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Childe Cycle
- 588 statements
- 115 feature instances
- 20 referencing feature instances
| Childe Cycle | type |
TVTItem | |
| Childe Cycle | label |
Childe Cycle | |
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ChildeCycle | |
| Childe Cycle | comment |
The Childe Cycle is an unfinished science fiction series by Gordon R. Dickson, with a setting stretching from the late 21st century into the 24th. Many of the stories in the series feature the Dorsai, an extremely capable warrior people who hire out to interstellar society as mercenaries.While the various stories have different themes and plots, the series focuses on the human characteristics of Faith, Philosophy, and Courage. Dickson apparently meant the series to be an allegory about the development of humanity.The Main CycleThe main series consists of six novels, with a projected seventh and final novel left unfinished at Dickson's death: Dorsai! (1959): The career of Donal Graeme, a Dorsai Mercenary who matches wits with the ambitious Prince William of Ceta. Necromancer (1962): Set in the late 21st Century, it follows Paul Formaine as he deals with the mysterious Chantry Guild and its war against a supercomputer. Soldier, Ask Not (1967): Tam Olyn's quest for revenge against the puritanical Friendlies. Set around the same time as Dorsai! and expanded from his 1964 Novella with the same name. Tactics of Mistake (1971): Cletus Grahame, ancestor of Donal, begins to revolutionize warfare on the newly settled Younger Worlds. The Final Encyclopedia (1984) The Chantry Guild (1988) Childe: Dickson's unfinished work, probably meant to be the climax of the Cycle.Short Stories / NovellasStories published together in Lost Dorsai (1981): Lost Dorsai: Tells of a Dorsai who has turned to pacifism caught in the middle of a revolt. "Warrior": Ian Graeme (Uncle of Donal), confronts a gangster over an officer's death.Published together in The Spirit of Dorsai (1979): Amanda Morgan: Set in the later half of Tactics of Mistake, it tells of the defense of the Dorsai from the perspective of the titular character. "Brothers": As a result of the events of Soldier, Ask Not, Ian Graeme must find who murdered his twin brother.The Bleys NovelsAlso included are three novels following the perspective of Bleys Ahrens, the antagonist of The Final Encyclopedia and The Chantry Guild: Young Bleys (1991) Other (1994) Antagonist (with David W. Wixon) (2007) | |
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Dropped link to AbusiveParent: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
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Dropped link to MilitaryScienceFiction: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
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Dropped link to TheDeterminator: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_1439161f | type |
Heroic BSoD | |
| Childe Cycle / int_1439161f | comment |
Heroic BSoD: Donal in Dorsai! blacks out after discovering his brother's death, but not before mentally tormenting William. After waking up, Donal takes pity on William and heals his mind. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_1501e2dd | type |
Hero Antagonist | |
| Childe Cycle / int_1501e2dd | comment |
Hero Antagonist: Jamethon Black in Soldier Ask Not. He stands in contrast to Tam's perceptions of the Friendlies - a faithful man not driven to extremes. Jamethon's Faith is what foils and saves Tam. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_154f340 | type |
The Obstructive Love Interest | |
| Childe Cycle / int_154f340 | comment |
The Obstructive Love Interest: Anea Marlivana from Dorsai and Melissa Khan from Tactics of Mistake. Anea realizes that William must be stopped but is totally clueless about how to do it and won't listen to Donal who does have a plan. Melissa has an agenda of her own that Cletus' activities is derailing. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_17ce80aa | type |
All There in the Manual | |
| Childe Cycle / int_17ce80aa | comment |
All There in the Manual: 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. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_18d15922 | type |
Title Drop | |
| Childe Cycle / int_18d15922 | comment |
Title Drop: Somewhere in each book or story, the title will be mentioned. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_18e7aa01 | type |
Practical Currency | |
| Childe Cycle / int_18e7aa01 | comment |
Practical Currency: Due to high transport costs, interstellar currency largely consists of the trade of skilled professionals. So if a planet needs something or someone, they simply hire out another person in exchange. Many planets have specialized in certain fields to survive. The system not only affects interstellar politics, but drives the plot in several stories. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_18e7aa01 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_19944e8f | type |
Terraform | |
| Childe Cycle / int_19944e8f | comment |
Sirius has the worlds of Freiland and New Earth, both terraformed to allow human habitation. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_19944e8f | |
| Childe Cycle / int_19c92081 | type |
Tear Up the Contract | |
| Childe Cycle / int_19c92081 | comment |
Tear Up the Contract: Averted, as said contracts are made from a nearly indestructible and unalterable material. As these contracts are the basis for interstellar economics, even trying to destroy a contract carries the death penalty. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_19fe3478 | type |
Daddy's Girl | |
| Childe Cycle / int_19fe3478 | comment |
Daddy's Girl: Melissa is devoted to her father Eachan Khan who she is determined to see restored to his rank and position on Old Earth, hence her interest in deCastries. However Cletus Grahame wants Eachan to help him create the Dorsai leading to intimate and heated conflict between the couple eventually ending in a happy marriage. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_1c398324 | type |
Death from Above | |
| Childe Cycle / int_1c398324 | comment |
Death from Above: How Donal deals with a sneak attack Having taken preparations to detect the attack, he orders his men to climb the trees and stay silent. With their Chameleon camouflage and being so high, they wouldn't be seen by their foes. Once the attackers were under them, Donal orders his forces to fire from the trees. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_1c5002bc | type |
The Stoic | |
| Childe Cycle / int_1c5002bc | comment |
The Stoic: Ian Graeme; when his twin is killed he underreacts to the point that people think he just doesn't care. (They're wrong. Really, really wrong.) | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_204a1207 | type |
Hyperspace Is a Scary Place | |
| Childe Cycle / int_204a1207 | comment |
Hyperspace Is a Scary Place: Ships are sometimes lost through phase shift travel. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_21cf9301 | type |
Family of Choice | |
| Childe Cycle / int_21cf9301 | comment |
Family of Choice: Eileen Olyn rejects her nihilistic uncle and her destructive elder brother in favor of identifying completely as a member of her husband's family even after that husband's death. Tam is heartbroken by her rejection and completely fails to understand it is not out of anger or hatred but simply to protect Eileen's new family from her old one. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_24ae6005 | type |
The Political Officer | |
| Childe Cycle / int_24ae6005 | comment |
The Political Officer: The Friendlies have "Conscience Guardians" who seek out heresy among their troops. Interestingly enough, the Guardians authority is only over their Church members and not foreign mercenaries. They also keep their forces from bickering with each other over issues of religious doctrine, preventing tensions within their army. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_26ad2fa8 | type |
Fictional Geneva Conventions | |
| Childe Cycle / int_26ad2fa8 | comment |
Fictional Geneva Conventions: The Mercenaries Code. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_26ad2fa8 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_27690f66 | type |
Literary Allusion Title | |
| Childe Cycle / int_27690f66 | comment |
Literary Allusion Title: To Robert Browning's Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_2848e7d2 | type |
Oblivious to Love | |
| Childe Cycle / int_2848e7d2 | comment |
Oblivious to Love: The brilliant Cletus Grahame fails to realize that Melissa loves him even after they've consummated their marriage and she's given him a son. In spite of all this he goes on believing he's holding her to him by force and she will leave him the minute the pressure is off. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_2a02e5c9 | type |
Guile Hero | |
| Childe Cycle / int_2a02e5c9 | comment |
Guile Hero: Donal Graeme and Cletus Grahame. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_2a3aa1a5 | type |
Peace Conference | |
| Childe Cycle / int_2a3aa1a5 | comment |
Peace Conference: One of the key events in Dorsai!, were the planetary leaders attempt to discuss a resolution to the Contract issue. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_2a3aa1a5 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_2ae247a4 | type |
Auto-Doc | |
| Childe Cycle / int_2ae247a4 | comment |
Auto-Doc: Medical Mechs, one of which shows up in "Warrior". | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_2af7961 | type |
Faster-Than-Light Travel | |
| Childe Cycle / int_2af7961 | comment |
Faster-Than-Light Travel: Space travel is achieved through a series of jumps called phase shift, where the ship is annihilated at one spot and reconstituted in another. The jumps not only have to be extensively calculated (the ship must be located absolutely in the universe, and its destination point must also be exactly calculated, to the same degree), the jump itself has a psychological effect on the crew and passengers, so the more often the jump, the greater the psychic shock and the closer the people on board get to insanity. Tranquilizers are made available to help lessen the experience, but cannot nullify it. This is a subplot point in Dorsai! , where the effect is shown during a raid on a planet - something nobody thinks possible. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_31b99a18 | type |
Naming Your Colony World | |
| Childe Cycle / int_31b99a18 | comment |
Naming Your Colony World: The Cycle has fun with this, using New Something, Symbolica, and Mnemosyne. Though one wonders what "Dorsai" and "Kultis" means. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_31c4280 | type |
Conscription | |
| Childe Cycle / int_31c4280 | comment |
Conscription: The Friendlies practice this, as does Cassida, for their troops. In general, most of the younger worlds are able to conscript anyone by selling their contract without approval of that individual. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_34077cb2 | type |
Warfare Regression | |
| Childe Cycle / int_34077cb2 | comment |
Warfare Regression: Long range countermeasures have actually reduced the effectiveness of many weapons. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_3f9a789a | type |
Teleportation Sickness | |
| Childe Cycle / int_3f9a789a | comment |
Teleportation Sickness: Phase shifting causes people to become sick, likely because their minds can't handle the fact they were instantly pull apart and reconstructed. People need to take medication before each shift, and repeated multiple jumps can be lethal. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_40c57041 | type |
Manipulative Bastard | |
| Childe Cycle / int_40c57041 | comment |
Manipulative Bastard: William displays this, using people's feelings as part of his schemes. Upon discovering his potential, Tam immediately uses his powers to manipulate others for personal gain - even his own sister. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_44bd31e2 | type |
Trope Codifier | |
| Childe Cycle / int_44bd31e2 | comment |
Trope Codifier: With Starship Troopers and H. Beam Piper's Uller Uprising, Dorsai! helped shape the modern conception of Military Science Fiction. Dorsai! in particular introduced cunning and hyper-aware military commanders, psychopathic aides, religious-focused fanatics, and space mercenaries. Donal traits can be seen in Col. Falkenberg and Grand Admiral Thrawn. Lee serves as the seed for the psychopathic Joachim Steuben. The Friendlies tend to invoke the fanatical Brotherhood of Nod. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_44bd31e2 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_44fc28e8 | type |
Honor Before Reason | |
| Childe Cycle / int_44fc28e8 | comment |
Honor Before Reason: In "Warrior", Ian risks his life for his duty. Even when the police try warning how futile his mission is and how much power his foe has, Ian is undeterred. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_49fb5ccb | type |
Combat Pragmatist | |
| Childe Cycle / int_49fb5ccb | comment |
Combat Pragmatist: The Dorsai. While they do believe in thinking outside the box, they would never, ever, violate the "Mercenaries Code". When one person asked one of the Dorsai commanders if he had ever shot prisoners, the commander got quite threatening about the idea that he would ever do such a thing. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_4b82f134 | type |
Hyperspeed Ambush | |
| Childe Cycle / int_4b82f134 | comment |
Hyperspeed Ambush: 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. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_4b9f810d | type |
Great Big Library of Everything | |
| Childe Cycle / int_4b9f810d | comment |
Great Big Library of Everything:The Final Encyclopedia, which is a database of all human knowledge. The thing is so massive, it has to be sent up to orbit to be fully functional. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_4b9f810d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_4d4df461 | type |
Stock Star Systems | |
| Childe Cycle / int_4d4df461 | comment |
Stock Star Systems: The planets of Cassida and Newton orbit Alpha Centauri A and B, respectively. Newton, being the scientific powerhouse it is, dominates the system as a whole. This was changed from earlier versions, where Newton originally orbited Arcturus. Altair has Dunnin's World - a dry, low populated backwater of a planet. Sirius has the worlds of Freiland and New Earth, both terraformed to allow human habitation. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_4dd46feb | type |
Polar Opposite Twins | |
| Childe Cycle / int_4dd46feb | comment |
Polar Opposite Twins: The twins Kensie and Ian Graeme. Both are Dorsai. Ian is the epitome of the Warrior - seemingly aloof and intimidating by his sheer presence. Kensie is his polar opposite - warm, caring, social - everything that Ian is not. In the stories it's implied that together the two make up one individual. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_4e4ea654 | type |
Workaholic | |
| Childe Cycle / int_4e4ea654 | comment |
Workaholic: William's major trait - when not at a party to influence interstellar affairs, he's alone at his desk hard at work. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_50f5dabe | type |
Reincarnation | |
| Childe Cycle / int_50f5dabe | comment |
Reincarnation: In a manner of speaking. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_50f5dabe | |
| Childe Cycle / int_51c28ba3 | type |
Non-Action Big Bad | |
| Childe Cycle / int_51c28ba3 | comment |
Non-Action Big Bad: William in Dorsai!, whose intellect and charisma are how he advances his agenda. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_54fdbff5 | type |
The Eeyore | |
| Childe Cycle / int_54fdbff5 | comment |
The Eeyore: Poor Montor is such a depressing fellow. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_54fdbff5 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_55a37945 | type |
Badass Family | |
| Childe Cycle / int_55a37945 | comment |
Badass Family: The Graemes. Being Dorsai, they are all naturally badass. But Donal, Ian, and Kensie are military geniuses, and their family was founded by Cletus Grahame, who helped make the Dorsai the feared supersoldiers they are. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_56855fa3 | type |
Casual Interstellar Travel | |
| Childe Cycle / int_56855fa3 | comment |
Casual Interstellar Travel: 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 be expensive, but people can take a spaceship as if traveling on a boat or an aircraft. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_57d43e40 | type |
Fantasy Counterpart Culture | |
| Childe Cycle / int_57d43e40 | comment |
Fantasy Counterpart Culture: The Friendlies are based roughly on the Roundheads of the The English Civil War, while The Dorsai are loosely based on historical Swiss mercenaries. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_57d43e40 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_5f476d97 | type |
Space Navy | |
| Childe Cycle / int_5f476d97 | comment |
Space Navy: The major powers have their own permanent space navies by the time of Dorsai!. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_5f476d97 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_5f52cfcf | type |
Intrepid Reporter | |
| Childe Cycle / int_5f52cfcf | comment |
Intrepid Reporter: Tam Olyn. He takes risks to advance his own agenda. | |
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| Childe Cycle / int_61ff365d | type |
Deflector Shields | |
| Childe Cycle / int_61ff365d | comment |
Deflector Shields: Not for most of the books, but in The Final Encyclopedia one is established around the entire Earth. | |
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Childe Cycle / int_61ff365d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6411dac8 | type |
BadassNormal | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6411dac8 | comment |
Badass Normal: Burton McLeod, compared to the rest of the Chantry Guild. He’s doesn’t have the mystical powers, but he certainly is well capable with combat. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6411dac8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6411dac8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_6411dac8 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6575fd50 | type |
Do-Anything Soldier | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6575fd50 | comment |
Do-Anything Soldier: Donal is not only capable of leading ground troops, but can also command warships as well. Justified in that he attended a military academy, and the Dorsai probably are expected to serve both on the ground and in space. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6575fd50 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6575fd50 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_6575fd50 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_663f35c0 | type |
Only One Name | |
| Childe Cycle / int_663f35c0 | comment |
Only One Name: William of Ceta, whose last name is never referenced at all. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_663f35c0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_663f35c0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_663f35c0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_66f69cd4 | type |
Invisibility Cloak | |
| Childe Cycle / int_66f69cd4 | comment |
Invisibility Cloak: Chameleon Battle-Dress, which allows it's wearers to visually blend into the environment. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_66f69cd4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_66f69cd4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_66f69cd4 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_67f26dcc | type |
Planet of Hats | |
| Childe Cycle / int_67f26dcc | comment |
Planet of Hats: Many of the colonized planets have developed into highly specialized "Splinter Cultures". The reasons for this is that humanity is unconsciously trying to figure out what is the most important aspects of humanity. In addition, with trained specialists as the interstellar currency, planets have no choice but to either fit into an economic niche or fail. See the Character Page for details. Subverted in that while the Splinter Cultures may focus on a singular character, not everyone is going to take that profession. Not all Dorsai are soldiers - they need fishermen and other jobs to run a society. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_67f26dcc | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_67f26dcc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_67f26dcc | |
| Childe Cycle / int_68a5e1c3 | type |
Humans Are Psychic in the Future | |
| Childe Cycle / int_68a5e1c3 | comment |
Humans Are Psychic in the Future: The Chantry Guild in Necromancer has the ability to use what they call Alternate Forces to create magic-like effects, including teleporation. It is strongly implied that these abilities are present among many of the Exotics. Also, Donal Graeme's unique abilities could be called Psychic. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_68a5e1c3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_68a5e1c3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_68a5e1c3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6a397a86 | type |
One-Product Planet | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6a397a86 | comment |
One-Product Planet: The Trope Codifier, see Planet of Hats bellow for details. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6a397a86 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6a397a86 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_6a397a86 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6c553873 | type |
Private Military Contractors | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6c553873 | comment |
Private Military Contractors: Both the Dorsai and the Friendlies depend largely on revenue from jobs as mercenaries. The Dorsai tend to be the elite forces, while the Friendlies specialized in providing more numerous, fanatical Cannon Fodder. The other worlds also hire out troops, but the Dorsai and Friendlies corner the market. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6c553873 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6c553873 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_6c553873 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6ca5a8c2 | type |
Master Computer | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6ca5a8c2 | comment |
Master Computer: The World Complex in Necromancer. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6ca5a8c2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_6ca5a8c2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_6ca5a8c2 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73309776 | type |
Psycho Sidekick | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73309776 | comment |
Psycho Sidekick: Lee in Dorsai!. Due to medical reasons, he's unable to tell right from wrong and has social difficulties. Lee knows how troubled he is, and needs a cause to stay functional. He'll do anything for that cause. Fortunately, he found Donal, who keeps him on the straight and narrow. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73309776 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73309776 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_73309776 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73733868 | type |
Awesomeness by Analysis | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73733868 | comment |
Awesomeness by Analysis: Cletus Grahame, Donal Graeme, most other major Dorsai characters | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73733868 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_73733868 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_73733868 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7877f14d | type |
Fictional Field of Science | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7877f14d | comment |
Fictional Field of Science: The Exotics have a social science called ontogenetics that allow them to perceive patterns in human history and to a certain degree predict which individuals and events will be key points in the evolution of humans to a higher state of being. While the exact details are intentionally left vague, it is said to involve calculations that take into account every person in all the world, as well as how institutions and societies shape the pattern of history and human evolution. One component of the science is the idea that certain individuals have an unusually large impact on the pattern of history. Gordon R. Dickson often uses this as something of an lampshade and in-universe justification for the fact that his Main Characters (some arguably rising to the level of The Chosen One) all play a major role in the movement of the Myth Arc toward his planned final ending | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7877f14d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7877f14d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_7877f14d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7b6e47a5 | type |
Armor-Piercing Question | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7b6e47a5 | comment |
Armor-Piercing Question - After Cletus Graeme has forced Melissa Khan to marry him as part of his overarching strategy, Melissa has only one question; "Then you never loved me?" "Did I ever say I did?" Cletus responds, and leaves the room. This tells Melissa all she needs to know. He loves her. If the answer was no he wouldn't have evaded the question. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7b6e47a5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7b6e47a5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_7b6e47a5 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7eebe99c | type |
The Alcoholic | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7eebe99c | comment |
The Alcoholic: Montor ArDell, a brilliant Newtonian who got stuck working for William of Ceta. He despises the Prince so much that he drinks... a lot. The Eeyore: Poor Montor is such a depressing fellow. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7eebe99c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_7eebe99c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_7eebe99c | |
| Childe Cycle / int_80eb641c | type |
Straw Nihilist | |
| Childe Cycle / int_80eb641c | comment |
Straw Nihilist: Mathias, Tam's Uncle, who raised him and his sister Eileen. Abusive Parent: 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. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_80eb641c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_80eb641c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_80eb641c | |
| Childe Cycle / int_84bc0fef | type |
Love Is a Weakness | |
| Childe Cycle / int_84bc0fef | comment |
Love Is a Weakness: William uses this to his advantage, using Anea as bait to bind men like Hugh Killien and Ardel Montor to him and make them do what he wants. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_84bc0fef | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_84bc0fef | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_84bc0fef | |
| Childe Cycle / int_87bb6874 | type |
Villain with Good Publicity | |
| Childe Cycle / int_87bb6874 | comment |
Villain with Good Publicity: William of Ceta in Dorsai!. As part of his manipulations, he sets up a crisis that gains support for his take over all the inhabited worlds. Discussed between Donal and William. After ruining one of his plans, the Prince demands what protects the Dorsai while being in his presence. Donal replies "public opinion." William then notes that "I know that type of armor from personal experience." | |
| Childe Cycle / int_87bb6874 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_87bb6874 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_87bb6874 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_898ff050 | type |
Villain Protagonist | |
| Childe Cycle / int_898ff050 | comment |
Villain Protagonist: Tam Olyn in Soldier, Ask Not. He doesn't care who gets used or hurt in his manipulations. Worse, his plots could negatively affect the future of mankind. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_898ff050 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_898ff050 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_898ff050 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_89a17726 | type |
Spell My Name with an S | |
| Childe Cycle / int_89a17726 | comment |
Spell My Name with an S: Cletus' original family name was Americanized into "Grahame". He later changes it back to "Graeme". Conversed in Necromancer. When Burton McLeod is introduced, the protagonist pronounces it "McCloud". Burton then points out how the spelling is different. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_89a17726 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_89a17726 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_89a17726 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a0cfe56 | type |
Merchant Prince | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a0cfe56 | comment |
Merchant Prince: Prince William of Ceta in Dorsai!. Using his business talents, William managed to acquire enough political power to de facto rule a planet. And managing to manipulate the interstellar market, almost conquered all of inhabited space. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a0cfe56 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a0cfe56 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_8a0cfe56 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a943fe3 | type |
Space Cold War | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a943fe3 | comment |
Space Cold War: In "Tactics of Mistake", the Earth-based Western Alliance and the Eastern Coalition are vying for influence with the new colonies. By Dorsai! and Soldier Ask Not, the Fourteen Worlds are divided between "Tight" and "Loose" Contract planets. "Tight" societies can sell their citizen's contracts without consent. "Loose" worlds allow people some say were their contracts go, most of the time. Since their economics depends so much on these contracts, the conflict between the two systems drive much of the politics. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a943fe3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_8a943fe3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_8a943fe3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_92d7976 | type |
You Keep Using That Word | |
| Childe Cycle / int_92d7976 | comment |
You Keep Using That Word: 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. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_92d7976 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_92d7976 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_92d7976 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_957e5fc2 | type |
Villainous Breakdown | |
| Childe Cycle / int_957e5fc2 | comment |
Villainous Breakdown: At the end of Dorsai! William of Ceta suffers a nasty one when Donal stops his plans. He's so out of it, William kills Donal's brother and leaves the body on display. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_957e5fc2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_957e5fc2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_957e5fc2 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_95b7c400 | type |
Faux Affably Evil | |
| Childe Cycle / int_95b7c400 | comment |
Faux Affably Evil: Prince William may seem like a polite old businessman. But under that, he's very cunning and ruthless. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_95b7c400 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_95b7c400 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_95b7c400 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9c209a57 | type |
The Hecate Sisters | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9c209a57 | comment |
The Hecate Sisters: The three Amanda Morgans. The first was the Crone; the second the Maiden; and the third is Mother, Hal Mayne's Distaff Counterpart and eventual mate. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9c209a57 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9c209a57 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_9c209a57 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9d6427ec | type |
Time Travel | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9d6427ec | comment |
Time Travel | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9d6427ec | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9d6427ec | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_9d6427ec | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e062ca3 | type |
Suicide Mission | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e062ca3 | comment |
Also occurs in "Warrior", where Ian must confront a heavily armed and well protected hoodlum in his own penthouse. A police officer tries warning Ian that it's a Suicide Mission. But Ian manages to neutralize his foe's goons without any violence, and manages to invoke the hood into taking action first. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e062ca3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e062ca3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_9e062ca3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e1e14ea | type |
Ambition Is Evil | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e1e14ea | comment |
Ambition Is Evil: Tam, William, and deCastries play this straight - Tam wishes to be free from the contract system, and uses his powers for selfish gain. deCastries is power hungry, and wants all the worlds under him. William seems to be motivated purely by his ambitions. Inverted with Donal, who wants to become "the greatest general that ever was!" and proceeds to do just that. But unlike the previous examples, Donal isn't self serving and is does plenty of good along the way. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e1e14ea | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_9e1e14ea | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_9e1e14ea | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a814671b | type |
N.G.O. Superpower | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a814671b | comment |
N.G.O. Superpower: The Newsman's Guild. Thanks to the main currency being professional skills, and everyone needing accurate news, the Guild is rich and able to do things other NGOs typically can not. With their wide readership, the group is also influential, and its members were exempt from their contracts being traded without consent. This last reason that entices Tam to become a journalist - he wants total freedom in his life. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a814671b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a814671b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_a814671b | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a9c7258a | type |
Absent Aliens | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a9c7258a | comment |
Absent Aliens: Only humans have appeared in the Cycle, with no intelligent alien life around. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a9c7258a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_a9c7258a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_a9c7258a | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac7cbf8d | type |
Myth Arc | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac7cbf8d | comment |
Myth Arc: As originally envisioned, the Cycle was to stretch from the 14th century to the 24th century; the completed books begin in the 21st century. The cycle deals with the conflict between advancement of human kind. It also deals with the interaction and conflict among humanity's traits, most importantly Courage, Faith, and Philosophy. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac7cbf8d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac7cbf8d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ac7cbf8d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac928039 | type |
Four-Star Badass | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac928039 | comment |
Four-Star Badass: Most Dorsai officers, including Donal and Marshall Galt. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac928039 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ac928039 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ac928039 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ae69516f | type |
Artificial Gravity | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ae69516f | comment |
Artificial Gravity: Ships are equipped with these, thus allowing them to operate like a traditional space opera ship. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ae69516f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ae69516f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ae69516f | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b04fdcc4 | type |
Loners Are Freaks | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b04fdcc4 | comment |
Loners Are Freaks: And those who isolate themselves from the rest of humanity are actively dangerous. Donal Graeme was always considered strange to everyone. And despite his genius and friends, he still feels separated by his friends. It turns out he's a superhuman, with a different thought process as others. In addition, finds he cannot accomplish his goal of uniting humanity alone. As the "main character" of the Cycle, he not only has to travel in time (though not in the same body) to not only set historical events in motion, but to change their significance in history so that not only events but people are in place for a Final Battle. Soldier, Ask Not with Tam Olyn. Played to a extreme in the short story Brothers with Ian. Bleys Ahrens suffers from an extreme and self imposed case of this trope. His antagonist Hal Mayne must actively learn to connect with ordinary people. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b04fdcc4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b04fdcc4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b04fdcc4 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b060856d | type |
Big Book of War | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b060856d | comment |
Big Book of War: “The Tactics of Mistake” by Cletus Grahame, which he plans to write. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b060856d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b060856d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b060856d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b1a38af3 | type |
Terraforming | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b1a38af3 | comment |
Terraforming: Many of the worlds of the Cycle have been terraformed to one degree or another. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b1a38af3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b1a38af3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b1a38af3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b2279346 | type |
RetCon | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b2279346 | comment |
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. Also, Dunnin's World was at Vega. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b2279346 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b2279346 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b2279346 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b58b4e3c | type |
Too Dumb to Live | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b58b4e3c | comment |
Too Dumb to Live: 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. Living with William seems to have unhinged her completely. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b58b4e3c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b58b4e3c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b58b4e3c | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b5ba2c2b | type |
It's Raining Men | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b5ba2c2b | comment |
It's Raining Men: In Dorsai!, Military troops drop from their ships onto a planet. In Tactics of Mistake, the Dorsai mercenaries are trained as jump troops - men using jet belts to deploy from aircraft into a landing zone. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b5ba2c2b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b5ba2c2b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b5ba2c2b | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7227261 | type |
Shocking Defeat Legacy | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7227261 | comment |
Shocking Defeat Legacy: Minor example when Donal stages a raid on Newton disguising it as a full attack. The shock is so great, it gets Newton off from blackmailing the Sirius system. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7227261 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7227261 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b7227261 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7e0c5ff | type |
Love Triangle | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7e0c5ff | comment |
Love Triangle: The twins Ian and Kensie have a relationship with the Second Amanda that ends with neither man getting her or Amanda getting anybody. Later Amanda is in a relationship with Ian and his wife Leah. The two of them finally get together after Leah's death. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7e0c5ff | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b7e0c5ff | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b7e0c5ff | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b912c5de | type |
Resurrection Teleportation | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b912c5de | comment |
Resurrection Teleportation: In "Necromancer", Paul Formain gets transported to another star system, and is trapped. In order to get back, he breaks open a window, which results in his death. This causes him to reawaken in a new body back on Earth. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b912c5de | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b912c5de | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b912c5de | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b9f472b | type |
Storming the Castle | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b9f472b | comment |
Storming the Castle: In Dorsai! Donal does what is considered military impossible, and conquers Ceta. Also occurs in "Warrior", where Ian must confront a heavily armed and well protected hoodlum in his own penthouse. A police officer tries warning Ian that it's a Suicide Mission. But Ian manages to neutralize his foe's goons without any violence, and manages to invoke the hood into taking action first. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b9f472b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_b9f472b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_b9f472b | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ba58393f | type |
Overnight Conquest | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ba58393f | comment |
Overnight Conquest: Donal pulls one off by invading and conquering Ceta. Justified in that William sent most of it's fighting forces away as part of his master plan. By the time Donal's forces dropped on Ceta, all that remained were local police, militia, and training cadres. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ba58393f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ba58393f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ba58393f | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bb44f503 | type |
Robot War | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bb44f503 | comment |
Robot War: The Chantry Guild versus the World Complex. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bb44f503 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bb44f503 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_bb44f503 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bd2812b5 | type |
Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bd2812b5 | comment |
Ascend to a Higher Plane of Existence: It is implied, but not quite certain, that this was the desired end state of the Myth Arc never completed because the author Died During Production. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bd2812b5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_bd2812b5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_bd2812b5 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3448a6f | type |
Informed Attribute | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3448a6f | comment |
Informed Attribute: In Dorsai! we are constantly being told how special Anea the Select of Kultis, a genetically designed superwoman, is but she acts like a standard dimwit Pulp heroine. Donal actually advises her to stop trying to do things and just sit there looking lovely and desirable. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3448a6f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3448a6f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_c3448a6f | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3478f1d | type |
Badass Bookworm | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3478f1d | comment |
Badass Bookworm: Cletus Grahame - soldier turned warrior-scholar, who wants to write a multi volume series about his theories on warfare, the titular Tactics of Mistake. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3478f1d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c3478f1d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_c3478f1d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c47fed84 | type |
Waking Up at the Morgue | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c47fed84 | comment |
Waking Up at the Morgue: In Necromancer, the protagonist transfers his consciousness to a body in a morgue. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c47fed84 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c47fed84 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_c47fed84 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c5ee8215 | type |
Magical Society | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c5ee8215 | comment |
Magical Society: The Chantry Guild in Necromancer. It's a loose alliance of alternative groups from Luddites to anarchists to satanists. They're all connected by the Guild's founder who wishes to destroy technological society to save mankind. They form the basis of the Exotic society. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c5ee8215 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c5ee8215 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_c5ee8215 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c8c968c3 | type |
The Alliance | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c8c968c3 | comment |
The Alliance: The Western Alliance and Eastern Coalition in Tactics of Mistake. Paralleling the Cold War of the time, the two have been fighting a series of off-world proxy wars for influence. Until Cletus’ plans begin to threaten their influence, in which both team up in an attempt to stop the Dorsai. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c8c968c3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c8c968c3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_c8c968c3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c9e16d77 | type |
Veteran Instructor | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c9e16d77 | comment |
Veteran Instructor: During Donal's time as Protector of Procyon and later as Commander-In-Chief, Ian trains his nephews' ground forces to become excellent troopers. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c9e16d77 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_c9e16d77 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_c9e16d77 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ccab244d | type |
Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ccab244d | comment |
Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better: Though energy weapons do exist, many directed energy weapons and chemical-propelled weapons can be stopped by long range jamming. In the field, the best weapon is Spring Rifle - a needle-gun like weapon that is designed to resist such countermeasures. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ccab244d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ccab244d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ccab244d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_cd218d63 | type |
Swiss-Army Gun | |
| Childe Cycle / int_cd218d63 | comment |
Swiss-Army Gun: The "dallygun" from Tactics of Mistake. A modular weapon that can be modified to fire a number of different rounds. However, due to it’s complexity the weapon is impractical in the field. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_cd218d63 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_cd218d63 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_cd218d63 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d0f0a80d | type |
One-Word Title | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d0f0a80d | comment |
One-Word Title: Necromancer | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d0f0a80d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d0f0a80d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_d0f0a80d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d62dd556 | type |
The Chessmaster | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d62dd556 | comment |
The Chessmaster: William of Ceta, Donal Graeme, Tam Olyn, Bleys, all these characters capable of setting up gambits and estimating the next move for their opponents. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d62dd556 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d62dd556 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_d62dd556 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d839c530 | type |
The Unfettered | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d839c530 | comment |
The Unfettered: Tam Olyn. He will let nothing stop his quest to destroy the Friendlies as a culture. This changes by the end of the book when he is happy to be fettered by his bond to Lisa, an Exotic woman who chose to trust and believe in him in spite of all the evidence that she shouldn't. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d839c530 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_d839c530 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_d839c530 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_dd09e7f2 | type |
Quantity vs. Quality | |
| Childe Cycle / int_dd09e7f2 | comment |
Quantity vs. Quality: In the mercenary market, the Friendlies have the Quantity, while the Dorsai have the Quality. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_dd09e7f2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_dd09e7f2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_dd09e7f2 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_de9047ac | type |
Gambit Pileup | |
| Childe Cycle / int_de9047ac | comment |
Gambit Pileup: The real politics of the Fourteen Worlds are handled by individual power brokers, each one dealing with each other, making plans with one person, and planning another thing with someone else behind their back. Donal takes advantage of this during the Venus peace conference. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_de9047ac | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_de9047ac | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_de9047ac | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e08f95fd | type |
Everything's Louder with Bagpipes | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e08f95fd | comment |
Everything's Louder with Bagpipes: Used in Lost Dorsai, were a pacifistic Dorsai bandmaster decides to confront an invading army by playing a macho song with a bagpipe. He is killed, but the machismo demonstrated by the bagpipe act impresses many of the rebel army. His death enrages those who admired him, so they begin to attack their fellow rebel units in retaliation. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e08f95fd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e08f95fd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_e08f95fd | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e27693 | type |
The Coup | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e27693 | comment |
The Coup: Dorsai! and Soldier Ask Not has these as part of background events, usually part of some larger plan. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e27693 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e27693 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_e27693 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e2d65c9f | type |
Universe Compendium | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e2d65c9f | comment |
Universe Compendium: The New Dorsai Companion by David W. Wixon, printed in the Lost Dorsai collection. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e2d65c9f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e2d65c9f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_e2d65c9f | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e34541d | type |
One World Order | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e34541d | comment |
One World Order: Played straight with the Exotics, the Friendlies, Newton and Cassida. They're all worlds governed by strong, central planetary governments. Though the Friendly worlds suffered from Sectarian violence, their theocratic republic is the main power. Zig-zagged with Ceta. Despite the various nation-states, William has de facto control of the planet thanks to his economic manipulations. Subverted with the Dorsai's United Cantons. Since the Dorsai are fierce individualists, the planetary government has no real power. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e34541d | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e34541d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_e34541d | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e993a60f | type |
Defensive Feint Trap | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e993a60f | comment |
Defensive Feint Trap: 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 descendents will use this to great effect. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e993a60f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_e993a60f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_e993a60f | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ec0bf4a1 | type |
Take Over the World | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ec0bf4a1 | comment |
Take Over The Worlds: William's master plan is to take over the known worlds. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ec0bf4a1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ec0bf4a1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ec0bf4a1 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ecb6abb7 | type |
Galactic Conqueror | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ecb6abb7 | comment |
Galactic Conqueror: Donal Graeme becomes the Protector of the human worlds. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ecb6abb7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_ecb6abb7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_ecb6abb7 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f4fd424c | type |
All Your Base Are Belong to Us | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f4fd424c | comment |
All Your Base Are Belong to Us: Dow deCastries leads an invasion of the Dorsai in the climax of Tactics of Mistake. He even occupies Grahamehouse with Melissa and her father. It turns out to be the final mistake for deCastries. Cletus 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. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f4fd424c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f4fd424c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_f4fd424c | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f7883b17 | type |
Love Makes You Dumb | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f7883b17 | comment |
Love Makes You Dumb: Hugh Killien leaves his command to spend time with Anea alone. As a result, most of his men die in an attack, and Donal has him executed. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f7883b17 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f7883b17 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_f7883b17 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f97a063c | type |
Metal-Poor Planet | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f97a063c | comment |
Metal-Poor Planet: Most of the Younger Worlds in the cycle, save for Coby and Cassida. It plays an impact on the economics in what they export. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f97a063c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f97a063c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_f97a063c | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9a8e95e | type |
Place Beyond Time | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9a8e95e | comment |
Place Beyond Time: Faster-Than-Light Travel operates in part by creating a condition where time is inoperative, allowing ships (or individual people, sometimes) to choose their own location in the universe. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9a8e95e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9a8e95e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_f9a8e95e | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9bf84c6 | type |
DesignerBaby | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9bf84c6 | comment |
Designer Baby: Anea is this. She was designed especially to appeal to William of Ceta, the Exotics hoped to be able to use her to control him. | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9bf84c6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_f9bf84c6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_f9bf84c6 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| Childe Cycle / int_name | comment |
||
| Childe Cycle / int_name | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle / int_name | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| Childe Cycle | hasFeature |
Childe Cycle / int_name | |
| Childe Cycle / int_name | itemName |
Childe Cycle |
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