Xenologist And Planetologist

In Poul Anderson's The Earthbook Of Stormgate, the second passage attributed to the Avalonian historian and editor, Hloch, serves both as an afterword to "Wings of Victory" and as the Introduction to the second Ythrian story, "The Problem of Pain." Referring back to "Wings of Victory," Hloch writes:

"This happened early in the course of starflight. The tale is in Far Adventure by Maeve Downey, the autobiography of a planetologist." (p. 103) (For full reference, see here.)

Thus, seven years (see here) after the publication of "Wings of Victory," Anderson reveals the name and profession of that story's first person narrator. As the planetologist, she would indeed have discussed the inhabitants of the new planet with Webner, the xenologist.

These two professions would be represented on any survey ship and are crucial to Nicholas van Rijn's later trade pioneer crews. Each crew comprises:

a Master Merchant, trained in cultural comparisons and trading skills;
a planetologist;
a xenobiologist.

Since the first of these crews to be organized by van Rijn is led by David Falkayn, the other two members are of different nonhuman species - different talents and, hopefully, less interpersonal conflict en route.