The Rise of the Terran Empire: Technic Civilization Saga [Paperback]

Poul Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Technic Civilization | Publication Date: June 9, 2009

"Rise Of The Terran Empire".

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Poul Anderson was one of the most prolific and popular writers in science fiction. He won the Hugo Award seven times and the Nebula Award three times, as well as many other awards, notably including the Grand Master Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America for a lifetime of distinguished achievement. With a degree in physics, and a wide knowledge of other fields of science, he was noted for building stories on a solid foundation of real science, as well as for being one of the most skilled creators of fast-paced adventure stories. He was author of over a hundred novels and story collections, and several hundred short stories, as well as several mysteries and nonfiction books. He died in 2001. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Baen; Original edition (June 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439132755
• ISBN-13: 978-1439132753
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #915,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic Science Fiction by one of the Grand Masters, November 18, 2009

By 

Roger J. Buffington (Huntington Beach, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rise of the Terran Empire: Technic Civilization Saga (Paperback)

Poul Anderson was one of the undisputed Grand Masters of Science Fiction, and these are some of his better stories. Poul Anderson created a dazzling "future history" scenario in which mankind has perfected cheap and reliable interstellar space travel, and expanded into the Galaxy. In doing so, mankind meets many alien races, and author Anderson is a master at imagining biologically and psychologically credible alien races. The author also postulates that when humans travel to the stars, they will bring with them all of our flaws--avarice and greed. Capitalism and freedom (the author believes that the two go hand-in-hand) require elbow room, says the author in one of these stories, and the Galaxy is the ultimate elbow room in which capitalism, for a time, flourishes.

These stories range from the beginning to the end of what the author calls Technic Civilization, more specifically the Polesotechnic League ("League of Selling Skills") -- a sprawling, brawling combine of merchantilist corporations spread throughout the Galaxy. Their interactions with alien cultures and races is the overarching theme of the book. In short, here Mr. Anderson seeks to answer the questions of what humans will find when they achieve interstellar travel and what this will do to mankind.

These stories are more or less arranged chronologically within the future history series. "Mirkheim" is placed at the beginning, which is appropriate as that novel heralds the end of the Polesotechnic League and the beginning of the Empire stage of Technic Civilization. In my opinion Mirkheim is one of the best Technic Civilization novels. Each of these stories stands very well alone, and these are all wonderful speculative reads. Highly recommended. RJB.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good ol' Poul, August 26, 2009

By 

Norvan K. Allen "Sci Fi Nut" (Albuquerque) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Rise of the Terran Empire: Technic Civilization Saga (Paperback)

I have always enjoyed Poul Anderson and have missed having his stories. Now with this series I can indulge myself. The groupings and selections have most of my favorites.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine story of a flamboyant member of a league of star traders who is involved with a strong military fleet on earth, September 17, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rise of the Terran Empire: Technic Civilization Saga (Paperback)

Poul Anderson's RISE OF THE TERRAN EMPIRE: THE TECHNIC CIVILIZATION SAGA is a fine story of a flamboyant member of a league of star traders who is involved with a strong military fleet on earth - and in the founding of an empire. This is the third volume in the complete edition of his Technic Civilization saga, recommended for owners of the prior editions.