[Imperial Stars 01] • Imperial Stars 1-The Stars at War

Arthur Clarke said it first: If mankind is to survive, then for all but a very brief part of our history the word "ship" will mean "space ship." We will spread through space. We will build a colony on the moon: if we had a government of courage and imagination we would have that in time to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Columbus's voyages of discovery. As it is, it will take a bit longer; but we will go back to the Moon. We will settle other moons, and asteroids, and the planets; and we will go to the stars. Where mankind goes, government goes.

It is no idle thing, then, to think about what forms of government we will take to the stars. We in this enlightened age think we know; but do we? We are, after all, no smarter than our ancestors. We know more, but that's quite a different thing - and we have forgotten much that we had best relearn before we pay dearly for what they knew and we don't.

Contents:

Introduction: Empire by J.E. Pournelle

In Clouds of Glory by Algis Budrys

The Star Plunderer by Poul Anderson

Two Editorials Postscripts by John W. Campbell

Hymn of Breaking Strain by Rudyard Kipling

The Miracle of Government by James Burnham

To A Different Drum by Reginald Bretnor

The Whirligig of Time by Vernor Vinge

Nightmare with Angels by Stephen Vincent Benet

The Aristocrat by Chan Davis

The Sons of Martha by Rudyard Kipling

Mail Supremacy by Hayford Pierce

Herbig-Haro by Harry Turtledove

The Fighting Philosopher by E.B. Cole

The Voodoo Sciences by J.E. Pournelle

Pax Galactica by Ralph Williams

The Proper Study of Mankind by J.E. Pournelle

Finger Trouble by Edward P. Hughes

Yellow Rain and Space Wars by Adrian Berry

That Share of Glory by C.M. Kornbluth

The Stars at War by J.E. Pournelle