Our Own Devices

by B.D. Lutz

How much control have we ceded to our devices? Do they influence us? Do they manipulate us to accept the absurd as truth and convince us that dystopia is actually utopia? The stories in our own devices explore those very questions.

I Am Machine
Your status in life rests in the circuitry of a computer unlike any before. Her name is May-Scene, and she is your AI guide to a better life. All you have to do to reach May-Scene level is accept the Social Credit System and let it control every aspect of your life.

Nattily Crossman has embraced the SCS and longs to reach May-Scene level. But her family never fell in line. What happens when Nattily decides it’s time to elevate her station at any cost and May-Scene determines humans are no longer necessary?

Threshold
Our devices stream the world into our homes twenty-four hours a day. Endless news cycles have become the norm. The media mastered the use of fear to capture our attention and employs it with merciless efficiency.

When an unknown virus sweeps across the globe, the seed of fear is sown and nurtured, until it blossoms. Just ask Willamina Blatt. She’ll be happy to share the knowledge she’s gained from the nonstop news cycle. That is, of course, if she ever crosses the threshold again.

One
The One Kill Law has been voted on, and passed, by the American People. Its intent? Curb the spiraling crime rate by granting every citizen the right to kill one person without reprisal. This absurdity quickly gives birth to a new breed of Influencer. His name is Kalmin, and he’s paid handsomely to kill for the entertainment of others. But he never counted on a man named Gage.

Challenge
When Iris finally wins a Challenge-bid, she’s convinced internet fame will follow. She simply needs to live to enjoy it.

165 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2023

About the author

I was born in Cleveland, Ohio and now live in NEO (North East Ohio) with my wonderful wife (she told me to say that). We recently became grandparents (young grandparents, mind you). That little angel is the apple of our eyes.

In my early adult life, I spent time as a Repo-Man for a rent-to-own furniture company and bill collector. Then I decided that was a tough way to earn a living and spent twenty-seven years working my way through sales management in corporate America.
I've always wanted to write books, and I realized that we, you and me, have about fifteen minutes on the face of this planet and I needed to do one of the things I had always wanted to do. And, well, this is it.

If you're wondering, yes, I'm a conservative, I own guns, and I hate paying taxes.

Reviews

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

At this point author B.D. Lutz is best known to his readers for epic thrillers about zombies and dystopian futures, but with his latest book the talented writer takes a crack at short fiction--and the result is a solid homerun. OUR OWN DEVICES is comprised of four distinct tales, each exploring a different contemporary societal trend and the technology behind it. Three of the four stories (I am Machine, Threshold, and One) are longer than most short stories and could perhaps be classified as novellas, which allows Lutz enough space to develop character and setting without losing his laser-like focus on the primary theme. The fourth tale, Challenge, may be shorter than the other stories, but makes up for it with a devastating punch. The author has a keen perspective on modern American culture and where it's headed, and OUR OWN DEVICES captures some of the many consequences we are going to have to face up to if we aren't willing to take a good look in the mirror and make a few tough decisions. Given its relatively limited scope, OUR OWN DEVICES makes a great introduction to this author for those of you who aren't yet familiar with him. For the rest of us, this is another fine read from an important writer who just keeps getting better and better.