The Van Rijn Method

One of the Most Popular Characters Ever Created by Science Fiction’s Grand Master, Poul Anderson. A Complete Novel, The Man Who Counts, is Included in This Large Volume of Action and Adventure, Starring Nicholas Van Rijn, Volume One in the Complete Technic Civilization Series. When the human race spread out among the stars, they took the profit motive with them, and none exemplified that fact better than Nicholas Van Rijn, interstellar trader and capitalist extraordinaire. He might look like Falstaff and talk in a steady stream of malapropisms, but anybody who might take him for a bumbling buffoon would quickly find themselves taken—to the cleaners! In Nick Van Rijn, Poul Anderson created one of the most memorable and popular characters in science fiction, and now, for the first time, all the stories of Van Rijn and the Polesotechnic League will be published in chronological order in three volumes. Also included are more stories of Van Rijn flamboyant exploits, plus stories set elsewhere in the Polesotechnic universe. And, after the three volumes chronicling the Polesotechnic League’s rise and fall will come more volumes, telling of the rise of the Terran Empire and the adventures of Poul Anderson’s other legendary character, Captain Sir Dominic Flandry.

The Buck Starts Here! Think there's an unbridgeable gulf between human and alien thought Not so! There's a common tongue, all right -- and Nicholas Van Rijn speaks it fluently: TRADE. For behind the buffoonish blarney and bawdy bonhomie of the Falstaffian Van Rijn is a man who gets things done. A born wheeler-dealer who usually leaves both sides better off in the bargain. (While pocketing a hefty cut of the profits himself, of course!) With The Man Who Counts and a passel of other tales included, this is the first of three volumes set to contain the complete cycle of _Polesotechnic LeagueÓ books and stories by transcendently-gifted science fiction master (how does seven Hugos and three Nebula Awards strike you ) Poul Anderson _ and starring Nicholas Van Rijn, his most famous character of all! At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Nicholas van Rijn, the most flamboyant member of the Polesotechnic League of star traders, could see dark times ahead. Fellow league members were using tactics verging on outright piracy, and others were all too eager to sell starships and high-tech weapons to alien barbarians. A planet not previously known for interstellar commerce suddenly revealed a secret fleet of armed starships, and started building an empire. Even if Van Rijn and his right-hand man David Falkayn could find a way to stop this blatant aggression, the glory days of the League were over. Hereafter, for its own protection against well-armed alien marauders the Earth must maintain a strong military fleet, and one charismatic man would found an empire that would learn nothing of the lessons history taught about the fates of other empires as it began annexing other star systems, whether they wanted to join the Terran Empire or not . . . This is the third volume in the first complete edition of Poul Anderson's Technic Civilization saga, and it includes a classic novella which appears here in book form for the first time. And the next volume begins the adventures of Poul Anderson's other legendary character, Captain Sir Dominic Flandry. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

A KNIGHT WITHOUT ARMOR IN A SAVAGE GALAXY Captain Dominic Flandry has been knighted for his many services to the Terran Empire¾an Empire which is old, jaded, and corrupt, as Flandry well knows¾but he also knows that the Empire is better than anything that is likely to take its place. And while that _SirÓ before his name may be an added attraction to comely ladies (not that he has ever lacked for the pleasant company of the same), he expects that it will also bring him less welcome attention from envious _colleaguesÓ within the empire. What it is not likely to do is make him more of an object of interest to the alien Merseians, whose plots against the Empire he has repeatedly foiled. They already are as aware as they can be of how much simpler their plans to rule the galaxy would be if their most dangerous adversary were the late Sir Dominic Flandry. This is the sixth volume in the first complete edition of Poul Andersons Technic Civilization saga. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). _These are stories of the classic science fiction tradition: hard science and tough characters in logically well integrated action stories.Ó ¾Jerry Pournelle _One of science fictions authentic geniuses.Ó ¾Chicago Sun-Times _The winner of seven Hugos and three Nebulas . . . one of the towering figures of modern SF and fantasy.Ó ¾Publishers Weekly _Anderson fuses elegiac prose and a sweeping vision of mans technological future as only he can. . . .Ó ¾Booklist

It is the twilight of the Terran Empire. The warriors who made it great are long gone now, and the Traders of the Polesotechnic League who made it possible are the dimly-remembered stuff of legend. Alien enemies prowl its outer precincts, and Sector Governors conspire for the Throne of Man. On Terra herself, those who occupy the labyrinthine corridors of power busy themselves with trivialities and internal politics, as outside the final darkness gathers. In this scene of terminal disarray one man stands like a giant: Dominic Flandry, Agent of the Terran Empire. In three full-length novels, he will rise from young ensign to lieutenant commander as he outthinks rivals and thwarts adversaries, blazing a trail across the galaxy in defense of an Empire which barely appreciates him and against alien enemies who appreciate him all too well. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

When You Trade Upon a Star! Think self-congratulating Federation lackeys are going to be the ones to boldly go where no one has gone before Think again! Now second-son of nobility David Falkayn, hot to prove his worth, leads a team of alien capitalists through deadly threat and gnarly interplanetary dilemma. The mission: to keep intergalactic trade forever free¾and always profitable! The second of three volumes of the complete cycle of "Polesotechnic League" books and stories by transcendently-gifted science fiction master (how does seven Hugos and three Nebula Awards strike you ) Poul Anderson! At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). "One of science fiction's authentic geniuses."¾Chicago Sun-Times

The coastal zone is subject to strong pressures from a large number of users. Populations are migrating to it in large numbers. Industry wants to exploit it for its space, water and manpower. Aggregate miners want to exploit mineral resources and health centers are multiplying. It is a favorite area for tourism and recreation worldwide. The zone can boom economically. However, coastlines are progressively receding worldwide, making the zone fragile, vulnerable, and unstable. The book presents methods of coastal protection and beach restoration and offers solutions to the various problems.

This work describes the role of sediment transport in the operation and maintenance of demand-based downstream controlled irrigation canals. Sediment deposition in these irrigation canals severely affects the operation of the automatic flow control system. The book also discusses sediment transport modelling in irrigation canals. A simplified 1-D mathematical model SETRIC (SEdiment TRansport in Irrigation Canals) has been improved with the inclusion of downstream control component for the downstream controlled irrigation canals. Based on field measurements and sediment transport modelling, a number of approaches have been proposed for sediment management in such irrigation canals by improvement in their design and operation. This book will be of interest to Irrigation Engineers and Managers, Hydraulic Engineers, Water Resources Engineers and Managers, Civil Engineers, and Agricultural Engineers.