History Literature / ChildeCycle

* TooDumbToLive: Donal’s reaction when he discovers Anea wants to destroy her Contract. Not only is a person’s contract made from a nearly indestructible material, but attempting to destroy one is carries a death sentence everywere. Even more shocking is that Anea is a Select of Kultis, the height of Exotic genetic engineering and training – she should be more controlled and logical than that.

* TheObstructiveLoveInterest: Anea Marlivana from ''Dorsai'' and Melissa Khan from ''Tactics of Mistake''

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Anea keeps calling Donal a '''Mercenary''' in trying to insult him. However, he points out that the term doesn't mean what she thinks (A selfish, unscrupulous hireling). The term in-universe generally refers to any solider hired to fight, and as the Dorsai prove can just be as honorable as regular soldiers.

* RetCon: The original versions of ''Dorsai!'' and ''Necromancer'' listed Newton orbiting Arcturus. This was revised to have the planet located in the Alpha Centauri system.

* TheChessmaster: William of Ceta, Donal Graeme, Tam Olyn

* TropeCodifier: With ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' and HBeamPiper's ''Uller Uprising'', ''Dorsai!'' helped shape the modern conception of MilitaryScienceFiction. ''Dorsai!'' in particular introduced cunning and hyper-aware military commanders, psychopathic aides, religious-focused fanatics, and space mercenaries. Donal traits can be seen in [[Literature/CoDominium Col. Falkenberg]] and [[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]. Lee serves as the seed for the psychopathic [[Literature/HammersSlammers Joachim Steuben]]. The Friendlies tend to invoke the fanatical [[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSeries Brotherhood of Nod]].

* MilitaryScienceFiction: The stories focusing on the Dorsai tend to be this, however GordonRDickson was less concerned about the particulars of military conflict that he was advancing his larger MythArc.

* HyperspeedAmbush: Donal Graeme stages a daring raid against an enemy planet in ''Dorsai!''. He uses multiple swift hyperspace jumps to simulate a huge armada attacking his enemy, even though it drives him and his crew to the edge of collapse, with each jump leaving them more and more in pain and disorientation.

* LoveIsAWeakness: William uses this to his advantage, using Anea as a pawn to get others to do what he wants.

* LonersAreFreaks:

* AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs: Dow deCastries leads an invasion of the Dorsai in the climax of ''Tactics of Mistake''. He even occupies Grahamehouse with Melissa and her father. [[spoiler: It turns out to be the final mistake for deCastries. Donal has spent years forcing Dow into this position, so his Alliance-Coalition Troops would be easily defeated by the elderly, young, and sick of the Dorsai.]]

* DefensiveFeintTrap: ''The Tactics of Mistake''. The title comes from the hero's tactical doctrine, which calls for a series of feints, that gradually draw the enemy into an untenable position, at which point he attacks, and demolishes them. In fact, his later decedents will use this to great effect.

* ''Amanda Morgan'': Set in the later half of ''Tactics of Mistake'', it tells of the defense of the Dorsai from the titular character.

* ''Lost Dorsai'': Set during the time of ''Dorsai!'', it tells of a Dorsai who has turned to pacifism.
* "Warrior": Tells of Ian Graeme (Uncle of Donal), as he confronts a gangster over an officer's death.

* ''Amanda Morgan''
* "Brothers"

!!Stories of the Cycle
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: The Main Cycle]]

# ''Dorsai!'' (1959)
# ''Necromancer'' (1962)
# ''Soldier, Ask Not'' (1967)
# ''Tactics of Mistake'' (1971)

# ''Childe'' - unfinished

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Short Stories / Novellas]]
* "Lost Dorsai" (novella) and "Warrior" (short story), published together in ''Lost Dorsai'' (1981)
* "Amanda Morgan" (novella) and "Brothers" (short story), published together in ''The Spirit of Dorsai'' (1979)
[[/folder]]

[[folder: The Bleys Novels]]

[[/folder]]

* AllThereInTheManual: ''The New Dorsai Companion'' by David W. Wixon. Based on details from Dickson, it provides information on the universe of the Cycle not provided in the novels.

* AmbitionIsEvil: Tam and William play this straight - Tam wishes to be free from the contract system, and uses his powers for selfish gain. William seems to be motivated purely by his ambitions. Inverted with Donal, who wants to become "the greatest general that ever was!" [[SelfMadeMan and proceeds to do just that]]. But unlike Tam or William, Donal isn't self serving and is does plenty of good along the way.

* HyperspaceIsAScaryPlace: Ships are sometimes lost through phase shift travel

* ItsRainingMen: Military troops drop from their ships onto a planet.

* NietzscheWannabe: Mathias, Tam's Uncle, who raised him and his sister Eileen.
** AbusiveParent: Mathias isn't physically violent nor neglectful, providing his home with his niece and nephew. The problem is his nihilistic attitude - it discourages Tam and Eileen severely.

* SpaceNavy: The major powers have their own permanent space navies.

* VillainProtagonist: Tam Olyn in ''Soldier, Ask Not''. He doesn't care who gets used or hurt in his manipulations. Worse, his plots may negatively affect the future of mankind.

* TropeCodifier: With ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' and HBeamPiper's ''Uller Uprising'', ''Dorsai!'' helped shape the modern conception of MilitaryScienceFiction. ''Dorsai!'' in particular introduced cunning and hyper-aware military commanders, psychopathic aides, religious-focused fanatics, and space mercenaries. Donal traits can be seen in [[CoDominium Col. Falkenberg]] and [[TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]. Lee serves as the seed for the psychopathic [[HammersSlammers Joachim Steuben]]. The Friendlies tend to invoke the fanatical [[CommandAndConquerTiberium Brotherhood of Nod]].

** Dicussed between Donal and William. After ruining one of his plans, the Prince demands what protects the Dorsai from being in his presence. Donal replies “public opinion.” William then notes that “I know that type of armor from personal experience.”

** Conversed between Donal and William. After ruining one of his plans, the Prince demands what protects the Dorsai from being in his presence. Donal replies “public opinion.” William then notes that “I know that type of armor from personal experience.”

* YouKeepUsingThatWord: Anea keeps calling Donal a '''Mercenary''' in trying to insult him. However, he points out that the term doesn't mean what she thinks (A selfish, unscrupulous hireling). The term in-universe generally refers to any solider hired to fight, and as the Dorsai prove can just be as honorable.

* HonorBeforeReason: In "Warrior", Ian looks like this - risking his life for duty.

* KineticWeaponsAreJustBetter: Though energy weapons do exist, many directed energy weapons and chemical weapons can be stopped by long range jamming. In the field, the best weapon is Spring Rifle - [[FlechetteStorm a needle-gun like weapon]] that is designed to resist such countermeasures.

* ShockingDefeatLegacy: Minor example when Donal stages a raid on Newton [[spoiler: disguising it as a full attack]], that it gets that planet off from blackmailing the Sirius system.

* {{Workaholic}}: William's major trait - when he's not at a party to help influence interstellar affairs, he's alone at his desk hard at work.

** TheEeyore: Poor Montor is so depressed in his lot in life.
* AmbitionIsEvil: Tam and William play this straight - Tam wishes to be free from the contract system, and uses his powers for selfish gain. William seems to be motivated purely by his ambitions. Inverted with Donal, who wishes to become "the greatest general that ever was!" [[SelfMadeMan and proceeds to do just that]]. But unlike Tam or William, Donal isn't self serving and is does plenty of good along the way.

* CasualInterstellarTravel: Thanks to the Phase Shift Drive, ships can go through a series of jumps to get to different star systems. However, trade between the stars tends to expensive, but people can take a spahceship as if traveling on a boat or an aircraft.

* TheCoup: ''Dorsai'' and ''Soldier Ask Not'' has these as part of background events, usually part of some larger plan.

** Once he discovers his potential, Tam immediately uses his powers to manipulate the emotions to his gain - even his own sister.

* VeteranInstructor: During Donal's time as Protector of Procyon and Commander In Chief, Ian helps trains his ground forces to becoming excellent troopers.

* BadassAbnormal: Donal Graeme, arguably. He can travel through time by shear force of will, for example.

* TheAlcoholic: Montor ArDell, a brilliant Newtonian who got stuck working for William of Ceta. He despises the Prince so much that he drinks... a lot.