
In a sleek, climate‑controlled drawing room of a wealthy off‑world estate, a genetics scholar arrives to assess a family’s uneasy situation. Surrounded by glowing panels, a priceless mahogany table, and an imported black‑veined chair, he is forced to confront the limits of his statistical science when the teenage daughter’s rebellious spirit flares. The conversation quickly turns from polite inquiry to a tense debate about inherited traits, responsibility, and the dangers of a “throwback” temperament.
The parents, both visibly strained, cling to the hope that science can explain their daughter’s defiance, while she flaunts her freedom with daring stunts that threaten the city’s air traffic rules. As the scholar struggles to balance his professional detachment with the unsettling reality of a volatile youth, the story sets the stage for a clash between cold data and the unpredictable heat of human will. Listeners will be drawn into a world where genetics, privilege, and rebellion intersect, raising questions about how much of us is truly predetermined.
Language
en
Duration
~1 hours (104K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2016-04-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1911–1981
A mid-century science fiction writer with a knack for engineering-minded ideas, he became known for stories that mixed radio, electronics, and speculative science. His work appeared widely in the pulp magazine era and helped shape the feel of classic American SF.
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