Chapter 16 explains that the hostile robotic spacecraft encountered in 15 were probably mutated von Neumann machines.
17 returns us to the Kith but in the Kith village on Harbor at Tau Ceti instead of in Kith Town on Earth at Sol. Three or more ships in port at the same time means a Fair as when Fleetwing arrives to find Argosy and Eagle in orbit and this delays Argosy's departure. This reminds Poul Anderson's readers of the Nomads in his Psychotechnic History although the Nomads' ships are conventional sf faster than light hyperdrive spaceships. Many fictional futures parallel each other in some respects but not in others. We can imagine alternative futurians comparing their experiences in Anderson's inter-cosmic inn, the Old Phoenix.
Ormer Shaun, second mate of Fleetwing, and Haki Tensaro, textile dealer from Eagle, have a beer at the Orion and Bull, another fictional inn although this one is merely named. The surname, Shaughnessy, has been shortened to Shauny and now to Shaun. Confusing Kith with Nomads, I thought at first that "Ormer" was a surname and that "Shaun" was a personal name. In fact, it can be an alternative spelling of "Sean." Nomads and others in the Stellar Union period of the Psychotechnic History place their personal name after their surname but Kith do not.
17 and 21 are Kith short stories adapted as chapters of Starfarers. 10 and some other chapters expand the Kith history and the whole novel presents more than that history.
Hail, Poul Anderson.
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