Both volumes collect previously uncollected instalments. Tales... collects thirteen. The Earth Book collects twelve.
Tales... has an introduction and interstitial notes by Niven. The Earth Book has the same by Hloch of Stormgate Choth.
Tales... begins with early interplanetary exploration; the Earth Book with early interstellar exploration.
Tales... features the continuing characters, Lucas Garner, Beowulf Shaeffer and Louis Wu. The Earth Book features Nicholas van Rijn, David Falkayn and the other members of the trader team.
Tales... shows the beginning of conflict with the kzinti. The Earth Book shows the origins of conflict with the Merseians.
Each shows some daily life in its history and is a definitive collection of its series.
2 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Also, Niven's earlier stories are better than his later works. Alas, some writers works get much poorer in old age. Fortunately, that was not true of the stories Anderson wrote during the last 12 years of his life.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: yup. Doesn't seem to be hitting me that way... yet.
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