Asimov came up with the idea for the story, which he called "Stowaway", after his first meeting with John W. Campbell on June 21, 1938. His first story, "Cosmic Corkscrew", was rejected by Campbell on 23 June. In his autobiography, "I, Asimov: A Memoir", the author recalled that Campbell sent him a rejection letter that was so kind and it prompted him to write another story called "Stowaway" ("The Callistan Menace"). He finished the first draft on 28 June, and the final draft on July 10. He submitted "Stowaway" to Campbell in person during another visit on the 18th. Suspecting that Campbell would reject it, Asimov spent the subway ride home coming up with the plot for a third story, "Marooned off Vesta". This third story was published first in the March 1939 issue of the Amazing Stories.