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No Return: Six Stories from Lost Worlds
A cabin awaits outside time. A plane descends into darkness. An execution is ordered. There is No Return.
No Return is a collection of six science fiction and slipstream stories by award-winning screenwriter and playwright Cairo Smith. Ranging from yearning to macabre, they span a decade of futurist imagination, written from 2013 to 2023.
"Presence," a prescient exploration of AI web agents, first ran in VICE's Terraform in 2013. Otherworldly romance "The Palisade" appeared online in 2021. All other stories in the collection are previously unpublished, available now for the first time in digital and print.
No Return is a collection of six science fiction and slipstream stories by award-winning screenwriter and playwright Cairo Smith. Ranging from yearning to macabre, they span a decade of futurist imagination, written from 2013 to 2023.
"Presence," a prescient exploration of AI web agents, first ran in VICE's Terraform in 2013. Otherworldly romance "The Palisade" appeared online in 2021. All other stories in the collection are previously unpublished, available now for the first time in digital and print.
152 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2023
4 people want to read
About the author
Cairo Smith
8 books15 followersCairo Smith is a screenwriter, director, and author living in Los Angeles. He writes stories of adventure and esoteric worlds, and dreams of a dynamic, vital future. You can follow his work via his online publication, Futurist Letters, and find him on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 16, 2024
This was another collection of truly excellent short stories, I guess I am just lucky today reading these wonderful stories. When one picks up a book from a new author one doesn't know what to expect but don't let this simple cover fool you: these stories are truly top notch and are actually deep. They range in topic and a few even go into metaphysics. And yes, these are definitely science fiction although the one inches towards horror if you squint a bit.
So I will describe each story. They all mostly take place in the future, minus one which is in the past. And this collection is on the darker side... No happy cheery stuff in here. So expect a bit of blood and tense situations where things go bump in the night.
The first story was once again my favorite and it was about the dangers of AI... Except this particular AI was doing its own thing. I also believe this one says things about human nature. The man could have avoided this if he would have done things on his own. But you know how people are: they got to have their gadgets! Plus the AI in here is wicked clever and darn right scary too... You may think twice before you ask it to do stuff for you.
The second story was about a man who has found a way to get away from it all. You know how a job and other responsibilities just weigh on you? Well imagine you by sheer chance found a way to get away from all of that. Would you do it? And what if there were consequences? I believe a lot of people these days can relate to this tale. And while I was reading this I could feel and sense what he was going to do. I thought it was obvious. You may too. But that only creates dread.
The third one jumps back in time to a trio of military men - two Brits and an American - in a bomber. They are flying the plane back home when things go horribly wrong. There is strife in here between the characters which adds extra zing... This one definitely takes a U-turn to some dark places!
This fourth one was extra long it seemed. It definitely some metaphysics here. Twisted reality. And tough choices to make. I found it a tad slow but the characters do some difficult things. The whole atmosphere was definitely chilling. Basically its about scientists in a lab messing around with stuff they should leave alone.
Number five I admit was not my cup of tea. I guess I didn't like the main character or the situation she was in. I certainly didn't trust her! Read this and you will see why too. And the end is white shocking.
The last story was once again about AI. Except its now a city and its supposed to run stuff. But the city has a hard time understanding what things are. Can you trust a computer to run a city including the traffic if it doesn't even know what clothes are? Out of the six stories I feel this was the weakest as I had expected something to happen and it never actually developed. Unsure why. But the other tales make up for this one.
What holds these all together is choices. People make choices in here and sometimes they choose to go down the darker path on purpose.
So I will describe each story. They all mostly take place in the future, minus one which is in the past. And this collection is on the darker side... No happy cheery stuff in here. So expect a bit of blood and tense situations where things go bump in the night.
The first story was once again my favorite and it was about the dangers of AI... Except this particular AI was doing its own thing. I also believe this one says things about human nature. The man could have avoided this if he would have done things on his own. But you know how people are: they got to have their gadgets! Plus the AI in here is wicked clever and darn right scary too... You may think twice before you ask it to do stuff for you.
The second story was about a man who has found a way to get away from it all. You know how a job and other responsibilities just weigh on you? Well imagine you by sheer chance found a way to get away from all of that. Would you do it? And what if there were consequences? I believe a lot of people these days can relate to this tale. And while I was reading this I could feel and sense what he was going to do. I thought it was obvious. You may too. But that only creates dread.
The third one jumps back in time to a trio of military men - two Brits and an American - in a bomber. They are flying the plane back home when things go horribly wrong. There is strife in here between the characters which adds extra zing... This one definitely takes a U-turn to some dark places!
This fourth one was extra long it seemed. It definitely some metaphysics here. Twisted reality. And tough choices to make. I found it a tad slow but the characters do some difficult things. The whole atmosphere was definitely chilling. Basically its about scientists in a lab messing around with stuff they should leave alone.
Number five I admit was not my cup of tea. I guess I didn't like the main character or the situation she was in. I certainly didn't trust her! Read this and you will see why too. And the end is white shocking.
The last story was once again about AI. Except its now a city and its supposed to run stuff. But the city has a hard time understanding what things are. Can you trust a computer to run a city including the traffic if it doesn't even know what clothes are? Out of the six stories I feel this was the weakest as I had expected something to happen and it never actually developed. Unsure why. But the other tales make up for this one.
What holds these all together is choices. People make choices in here and sometimes they choose to go down the darker path on purpose.
January 16, 2024
Excellent Thought Provoking Stories!
This was another collection of truly excellent short stories, I guess I am just lucky today reading these wonderful stories. When one picks up a book from a new author one doesn't know what to expect but don't let this simple cover fool you: these stories are truly top notch and are actually deep. They range in topic and a few even go into metaphysics. And yes, these are definitely science fiction although the one inches towards horror if you squint a bit.
So I will describe each story. They all mostly take place in the future, minus one which is in the past. And this collection is on the darker side... No happy cheery stuff in here. So expect a bit of blood and tense situations where things go bump in the night.
The first story was once again my favorite and it was about the dangers of AI... Except this particular AI was doing its own thing. I also believe this one says things about human nature. The man could have avoided this if he would have done things on his own. But you know how people are: they got to have their gadgets! Plus the AI in here is wicked clever and darn right scary too... You may think twice before you ask it to do stuff for you.
The second story was about a man who has found a way to get away from it all. You know how a job and other responsibilities just weigh on you? Well imagine you by sheer chance found a way to get away from all of that. Would you do it? And what if there were consequences? I believe a lot of people these days can relate to this tale. And while I was reading this I could feel and sense what he was going to do. I thought it was obvious. You may too. But that only creates dread.
The third one jumps back in time to a trio of military men - two Brits and an American - in a bomber. They are flying the plane back home when things go horribly wrong. There is strife in here between the characters which adds extra zing... This one definitely takes a U-turn to some dark places!
This fourth one was extra long it seemed. It definitely some metaphysics here. Twisted reality. And tough choices to make. I found it a tad slow but the characters do some difficult things. The whole atmosphere was definitely chilling. Basically its about scientists in a lab messing around with stuff they should leave alone.
Number five I admit was not my cup of tea. I guess I didn't like the main character or the situation she was in. I certainly didn't trust her! Read this and you will see why too. And the end is white shocking.
The last story was once again about AI. Except its now a city and its supposed to run stuff. But the city has a hard time understanding what things are. Can you trust a computer to run a city including the traffic if it doesn't even know what clothes are? Out of the six stories I feel this was the weakest as I had expected something to happen and it never actually developed. Unsure why. But the other tales make up for this one.
What holds these all together is choices. People make choices in here and sometimes they choose to go down the darker path on purpose.
The second story
This was another collection of truly excellent short stories, I guess I am just lucky today reading these wonderful stories. When one picks up a book from a new author one doesn't know what to expect but don't let this simple cover fool you: these stories are truly top notch and are actually deep. They range in topic and a few even go into metaphysics. And yes, these are definitely science fiction although the one inches towards horror if you squint a bit.
So I will describe each story. They all mostly take place in the future, minus one which is in the past. And this collection is on the darker side... No happy cheery stuff in here. So expect a bit of blood and tense situations where things go bump in the night.
The first story was once again my favorite and it was about the dangers of AI... Except this particular AI was doing its own thing. I also believe this one says things about human nature. The man could have avoided this if he would have done things on his own. But you know how people are: they got to have their gadgets! Plus the AI in here is wicked clever and darn right scary too... You may think twice before you ask it to do stuff for you.
The second story was about a man who has found a way to get away from it all. You know how a job and other responsibilities just weigh on you? Well imagine you by sheer chance found a way to get away from all of that. Would you do it? And what if there were consequences? I believe a lot of people these days can relate to this tale. And while I was reading this I could feel and sense what he was going to do. I thought it was obvious. You may too. But that only creates dread.
The third one jumps back in time to a trio of military men - two Brits and an American - in a bomber. They are flying the plane back home when things go horribly wrong. There is strife in here between the characters which adds extra zing... This one definitely takes a U-turn to some dark places!
This fourth one was extra long it seemed. It definitely some metaphysics here. Twisted reality. And tough choices to make. I found it a tad slow but the characters do some difficult things. The whole atmosphere was definitely chilling. Basically its about scientists in a lab messing around with stuff they should leave alone.
Number five I admit was not my cup of tea. I guess I didn't like the main character or the situation she was in. I certainly didn't trust her! Read this and you will see why too. And the end is white shocking.
The last story was once again about AI. Except its now a city and its supposed to run stuff. But the city has a hard time understanding what things are. Can you trust a computer to run a city including the traffic if it doesn't even know what clothes are? Out of the six stories I feel this was the weakest as I had expected something to happen and it never actually developed. Unsure why. But the other tales make up for this one.
What holds these all together is choices. People make choices in here and sometimes they choose to go down the darker path on purpose.
The second story
March 13, 2025
Cairo Smith has fabricated six worlds, each a product of humans’ relentless hunger. How far will we go? Of course—to the point of no return. Eerie and expertly distilled. Smith wastes no words.
February 11, 2024
So many killer short stories. Lots of scifi, some AI, a little war drama and some heartbreaking romancy stuff. The Palisade takes the cake though. Like Piranessi meets Blue Valentine. So great. But I can’t forgive Smith for Beta John. Too cruel, man.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews