A major part of the background of these stories is the final fall of the Welfare States; Russia is never mentioned, and the US is downsliding due to inflation and political corruption.

The stories were published between 1972 and 1975, and reflect Pournelle's concerns with the effects of environmentalism, welfare states, and high taxes on the ability of people to make advances in technology.

These include plutonium fuel breeding, deep sea thermal power, large scale food cultivation and access to fresh water.

Pournelle's view of corporate mega-projects is similar to that of Robert A. Heinlein as expressed in stories such as The Man Who Sold the Moon, or more recently in the work of Tom Clancy.

There are no meddling vice presidents, craven middle managers or deadhead employees of the sort generally found in any large technical effort—mostly because Pournelle's corporations lack trade unions to prevent their expulsion.