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Hour of the Horde
Representatives of each planet meet in space in a last-pitch effort to turn back an invading horde of space travelers
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
6 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Gordon R. Dickson
587 books376 followersGordon Rupert Dickson was an American science fiction author. He was born in Canada, then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota as a teenager. He is probably most famous for his Childe Cycle and the Dragon Knight series. He won three Hugo awards and one Nebula award.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 20, 2014
This is a novel that I read as a young teen and then re-read well into adulthood. My teen self liked it better than my adult self. Teen self liked the game-style action of a man working his way through levels of challenges to take on a threat to the Galaxy. Adult self realized that the main character was sometimes a dummy. However, adult self agreed with teen self that this is still an excellent story about the incredible miracle that is the Human spirit. This is a common theme of Gordon R. Dickson's novels, this is one of his best.
July 15, 2012
Finding a yet unread book by Gordon R. Dickson is always a treat.
Miles Vander, a driven man, scarred by disease, is a convincing hero, as are the superior-beings he's drafted to assist. Punted aside as insignificantly primitive, he Saves The Day, showing the "superior-beings" to have "evolved" beyond reason.
A solid fun read.
Miles Vander, a driven man, scarred by disease, is a convincing hero, as are the superior-beings he's drafted to assist. Punted aside as insignificantly primitive, he Saves The Day, showing the "superior-beings" to have "evolved" beyond reason.
A solid fun read.
August 27, 2020
I really enjoyed this, a great underdog story. From the initial changes that happened whilst on Earth I was hooked, as the plot developed I was really looking forward to picking up the book each evening. The aliens, and the pecking order therein is fascinating and there is a classic evil enemy.
My only criticism was the slightly sudden ending of the battle.
Makes me want to read more Dickson!
My only criticism was the slightly sudden ending of the battle.
Makes me want to read more Dickson!
March 31, 2016
I read this way back in the 70's and have always remembered the story. Very good SiFi by a master. Very recommended
August 24, 2019
Un'evoluta specie aliena recluta un umano in vista di una colossale battaglia contro un nemico invincibile.
Premessa levata di torno in una quarantina di pagine (e in effetti l'incipit è la parte più debole del romanzo), per il resto della storia Dickson dispensa gioia sotto forma di duro addestramento seguito da un meraviglioso combattimento spaziale. L'ora dell'orda ha una trama che vola dritta come una freccia, un protagonista apprezzabile e una balsamica assenza di inutili fronzoli. Fantascienza di assoluta qualità.
Premessa levata di torno in una quarantina di pagine (e in effetti l'incipit è la parte più debole del romanzo), per il resto della storia Dickson dispensa gioia sotto forma di duro addestramento seguito da un meraviglioso combattimento spaziale. L'ora dell'orda ha una trama che vola dritta come una freccia, un protagonista apprezzabile e una balsamica assenza di inutili fronzoli. Fantascienza di assoluta qualità.
May 6, 2012
Another 'Earthmen uber alles' type story - Done very well
September 16, 2024
In all honesty, this book--my first Dickson novel--didn't leave me fired up to read more from this author. It isn't a bad book, just not for me.
Discovered in a cardboard box full of vintage SF paperbacks my local library was giving away for free rather than selling at their book sale (do they believe ostensibly-affluent suburbs have no cause to dream of flying through the stars?), I scooped this and another dozen titles up expecting some 1970s sci-fi escapism. Not knowing much about genre (I really only dip my toe into the most recognizable of New Wave SF authors), I was thinking that this slim paperback with its slightly groovy cover art might be just the thing to scratch an itch for some sci-fi escapism.
Of course, I was wrong because Dickson--despite displaying some of the tropes--isn't really part of the New Wave crowd I'm used to. Dickson is more old-school, classic SF, with a focus on militarism, American patriotism, and masculinity.
The book begins promisingly enough. Miles Vander is an unusual protagonist for such a novel. He's a tortured artist deformed by polio obsessed with trying to enter a state of artistic "hyperdrive" that will allow him to access deeper levels of creative inspiration. Mostly, he's frustrated by his inability to live up to that goal in his artworks. One day, everything changes when aliens shift the color of our sun to announce their arrival and, later, make contact with Earth (mostly via their contact with the US president as this book unironically endorses the tacit assumption that he is the "Leader of the Free World.").
Miles is initially unimpressed, and can't seem to care about anything other than his artistic project. Then the aliens make a shocking announcement: The galaxy is about to be invaded and destroyed. They have made contact with Earth to recruit a pre-selected planetary representative, the person most capable of taking on the psychic gifts the aliens can bestow and joining the fight. That person, of course, is Miles. Although he is at first reluctant, he later comes to accept his role as Earth's first superman. Changed via sci-fi mumbo jumbo into a physically powerful and psychically gifted Everyman, Miles is then transported to the battle line.
At which point the story changes into a very masculinist, quasi-Heinlein story about the crew of one little ship the aliens don't believe will offer a meaningful contribution, after all. Miles learns he isn't really there to fight; he's there to contribute incremental psychic energy (on behalf of all of Earth). Left on a ship at the very rear, with disabled weapons, Miles quickly learns that his shipmates have constructed a system of physical dominance where a man must fight his way to the top. And so he does...and becomes captain...and (it isn't really a spoiler given this kind of book) saves the day.
All in all, it's a fine work of escapism and it might be your thing if you like this kind of unabashedly boyish fantasizing about lost causes banding together to save the day. It just wasn't what I was looking for at the time
Discovered in a cardboard box full of vintage SF paperbacks my local library was giving away for free rather than selling at their book sale (do they believe ostensibly-affluent suburbs have no cause to dream of flying through the stars?), I scooped this and another dozen titles up expecting some 1970s sci-fi escapism. Not knowing much about genre (I really only dip my toe into the most recognizable of New Wave SF authors), I was thinking that this slim paperback with its slightly groovy cover art might be just the thing to scratch an itch for some sci-fi escapism.
Of course, I was wrong because Dickson--despite displaying some of the tropes--isn't really part of the New Wave crowd I'm used to. Dickson is more old-school, classic SF, with a focus on militarism, American patriotism, and masculinity.
The book begins promisingly enough. Miles Vander is an unusual protagonist for such a novel. He's a tortured artist deformed by polio obsessed with trying to enter a state of artistic "hyperdrive" that will allow him to access deeper levels of creative inspiration. Mostly, he's frustrated by his inability to live up to that goal in his artworks. One day, everything changes when aliens shift the color of our sun to announce their arrival and, later, make contact with Earth (mostly via their contact with the US president as this book unironically endorses the tacit assumption that he is the "Leader of the Free World.").
Miles is initially unimpressed, and can't seem to care about anything other than his artistic project. Then the aliens make a shocking announcement: The galaxy is about to be invaded and destroyed. They have made contact with Earth to recruit a pre-selected planetary representative, the person most capable of taking on the psychic gifts the aliens can bestow and joining the fight. That person, of course, is Miles. Although he is at first reluctant, he later comes to accept his role as Earth's first superman. Changed via sci-fi mumbo jumbo into a physically powerful and psychically gifted Everyman, Miles is then transported to the battle line.
At which point the story changes into a very masculinist, quasi-Heinlein story about the crew of one little ship the aliens don't believe will offer a meaningful contribution, after all. Miles learns he isn't really there to fight; he's there to contribute incremental psychic energy (on behalf of all of Earth). Left on a ship at the very rear, with disabled weapons, Miles quickly learns that his shipmates have constructed a system of physical dominance where a man must fight his way to the top. And so he does...and becomes captain...and (it isn't really a spoiler given this kind of book) saves the day.
All in all, it's a fine work of escapism and it might be your thing if you like this kind of unabashedly boyish fantasizing about lost causes banding together to save the day. It just wasn't what I was looking for at the time
October 27, 2024
This is old style space opera, from time when general attitude was pro-human, with all its faults and advantages.
For some prose might be little bit awkward, but again this is product of its time. I truly enjoyed reviewers who got stuck on romantic aspect of the story. Apparently socially awkward person in modern TV shows is more believable than equally awkward person in the SF space opera from early 1970's. I mean, come on .....
This is story of the man, found and selected by the enigmatic alien species from the central parts of our galaxy. He is selected in the manner of the last starfighter or green-lantern, as a champion of his species, humanity, to take his place in the defense line against the Horde - roaming nomadic race that devours everything on its path and now it is going back to our part of the galaxy after thousand years of absence. For those more familiar to W40K, Horde is like mix of Necrons and Tyranids.
Placed in the very back of the battle line, and expected to offer no contribution but what can only be described as psychic vitality of its species, our protagonist and crew of his little ship need to find the way to actually contribute the last stand. And man, do they.
Very interesting story, written as one off, no intention to further develop the universe or characters. As such it is definitely recommendation from my end.
A very rare, direct to the point story with characters in vein of Barsoom and old style action space-opera.
Highly recommended.
For some prose might be little bit awkward, but again this is product of its time. I truly enjoyed reviewers who got stuck on romantic aspect of the story. Apparently socially awkward person in modern TV shows is more believable than equally awkward person in the SF space opera from early 1970's. I mean, come on .....
This is story of the man, found and selected by the enigmatic alien species from the central parts of our galaxy. He is selected in the manner of the last starfighter or green-lantern, as a champion of his species, humanity, to take his place in the defense line against the Horde - roaming nomadic race that devours everything on its path and now it is going back to our part of the galaxy after thousand years of absence. For those more familiar to W40K, Horde is like mix of Necrons and Tyranids.
Placed in the very back of the battle line, and expected to offer no contribution but what can only be described as psychic vitality of its species, our protagonist and crew of his little ship need to find the way to actually contribute the last stand. And man, do they.
Very interesting story, written as one off, no intention to further develop the universe or characters. As such it is definitely recommendation from my end.
A very rare, direct to the point story with characters in vein of Barsoom and old style action space-opera.
Highly recommended.
April 19, 2021
I used to like super-hero stories. Now they don't move me like they used to.
I don't remember this book although it was sitting in my library, so I MUST have read it a while back. And I must have liked it enough to keep it.
However, in my dotage, it just doesn't move me like it must have before. So, if you're young or middle-aged, you'll probably like it. In my old age, it's "okay", but far from "great".
I don't remember this book although it was sitting in my library, so I MUST have read it a while back. And I must have liked it enough to keep it.
However, in my dotage, it just doesn't move me like it must have before. So, if you're young or middle-aged, you'll probably like it. In my old age, it's "okay", but far from "great".
March 22, 2023
Painting, space, and bear people. Recommend
December 2, 2013
I've been reading a lot of Humanity; Fuck Yeah stories lately. Have you seen those? They're short stories that come out of the tabletop games board on 4chan, of all places. Mostly, they deal with the triumph of humanity in the dark conditions of the universe, although a more general theme is 'things that set humanity apart'. It's a very centric attitude, but the variety is pretty nice. There are stories about how humans are physically weak compared to every other species, but they succeed through determination, or some odd skill like our love of food, or through lawyers. There are stories about how humans succeed because we're willing to sacrifice, and stories about how we're willing to care, and stories about how we triumph because we can set both those things aside to be selfish for the right reasons. Tales of humans spreading culture and adapting to strange environments, of love and hate among the stars.
Good stuff, honestly.
I bring this up because I would recommend just reading those stories, written in dark basements by a bunch of the biggest assholes on the internet and published in simple text in the sticks of the web, over this book.
It blows my mind how utterly childish and human-centric this book feels. I get wanting to see our species thrive; as I just said, I've been reading stories about basically that for the last week. But here, it's just so bloody strained.
I'm going to spoil the book because I honestly don't want any of you to be subjected to it. So, there's this alien invasion, and the good aliens in our galaxy come down and pick one guy to help fight the bad aliens. And they put him on a ship with 22 other barbaric aliens, and tell them that they won't actually be fighting, because they're weak. But the human is having none of that! So he kicks the crap out of his crewmates and becomes captain because that's how it works among barbarians, I guess, and then they train to fight the bad aliens, even though the good aliens don't like that idea.
Every single species in this book is portrayed as apathetic, cowardly, or just omnicidal. Except humans. The good aliens actually run from the big final fight, the crew aliens all just despair until the human comes along to unite them, and the bad aliens literally eat galaxies. It's almost a parody, it's so cheesy. And there's just nothing interesting here. Everything feels ham-handed and silly, nothing makes any sense, and the whole plot either gives away too much information too soon, or never really gives satisfying answers at all.
My recommendation? Give it a pass.
Good stuff, honestly.
I bring this up because I would recommend just reading those stories, written in dark basements by a bunch of the biggest assholes on the internet and published in simple text in the sticks of the web, over this book.
It blows my mind how utterly childish and human-centric this book feels. I get wanting to see our species thrive; as I just said, I've been reading stories about basically that for the last week. But here, it's just so bloody strained.
I'm going to spoil the book because I honestly don't want any of you to be subjected to it. So, there's this alien invasion, and the good aliens in our galaxy come down and pick one guy to help fight the bad aliens. And they put him on a ship with 22 other barbaric aliens, and tell them that they won't actually be fighting, because they're weak. But the human is having none of that! So he kicks the crap out of his crewmates and becomes captain because that's how it works among barbarians, I guess, and then they train to fight the bad aliens, even though the good aliens don't like that idea.
Every single species in this book is portrayed as apathetic, cowardly, or just omnicidal. Except humans. The good aliens actually run from the big final fight, the crew aliens all just despair until the human comes along to unite them, and the bad aliens literally eat galaxies. It's almost a parody, it's so cheesy. And there's just nothing interesting here. Everything feels ham-handed and silly, nothing makes any sense, and the whole plot either gives away too much information too soon, or never really gives satisfying answers at all.
My recommendation? Give it a pass.
January 28, 2016
This is a good "Humanity, Fuck Yeah!" Sort of novel. We're primitives that are looked down upon by galactic society, but the letter of the law says we get a chance to sit at the table. They don't expect us to impress, or even do anything remotely competently, but we actually put on a good example.
It's no great literature, but I enjoyed.
It's no great literature, but I enjoyed.
July 18, 2016
Gordon R. Dickson ( 1923-2001 ) was one of my favorite SF authors in the 70s. This one, from 1970, is one that I missed. When I saw it at a Half Price bookstore recently, I snapped it up. It made for several hours of enjoyable summer reading! Basic story--Earthling ( a guy from Minneapolis ) saves the galaxy from a ravenous space horde. HOORAH! Thanks, Minnesota ( guess where Dickson lived? ).
January 9, 2012
Grade C-.
June 14, 2013
I found this book as a young teen. There is no PC here! Miles Fights his way up the pecking order so that he can take over and fight the ship! Anyone who likes Sci-fi should have this book.
August 29, 2014
Good, pulpy science fiction. Also a fast, short read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews