Psychotechnics And Nerthus

In Poul Anderson's Psychotechnic History, the Psychotechnic Institute is in a position of influence during only four instalments although mostly off-stage. It makes a disastrous unsuccessful comeback attempt in "The Snows of Ganymede." However, psychotechnic science continues to be used, for example by the Order of Planetary Engineers, and there is some evidence of its success. Characters in "The Pirate" differentiate between integrate and raptor cultures. I think that there is a similar remark about Terrestrial society in "The Acolytes" or "The Green Thumb" but will have to find it.

The planet, Nerthus, is introduced in "The Green Thumb" and "The Acolytes," reappears in "Virgin Planet" and is referred to in "The Pirate" and "Symmetry." The Nomads are introduced in "Gypsy." The Stellar Union Coordination Service is introduced in "The Pirate." A Coordinator joins a Nomad ship on Nerthus in The Peregrine. (Good future history continuity.)

The texts make a very rapid transition from early interstellar exploration to travel that is apparently Galaxy-wide. There is a feeling of stories with different backgrounds being fitted together but Nerthus is a strong unifying reference.