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Was bleibt einem jungen Mann von der Erde mit ungewöhnlichen mathematischen Fähigkeiten, der nirgendwo hin zu passen scheint? Andrew Jackson Libby tritt deswegen dem Kosmischen Pionierkorps bei. Sein erster Auftrag führt ihn in den Asteroidengürtel, wo er seinen genialen Kopf mehr als einmal unter Beweis stellen kann …
Die Erzählung „Außenseiter“ erscheint als exklusives E-Book Only bei Heyne und ist zusammen mit weiteren Stories und Romanen von Robert A. Heinlein auch in dem Sammelband „Die Geschichte der Zukunft“ enthalten.
Was bleibt einem jungen Mann von der Erde mit ungewöhnlichen mathematischen Fähigkeiten, der nirgendwo hin zu passen scheint? Andrew Jackson Libby tritt deswegen dem Kosmischen Pionierkorps bei. Sein erster Auftrag führt ihn in den Asteroidengürtel, wo er seinen genialen Kopf mehr als einmal unter Beweis stellen kann …
Die Erzählung „Außenseiter“ erscheint als exklusives E-Book Only bei Heyne und ist zusammen mit weiteren Stories und Romanen von Robert A. Heinlein auch in dem Sammelband „Die Geschichte der Zukunft“ enthalten.
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About the author
Robert A. Heinlein
1,060 books10.6k followersRobert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction author, aeronautical engineer, and naval officer. Sometimes called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was among the first to emphasize scientific accuracy in his fiction, and was thus a pioneer of the subgenre of hard science fiction. His published works, both fiction and non-fiction, express admiration for competence and emphasize the value of critical thinking. His plots often posed provocative situations which challenged conventional social mores. His work continues to have an influence on the science-fiction genre, and on modern culture more generally.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.
Heinlein became one of the first American science-fiction writers to break into mainstream magazines such as The Saturday Evening Post in the late 1940s. He was one of the best-selling science-fiction novelists for many decades, and he, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke are often considered the "Big Three" of English-language science fiction authors. Notable Heinlein works include Stranger in a Strange Land, Starship Troopers (which helped mold the space marine and mecha archetypes) and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His work sometimes had controversial aspects, such as plural marriage in The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, militarism in Starship Troopers and technologically competent women characters who were formidable, yet often stereotypically feminine—such as Friday.
Heinlein used his science fiction as a way to explore provocative social and political ideas and to speculate how progress in science and engineering might shape the future of politics, race, religion, and sex. Within the framework of his science-fiction stories, Heinlein repeatedly addressed certain social themes: the importance of individual liberty and self-reliance, the nature of sexual relationships, the obligation individuals owe to their societies, the influence of organized religion on culture and government, and the tendency of society to repress nonconformist thought. He also speculated on the influence of space travel on human cultural practices.
Heinlein was named the first Science Fiction Writers Grand Master in 1974. Four of his novels won Hugo Awards. In addition, fifty years after publication, seven of his works were awarded "Retro Hugos"—awards given retrospectively for works that were published before the Hugo Awards came into existence. In his fiction, Heinlein coined terms that have become part of the English language, including grok, waldo and speculative fiction, as well as popularizing existing terms like "TANSTAAFL", "pay it forward", and "space marine". He also anticipated mechanical computer-aided design with "Drafting Dan" and described a modern version of a waterbed in his novel Beyond This Horizon.
Also wrote under Pen names: Anson McDonald, Lyle Monroe, Caleb Saunders, John Riverside and Simon York.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 11, 2019
An engineering story featuring a mathematical savant. The pleasure in this is the confidence that Heinlein exudes that turning an asteroid into a space station could be accomplished, as if all the information to do it is already available. Of course, there’s a bunch of McGuffins that enable this, like the durite and other materials yet to be discovered. But the ease of the prose, in combination with the competence of the characters, just breathes the fire of exploration into your veins. As a story, it’s not really that much—the drama, etc., is almost background to the purpose of engendering belief in the power of science and engineering to accomplish such feats. This is the kind of thing that inspired people to join NASA. Interesting, but…
January 28, 2025
This is actually a fairly uninspiring story, but is close to my heart in that it is an origin story of sorts for Andrew Jackson "Slipstick" Libby, a much beloved character from later Heinlein novels.
July 9, 2023
Early Heinlein was heavy on the science which is the whole point of sci-fi. Later Heinlein agreed with the idiot majority (mathematical psychology at work) that science is for nerds, and began to write romance-porn (though Heinlein was as romantic as a Brussels sprout) trash with a mere sprinkling of the now nerdy science. Proving once again that everyone is their own worst enemy.
February 21, 2017
A beautiful ending story about a Mathematical Savant who ends up in a menial and terrible job turning an asteroid into a garden. The language is comically dated, being written in 1939! "Rejecta" and "Straight Dope"!
May 19, 2018
I found it to be simple. A pleasant read, but nothing to get excited about. A very short story about a young and undiscovered talent. Could be the basis of a much larger and complex story, but none was developed as far as I know.
Have a GoodReads.
Have a GoodReads.
July 23, 2024
SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT SPOILER ALERT
Invention of gravity control by Andrew Jackson Libby at end. NB - another math super-genius (see Starman Jones)
Invention of gravity control by Andrew Jackson Libby at end. NB - another math super-genius (see Starman Jones)
May 25, 2018
sweet story of a nerd
August 21, 2020
And you thought that 'Expansion' was original with its idea of touching helmets to allow resonant communication.
Misfits is short but quite interesting. A must have bus-trip read for any sci-fi fan.
Misfits is short but quite interesting. A must have bus-trip read for any sci-fi fan.
March 26, 2023
И Хайнлайн побеждает в номинации "Супергерой с самой бестолковой суперспособностью". Что-то про компы Хайнлайн поймет только через 20+ лет в «Луна — суровая хозяйка». Может и хорошо, что Хайнлайн не знал, что вместо майнинга астероидов мы всё просрём на майнинг криптовалют.
June 9, 2025
3.5 stars
Very dated, in style if not vocabulary. I know it's unfair for me to judge it based on that. It's an interesting short, worth the read, but not one I'll return to.
Very dated, in style if not vocabulary. I know it's unfair for me to judge it based on that. It's an interesting short, worth the read, but not one I'll return to.
August 16, 2020
Again, I know that it's an old Robert A. Heinlein book, but in personal opinion he is one of the best writers.
September 22, 2016
Misfit by Robert A. Heinlein feels like a short story that was written to flesh out a book. However it’s not. As I read it as a lead in to Methuselah's Children, it makes sense it was written to help that book. However it was written 19 years earlier.
The story focuses on Andrew Jackson Libby, a member of the Corps who is assigned to help build a space station around Earth. It’s a rather fun and inventive story, creating the idea of building space stations by recommissioning asteroids. But alas it is not one of Heinlein’s better works. The problem is nothing in the book is overly compelling. I love the character of Libby, but his arc is really that he lives without being special and now he’s special. There’s a few moments of tension but overall not much happens.
It’s almost like Heinlein wanted to create Libby for a reason, but oddly enough he never used him for almost 19 years, so it’s not that. That being said, it’s an essential work of Heinlein if only to add to Methuselah’s Children and Time Enough for Love. Apparently he’s also in The Cat Who walked through walls however none of those seem to require this story.
I’m torn in rating it, because the character does so much, and this is when he is introduced, however nothing in the story really needs to be, so I’m forced to give this story only three stars.
The story focuses on Andrew Jackson Libby, a member of the Corps who is assigned to help build a space station around Earth. It’s a rather fun and inventive story, creating the idea of building space stations by recommissioning asteroids. But alas it is not one of Heinlein’s better works. The problem is nothing in the book is overly compelling. I love the character of Libby, but his arc is really that he lives without being special and now he’s special. There’s a few moments of tension but overall not much happens.
It’s almost like Heinlein wanted to create Libby for a reason, but oddly enough he never used him for almost 19 years, so it’s not that. That being said, it’s an essential work of Heinlein if only to add to Methuselah’s Children and Time Enough for Love. Apparently he’s also in The Cat Who walked through walls however none of those seem to require this story.
I’m torn in rating it, because the character does so much, and this is when he is introduced, however nothing in the story really needs to be, so I’m forced to give this story only three stars.
January 27, 2025
20/ Inadaptado (1939)
Periodo en el que está basada:2090 a.p
Un grupo de marines espaciales, entre ellos un joven llamado Libby (el cual es un prodigio del cálculo aritmético y será de gran ayuda a la expedición), son los encargados y pioneros de conseguir el acondicionamiento del sistema solar al completo, para posterior mejor uso de los seres humanos. Para ello, viajan a el asteroide HS-5388, para acondicionarlo como estación espacial, moviéndolo de órbita y alineándolo con la tierra , entre Luna city y Marte; éste asteroide será el TM 3.
El nombre que da al título es debido al grupo de personas que integran el convoy espacial, unos inadaptados en la tierra, ya sea por abolición de su antiguo oficio o por la ociosidad de la época moderna, que no les resulta ‘ atractiva’...recordemos’ que actualmente se goza de un auténtico estado de libertad y plenitud, con las necesidades primarias cubiertas (‘ Conventry’). El personaje de Libby, es un antiguo refugiado de Conventry, ya que sus padres no quisieron acogerse al ‘ Convenio’ ( cosa que se esclarece en el siguiente ‘relato’), hasta que su progenitor murió.
Nos situamos en el conocimiento y explotación cuasi profunda de la galaxia alrededor del sol. El HS- 5388, es el 88º asteroide localizado, y el tercero convertido en estación espacial; un refugio salvavidas para naves en dificultades, una estación de combustible o una avanzadilla naval.
Avances y/ o predicciones Tecnológicas:
- TM 1, TM 2 y TM3 ( estaciones fijas espaciales Tierra- Marte, paralelas en órbita, para la seguridad de las rutas espaciales)
Avances y / o predicciones sociales:
- Cuerpos Marines espaciales, empleados de la Compañía de Construcción cósmica, para el avance y desarrollo de utilización espacial
- Principio de consolidación del sistema solar
Periodo en el que está basada:2090 a.p
Un grupo de marines espaciales, entre ellos un joven llamado Libby (el cual es un prodigio del cálculo aritmético y será de gran ayuda a la expedición), son los encargados y pioneros de conseguir el acondicionamiento del sistema solar al completo, para posterior mejor uso de los seres humanos. Para ello, viajan a el asteroide HS-5388, para acondicionarlo como estación espacial, moviéndolo de órbita y alineándolo con la tierra , entre Luna city y Marte; éste asteroide será el TM 3.
El nombre que da al título es debido al grupo de personas que integran el convoy espacial, unos inadaptados en la tierra, ya sea por abolición de su antiguo oficio o por la ociosidad de la época moderna, que no les resulta ‘ atractiva’...recordemos’ que actualmente se goza de un auténtico estado de libertad y plenitud, con las necesidades primarias cubiertas (‘ Conventry’). El personaje de Libby, es un antiguo refugiado de Conventry, ya que sus padres no quisieron acogerse al ‘ Convenio’ ( cosa que se esclarece en el siguiente ‘relato’), hasta que su progenitor murió.
Nos situamos en el conocimiento y explotación cuasi profunda de la galaxia alrededor del sol. El HS- 5388, es el 88º asteroide localizado, y el tercero convertido en estación espacial; un refugio salvavidas para naves en dificultades, una estación de combustible o una avanzadilla naval.
Avances y/ o predicciones Tecnológicas:
- TM 1, TM 2 y TM3 ( estaciones fijas espaciales Tierra- Marte, paralelas en órbita, para la seguridad de las rutas espaciales)
Avances y / o predicciones sociales:
- Cuerpos Marines espaciales, empleados de la Compañía de Construcción cósmica, para el avance y desarrollo de utilización espacial
- Principio de consolidación del sistema solar
November 11, 2012
It was a really short story, classic old Heinlein: heavy into the ballistics math and military regimen. That was basically it, an excuse for talking about potential space flight to an asteroid and embellishing the details on the mathematical technicalities and how the whole thing might feel to someone who's never done it. It didn't really have too much of a plot of its own, though the main character does recur in later Heinlein stories. There's no really good reason to read it unless you're really interested in that main character "Libby", specifically Andrew Jackson Libby.
February 15, 2009
Well, not the BEST of Heinlein, but pretty good! The characters werent as beliveable as other novels by the aformentioned author. The story, as well, was rather short. I could say that it has no future history, but it wouldnt be true. The amount is simply sparse, that's all. It's there, there isnt much, but it IS there. Read it if you like a good, short, sci-fi book every once in a while.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews