| Definition | a planet orbiting a star at the edge, or rim, of the galaxy |
| OED requirements | antedating 1957 |
| Earliest cite | Robert A. Heinlein, "Citizen of the Galaxy" |
| Comment | Treesong submitted a 1959 cite from Bertram Chandler. Douglas Winston submitted a 1977 cite from Colin Kapp's "The Chaos Weapon". Douglas Winston submitted a 1965 cite for the form "Rim world" from John Brunner's "The Altar on Asconel". Douglas Winston submitted a cite from a 1984 reprint of Jane Yolen's 1982 "Dragon's Blood". Dan Tilque suggested "Rimworld Legacy" by F.A Javor, and Douglas Winston submitted cites from the 1967 first printing. Irene Grumman submitted a 1962 cite from Michael Moorcock's "The Sundered Worlds". Fred Galvin submitted a cite for "Rim world" from a reprint of Robert A. Heinlein's "Citizen of the Galaxy": Mike Christie verified this in its original publication in Astounding Science Fiction, November 1957. |
| Last modified | 9 July, 2009 |
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| 1957 R. A. Heinlein Citizen of Galaxy in Astounding Science Fiction Nov. 125/2 | Hydra was cruising above speed-of-light toward the Rim world Ultima Thule, where she would refuel and start prowling for outlaws. |
| 1959 Astounding Sci. Fiction Jan. 9/1 | So this, he thought, is Lorn, industrial hub of the Rim Worlds. This is as far as I go. This is where I get off. There's no farther to go. |
| 1959 Astounding Sci. Fiction Jan. 9/2 | How much of this is sheer masochism, this flight from the warm, happy worlds of the Center to these Rim planets? |
| 1959 Astounding Sci. Fiction Jan. 12/1 | They don't like Deep Space, these Rim Worlders. They're scared of it. I suppose that it's because for all their lives they've been hanging over the edge of the ultimate pit by their eyebrows. |
| 1962 M. Moorcock Sundered Worlds Nov.–Dec. 7 | Two years previously Renark had suddenly resigned from his position as Warden of the Rim Worlds. |
| 1965 J. Brunner Altar on Asconel iii. 20 | The Empire never embraced the whole of the galaxy, though people generally assume it did. It could be a Rim world, some distance from the hub. |
| 1967 F. A. Javor Rim-world Legacy xxii. 96 | Rook was like so many of our rim-world people, given to much thinking, much brooding, much pondering upon the fact of his existence. |
| 1977 C. Kapp Chaos Weapon iii. 30 | That argument sounds convincing to us, but I doubt if it would cut much ice on a Rim world before the alien threat became a reality. |
| 1982 J. Yolen Dragon's Blood xii | Betting syndicates developed, and starship crews on long rim-world voyages began to frequent the planets for illicit gambling. |