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The Return
“No one’s privacy is sacred, no one is free from mind manipulation, or the constant barrage of consumerism. The Return is thought-provoking, prescient and, with the advent of artificial intelligence, we should all be fearful of such a future world.”
Connie di Marco, author of the Zodiac Mysteries
Aiden Baylor loves the forest surrounding his small mountain town. Alone amidst nature, wondrous ideas fill his head—fantasies and words of wisdom. His neighbors think he's crazy. In the near-future world, entirely dependent on automation and artificial intelligence, people have lost all imagination and intuition. When a global war destroys the power sources, the world plunges into chaos and desperation. Aiden steps up as an unlikely leader who teaches the townsfolk to live off the land. As people bond in their struggle to survive, their minds open to an astounding new energy source. The more they connect, the stronger this power of the mind grows. A hidden enemy, however, lurks among them, intent on bringing AI back to keep the population subdued. Inspired by the story of Adam and Eve, The Return presents a gripping showdown between technology and the human spirit, challenging us to redefine our role in the world.
“Laurie Stevens has crafted a complex novel that demands reflection and proves, without doubt, that connectivity will never be about shared technology. For true connection, we need our shared humanity.
Kim Fay, National Bestselling Author of Love & Saffron
Connie di Marco, author of the Zodiac Mysteries
Aiden Baylor loves the forest surrounding his small mountain town. Alone amidst nature, wondrous ideas fill his head—fantasies and words of wisdom. His neighbors think he's crazy. In the near-future world, entirely dependent on automation and artificial intelligence, people have lost all imagination and intuition. When a global war destroys the power sources, the world plunges into chaos and desperation. Aiden steps up as an unlikely leader who teaches the townsfolk to live off the land. As people bond in their struggle to survive, their minds open to an astounding new energy source. The more they connect, the stronger this power of the mind grows. A hidden enemy, however, lurks among them, intent on bringing AI back to keep the population subdued. Inspired by the story of Adam and Eve, The Return presents a gripping showdown between technology and the human spirit, challenging us to redefine our role in the world.
“Laurie Stevens has crafted a complex novel that demands reflection and proves, without doubt, that connectivity will never be about shared technology. For true connection, we need our shared humanity.
Kim Fay, National Bestselling Author of Love & Saffron
372 pages, Paperback
Published January 10, 2024
About the author
Laurie Stevens
20 books95 followersLaurie Stevens is the author of the Gabriel McRay thriller series. The books have won twelve awards, among them Kirkus Reviews Best of 2011 and a Random House Editors’ Book of the Month. International Thriller Writers claims she's "cracked the code" in regards to writing psychological suspense. Laurie co-edited the 2019 Sisters in Crime anthology Fatally Haunted, and her short stories have appeared in many anthologies and magazines. Laurie lives near the setting of her books, the Santa Monica Mountains, with her husband, two snakes, and a cat.
To learn more about Laurie, visit her website at https://lauriestevensbooks.com
To learn more about Laurie, visit her website at https://lauriestevensbooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 27, 2023
This is one of the most interesting reads that I have had in a while. With fast approaching integration of AI in our society, this book serves as a true wake-up call to what may come. The author’s storytelling is vibrant and illustrative and I cannot recommend this book enough!
June 29, 2024
I loved this book for so many personal reasons and connections. The author has created a future world that is pretty much run by AI. From the minute a child is born they are implanted with a device that links them to DAPHNE, the AI that runs the country. One day the impossible happens. DAPHNE is hacked. World War breaks out and to save everyone, DAPHNE and the other AIs around the world shut themselves completely off. Imagine a world where every decision is made for you by an AI. Things like whether you should get mental health for your child, or take someone to the doctor. When this very scenario happens one person is able to find the help they need. Aiden, hates the way this technology has taken over everyone’s life. He enjoys spending time outside with nature. He is constantly in trouble at school and at home because he questions everything.
He borrows physical books from Chris, a man who is called a grid-skipper. Think of homeless people living in one area receiving a stipend from the government because they refuse to have a device implanted into their head. Most of these people were in high paying tech positions who lost their job when they refused the implant. These are the very people who must teach the others how to survive when their world goes silent. As I read I kept telling my husband that we would be in that group who could survive off the land. My husband is a beekeeper and we have recently gotten it using bees wax and other products from the bees to make other items. I do a lot of work with fabric and yarns and recently started using plants to dye them. The author of this book did so much research because there is so much info within the book. As a teacher I give my students a scenario to write about every year. It is a survival scenario. I am so surprised how many of them just give up, not because they don’t want to write. They give up because they said they feel there is no hope.
This book has something for everyone. I am hoping there will be a sequel to this one. I want to know so much more. I would love to spend a day discussing her research techniques and other writerly things with her. This is an author I definitely need to keep an eye on.
He borrows physical books from Chris, a man who is called a grid-skipper. Think of homeless people living in one area receiving a stipend from the government because they refuse to have a device implanted into their head. Most of these people were in high paying tech positions who lost their job when they refused the implant. These are the very people who must teach the others how to survive when their world goes silent. As I read I kept telling my husband that we would be in that group who could survive off the land. My husband is a beekeeper and we have recently gotten it using bees wax and other products from the bees to make other items. I do a lot of work with fabric and yarns and recently started using plants to dye them. The author of this book did so much research because there is so much info within the book. As a teacher I give my students a scenario to write about every year. It is a survival scenario. I am so surprised how many of them just give up, not because they don’t want to write. They give up because they said they feel there is no hope.
This book has something for everyone. I am hoping there will be a sequel to this one. I want to know so much more. I would love to spend a day discussing her research techniques and other writerly things with her. This is an author I definitely need to keep an eye on.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews