Gordon R. Dickson

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, on November 1, 1923, Gordon R. Dickson moved to the United States as a child and later served in the U.S. Army during World War II. After the war he studied at the University of Minnesota, and from the 1950s onward he built a long and influential career in speculative fiction.

He wrote both science fiction and fantasy, often combining fast-moving plots with thoughtful questions about character, duty, and human potential. Readers know him especially for the Childe Cycle, including Dorsai!, and for the humorous and magical Dragon Knight novels that began with The Dragon and the George. He also collaborated at times with Poul Anderson and became a familiar name in mid- to late-20th-century genre fiction.

Over the course of his career, Dickson received major honors including Hugo and Nebula Awards. He died on January 31, 2001, in Minnesota, leaving behind a body of work that still appeals to readers who like imaginative worlds with heart as well as action.