Gordon Rupert Dickson (November 1, 1923 – January 31, 2001) was a

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American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

science fiction Science fiction (sometimes shortened to Sci-Fi or SF) is a genre of speculative fiction which typically deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts such as advanced science and technology, space exploration, time travel, parallel uni ...

writer. He was inducted into the

Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame The Museum of Pop Culture or MoPOP is a nonprofit museum in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to contemporary popular culture. It was founded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000 as the Experience Music Project. Since then MoPOP has organ ...

in 2000.

Biography

Dickson was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1923. After the death of his father, he moved with his mother to

Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origin ...

in 1937.

John Clute John Frederick Clute (born 12 September 1940) is a Canadian-born author and critic specializing in science fiction and fantasy literature who has lived in both England and the United States since 1969. He has been described as "an integral part ...

: ''Gordon R. Dickson (1923–)''. In:

Richard Bleiler Richard James Bleiler (born 1959) is an American bibliographer of science fiction, fantasy, horror, crime, and adventure fiction. He was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction in 2002 and for the Munsey Award in 2019. He is th ...

(ed.): ''Science Fiction Writers. Critical Studies of the Major Authors from the Early Nineteenth Century to the Present Day.'' Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York 1982, p. 345 He served in the United States Army, from 1943 to 1946, and received a Bachelor of Arts from the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public land-grant research university in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. ...

, in 1948. From 1948 through 1950 he attended the University of Minnesota for graduate work. His first published speculative fiction was the short story "Trespass!", written jointly with

Poul Anderson Poul William Anderson (November 25, 1926 – July 31, 2001) was an American fantasy and science fiction author who was active from the 1940s until the 21st century. Anderson wrote also historical novels. His awards include seven Hugo Awards and ...

, in the Spring 1950 issue of ''Fantastic Stories Quarterly'' (ed.

Sam Merwin Sam, SAM or variants may refer to: Places * Sam, Benin * Sam, Boulkiemdé, Burkina Faso * Sam, Bourzanga, Burkina Faso * Sam, Kongoussi, Burkina Faso * Sam, Iran * Sam, Teton County, Idaho, United States, a populated place People and fictional ...

), the inaugural number of ''

Fantastic Story Magazine ''Fantastic Story Quarterly ''was a pulp science fiction magazine, published from 1950 to 1955 by Best Books, a subsidiary imprint of Standard Magazines, based in Kokomo, Indiana. The name was changed with the Summer 1951 issue to ''Fantastic St ...

'' as it came to be titled. Next year three of his solo efforts were published by

John W. Campbell John Wood Campbell Jr. (June 8, 1910 – July 11, 1971) was an American science fiction writer and editor. He was editor of ''Astounding Science Fiction'' (later called ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'') from late 1937 until his death ...

in ''

Astounding Science Fiction ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' is an American science fiction magazine published under various titles since 1930. Originally titled ''Astounding Stories of Super-Science'', the first issue was dated January 1930, published by William C ...

'' and one appeared in ''

Planet Stories ''Planet Stories'' was an American pulp science fiction magazine, published by Fiction House between 1939 and 1955. It featured interplanetary adventures, both in space and on some other planets, and was initially focused on a young readershi ...

''. Anderson and Dickson also inaugurated the Hoka series with "The Sheriff of Canyon Gulch" (''

Other Worlds Science Stories ''Other Worlds'', ''Universe Science Fiction'', and ''Science Stories'' were three related US magazines edited by Raymond A. Palmer. ''Other Worlds'' was launched in November 1949 by Palmer's Clark Publications and lasted for four years in i ...

'', May 1951). Dickson's series of novels include the Childe Cycle (sometimes called the Dorsai series) and the Dragon Knight. He won three

Hugo Award The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. The Hugo is widely considered the premier ...

s and one

Nebula Award The Nebula Awards annually recognize the best works of science fiction or fantasy published in the United States. The awards are organized and awarded by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), a nonprofit association of prof ...

. For a great part of his life, he suffered from the effects of

asthma Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, co ...

. He died of complications from severe asthma.

Personality

has characterized Dickson as a "gregarious, engaging, genial, successful man of letters" who had not been an introvert.John Clute: ''Gordon R. Dickson (1923–)''. In: Richard Bleiler (ed.): ''Science Fiction Writers. Critical Studies of the Major Authors from the Early Nineteenth Century to the Present Day.'' Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York 1982, p. 346 Clute considers Dickson a ''science fiction romantic''. Nevertheless, Clute stresses in connection to Dickson that

welcomes "images of heightened solitude, romantically vague, limitless landscapes, and an anguished submission to afflatus", due to its origin in

Gothic fiction Gothic fiction, sometimes called Gothic horror in the 20th century, is a loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name is a reference to Gothic architecture of the European Middle Ages, which was characteristic of the settings of ea ...

Style

Clute has pointed out that Dickson, like

, with whom he collaborated in the ''Hoka series'', "

ends End, END, Ending, or variation, may refer to: End *In mathematics: **End (category theory) **End (topology) **End (graph theory) ** End (group theory) (a subcase of the previous) ** End (endomorphism) *In sports and games **End (gridiron football ...

to infuse an austere Nordic pathos into wooded, rural midwestern American settings.' His works often have mercenaries as their protagonists and deal with aliens that are "less deracinated and more lovable than humans" (Clute). They "are inclined to take on a heightened, sagalike complexion" (Clute), particularly by the insertion of lyric poetry that is sometimes inferior.

Selected works

Childe Cycle

* ''

Dorsai! ''Dorsai!'' is the first published book of the incomplete Childe Cycle series of science fiction novels by American writer Gordon R. Dickson. Later books are set both before and after the events in ''Dorsai!''. The novel was originally publi ...

'' (1959) (variant title: ''The Genetic General'') * ''

Necromancer Necromancy () is the practice of magic or black magic involving communication with the dead by summoning their spirits as apparitions or visions, or by resurrection for the purpose of divination; imparting the means to foretell future events ...

'' (1962) (variant title: ''No Room for Man'') * ''

Soldier, Ask Not ''Soldier, Ask Not'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Gordon R. Dickson, published in 1967 by Dell Publishing company. It is also the title of a novella which appeared in the October, 1964 issue of ''Galaxy Science Fiction'' magaz ...

'' (1967) * ''

Tactics of Mistake ''Tactics of Mistake'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Gordon R. Dickson, first published as a serial in ''Analog'' in 1970-1971. It is part of Dickson's Childe Cycle series, in which mankind has reached the stars and divided ...

'' (1971) * ''

The Spirit of Dorsai ''The Spirit of Dorsai'' is a collection of two science fiction stories by American writer Gordon R. Dickson. It was first published by Ace Books in 1979. The collection includes linking material and the stories are part of Dickson's Childe Cy ...

'' (1979) * '' Lost Dorsai'' (1980) * ''

The Final Encyclopedia ''The Final Encyclopedia'' is a science fiction book by Gordon R. Dickson published in 1984. It is part of the Childe Cycle series. ''The Final Encyclopedia'' transitions from the militaristic action-adventure of the earlier books in the Childe Cy ...

'' (1984) * ''

The Dorsai Companion ''The Dorsai Companion'' is a collection of science fiction stories by American writer Gordon R. Dickson, part of his Childe Cycle series. It was first published by Ace Books in 1986. The collection includes a number of articles by Sandra Mie ...

'' (1986) * ''The Chantry Guild'' (1988) * ''Young Bleys'' (1991) * ''Other'' (1994) * ''Antagonist'' (with David W. Wixon) (2007)

Dragon Knight series

# '' The Dragon and the George'' (1976) # '' The Dragon Knight'' (1990) # '' The Dragon on the Border'' (1992) # '' The Dragon at War'' (1992) # '' The Dragon, the Earl, and the Troll'' (1994) # '' The Dragon and the Djinn'' (1996) # '' The Dragon and the Gnarly King'' (1997) # '' The Dragon in Lyonesse'' (1998) # '' The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent'' (2000)

Hoka series

* '' Earthman's Burden'' (1957) (with

) (contents different under variant title: '' Hoka! Hoka! Hoka!'') (1998) —collection of stories published 1951 to 1956 * '' Hoka!'' (1983) (with Poul Anderson) * ''Star Prince Charlie'' (1983) (with Poul Anderson) * '' Hokas Pokas!'' (2000) (with Poul Anderson) (includes ''Star Prince Charlie'')

Novels

* ''Alien from Arcturus'' (1956) (expanded as ''Arcturus Landing'') * ''Mankind on the Run'' (1956) (variant title: ''On the Run'', 1979) * ''Time to Teleport'' (1960) * ''Naked to the Stars'' (1961) * ''Spacial Delivery'' (1961) * ''Delusion World'' (1961) * ''The Alien Way'' (1965) * ''Space Winners'' (1965) * ''Mission to Universe'' (1965) (rev. 1977) * ''The Space Swimmers'' (1967) * ''Planet Run'' (1967) (with

Keith Laumer John Keith Laumer ( – ) was an American science fiction author. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, he was an officer in the United States Air Force and a diplomat in the United States Foreign Service. His older brother March Laumer wa ...

) * ''Spacepaw'' (1969) * ''Wolfling'' (1969) * ''None But Man'' (1969) * ''Hour of the Horde'' (1970) * ''Sleepwalkers’ World'' (1971) * ''The Outposter'' (1972) * ''The Pritcher Mass'' (1972) * ''Alien Art'' (1973) * ''The R-Master'' (1973) (revised as ''The Last Master'', 1984) * ''Gremlins, Go Home'' (1974) (with

Ben Bova Benjamin William Bova (November 8, 1932November 29, 2020) was an American writer and editor. During a writing career of 60 years, he was the author of more than 120 works of science fact and fiction, an editor of ''Analog Science Fiction and Fac ...

) * ''The Lifeship'' (variant title: ''Lifeboat'') (1977) (with Harry Harrison) * ''Time Storm'' (1977) * ''The Far Call'' (1978) * ''Home from the Shore'' (1978) * ''Pro'' (1978) (illustrated by James R. Odbert) ( Ace Illustrated Novel) * ''Masters of Everon'' (1980) * ''The Last Master'' (1984) * ''Jamie the Red'' (1984) (with Roland Green) * ''

The Forever Man ''The Forever Man'' is a novel by Gordon R. Dickson published in 1986. Plot summary ''The Forever Man'' is a novel in which people can transfer their disembodied minds into spaceships. Reception Dave Langford reviewed ''The Forever Man'' for ' ...

'' (1986) * ''Way of the Pilgrim'' (1987) * ''The Earth Lords'' (1989) * ''Wolf and Iron'' (1990) * ''The Magnificent Wilf'' (1995) * '' The Right to Arm Bears'' (2000) omnibus of ''Spacial Delivery'', ''Spacepaw'', "The Law-Twister Shorty"

Short story collections

* '' Danger—Human'' (1970) (as '' The Book of Gordon Dickson'', 1973) * '' Mutants'' (1970) * '' The Star Road'' (1973) * '' Ancient, My Enemy'' (1974) * '' Gordon R. Dickson's SF Best'' (1978) (revised as '' In the Bone'', 1987) * '' In Iron Years'' (1980) * '' Love Not Human'' (1981) * ''

The Man from Earth ''The Man from Earth'' is a 2007 American science fiction drama film directed by Richard Schenkman. It was written by Jerome Bixby, who conceived the screenplay in the early 1960s and completed it on his deathbed in April 1998. It stars David L ...

'' (1983) * ''

Dickson! ''Dickson!'' is a collection of science fiction stories by American writer Gordon R. Dickson. It was first published by NESFA Press in 1984 and was issued in honor of Dickson's appearance as guest of honor at the 42nd World Science Fiction Conven ...

'' (1984) (revised as ''

Steel Brother ''Steel Brother'' is a collection of science fiction stories by Gordon R. Dickson. It was first published by Tor Books in 1985 and reprints most of the stories from Dickson's 1984 collection ''Dickson!'', with one substitution and one added inter ...

'' ) * '' Survival!'' (1984) * ''

Forward! ''Forward!'' is a collection of science fiction stories by American writer Gordon R. Dickson. It was first published by Baen Books in 1985, and was edited by Sandra Miesel. Most of the stories originally appeared in the magazines ''Galaxy Sci ...

(1985) * '' Beyond the Dar Al-Harb'' (1985) * '' Invaders!'' (1985) * ''

'' (1985) * '' The Man the Worlds Rejected'' (1986) * '' Mindspan'' (1986) * '' The Last Dream'' (1986) * '' The Stranger'' (1987) * '' Guided Tour'' (1988) * '' Beginnings'' (1988) * ''

Ends End, END, Ending, or variation, may refer to: End *In mathematics: **End (category theory) **End (topology) **End (graph theory) ** End (group theory) (a subcase of the previous) ** End (endomorphism) *In sports and games **End (gridiron football ...

'' (1988) * '' The Human Edge'' (2003)

Children's books

* ''Secret under the Sea'' (1960) * ''Secret under Antarctica'' (1963) * ''Secret under the Caribbean'' (1964) * ''Secrets of the Deep'' (1985) omnibus of the three above

Awards

Dickson received the 1977 Skylark — Edward E. Smith Memorial Award for Imaginative Fiction from

NESFA The New England Science Fiction Association, or NESFA, is a science fiction club centered in the New England area. It was founded in 1967, "by fans who wanted to ''do'' things in addition to socializing". NESFA is currently registered as a non- ...

— for his contribution to SF and he was inducted by the

in 2000. He won several annual literary awards for particular works. ;

* "

" for best short story, 1965 * " Lost Dorsai" for best novella, 1981 * " The Cloak and the Staff" for best novelette, 1981 ;

* "

Call Him Lord "Call Him Lord" is a novelette by the American writer Gordon R. Dickson. It was first published in ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'' in May 1966.. Retrieved February 2, 2019. In the story, the heir to a galactic empire tours a museum-like Earth, ...

" for best novelette, 1966 ;

August Derleth Award The August Derleth Award is one of the British Fantasy Awards bestowed annually by the British Fantasy Society. The award is named after the American writer and editor August Derleth. It was inaugurated in 1972 for the best novel of the year, was n ...

(best novel, British Fantasy Society) * '' The Dragon and the George'', 1977

References

;Citations * *

External links

* * * *
Bibliography
at SciFan

at ''Free Speculative Fiction Online'' *
Interview by Kay Drache of Hennepin County Library
Northern Lights Minnesota Author Interview TV Series #175 (1991) {{DEFAULTSORT:Dickson, Gordon R. 1923 births 2001 deaths University of Minnesota alumni 20th-century American novelists American male novelists American fantasy writers United States Army personnel of World War II American science fiction writers American short story writers Canadian emigrants to the United States Canadian expatriate writers in the United States Filkers Hugo Award-winning writers Nebula Award winners Writers from Edmonton Writers from Minneapolis Science Fiction Hall of Fame inductees American male short story writers Novelists from Minnesota 20th-century American male writers