Three Scenarios

We are rereading works by Poul Anderson that involve faster than light interstellar travel and alien contact but that are not part of his Technic History. World Without Stars, After Doomsday and the Technic History each describe a different interstellar scenario.

The Technic History

Human beings invent the hyperdrive and build Technic civilization which influences many other intelligent species. Thus, several interstellar realms, mainly Terran, Ythrian and Merseian, overlap with the larger Dispersal of Ymir and occupy many planets that had previously belonged to the extinct Chereionite civilization but there is no knowledge of conditions elsewhere even in this one spiral arm. 

World Without Stars

Human beings live indefinitely extended lifespans and can make instantaneous jumps even across intergalactic distances. Thus, most people live off Earth and exploration is never-ending.

After Doomsday

Superlight travel, discovered once or many times, spreads like dandelion seeds. Explorers contact many species some of which become independent interstellar travellers. Planets remain self-sufficient but can benefit from wider contacts. Contact for trade or other purposes is usually within a local civilization-cluster because the galaxy as a whole is too big.

We would like to read future history series set in the second and third scenarios.