A review by smiorganbaldhead
Soldier Ask Not by Gordon R. Dickson
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an interesting and thought-provoking read. The economic system central to the plot seems far-fetched, particularly in that governments are expected to pay for mercenaries hired by rebels after the rebels have been defeated. However it is interesting to think about the implications of this system (at least for me, someone very interested in economics).
The main character is not very sympathetic, as he’s essentially the bad guy for the second half of the novel. Still, he can be interesting to read about. The revenge plot reminded me of Henry Kuttner’s Fury, particularly with the semi-prescient sage character pulling strings in background.
I also enjoyed the world-building, particularly regarding the Friendlies. They are shown as multi-faceted, including some fanatics (as seen at a major turning point in the middle of the book), some pragmatists (Bright), and some sympathetic true believers (Jamethon). I appreciated how the book took a balanced view of them as religious people, avoiding coming across as either anti-religious or as evangelism.
While this book is less mystical and in some ways less fun than the previous Dorsai books, it explores interesting ideas and made me think, which is definitely a positive for a science fiction book.
The main character is not very sympathetic, as he’s essentially the bad guy for the second half of the novel. Still, he can be interesting to read about. The revenge plot reminded me of Henry Kuttner’s Fury, particularly with the semi-prescient sage character pulling strings in background.
I also enjoyed the world-building, particularly regarding the Friendlies. They are shown as multi-faceted, including some fanatics (as seen at a major turning point in the middle of the book), some pragmatists (Bright), and some sympathetic true believers (Jamethon). I appreciated how the book took a balanced view of them as religious people, avoiding coming across as either anti-religious or as evangelism.
While this book is less mystical and in some ways less fun than the previous Dorsai books, it explores interesting ideas and made me think, which is definitely a positive for a science fiction book.