Sequence And Simultaneity

In a future history chronology, the titles are listed vertically down the page into the future. However, some instalments are contemporaneous and should really be presented horizontally, typographical space permitting. In Robert Heinlein's Future History, the six stories collected in Volume I, The Man Who Sold The Moon, form a linear sequence set during the second half of the twentieth century whereas the eight stories collected in Volume II, The Green Hills Of Earth, are all set around 2000. (There is still some future left: Volume III is entitled Revolt In 2100.)

In Poul Anderson's Technic History, "Margin of Profit," introducing Nicholas van Rijn, and "How To Be Ethnic In One Easy Lesson," introducing van Rijn's future employee, Adzel. are contemporaneous. These two stories are presented with "How To Be Ethnic..." first in The Earth Book of Stormgate and second in The Technic Civilization Saga, Volume I, The Van Rijn Method. I prefer the Earth Book order as presenting the background of the Solar Commonwealth and the Polesotechnic League before introducing the major player, van Rijn.

These remarks are prefatory to further observations about the Technic History but bear with me.