The Pirates of Ersatz

"The Pirates of Ersatz" by Murray Leinster is a science fiction tale that centers on Bron Hoddan, a spirited young man from the pirate world of Zan, who seeks to make a name for himself as an engineer on the highly regulated planet Walden. Hoddan's aspirations take a sharp turn when his technological creation unexpectedly causes a man's death, thrusting him into a whirlwind of comical yet perilous situations as he grapples with a society where creativity is stifled in favor of strict adherence to norms; His adventures bring him into contact with a society that doesn't value unique thought, but through determination and wit, he makes unlikely friends, and encounters enemies, all while learning about the important nuance of right and wrong. Hoddan must clear his name and expose the absurdity of a system that fears innovation.