"Lodestar" was written to conclude the interconnected Polesotechnic League, Nicholas van Rijn and trader team series. Mirkheim is not a continuation but a sequel in which van Rijn temporarily reconvenes the old team ten years later and for a different purpose. Therefore, it is appropriate that The Technic Civilization Saga, Volume II ends with "Lodestar" whereas Volume III, entitled Rise Of The Terran Empire, begins with Mirkheim, showing the beginning of the decline of the League.
"Lodestar" did not conclude The Earth Book Of Stormgate because the purpose of that volume was to record events leading to the founding of the Stormgate Choth on Avalon. Therefore, the Earth Book concluded with two stories about distinct stages of the colonization of Avalon. In The Technic Civilization Saga, these stories come after Mirkheim but before accounts of the founding and early days of the Terran Empire.
Both collections make sense and deserve to be preserved although a publisher is unlikely to re-issue volumes presenting the same works arranged in different orders.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Wait a bit, THE EARTH BOOK OF STORMGATE was not, strictly, about the events leading to the rise of that choth on Avalon. That story is to be found in THE SKY BOOK OF STORMGATE, a very different work. THE EARTH BOOK collects accounts of the interactions of HUMANS with Ythrians.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Hloch's Introduction: "This is the tale, told afresh, of how Avalon came to settlement and thus our choth to being...as told...by Terrans, who walk the earth."
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Yes, but I don't recall any humans in these stories having anything directly to do with the founding of Stormgate choth. I think Hloch's comment should be understood in a WIDE sense.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
I'm very broad-minded!
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Nothing wrong with that, within reason!
Ad astra! Sean
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