Heather's Library

DORSAI!
by Gordon R. Dickson

p.vi DORSAI! is an exposition of what Basil Liddell-Hart termed the Strategy of Indirection. (I do not imply a necessarily direct connection.) Instead of overwhelming one's opponent by brute force, the exponent of indirection maneuvers so that his opponent has to attack or (better yet) is checkmated without a battle.

p.7 Why make a cake of nothing but icing?

p.43 "Phase shift in one standard hour and twenty minutes. Passengers are advised to take their medication now and accomplish the shift while asleep, for convenience."
     "Have you swallowed a pill yet?" asked arDell.
     "No, not yet," said Donal.
     "But you will?"
     "Of course." Donal examined him with interest. "Why not?"
     "Doesn't taking medication to avoid the discomfort of a phase shift strike you as a form of cowardice?" asked arDell. "Doesn't it?"
     "That's foolish," said Donal. "Like saying it's cowardly to wear clothes to keep you warm and comfortable, or to eat, to keep from starving."

p.88 "very dark of skin and eye"

p.131 "Shai Dorsai!"

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