First published 2013
Bron Hodon dreams of becoming an electrical engineer. He travels to a planet that prides itself on having achieved a perfect society. There, Hodon creates a revolutionary power source that could benefit everyone. The inhabitants don't appreciate his breakthrough. Instead, they accuse him of building a death ray. Hodon must flee the planet to escape persecution. His grandfather always insisted that pirates were really benefactors in disguise. Now Hodon discovers what it means to be branded a criminal for trying to help others. Murray Leinster crafts a lighthearted adventure about the price of innovation. The story explores how even well-intentioned progress can threaten those who profit from the status quo. Hodon's journey reveals the irony that sometimes the greatest benefactors are the ones society fears most.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, adventure, political-thriller
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, social-commentary
Setting: Ersatz
Period: 20th-century
164 pages · Paperback · Spastic Cat Press