Terms for people born/raised in space?

[luriantimetraveler]

I'm working on a short story where folks who were born/raised in space are physically distinct from those who grow up on-planet — I was trying on terms to describe the space-born and wanted to use "spacer", but have the niggling sensation that this is from somewhere else.

Does anyone know where this is from?
Is it widespread enough in SF that I can use it without it ripping off wherever it was that I first heard it?

 

[Toby Frost]

I think it's from Asimov - at least, he uses it. A more recent one I've seen is "void-born", which I've seen in a few games.

 

[Biskit]

My first response was freeze-dried...
The I realised you meant inside a ship or station.

Anyway, my impression is that "spacer" is pretty pervasive in sci-fi and I've not particularly noticed alternatives.
Planet-born or dwelling seems to have a whole range of variations on a theme of ground-xxxx or dirt-xxxx.

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Definitely Asimov

Spacers

Spacers are the group of modified humans descended from the first wave of colonists, which started to leave Earth in 2065. The term Spacer is very general and is primarily used by the people of Earth in a derogatory manner. Spacers prefer to refer to themselves by their planet of origin; that...

asimov.fandom.com

Edit:

Another term I've often seen bandied about is off-worlder.

off-worlder - Wiktionary, the free dictionary

en.wiktionary.org

 

[paranoid marvin]

You could call them 'drifters'?

 

[Dave]

Another term I've often seen bandied about is off-worlder.

That's what I was going to say, Off-Worlder

You also have Belter which Larry Niven used widely, but is also in the James S A Corey "Expanse" books and TV series, but that is more specifically someone from the Belt.

In the "Star Trek" universe, someone born in space was a Boomer.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Might depend on who is using the term (or who created it). The folks born planet-side might use a different term than what the space-born themselves would use.

So, if there is conflict in your story, the planet-born might use a pejorative term for the space-born. If there is no artificial gravity on their ships/stations, you could have them called 'floaters'. If they use spin to provide a bit of artificial gravity, you could have the planet-born call them 'spinners'. Or maybe their physical differences would be referenced - the 'lean', the 'weaklings'.

If it's something they call themselves, or if there's peace between all peoples, then I like paranoid marvin's 'drifters'. Maybe 'voiders'? But it might depend on who is using the term, and what is happening in the story.

 

[luriantimetraveler]

Thanks for the brainstorming help, all!

I think off-worlder is closest to what feels right with the story — the space-born are dying out, as humanity has moved wholly to the surface of their planet, and while the surface-born feel respect/honor for all that the space-born did/risked to get to this world, they also see the space-born as a relic of the past. @Cat's Cradle I'm also going to play with some of your excellent suggestions and think through what other words I could noun-ify to make a term

 

[Dave]

I'm also going to play with some of your excellent suggestions and think through what other words I could noun-ify to make a term

For terms of abuse, I suggest:

Legless - for having wasted quadriceps
Zeros - for living in zero-g
Veggies - for living or spending time in a way that lacks physical activity and effort

 

[tinkerdan]

Having compromised muscles and bones: Jellies.

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Glad my babbling helped!

If this is a generation-ship story, where the ones staying in space are the original crew (or their progeny), and those planet-born are the original settlers (or their progeny) that the ship delivered to a new planet/star, that might create a whole other set of possibilities for the naming of the folks remaining in space. Something along the line of the Founders (a bit cliche, but just an idea to get over what I'm suggesting), or the Ferrymen/Ferrywomen. Probably bad names, but I thought I'd throw out the idea that the Spacers/settlers might use names for each other that derive from their purpose in the story, too. CC

 

[G.T.]

If I was reading a sci-fi story and saw spacer I would assume something to do with space. However, I live in Ireland, and here spacer is a term used to describe someone who is weird, like they are out of their mind, spaced out; a spacer. It's probably the same in the UK, maybe the US?

So for sure, I could see this as a derogatory term for someone born in space.

 

[luriantimetraveler]

Glad my babbling helped!

If this is a generation-ship story, where the ones staying in space are the original crew (or their progeny), and those planet-born are the original settlers (or their progeny) that the ship delivered to a new planet/star, that might create a whole other set of possibilities for the naming of the folks remaining in space. Something along the line of the Founders (a bit cliche, but just an idea to get over what I'm suggesting), or the Ferrymen/Ferrywomen. Probably bad names, but I thought I'd throw out the idea that the Spacers/settlers might use names for each other that derive from their purpose in the story, too. CC

Are you inside my head or something!?!? The main character (space born) actually runs a train that collects the bodies of the dead (for Reasons) and people call her (and other train runners) Charon!

 

[Cat's Cradle]

Hah!

 

[Plucky Novice]

I like Spacian. I haven't analysed why, I just do.

 

[Wayne Mack]

I'd just start with some physical attribute of space and create a new term.

Zeegee or Zeegeer for Zero Gravity
Helmet head
Rocket spawn
Floater
Star child
Orbiter
Exoist
Satelliter
Nauts
Vaccers

 

[K.S. Crooks]

Drifters, Inbetweeners, Wanderers, Nomads, System skippers, Human comets, Sky skimmers, Floaters

 

[Toby Frost]

How about "drifter" for its Wild West implications?

 

[M. Robert Gibson]

Or Spacelings being the counter to Earthlings? No?

 

[Dave]

And I expect that Spaceman would be the most obvious extension of current language usage.