The Cluster series has a "quantum-Platonic" topology that allows, among other things, faster-than-light travel. ... more
... tens of thousands of stars, about 1/4 ly apart, radius of Cluster is 5 ly
... older civilizations/stars are closer to the center ... more time to adapt, they are already survivors, alliances, federations, greater knowledge of the Cluster ... they have more advanced sub-light ships ... they can plunder the new stars as if they were primitive islands ... but still no FTL.
... new stars are on the periphery ... on their own, easy prey, fear
Once thoughts move away from the Borderland they can combine and merge and grow. They no longer belong to an individual.