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ká-sióng #2
Cloud Labour
Set in an unspecified dystopian future in which people known as ‘Proxies’ are paid handsomely to remove negative emotions from their clients, Peacock, a successful Proxy, trains her son Sky to join the profession.
42 pages, Paperback
Published November 30, 2024
520 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 17, 2024
The first page of this book is spectacular, and the story flows beautifully. It was an intriguing premise of a future where negative emotions can be removed from the mind of the rich. It felt like it could easily be expanded into a full novel.
September 1, 2025
Really interesting and I was pretty gripped but I wanted more of it 🥲
November 24, 2024
Cloud Labour by Sabrina Huang, translated by Lin King
At 42 pages Cloud Labour is a quick read somewhere between short story and novella length.
As with any short piece of fiction it's a good sign when you enjoy it enough that you wish there was a full novel set in this world to learn more about the lives of the characters.
Set in a science fiction/dystopian fantasy Taiwan the story centres around the intriguing idea that there are a select few people with special gifts that allow them to enter the minds of others with consent to take away emotional pain. Memories remain intact but the trauma or emotional damage no longer exists.
Sky is one of these gifted individuals. The ability is hereditary and he has been learning from his mother Peacock. They're known as Proxies and the service they provide brings great wealth but brings with it great risks from the exhaustion felt at taking on and dealing with the negative emotions of others.
Here then is a world where the rich don't have to suffer emotionally, a place of bought mental wellbeing, of Proxies learning their craft with Vat Brains and being tempted by Pleasure Vendors.
Sci-fi concepts filtered through Taiwanese sensibilities and outlooks gives a richly rewarding reading experience.
There are moments in the story that made me stop and realise there were things I'd never thought about in that way before. Different ways of thinking is what world literature does best.
Thank you Strangers Press for the advance copy for review. All views are my own.
At 42 pages Cloud Labour is a quick read somewhere between short story and novella length.
As with any short piece of fiction it's a good sign when you enjoy it enough that you wish there was a full novel set in this world to learn more about the lives of the characters.
Set in a science fiction/dystopian fantasy Taiwan the story centres around the intriguing idea that there are a select few people with special gifts that allow them to enter the minds of others with consent to take away emotional pain. Memories remain intact but the trauma or emotional damage no longer exists.
Sky is one of these gifted individuals. The ability is hereditary and he has been learning from his mother Peacock. They're known as Proxies and the service they provide brings great wealth but brings with it great risks from the exhaustion felt at taking on and dealing with the negative emotions of others.
Here then is a world where the rich don't have to suffer emotionally, a place of bought mental wellbeing, of Proxies learning their craft with Vat Brains and being tempted by Pleasure Vendors.
Sci-fi concepts filtered through Taiwanese sensibilities and outlooks gives a richly rewarding reading experience.
There are moments in the story that made me stop and realise there were things I'd never thought about in that way before. Different ways of thinking is what world literature does best.
Thank you Strangers Press for the advance copy for review. All views are my own.
November 23, 2024
‘Cloud Labour’ by Sabrina Huang, translated from Taiwanese by Lin King, is one of five chapbooks in the ká-sióng series from Norwich based translation imprint Strangers Press.
In this dystopian future, we follow Sky, who has been trained since childhood to work as a Proxy, an exclusive role that allows those with the means to pay to have their negative emotions removed with little consequence.
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this world and was immediately captivated by the brief glimpse it offers into this imagined dystopian society. The story hooks you right from the start. Whilst I did find the ending satisfying - in an open ended way -, I was left craving more, especially as I had started to grow attached to the characters and wanted to spend more time with them!
I’d recommend ‘Cloud Labour’ to anyone looking for a quick, immersive, and thought-provoking read. I’m excited to explore the rest of the ká-sióng series whenever I have the chance to get my hands on them!
Thanks to Strangers Press for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
In this dystopian future, we follow Sky, who has been trained since childhood to work as a Proxy, an exclusive role that allows those with the means to pay to have their negative emotions removed with little consequence.
I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this world and was immediately captivated by the brief glimpse it offers into this imagined dystopian society. The story hooks you right from the start. Whilst I did find the ending satisfying - in an open ended way -, I was left craving more, especially as I had started to grow attached to the characters and wanted to spend more time with them!
I’d recommend ‘Cloud Labour’ to anyone looking for a quick, immersive, and thought-provoking read. I’m excited to explore the rest of the ká-sióng series whenever I have the chance to get my hands on them!
Thanks to Strangers Press for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
November 17, 2024
In CLOUD LABOUR (Sabrina Huang), the story is about experiments on human to achieve mental stability. The narrative explores the liminal state between sleep, wakefulness and feelings in a utterly symbolic way. This commentary with sci-fi vibes is scattered, unsettling and not far-fetched.
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Strangers Press . All thoughts are my own ]
[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Strangers Press . All thoughts are my own ]
May 27, 2025
Im absolutely fuming about the fact that this is only 42 pages, and there isn't even a full-length novel by Huang I can read !
The concept is fantastic.
The writing is stunning.
The imagery!!!
How dare there not be more.
The concept is fantastic.
The writing is stunning.
The imagery!!!
How dare there not be more.
April 22, 2025
Some lovely bits of architectural speculation in this for the heads: Taipei 101 becomes the Torre David.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews