Editing Childe Cycle (section)

{{Short description|Unfinished book series by Gordon R. Dickson}}
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The '''''Childe Cycle''''' is an unfinished series of [[science fiction]] novels by American writer [[Gordon R. Dickson]]. The name Childe Cycle is an allusion to "[[Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came]]", a poem by [[Robert Browning]], which provided inspiration for elements in the work. The series is sometimes referred to as the '''Dorsai''' series, after the Dorsai people who are central to it. The related short stories and novellas all center on the Dorsai, primarily members of the Graeme and Morgan families.

In addition to the six science fiction novels of the Cycle, Dickson had also planned three historical novels and three novels taking place in the present day. In an essay in his book ''[[Steel Brother]]'', Dickson describes how he conceived the Childe Cycle, the panoramic "consciously thematic" treatment of the evolution of the human race, and the planned contents of the six never-written novels. Each group of three novels would include one focused on each of three "archetypes, the Philosopher, the Warrior, or the Faith-Holder". The first novel's protagonist would be [[mercenary]] [[John Hawkwood]], who lived from the 1320s to 1394. Hawkwood "has been referred to as the first of the modern generals". He defeated a Milanese ruler who might have stymied the Renaissance. The second historical novel was to deal with the poet John Milton (author of Paradise Lost) in the period he served as a "Faith-Holder" and "Fanatic", a "propagandist for the Cromwellian government". The third historical novel's focus would have been on [[Robert Browning]] whose "poetry is a vehicle for his philosophy". The three twentieth century novels would have focused on: "the life and character of [[George Santayana]] to showcase a Philosopher", a World War II "Warrior", and a female "Faith-Holder" in the 1980s. The latter novel was expected to deal with issues of [[space colonization]], beginning a thread continuing through ''Necromancer'' and concluding with the full formation of the Splinter Cultures.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dickson |first=Gordon R. |title=Steel Brother |publisher=Tor |year=1985 |chapter=Childe Cycle: Status 1984}}</ref>

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 [[Social progress|progress]] and [[conservatism]]. It also deals with the interaction and conflict among humanity's traits, most importantly Courage, Faith, and Philosophy.