I tend to agree with TimothyBurke's assessment. This story is a Geek's dream fulfillment. Cletus is the misunderstood genius that can see and understand what no one else around him can.

While I haven't read all of the Dorsai books, this is definitely the best. I first read it as it was being published in serial form in Analog magazine. Have reread it a number of times since then.

Can I say that this is my favorite SciFi story without too much incrimination?! :-) ( )

Although this book has some interesting ideas, like the tactical use of underwater bulldozers, some of the tactical situations boil down to 'Grahame is a genius, therefore whatever he guesses about the enemy's tactics will be correct'.

Real life really isn't that simple. ( )

Cletus Graeme is a military prodigy, man so immersed into warfare and strategy that he has devised his own combat system using experiences from numerous conflicts in the past. His approach is what might be called holistic - he takes all parameters into account (cultural/social, psychological and of course military) and using them he "enters the opponents mind" (very much like Admiral Thrawn will do in Star Wars universe) and claims victory.

He is aware that human colonies have to break from Earth domination and he seeks the most successful way to do that. He finds a perfect tool for his ultimate goal in Dorsai, already fierce mercenaries that get even better and more efficient when they accept to learn from Cletus. In order to reach Dorsai he manipulates everybody he comes across in a very successful way (although mostly in a manner that everything available must be used as a tool to achieve ones goals).

Story concept is very similar to the one found in "The Man Who Never Missed" - attempt to help human kind to prosper and achieve its maximum and letting numerous colonies to develop (in every possible way) by themselves by removing the bounds in form of centralized government that stalls progress . Both books (or series if you like) take groups of highly motivated professionals on quest of setting human society free (although I have some doubts regarding this everyone-for-themselves approach).

Very interesting book, the true beginning of Dorsai [as they are to be known in later novels].

Recommended. ( )

I started the series with this book and think it's a fine place to begin the series. It's well-written, the characters are nicely drawn and engaging, there's some good action and you get a real sense for the universe Dickson is trying to create.

Let me start by saying that I think this series had some of the best promise of any during that period, and I still enjoy several of the books a lot. However, not all. Personally, I'd start with this one and then read only selected volumes. I think that: a) the quality of the later volumes is uneven and b) the larger story line that emerged later in Dickson's career (the novels were not published in chronological order) wasn't as intriguing as it seemed at first. Also, if you read the books in strict chronological order, I think some stories get diminished by spoilers in the form of alternate viewpoints of events found in other volumes.

My own take on it is to read: Tactics of Mistake, Dorsai!, Soldier, Ask Not, The Spirit of Dorsai, Lost Dorsai, and then quit. I think the spirit of the series is captured in that sequence and other volumes only diminish it.

Just my two cents... ( )

Sometimes a science-fiction author gets an idea, and attempts to flesh it out by placing the reader in a world where the full extent of the idea can be examined. (Such as Null-A, Foundation, etc..)
The idea of this story is that there is a gap between the expectations of reality and reality. The hero, Cletus Graeme, uses these gaps to win battles, both in war and personal life. As an example, in one battle the Dorsai have captured a n outpost, but their employers refuse to pay. Cletus promises no harm to the citizens, but goes on to ask the employer if the employer is willing to bet his career on Cletus' word.
This book is one of my favorites (more than the rest of the series), and continues to be of use to me as a lesson in the danger of assumption.