Seveneves

by Neal Stephenson

The qualifications for being a Scout seemed to be a shocking level of physical endurance, a complete disregard for mortal danger, and some knowledge of how to exist in a space suit. All of them were Russian.

Izzy was full of people who were skewed toward the Asperger’s end of the social spectrum, and there was no better way to get them to start talking than to ask them a technical question.

if they sensed that fear, they could use it to control him. Better to overperform, to exceed expectations, to act like it was nothing at all.

If you hid your feelings well enough, it actually changed you.