Question and Answer: The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson (volume 7) continues the series of the best of his fantasy and science fiction stories published over his writing career of 50 years. It contains 6 short novels, 2 novellas, and 4 short stories. “Question and Answer”, the lead short novel tells the story of what may or may not be the first meeting between two different species, with a touch of politics and a mystery. The book's two-page frontispiece is an illustration of this story. “The Big Rain” is set on Venus while it is still being terraformed, and concludes the "Un-Man stories”. Dominic Flandry is well represented in this volume, including the first time he meets Aycharaych of Chereion, his life-long nemesis. “The Troublemakers” examines life aboard a slower-than-light transport ship as it makes a voyage that will last over three generations. Finally, but not least, David Falkyn and his trader team open a planet for trade.
For many years the starships of earth searched the heavens for places where men could live. Many planets were found, but always something was wrong: too hot; too cold; atmospheric contaminants; poisonous biochemistry; intelligent natives - something. At last a deep-space survey vessel has reported a planet that seems perfect, an uninhabited paradise where people can roam free. But the first Troas Expedition never returns. And now the crew of the De Gama must find out why or mankind will lose the stars forever
Description:
Question and Answer: The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson (volume 7) continues the series of the best of his fantasy and science fiction stories published over his writing career of 50 years. It contains 6 short novels, 2 novellas, and 4 short stories. “Question and Answer”, the lead short novel tells the story of what may or may not be the first meeting between two different species, with a touch of politics and a mystery. The book's two-page frontispiece is an illustration of this story. “The Big Rain” is set on Venus while it is still being terraformed, and concludes the "Un-Man stories”. Dominic Flandry is well represented in this volume, including the first time he meets Aycharaych of Chereion, his life-long nemesis. “The Troublemakers” examines life aboard a slower-than-light transport ship as it makes a voyage that will last over three generations. Finally, but not least, David Falkyn and his trader team open a planet for trade.
For many years the starships of earth searched the heavens for places where men could live. Many planets were found, but always something was wrong: too hot; too cold; atmospheric contaminants; poisonous biochemistry; intelligent natives - something. At last a deep-space survey vessel has reported a planet that seems perfect, an uninhabited paradise where people can roam free. But the first Troas Expedition never returns. And now the crew of the De Gama must find out why or mankind will lose the stars forever