Delilah and the Space-Rigger by Robert A. Heinlein

Delilah and the Space-Rigger by Robert A. Heinlein

Date Read/Format:

5/8/16. Book. Green Hills of Earth (1951, ninth printing, Signet)

Quick Plot:

A space station construction crew is surprised to see that their new radio technician is a woman.

Spoiler-ridden Summary:

Tiny, supervisor of a space station construction crew has fired people for things like figuring out how to make a still in space or how to make magnetized dice for gambling, however, he has a new reason to want to fire someone: his new radio tech, sent to replace a fired one, is a woman. She used her initials on her paperwork and doesn't see why her sex should make any difference. She is competent and everyone grows to like her, except for Tiny, who still wants to send her back home. When he finally has the plans set, the workers put in their notice and threaten to strike, which forces Tiny to come to the realization that productivity and morale are up since her arrival and the station would be better off with not just her but also more women. He sends word to the ship that was intended to send Gloria/Brooksie/McIntyre/the female home that they should bring women of all types, and...wait for it...a chaplain, because they'll probably be needing one.

Thoughts or Additional Info:

A chaplain? This story has a pretty great feminist message throughout. That is, until that final line about getting a chaplain up to the space station. But who am I kidding, it's Heinlein--I'm just happy there weren't any random quasi-incestual references.

First Line:

"Sure, we had trouble building Space Station One--but the trouble was people."

Memorable Lines or Passages:

n/a

Keywords:

feminist, prejudice, space, Gloria, Brooksie, Tiny, Hammond, space station, radio tech, strike, chaplain