Gordon R. Dickson, 1923 - 2001
SF writer Gordon R. Dickson died early on the morning of January 31, 2001.
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Canadian-born and long-time resident of Minnesota, Dickson published over 100 stories and 55 novels, including several in collaboration. His first story was a collaboration with Poul Anderson, "Trespass!", published in Fantastic Story Quarterly in 1950, and his first novel was Alien from Arcturus in 1956. His most noted works were a series of novels known as the "Childe Cycle" or "Dorsai" series, describing mankind's expansion into the Galaxy. |
Photo by Beth Gwinn (1991) |
These included The Genetic General (1960, also titled Dorsai!, 1976, and a Hugo nominee in its 1959 magazine form), Necromancer (1962), Soldier, Ask Not (1967), The Final Encyclopedia (1984), and The Chantry Guild (1988).
The novelette version of "Soldier, Ask Not" (1964) won the Hugo Award; Dickson also won double Hugos in 1981 for novelette "The Cloak and the Staff" and novella "Lost Dorsai". He won the Nebula Award for the 1966 novelette "Call Him Lord". Other notable short works included "Steel Brother" (1952), "Black Charlie" (1954), "Dolphin's Way" (1964), "Computers Don't Argue" (1965), and a series of "Hoka" stories (and novels) written with Poul Anderson from 1951 through 1983.
Dickson won the British Fantasy Award in 1977 for The Dragon and the George, the first of a series of "Dragon Knight" novels, including Dickson's last-published book, The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent, published in December 2000. He also won a Jupiter Award for the novelette version of "Time Storm" (1978). He served as President of the SFWA from 1969 to 1971.
Services will take place on Saturday February 3, 2001 at Morris Nilson funeral home (6527 Portland Ave., Richfield MN) at 2 p.m., with visitation from 1 to 2 p.m. The family asks that those wishing to make contributions in his memory send them to the SFWA Emergency Medical Fund, 1436 Altamont Ave., PMB 292, Schenectady NY 12303-2977.
The SFWA website obituary includes appreciations from Allen Steele, Joe Haldeman, and others. A longer obituary, and appreciations, will be published in the March issue of Locus Magazine.
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