The Galactic Rejects

by Andrew J. Offutt

Book by Offutt, Andrew J.

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult

158 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Andrew Jefferson Offutt was an American science fiction and fantasy author. He wrote as Andrew J. Offutt, A.J. Offutt, and Andy Offut. His normal byline, andrew j. offutt, had his name in all lower-case letters. His son is the author Chris Offutt.

Offutt began publishing in 1954 with the story And Gone Tomorrow in If. Despite this early sale, he didn't consider his professional life to have begun until he sold the story Blacksword to Galaxy in 1959. His first novel was Evil Is Live Spelled Backwards in 1970.

Offutt published numerous novels and short stories, including many in the Thieves World series edited by Robert Lynn Asprin and Lynn Abbey, which featured his best known character, the thief Hanse, also known as Shadowspawn (and, later, Chance). His Iron Lords series likewise was popular. He also wrote two series of books based on characters by Robert E. Howard, one on Howard's best known character, Conan, and one on a lesser known character, Cormac mac Art.

As an editor Offutt produced a series of five anthologies entitled Swords Against Darkness, which included the first professional sale by Charles de Lint.

Offutt also wrote a large number of pornographic works under twelve different pseudonyms, not all of them identified. Those known include John Cleve, J.X. Williams, and Jeff Douglas. His main works in this area are the science fiction Spaceways series, most of whose volumes were written in collaboration, and the historical Crusader series.

Reviews

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is the only novel offutt (he insisted on his name appearing without capitalization throughout his early career, despite the way it's listed here on Goodreads) wrote in the juvenile (what we'd call y.a. today) category; it's also one his few straight sf works, most of his work being in the adventure/fantasy and/or "adult" genres. It's a good story about a trio of young people with special psi powers castaway on an alien planet and their efforts to survive and fit in; excellent y.a. themes well portrayed. A quick read, and a good one.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book sounds like a Dr. Who episode. It is kind of like present day people go back 200 years in the past, but instead of bringing modern science and technology to impress or deceive the populace, they have psy-powers.

This is always fun concept to dig into, despite not being very innovative. The twist, however, is that the world is one without wars or dangerous predators. Now the mental exercise is not about these "rejects," but how would the world have evolved? How would the technology develop? How would governments develop? How would philosophy and religion develop? The book isn't so deep to ask any, but the first of these questions, but it had the potential to be much more interesting.

Beyond that, the rest of the book is meh and okayish.

[Chip Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite books when I was a young teen, so glad I found and read again!

[Virva Peikko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ber-nie-e-e-ee!!! Quick and enjoyable YA read with memorable characters and themes about growing up and finding yourself. Home is where the heart is after all.

[Sarah Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a blast to read. Entertaining, silly, a little dated, but so much fun.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good story, but not a great one. Three people with special psi powers escape a damaged spaceship in a pod and land on an agricultural, backwards planet. These folks don't even know that there has been a war on for 18 years!

[Draugnar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a youth and remember it being quite enjoyable, from a 13 year old's point of view. I intend to reread it when I can find it.