License to Steal

"License to Steal" by Louis Newman is a funny science fiction story set in the late 1950s that pokes fun at how different cultures see the law across the universe. It follows Skrrgck, an alien from a planet where stealing is a respected skill, as he tries to understand Earth's rules while doing business in Chicago, where stealing is against the law. The book looks at the funny side of cultural differences and legal problems, showing what happens when actions are based on what a society thinks is normal. Skrrgck asks for a "license to steal," which starts a series of crazy legal events after he wrongly thinks he has the right to steal based on local customs. After stealing a whole building with people inside, the story shows the resulting mess in both the courts and society. Skrrgck accidentally becomes a hero on his home planet of Altair by stealing the Altairian Crown Jewels. He then becomes Premier and makes a law against stealing, which is a funny twist considering where he came from and what he used to do.