 14; September, 1993, review of The Dragon on the Border, p. 16; January, 1994, review of The Dragon at War, p. 14; May, 1996, review of The Dragon, the Earl and the Troll, p. 14; September, 1996, review of The Magnificent Wilf, p. 16; May, 1998, review of The Dragon and the Djinn, p. 20.
Library Journal, August, 1980, Rosemary Herbert, review of In Iron Years, p. 1664; September 15, 1986, Jackie Cassada, review of The Forever Man, p. 103; May 15, 1987, Jackie Cassada, review of Way of the Pilgrim, p. 101; November 15, 1988, review of Three to Dorsai!, p. 27; April 15, 1990, Jackie Cassada, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 127; November 15, 1990, Jackie Cassada, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 94; March 15, 1991, review of Young Bleys, p. 119; March 15, 1992, Jacki Cassada, review of The Dragon on the Border, p. 129; May, 1992, review of Soldier, Ask Not, p. 48; November 15, 1992, review of The Dragon at War, p. 104; January, 1993, review of Time Storm, p. 44; April, 1993, review of Dorsai!, p. 46; July, 1993, review of Lost Dorsai: The New Dorsai Companion, p. 40; September, 1993, review of Blood and Honor, p. 64; April, 1994, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 48; December, 1994, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, p. 56; December, 1995, Jackie Cassada, review of The Dragon and the Djinn, p. 164; August, 1997, Susan Hamburger, review of The Dragon and the GnarlyKing, p. 140; October 15, 1998, Jackie Cassada, review of The Dragon in Lyonesse, p. 104; December, 2000, Jackie Cassada, review of The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, p. 196; March 15, 2007, Jackie Cassada, review of Antagonist, p. 64.
Locus, February, 1989, reviews of The Earth Lords and None but Man, p. 48; May, 1989, review of Invaders!, p. 46; January, 1990, review of The Far Call, p. 50; September, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 58; November, 1990, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 17; December, 1990, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 52; February, 1991, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 36; March, 1991, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 46, and review of Wolfling, p. 57; April, 1991, review of Young Bleys, p. 19, review of Naked to the Stars, p. 41; May, 1991, reviews of Wolf and Iron, Young Bleys, and The Harriers, p. 46; October, 1991, review of Steel Brother, p. 45; December, 1991, reviews of The Dragon Knight and Tactics of Mistake, p. 51; January, 1992, review of Necromancer, p. 56; February, 1992, review of Space Dogfights, p. 56.
Los Angeles Times Book Review, June 26, 1983, review of The Man from Earth, p. 10; July 29, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 6.
New York Times Book Review, August 2, 1987, Gerald Jonas, review of Way of the Pilgrim, p. 25.
Publishers Weekly, June 20, 1980, review of In Iron Years, p. 75; November 6, 1981, review of In Iron Years, p. 78; September 2, 1983, Sally A. Lodge, review of Hoka!, p. 73; February 24, 1984, review of Jamie the Red, p. 138; September 7, 1984, review of The Final Encyclopedia, p. 74; August 23, 1985, review of The Final Encyclopedia, p. 70; November 1, 1985, Sybil Steinberg, review of Steel Brother, p. 63; May 23, 1986, John Mutter, review of The Dorsai Companion, p. 100; August 15, 1986, Sybil Steinberg, review of The Forever Man, p. 73; January 30, 1987, John Mutter, review of In the Bone: The Best Science Fiction of Gordon R. Dickson, p. 379; March 27, 1987, Sybil Steinberg, review of Way of the Pilgrim, p. 39; September 2, 1988, Sybil Steinberg, review of The Chantry Guild, p. 90; November 11, 1988, Penny Kaganoff, review of The Earth Lords, p. 50; April 14, 1989, review of The Chantry Guild, p. 65; April 20, 1990, Sybil Steinberg, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 61; October 5, 1990, Sybil Steinberg, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 93; March 1, 1991, Sybil Steinberg, review of Young Bleys, p. 61; August 29, 1994, review of Other, p. 64; November 14, 1994, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, p. 56; June 26, 1995, review of The Magnificent Wilf, p. 91; December 11, 1995, review of The Dragon and the Djinn, p. 60; July 14, 1997, review of The Dragon and the Gnarly King, p. 69; September 28, 1998, review of The Dragon in Lyonesse, p. 78; November 27, 2000, review of The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, p. 59; January 22, 2007, review of Antagonist, p. 168.
Rapport, April, 1994, review of Other, p. 33.
School Library Journal, April, 1980, review of Spirit of Dorsai, p. 136; May, 1984, Olive Hull, review of Gremlins, Go Home!, p. 76; September, 1990, John Lawson, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 266; October, 1996, Charlotte Bradshaw, review of The Dragon and the Djinn, p. 162; June, 1991, Pat Royal, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 135.
Science Fiction Chronicle, January, 1987, review of The Forever Man, p. 39; May, 1987, review of Space Winners, p. 50; September, 1990, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 37; March, 1991, review of Wolf and Iron, p. 28; June, 1991, review of The Harriers, p. 32; July, 1991, review of Young Bleys, p. 31; December, 1991, review of Robot Warriors, p. 34; February, 1992, review of Space Dogfights, p. 32; March, 1992, review of Young Bleys, p. 20; January, 1993, review of Bootcamp 3000, p. 33; September, 1993, review of Blood and War, p. 34; September, 1995, review of Other, p. 35.
Science Fiction Review, February, 1985, review of Survival, p. 62.
Tribune Books (Chicago), January 18, 1987, review of The Forever Man, p. 6.
Voice of Youth Advocates, June, 1981, review of Masters of Everon, p. 54; October, 1981, review of Love Not Human, p. 42; December, 1982, review of The Outposter, p. 36; December, 1983, review of The Man from Earth, p. 282; April, 1985, review of Hour of the Horde, p. 55; December, 1985, review of Forward!, p. 324; April, 1986, review of Invaders!, p. 39; August, 1986, review of Steel Brother, p. 160; December, 1986, reviews of The Dorsai Companion and The Last Dream, p. 236; February, 1987, review of The Man the Worlds Rejected, p. 291; August, 1987, review of Stranger, p. 129; October, 1987, review of Way of the Pilgrim, p. 176; April, 1989, reviews of Beginnings and Ends, p. 40; June, 1989, review of The Chantry Guild, p. 116; October, 1989, review of The Earth Lords, p. 222; August, 1989, review of None but Man, p. 164; June, 1991, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 107; October, 1991, review of Young Bleys, p. 238; April, 1992, review of The Dragon Knight, p. 9; June, 1992, review of The Dragon onthe Border, p. 108, review of Young Bleys, p. 143; February, 1993, review of The Dragon at War, p. 346; April, 1993, review of The Dragon on the Border, p. 10; April, 1995, review of The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll, p. 32; April, 1998, review of The Dragon and the Gnarly King, p. 54; August, 2001, review of The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, p. 212.
Wilson Library Bulletin, June, 1989, review of None but Man, p. 108.
ONLINE
Scifipedia,http://scifipedia.scifi.com (December 8, 2007), profile of author.
Susan Stepney's Website,http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/susan (August 1, 2002), Susan Stepney, reviews of Star Prince Charlie and Hokas Pokas!
OBITUARIES
ONLINE
Science Fiction Writers of America,http://www.sfwa.org/ (December 8, 2007), "Gordon R. Dickson (1923-2001)," includes tributes to author.