Pipe Dreams on Pico

by Brent L. Smith

Detective Stokes is on the case, racing through an apocalyptic metropolis for three preternatural girls. Who are they? Where do they come from? What do they want? Take the fast trip. Set to the soundtrack of underground Los Angeles, taste the tires burning on the page.

112 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

Reviews

[Joey Mazz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great read set to a great soundtrack. The story moves and the characters are bad ass. It’s part L. A. Noir, part horror story, and completely rad. It almost feels like it’s set in Predator 2. Definitely worth the read.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting, atmospheric and highly original. Modern LA Noir at it's finest.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pipe Dreams on Pico is the novella version of the type of film David Lynch may make if he ever let Michael Bay write the script. An ever increasing element of mysticism ramps up as the chase goes on, leading to an allegory about the modern woes of Western society. A quick, satisfying novella that's worth the time in escaping to, even if for briefly.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Having read the author's earlier Edendale Society which I loved too, the bar was high. Pipe Dreams is a kind of feverish, perfect short length journey into a rather nightmarish Los Angeles - the kind only people who live or have spent significant time here, seem to imagine. Is it pretentious of me to say that maybe that's perhaps because after a while, Los Angeles changes how you perceive reality itself - as a "pipe dream". I digress: fast paced and highly enjoyable and actually quite shocking in parts, I enjoyed this novella so much and would absolutely recommend it to others.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very smooth and fast read. I was disappointed with the last chapter until I read the last sentence, which set things right.

This could easily be a much longer novel, something in the 300+ page range; however, that would suck because the author would need to fill those pages with inane and shallow details (which would make the beach readers erect and readers of the outré wish they were dead and being pleased by monkey-coitus). No, that wouldn't do at all. This stripped-down, only the necessary info, style writing is refreshing.

[Ron F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible book in every way. Impeccably well written, great story and character development, and the pace is super fast. I can’t wait to read anything else by Brent L Smith.

[Irish Giron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uhh e x t r e m e l y trippy to read this boom from 2021 i. The big april 2025. Check er out.

[juice]

weird little book i picked up for the title