Orbit Unlimited

Orbit Unlimited was published in 1961 by combining four previously published stories; I'm not sure whether to call it a connected short story collection or a fix-up novel. In either case, it is a hard science fiction story that tells the tale of the colonization of the distant Earthlike world of Rustum by a band of freedom-loving exiles fleeing an oppressive and stagnant Earth. The story begins on Earth, but the bulk of the book tells the story of the journey to and colonization of Rustum itself. There are lots of details on the mechanics of space flight and the workings of different kinds of society. As is sometimes the case with Poul Anderson's protagonists, the main characters are interesting, even sympathetic, without being very likable. Orbit Unlimited is well worth reading for the Poul Anderson fan, for those who like fiction with libertarian themes, or anyone interested in a hard science fiction exploration/colonization story. I also recommend the follow-up, the story collection New America.