The Technic History And Star Trek

If Kirk were in Intelligence instead of Starfleet and if Vulcan were in the Klingon Empire instead of the Federation, then Star Trek would parallel Poul Anderson's History of Technic Civilization. Both Spock and Aycharaych are humanoid telepaths with pointed ears - although Spock's telepathy would have to be extremely enhanced before it could rival Aycharaych's.

To anyone who likes Star Trek but is unfamiliar with the Technic History, I would say that:

Merseians, Chereionites and Ythrians are more imaginative aliens than Klingons, Vulcans or Romulans;

Flandry and Aycharaych are better characterized than Kirk or Spock;

Star Trek achieved future historical status by spreading from the original series into one prequel, three contemporaneous sequels and three time travel films whereas the Technic History became a future history by seamlessly blending two interstellar series either of which could have stood on its own.

On this last point, either van Rijn versus the Borthudians or Flandry versus the Merseians is more than a match for Kirk versus the Merseians, as indeed are Philippe Rochefort versus the Avalonians, Roan Tom struggling through the Long Night or Daven Laure navigating the Cloud Universe.

A greater and higher Star Trek as, years ago at a Memorial Evening for James Blish, Charles Monteith of Faber and Faber described Cities In Flight.