Looking for a book i read in early 80s and i think even then it was an older book. As i recall, the man was part of an athletic caste in a futuristic society. He competed in what i think were called The Games. There was a variety of one-on-one competitions ranging from chess to American Football. In one contest, the main character was competing against another person in American Football. Both men were helped by a team of robots/androids? At one point the referees of the game make a very bad call which allows the main character to win the game. The main character tells his opponent that it isn't fair, that he should not have won but the opponent rather gracefully remarks that mistaken calls were often a part of American Football.
What i also remember (i think this was part of the same book) is the main character somehow finds himself in an alternate world, a more primitive/nature world where he finds a wild unicorn, a thing of fantasy and myth. Over the course of the book he follows the unicorn and tames or befriends it and eventually tries to ride the unicorn. when he tries to ride the unicorn he is amazed because the unicorn is able to run with (as i remember it) a 5 beat rhythm/gait that is unlike any the man had ever experienced on a normal horse.
That's what i remember best about the book. I will be very grateful for any help anyone can give me.
thank you,
Tony S
What i also remember (i think this was part of the same book) is the main character somehow finds himself in an alternate world, a more primitive/nature world where he finds a wild unicorn, a thing of fantasy and myth. Over the course of the book he follows the unicorn and tames or befriends it and eventually tries to ride the unicorn. when he tries to ride the unicorn he is amazed because the unicorn is able to run with (as i remember it) a 5 beat rhythm/gait that is unlike any the man had ever experienced on a normal horse.
That's what i remember best about the book. I will be very grateful for any help anyone can give me.
thank you,
Tony S
One of my favorite series, actually.....
