Technic History Reading Orders

One fascinating feature of Poul Anderson's Technic History is that there are two reading orders: original and chronological. Also, we can trace the metamorphosis from the first order to the second. On the one hand, the series began with Nicholas van Rijn. On the other hand, some later-written stories were set earlier than van Rijn.

The first van Rijn story: "Margin of Profit" (1956);
the first van Rijn novel: The Man Who Counts (1958);
the first van Rijn collection: Trader To The Stars (1964).

Trader To The Stars incorporates an extract from "Margin of Profit" and a reference to The Man Who Counts. Thus, here already is the beginning of a van Rijn series:

"Margin of Profit"
The Man Who Counts, originally published in book form as War Of The Wing-Men
Trader To The Stars

However, as we will see, Trader To The Stars, collecting three stories about van Rijn, remains the opening volume in the original order of reading. As such, it is followed by:

The Trouble Twisters, collecting three stories about David Falkayn;
Satan's World and Mirkheim, two novels featuring both van Rijn and Falkayn.

Before anything else is added, these four volumes form a Polesotechnic League Tetralogy. Whereas van Rijn, although still active, is already old enough to retire at the beginning of Trader To The Stars, The Trouble Twisters systematically presents three stages of advancement in Falkayn's early career. By the end of Mirkheim, Falkayn has risen as high as is possible in van Rijn's company - acting CEO - and the Polesotechnic League is coming to an end. Thus, these four volumes alone could stand as a substantial series, although not yet a future history. However, a lot more happens both before and after.