02487cam a22003853u 4500 59368 UtSlPG 20260610134352.0 m cr n 260607r2019||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Ludwig, Edward W., 1920-1990 Juvenile Delinquent Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2019 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, October 1955 Release date is 2019-04-26 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Juvenile Delinquent" by Edward W. Ludwig is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. The narrative unfolds in a dystopian future, specifically in the year 2056, where the act of reading is heavily restricted and viewed as a subversive activity. The book explores the themes of conformity, rebellion, and the value of knowledge in a society that discourages independent thought and literacy. The story centers around an eight-year-old boy named Ronnie, who discovers a love for reading through his friendship with a boy named Kenny Davis. Ronnie's father, a government employee, becomes furious when he learns of his son's secret reading lessons, as literacy is seen as a path to potential disobedience against the state's oppressive norms. The father's struggle with his wife's hidden past as a reader and their subsequent conflict leads to severe consequences for Ronnie. Ultimately, the family is torn apart by the father's harsh beliefs about reading, showcasing the dangers of a society that prioritizes secrecy and obedience over curiosity and intellectual freedom. The story serves as a poignant critique of authoritarianism and the suppression of knowledge. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Boys -- Fiction Literacy -- Fiction Families -- Fiction Emshwiller, Ed, 1925-1990 Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, October 1955 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59368 100194 100194