The Dorsai Irregulars were born in 1973 in response to a need for improved security at science fiction conventions. Our saga is told in four stanzas, The Origins: [1973 - 1974]; The Early Years: [1974 - 1978]; The Quiet Years: [1978 - 1990]; Fresh Blood: [1990 - ] ... and a coda, The Klingon Diplomatic Corps. And also a TIMELINE of the Dorsai Irregulars.

At Torcon 2, the 31st World Science Fiction Convention (or "WorldCon"), held in 1973 in Toronto, the only security force was hired security guards. There was friction between the guards and the fans. The guards did not understand the fannish milieu. One miscreant fan stole one of noted illustrator Kelly Freas's paintings from the Art Show. The story goes that he showed the rental guard at the door a receipt for a piece of much lower value. The guard didn't know any better and let him through.

However it happened, it left a lot of people upset and worried about what was happening in the science fiction fan community.

Fandom was changing. There were large influxes of new fans brought in by Star Trek and other media interests. Conventions were getting bigger. They were no longer the small, clubby get-togethers of the '50s and '60s. Although there were loud outcries that "Fans don't steal from fans", "Fans are Slans", and so on, the fact of the matter was that things had changed.

The incident at Torcon convinced one fan, Robert Asprin, of the need for a corps of experienced fans to provide alternative security, crowd control, guest escort and other services to conventions. With a knowledge of the norms and customs of fandom, such a group could, in theory, accomplish its goals without the hostility and conflict caused by a clash of cultures between the mundane world and the fannish.

Bob was an admirer of the work of Gordon R. Dickson and he asked and received permission from Gordy to use the name "Dorsai Irregulars" for the organization.

Next year the WorldCon was Discon II, in Washington D.C. Asprin and six other fans in green uniforms and berets appeared on the masquerade stage and made a light-hearted attempt at some close-order drill. Then Asprin took the mike and announced that the Dorsai Irregulars were available for duty.

That was the start of the Dorsai Irregulars.

After its initial appearance, contracts flew in. With more work, the need for members also increased and the numbers grew to about 24. Dorsai contracted for security at a variety of SF and media cons and the group's fame, reputation and mythology grew.

Since most members were in their early 20s, it was easy to cultivate a gung-ho, go-anywhere style. During this time the Klingon Diplomatic Corps provided an alter ego for the DI.

Eventually Bob Asprin left the group; the Seventies waned, and the paramilitary look was discarded. Around this time the DI also started holding their own small, annual relaxacon, Thing, near St. Patrick's day.

As members got on with their lives, married, had children and pursued careers, DI activities tailed off to a few conventions per year, plus Thing. But that didn't stop us having fun.

By the late 1980s, the DI had started inducting some new, younger members. Soon these younger members prodded the group out of its lethargy and Dorsai were seen again working at 6 to 12 conventions every year. Now the DI number just over 70 active members and have settled into a pattern of continuous slow growth. Since their children now number over 50, it's a matter of survival. Dorsai Thing has continued through the whole time. In 2002, it will have been held in 27 consecutive years and more than ten cities.

From its early days, various Irregulars liked to dress in greasepaint and glitz, put on ferocious attitudes and bullwhips, then go perform crowd control. This alter ego to the DI was called the Klingon Diplomatic Corps, or KDC. At Star Trek conventions, KDC crews got crowds to smile and obey cries of "Back, Earther scum!"

However, the whole act nearly backfired at New York Star Trek Con (NYStrek) when an unscrupulous organizer badly oversold the hotel. The heroism of the day is a story just dying to be set in print on this page. Besides, "How can you distrust a Klingon in Toe Socks?"