The 13th volume of the collected works of Poul Anderson includes the 3rd book of the “Technical History” series: tales and stories about star traders and a story about the beginning of the formation of the Terran Empire.

The ship of interstellar traders is hiding from enemies . The power plants are damaged and cannot reach the target. The decision was made to land on the alien ship they encountered and come to an agreement with the owners. But the alien crew mistakes them for enemies and decides to hide. The situation is complicated by the fact that this is a menagerie ship. Who is the animal here and who are the astronauts? And time passes, the enemies are catching up... (“Game of Hide and Seek”)* * *The research mission from Esperanza was attacked by hostile savages. During the evacuation, two were considered killed, and they were stranded on the planet. It was decided to travel on a research all-terrain vehicle to friendly clans. Energy, food and water reserves will last for a long time. But there is one problem - the conditions on the planet will not allow contact with rescuers from that territory. What to do? As always, the cunning van Rijn finds a way out. (“Territory”)* * *Distant worlds. There, among alien stars, different laws rule. New worlds are waiting for their discoverers. Why do romantics and noble adventurers go there - for profit? No, the feeling of danger, the joy of victory - that’s what’s most important... (“Troublemakers”)* * *A Supernova explosion can destroy life in a nearby inhabited star system. One of the League's scout ships is urgently sent there to assist in rescuing the local population. In addition, a scientific expedition can be placed on terrestrial planets to study this rare and dangerous phenomenon. Unfortunately, a technologically advanced civilization does not heed the advice of the League representatives. Civil strife and the struggle for power are what primarily interests the leaders. (“Day of Wrath”)* * *As a result of incomprehensible disagreements, the aborigines attacked the trading outpost of the earthlings. But what are these differences? Van Rijn, being away from the scene, solves this mystery. (“Key Condition”)* * *Three space pirates, Harker, Olafson and Dolgorov, captured a Trillian spaceship and its pilot, Witwit. They are going to sell the ship to the barbarians Sophonts. They will become kings as soon as they appear with the promised spaceship on the planet of the Warriors. But on the way, it was decided to make a stop on the planet Paradox, in whose atmosphere contains about 6% helium. (“A small detail”)* * *Even if you are on a cold planet of a red dwarf star somewhere on the border of the Pleiades zone, a planet in the ruins of whose last city, destroyed five thousand years ago, only half a dozen people live, then all this is not yet a reason not to celebrate Christmas. After all, Christmas is a time to forgive, and when, if not on Christmas, you can find a common language even with creatures completely alien to you. (“Time to Forgive”)* * *Nicholas van Rijn and his granddaughter Koya set off on a spaceship to unexplored areas of the Universe. On the one hand, this could be regarded as an entertaining trip in search of adventure. But on the other hand, this could be due to the extraordinary activity of the Supermetals corporation, which supplied to the market new chemical elements and their alloys and did not want to join the Trade and Technical League. What is the true reason that forced the space merchant to personally go into space?... (“Guiding Star”)* * *Avalon became the first planet on which two intelligent species, humans and Ifrians, founded a joint colony. The Ifrians are a winged people, and sometimes they treat people arrogantly, because the Ifrians are braver, and they have wings, but people are built differently. But different doesn’t mean worse. People have their strengths too, and Nat Falkane has proven that. (“Wingless”)* * *Jack Birnam went on a hike alone in the Avalonian mountains. The Ifrian Ayan flew there. Suddenly a storm broke out and the Ifrian was in trouble. His wing is broken. Only Jack can help him. But Jack is allergic to Ifrian plumage. (“Salvation at Avalon”)* * *Alien aggressors of the Gorzuni captured the Earth, defeated its troops, and turned people into slaves. Only engineers have a chance to survive - Gorzuni are essentially barbarians and have absolutely no understanding of technology. There is no worthy leader among the people who can inspire others to resist the invaders. And when such a person was found, everything changed. (“Heroic Personality”)

ContentsHide and Seek (story, translation by S. Sukhinov)Territory (story, translation by S. Sukhinov)Troublemakers (story, translation by E. Alexandrova)Day of Wrath (story, translation by A . Pchelintseva) Key condition (story, translation by S. Sukhinov) Minor detail (story, translation by A. Pchelintsev) Time to forgive (story, translation by A. Pchelintsev) Guiding star (story, translation by A. Pchelintsev)The Wingless (story, translation by A. Pchelintsev)Salvation on Avalon (story, translation by A. Pchelintsev)Heroic Personality (story, translation by K. Korolev)