Communication

These three (of seven) volumes cover the entire pre-Flandry period of Poul Anderson's Technic History from the era of interplanetary exploration through the Polesotechnic League to the early Terran Empire, Domain of Ythri and Merseian Roidhunate. The three covers present:

van Rijn and two companion (center);
David Falkayn (left);
two Ythrians in flight (right).

These covers are infinitely more appropriate than those depicting Dominic Flandry and companions.

For Captain Torres:

"This would be a new experience, meeting his ultimate boss. It was ten years since he had had to call anybody 'sir' or 'madam.'"
-"Margin of Profit," see here.

Conventions of speech acknowledge either social distinctions or essential equality. In some milieus, I address others as "brother," "sister" or "comrade," whereas, in certain kinds of work, I would address customers/clients as "sir" or "madam." But, when it matters, it is the equality that counts. Van Rijn, having addressed Torres with apparent disrespect, listens intently and offers him a drink when the captain, with difficulty, describes his meeting with a conditioned man. That man is to be rescued and freed, whatever his social standing back in Technic civilization. Van Rijn says:

"'I have seen a conditioned man myself once, long ago when I was a rough-and-tumbler.'" (p. 143)

Thus, he establishes a common experience with Torres and begins to tell us a little - not enough - about his past.