"Our Own Devices" by Gilles Messier takes readers on a captivating journey through the mid-20th century, exploring the profound impact of the Second World War, nuclear power, and space exploration on our collective history. Messier weaves a tapestry of nine compelling stories that delve into our complex relationship with science and technology during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The narratives skillfully navigate the intimate and often unpredictable dance between humanity and the advancements that have shaped our past, present, and future.

What sets Messier's work apart is not just the imaginative storytelling, but also the inclusion of 27 archival photographs, adding a visual dimension that enhances the reader's experience. As a student of aerospace engineering, Messier brings a unique perspective to the narrative, infusing the stories with technical authenticity. His dual passion for literature and mechanical innovation is evident, creating a seamless blend of creativity and engineering prowess.

Born in 1989 in Winnipeg and currently studying at Carleton University in Ottawa, Messier's interdisciplinary background shines through in his writing. Beyond the pages of this book, he engages in designing mechanical devices and innovations, indulges in the art of painting inter-war-period travel posters, and dedicates time to the study of history and philosophy.

"Our Own Devices" is not just a collection of stories; it's a thought-provoking exploration of how pivotal moments in mid-century history continue to shape our world. Messier's ability to balance technical expertise with a rich narrative makes this book a compelling read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of science, technology, and the human experience. ( )

Well, this book is not for me, much more science than science fiction, Also the PDF version I got from Early Reviewers was in very small typeface which made it a slog to even read. ( )

This is a collection of nine short stories and five introductory essays. The publisher calls it science fiction and speculative fiction, but the author prefers to call it "literary materialism", correctly so, in my opinion. This is definitely not the speculative fiction that is usually meant by by that term, and by "science fiction". The author describes (but does not define, 'literary materialism' as "viewing the world through the lens of inanimate objects".

I have a couple of criticisms. In places the writing is a little amateurish. In places the ideas are a little naive. While in general the historical and technical research seems very solid, in places it is maybe not so thorough. The stories are also very short, usually just a handful of pages long.

On the whole however, I found the idea of 'literary materialism' a very interesting approach to story-telling; and the themes selected wide-ranging and interesting. It does provide a coherent and unifying over-arching theme for the collection.

I found the characters, the situations, and the development of both to be compelling, despite the supposed focus on the 'inanimate objects' the characters interact with.

[Disclaimer: I got this book via LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program]
This book contains 9 short stories with a common theme: all of them are set between 1940 and 1970, and talk about science. True, science fiction should write about science, but in this case we are even beyond hard sf, with an appendix that explains what is the idea beneath the story and a number of pictures of relevant facts. However I must say that I did not appreciate them too much. In my opinion they are too dry: Messier seems to be more interested in showing us plausible facts than to build a captivating story. There is some exceptions, though: I liked The Fisherman and the Genie (even if I could not see the reference to The 1001 Arabian Nights), The Highest Step and especially In The Ocean Of Storms, which is a real little jewel. ( )

A technology-themed short story collection, not (to my mind) very original, and in style and tone reminiscent of the Golden Age of Sci-Fi with its unabashed homage to technology and what it can accomplish, both for the good of mankind and otherwise. Sadly, I found these stories neither gripping nor memorable, maybe due to, as another reviewer quite fittingly put it, “lack of compassion and humanity”, maybe due to poor character development. I find it difficult even now to recall what each individual story was about, let alone what it set out to tell us. ( )