Succession And Simultaneity In The Early Technic History

Of the first five installments in The Technic Civilization Saga, Volume I, the first three are set in different centuries whereas the fourth and fifth, "Margin of Profit," introducing van Rijn, and "How To Be Ethnic In One Easy Lesson," introducing Adzel, could be simultaneous and are listed as both occurring in 2416. (For an alternative view of the Chronology, see here.)

In The Earth Book Of Stormgate, "How To Be Ethnic..." precedes "Margin of Profit" whereas The Technic Civilization Saga reverses this order. I prefer the Earth Book order as slightly delaying the introduction of van Rijn. This way, four diverse stories:

"The Saturn Game";
"Wings of Victory";
"The Problem of Pain";
"How To Be Ethnic..."

- provide a varied basis for the Technic History before the interweaving Nicholas van Rijn and David Falkayn sub-series are launched. As we have also seen recently, much that becomes important later is introduced in those three - or four - opening stories.