Anchorite

"Anchorite" by Randall Garrett is a science fiction story that zooms in on the life of Captain St. Simon, an anchor-setter who secures asteroids, highlighting the intersection of science, personal lives, and job duties in the asteroid belt. St. Simon and his quirky buddy, Jules, carefully work near an asteroid, working through calculations to securely put an anchor into its surface. The story switches between St. Simon's knowledge, the asteroid's complicated centrifugal forces, and his crew on the "Nancy Bell" that are dealing with the dangers and intricacies of the job, preparing the reader for problems to come. The book underlines the importance of teamwork, individual strength, and human effort while contrasting it with the dangerous atmosphere of space.