As a nerd who occasionally dons a tinfoil hat, my literary interests naturally include dystopian fiction. A new fiction by Cory Doctorow is being released as a free ebook under a Creative Commons license. I admit I haven't yet read Little Brother, but the subject matter has me quite excited. In a nutshell, the novel details the dangers of trading liberties and privacy for (a sense of) security, and does so in a relevant, contemporary fashion. Hopefully it will find acceptance among its target audience, late teens, who tend to be wary of nontrivial entertainment. Click through for a description and download links.

In the carefree microcosm of reality TV and weekend barbecues, primary concerns may include The Donald's hair or disputes concerning propane versus charcoal--benign esoterica, and certainly nothing to be kept under wraps. After all, does not abstinence from wrongdoing immunize one from harm under public (or private) scrutiny? This interrogative essay dissects the "Nothing to Hide" stance on privacy, highlighting the role of complacency in undermining a crucial civil liberty which many seem to have no trouble taking for granted.