Continuing Characters In Three Future History Series

I had expected that, on the current rereading of Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History, I would skip past "Brake," having, so I thought, analysed this story thoroughly before. However, the story merited further attention. Anderson's texts seem to be inexhaustible.

Of the eleven instalments comprising the first half of the Psychotechnic History, Etienne Fourre appears in the first and second and is referenced as an authoritative historical figure in the eleventh. This is star treatment for a character in the Psychotechnic History and contrasts sharply with the extensive coverage given to Nicholas van Rijn, David Falkayn and Dominic Flandry in the Technic History. "The Acolytes" and "The Green Thumb," about a single colonial family on Nerthus, are almost a continuous narrative. Anderson introduced Trevelyan Micah in The Peregrine (1956), then reused this character, and his companion Braganza Diane, in "The Pirate," (1968), set earlier, simply because the character fitted this new narrative.

By minimizing the role of continuing characters in the Polesotechnic League, Anderson followed his model, Robert Heinlein's Future History. DD Harriman died in "Requiem" (1940), then reappeared as the title character of "The Man Who Sold The Moon" (150), set earlier. Andy Libby appeared in "Misfit" (1939) and Methuselah's Children. (1941) "Universe" (1941) acquired a sequel, "Common Sense," (1941) with the same set of characters. Chairman Dixon chairs a meeting in "Blow-ups Happen" (1940) and again in "The Man Who Sold The Moon." Harriman's associate, Strong, is at both meetings.

Rhysling, Dahlquist and Lazarus Long appear only once. Nehemiah Scudder, despite his importance, remains off-stage.