Mere terms such as "dystopian" or "post-apocalyptic" do not do justice to Man Made, the third novel by Fred Burton. In an age where many feel there is no longer a center, and no source of truth is upon us, only a few seem willing to ask questions and demand real answers.

A highly technological society has created The New Machine, designed to clear away the panic and devastation wrought by the internet, social media, and other electronic addictions. This machine, however, dictates the direction of thought through AI and surveillance tools, and seeks to remove those that do not compute.

This offered reality is not enough for Milo, who seeks to break away from these patterns, trace new ones, and discover thought that brings people back together. An unlikely ally comes in Sheila, one of the creators of the machine, who has been dispensed with. They and others work into an outland of alternative thought and being, which may or may not bring answers in time.

Recalling 1984 and the ahead-of-its-time warning that Future Shock put forward, Fred Burton has brought his experience in the technology sector together with his writing style to craft a story that rises above the current trends. Speaking with host Tory Gates, Burton discusses the inspiration for his new novel and his hopes that the current society heeds the warnings of where we may well be headed.

A native of Queens, New York, Fred is the author of The Old Songs and Bountiful Calling. He lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania--you can find out more about him at his website.