Most planets are populated by one of the three Splinter Cultures: the Dorsai, military elite; the Exotics, arts and sciences; the Friendly, zealots of religious faith.

It is eventually revealed that Hal Mayne is in fact Donal Graeme, who had somehow developed the ability to reinvent himself as an infant and secure the necessary training to counteract the Others.

[1] Dave Langford reviewed The Final Encyclopedia for White Dwarf #71, and stated that "Over five novels and several shorts, this series has risen from vigorous pulp adventure to self-conscious worthiness.. .

"[4] In Analog, Susan Shwartz describes The Final Encyclopedia as "a richly textured, carefully constructed book that teems with extraordinary characters", but notes that some parts devolve into lecturing about ontogenetics, poetry, and medieval history.

[5] In Norman Spinrad's analysis, The Final Encyclopedia lacks story, and instead varies exposition and philosophy with combat scenes, describing it as "stringing his lectures along the old action-adventure plot skeleton".