Delila und der Raummonteur: Roman

Future History or "Heinlein Timeline" #6

by Robert A. Heinlein, Rosemarie Hundertmarck (Translator)

Frauenquote


Gloria Brooks McNye ist Kommunikationsingenieurin und heuert als einzige Frau auf einer Raumstation an – sehr zum Missfallen ihres direkten männlichen Vorgesetzten. Dass es jedoch nicht schaden kann, eine Frau mit an Bord zu haben, muss dieser sehr schnell feststellen …


Die Kurzgeschichte „Delila und der Raummonteur“ 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. Sie umfasst ca. 19 Buchseiten.

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1949

About the author

Robert 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.

Reviews

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Delilah and the Space Rigger” by Robert A. Heinlein is a solid story about the building of the first space station in Heinlein’s Future History line.

Rather than focus on the space station, as the title hints at. This is a story about a woman. A female crew is placed on the space station construction crew.

The story feels like it intends to be a feminist story in a lot of ways, and it almost succeeds. Perhaps it’s just modern standards or perhaps it’s just weaker writing, but while I enjoy the story, I feel it’s too short. The main female character is a good character, but she doesn’t excel in any way. That would work, but the problem is the true main character of the story, the foreman, a guy named Tiny, turns his opinion of females on the station around on a dime. While there’s more to the story than that. It feels shortened and there’s probably should be a couple more pages to build out the story.

The moral of the story is solid, but the delivery feels like it’s off, as I mention the main character turns a bit too fast. The female character doesn’t really earn the turn around, and while there is enough reason for him to turn, he goes from zero to sixty as fast as possible.

[Read Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself was very dated and only okay. What I liked about it was the glimpse of the expected Male/Female roles in 1949 America. This shortly after WWII I see that Americans quickly reverted back to their pre-war social norm. I would have hoped that the "Rosie the Riveter" era would have lasted a little longer. I guess America was quick to forget the war and get back to the way things used to be. WWII was very long ago now and well before my time.

I am reading this work as part of "The Past Through Tomorrow" book.

Have a GoodReads.

[Vivaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look back at how sexism and chauvinism effected women in the construction engineering workplace during the later 20th century. Dated, yes, but mostly because "we.ve come a long way, baby!" Not far enough yet, but far enough that a goodly number of male readers seem to find this objectionable.

For those who are charging that all the male characters are behaving in a sexist manner, let me point out that the only character actually doing so is the project manager. This is illustrated at the end of the story where the manager is convinced to change his mind. The only unrealistic part of this is that it would not have worked that way in real life. For instance, (omitted as overly bitter and unnecessary).

I enjoyed it for the flashback irony. A functioning space station in the 1970's? If only.

[Zach Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially reads as a complaint about women in the workplace, showing the attitudes of the time and their reluctance to let women into the boys club. The story ultimately ends on a note of acceptance and adaptation as it shows a woman of competence coming into the workforce, which also makes the men already there work harder and be better.

Not bad, not great, but at least short and interesting. Read as a part of The Past Through Tomorrow.

[Sebastian · Rating 2 out of 5]

De nuevo, una historia que para su época seguramente fue muy buena, pero hoy no tanto.
Una ambientación de ciencia ficción (una estación espacial) pero con situaciones que se pueden vivir en cualquier lugar de la tierra sin tecnología avanzada ni nada de eso.
Es como ponerle un traje de superheroe a un rescatista o bombero, no cambia lo que hacen ni lo que son.

[Nikhil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting early science-fiction exploration of feminist issues in the workplace, but ended abruptly and felt rushed.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring and essentially pointless. Barely any plot or character development. Literally nothing interesting of note happens in the entire story.

[Forked Radish]

“Delilah and the Space Rigger”

[Margie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read. It's quite amazing what equality will do to a closed environment!

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

#5/ Dalila y el montador del espacio (1949)

Periodo en que está basada: algo posterior a ‘El hombre que vendió la luna’, finales de los 80

Aquí nos encontramos con un liviano (no sin mensaje) y corto relato que nos explica la vida de los montadores de estaciones espaciales, una vez que Harriman conquistó la luna y siguió su proyecto y desarrollo adelante, y sus conflictos. Chico (el superintendente de la construcción de la estación) releva por ineficiencia a un especialista de telecomunicaciones. Cuando llega su sustituto, se da cuenta que es una mujer, cosa que, aparte de sorprenderle, hace que intente que ésta vuelva en la primera nave de mercancía a la tierra nuevamente, y mientras está allí, tenerla confinada en una estancia sin que los otros hombres la vean...pero se enfrentará a un hueso duro de roer, pues NcNye es segura en sus aptitudes , competencias y derechos como especialista, lo que hará que al final se salga con la suya y sea la pionera de las trabajadoras en el espacio y que habiten en las estaciones ambos sexos..
En ésta historia, nos encontramos ,por un lado, con EL DIA A DIA DE LOS MONTADORES DE ESTACIONES ESPACIALES Y SU PROPÓSITO PROFESIONAL, el trabajo que están haciendo para acondicionar a las estaciones de gravedad (pues Harriman necesitan recoger capital después de su gran inversión, por lo cual han concedido derechos para que sean construidos en las estaciones, por lo cual ha arrendado en la estación, a la par de dar impulso a : estaciones de enlace de Tv, una estación integradora hemisférica o meteorológica, diversos laboratorios especializados para el trabajo en campo y un hueco para los turistas de tránsito) y por otro, CON UNA GUERRA DE SEXOS EN TODA REGLA, CON PERSONAJES DE FUERTE CARÁCTER Y CON UNA MUJER MUY DECIDIDA, VALIENTE Y SEGURA, QUE NO SE ACHICA FRENTE A LOS HOMBRES ( el prototipo de mujer Heinlein. Segura, con carácter, pero femenina y sabedora de sus armas de mujer). Si bien no hay un desarrollo espectacular en los personajes, si están muy bien esbozados y definidos.

Así pues, un RELATO que NOS EXPLICA un capítulo en el DESARROLLO DE LA CONQUISTA POR EL ESPACIO DE HARRIMAN (grupo de empresas Harriman para el desarrollo y explotación espacial) Y, SOBRETODO, ACERCA DE LA REIVINDICACIÓN PRESENCIAL DE LA MUJER ALLÍ ARRIBA (para que después acusen a Heinlein de machista…ahí queda)

Avances y/ o predicciones sociales y / o tecnológicas:
· Creación estaciones espaciales con gravedad (estación orbital por parte de la antigua URRS en 1964)
·Concesión de la explotación espacial para el desarrollo de la investigación, seguridad y comunicación con otros planetas, además, de la recuperación de capital del proyecto Harriman

[Austin Wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well...it finally happened. After reading about 10 amazing books by Heinlein from his 1939-1945 period. I run into "Delilah & The Space Rigger" which was written in 1949 and oh my God it was 12 pages of just unrepentant shitting on a female.

Some critics spin this as his most feminist work, but it is just not. Sometimes you can overlook Heinlein's sexism, but in this case it is just appalling.

[Old Man Aries · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in Blue Book magazine, December 1949
First collected into The Green Hills of Earth and Other Stories, 1951.

[Dave Brownell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible narration, extremely short with dreadful characters... highly recommend people to skip this one, it's not important in the 'Future History' series at all..