02426cam a22003733u 4500 59495 UtSlPG 20260610134353.0 m cr n 260607r2019||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Johnson, John Reject 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, August 1956 Release date is 2019-05-13 Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net "Reject" by John Johnson is a science fiction short story written in the mid-20th century. The narrative revolves around the emotional and societal implications of an advanced technological society where children are genetically engineered and conditioned for specific roles in society. The story highlights a profound conflict arising from the emotional needs of a young boy, Donnie, who expresses a desire for companionship rather than the machine-like upbringing he has received. In "Reject," the protagonist Donnie finds himself at odds with his father, Mr. Ames, who values performance and efficiency over emotional connection. Despite being raised in a controlled environment designed to produce optimal individuals, Donnie struggles with his need for play and companionship, traits deemed undesirable in his society. The tension escalates as Mr. Ames learns from the incubator officials that Donnie exhibits "neurotic tendencies" and is classified as a "reject." The story reflects on the potential consequences of prioritizing intelligence and productivity over emotional health, ultimately questioning what it means to be truly human in an increasingly mechanized world. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Science fiction Short stories Parent and child -- Fiction Child rearing -- Fiction Orban, Paul, 1896-1974 Produced from Worlds of If Science Fiction, August 1956 https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/59495 100321 100321