Galactic Empires Series by Brian W. Aldiss

Been a Long Time (Lafferty), The Possessed (Clarke), Protected Psecies (Fyfe), All the Way Back (Shaara), The Star Plunderer (Anderson), Foundation (Asimov), We're Civilized! (Clifton and Apostolides), The Crime and Glory of Commander Suzdal (Smith), The Rebel of Valkyr (Coppel), Brightness Falls from the Air (Seabright), Immigrant (Simak), Resident Physician (James White), Age of Retirement (Lynch), Planting Time (Adams and Nightengale).

Galactic Empires represent a promiscuous liaison between Astronomy and Glamour, with Glamour generally in the ascendant.Galactic Empires are the spectaculars of the science fiction field.This monster two-volume anthology contains twenty-six stories which between them cover many of the dimensions of the galactic empire, its origins, laws, mores, educational systems, and traditions. Not forgetting its inhabitants of every shape and colour... moreGalactic Empires represent a promiscuous liaison between Astronomy and Glamour, with Glamour generally in the ascendant.Galactic Empires are the spectaculars of the science fiction field.This monster two-volume anthology contains twenty-six stories which between them cover many of the dimensions of the galactic empire, its origins, laws, mores, educational systems, and traditions. Not forgetting its inhabitants of every shape and colour. Not forgetting wither the natural quirks of the universe in which they all live. less