A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE NOVEL
The 2nd Official Novel Commissioned by The Starset Society. Signing Option: signed by Dustin Bates. — UNDER THE SPELL OF A COLLECTIVE DIGITAL LOBOTOMYThe Brain Machine Interface, once hailed the world-changing and glorious access to the augmented world, has become the perfect commercial distraction for the denizens of the New West--the pablum that keep the poverty-ridden masses working for their New East managers. Thomas Bell, a graduate student studying advanced programming, spends his nights subjected to virtual torture for cash to pay for his mother's vital medical treatments and hopes one day to rebuild his family. Because that's what a pragmatic young man does after witnessing his father get snuffed out by his own idealistic, rebellious dreams. To Thomas, brains and pain tolerance are all he needs to make a future for himself and his mom, the only family he has left. Thomas is initially elated when he's tapped to join an elite, accelerated internship working inside the Architectur