How to write a sequel that continues the story from the end of the previous installment: although the Saxtorphs are based in the Solar System, their expedition in "Iron" began and ended in the Alpha Centaurian System where they were subsequently detained by the business of reporting that Interworld Space Commissioner Markham had been a kzinti spy as well as having repairs done to their ship, replacing one of its boats, waiting for insurance money etc. Thus, they hope for more business to come their way while they are delayed on Wunderland. Of course a job does come their way, otherwise there would not have been a story, and of course the business turns out to involve kzinti, otherwise the story would not have been part of this particular future history sub-series.
An author like Poul Anderson can perpetuate a series as long as there is a market for it but, fortunately, he also did more than just repeat van Rijn or Flandry indefinitely.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, after THE GAME OF EMPIRE Anderson preferred to turn to other ideas and themes, as we see in ORION SHALL RISE and THE BOAT OF A MILLION YEARS.
After Mrs. Anderson died many boxes of papers were donated to a California university (I forget its name, tho). I looked up their descriptions online, and I noticed what I think were 15 to 20 unfinished stories and other works by Poul Anderson. I would like to think some of these pieces only only need some further work by an authorized "co-author" to be published.
Ad astra! Sean
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