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The City Below the Cloud
Few things endure like fear and fungus.
In a city forever shrouded in darkness, Kalan braves the heights of the lichen covered buildings to scrub the invading fungi from the walls. What will be discovered when the secrets of The City Below the Cloud come for them?
A dystopian cyberpunk novella that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
Approx. 26,000 words.
In a city forever shrouded in darkness, Kalan braves the heights of the lichen covered buildings to scrub the invading fungi from the walls. What will be discovered when the secrets of The City Below the Cloud come for them?
A dystopian cyberpunk novella that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew.
Approx. 26,000 words.
147 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2019
6 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
T.S. Galindo
5 books22 followersT S Galindo grew up on the East Coast of the United States. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and works as a Mechanical Designer while pondering the absurdity of existence. He lives with his spouse, Sam, and their cat, Taco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
March 10, 2021
The City Below the Cloud is an imaginative and intriguing tale centered on a futuristic society where invading fungi from the walls is destroying the world around. A woman named Kalan steps up to save the shadow world from the clutches of the unseen enemy.
The story-line and the concept is truly original and inventive which is so essential for any sci-fi novel. The author’s wild imagination comes to the foray while describing the dystopian world as the detailing is done to perfection. It also has some nice twists in the center of the story which keep the reader on its toes.
The best part is that the story is narrated in a concise manner avoiding the unnecessary plot lines which makes the book very gripping from start to finish.
I highly recommend this book to all sci-fi fans and to other readers as well.
The story-line and the concept is truly original and inventive which is so essential for any sci-fi novel. The author’s wild imagination comes to the foray while describing the dystopian world as the detailing is done to perfection. It also has some nice twists in the center of the story which keep the reader on its toes.
The best part is that the story is narrated in a concise manner avoiding the unnecessary plot lines which makes the book very gripping from start to finish.
I highly recommend this book to all sci-fi fans and to other readers as well.
April 28, 2024
I really enjoyed this. I am partial to dystopian novels and this fit the bill. Future tech, with the same politics and schemes for power as present. Very well thought out and the world building was great.
January 9, 2022
~I'd like to thank the author for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!~
Even though it started out a tad slow, it really grabbed my attention after about 50 pages and got good. Towards the end, the "moral of the story" would be that all life is valuable. It doesn't matter if they're street scrubbers, merchants, or billionaires. All life matters.
All in all, this was a great book with a great message. Recommended!
~Full Review To Come~
Even though it started out a tad slow, it really grabbed my attention after about 50 pages and got good. Towards the end, the "moral of the story" would be that all life is valuable. It doesn't matter if they're street scrubbers, merchants, or billionaires. All life matters.
All in all, this was a great book with a great message. Recommended!
~Full Review To Come~
February 28, 2022
This had some of the most unique worldbuilding I've ever seen. Galindo clearly put tons of thought into the environments and how this dystopia would work. This is for you if you like that level of detail. Also the ending might leave it open for a sequel, which is an exciting thought!
March 21, 2021
An interesting short novella set in a grim dystopian world. Life is tough and joyless in the city below the cloud: acid rain is incessant, air pollution is rampant, no sun reaches the ground through the toxic cloud and even artificial light is scarce, all jobs are menial and dangerous, and there is nothing constant in people's lives. All they can hope for is finding a task to perform before others do so that they can earn just enough charge (units of energy used instead of money) to get bland food and a roof over their heads for one night.
The main character is Kalan who is trying to provide for herself and her sister. Something strange starts happening to her, breaking her out of the routine. Suddenly, she has a new purpose, and she discovers a horrible secret about her world.
I enjoyed the story and found it quite original. The premise was really interesting, though a bit too grim for my taste (there was absolutely nothing good about the world). There was a plot twist around the middle, and from that moment on, there were a couple of horror elements.
I would prefer a bit more complexity to the story: the main characters and the antagonist could have been fleshed out better, and the social divide could have been more nuanced. However, I realize that the novella is just too short to have room for those details, besides, that's a personal preference.
The novella explores the issues of systemic inequality, injustice and the power of human connection.
You might enjoy the story if you like dark dystopian settings, don't mind a bit of horror and are looking for a shorter read.
Check out my blog about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for book reviews, interviews, lists, short stories and more.
The main character is Kalan who is trying to provide for herself and her sister. Something strange starts happening to her, breaking her out of the routine. Suddenly, she has a new purpose, and she discovers a horrible secret about her world.
I enjoyed the story and found it quite original. The premise was really interesting, though a bit too grim for my taste (there was absolutely nothing good about the world). There was a plot twist around the middle, and from that moment on, there were a couple of horror elements.
I would prefer a bit more complexity to the story: the main characters and the antagonist could have been fleshed out better, and the social divide could have been more nuanced. However, I realize that the novella is just too short to have room for those details, besides, that's a personal preference.
The novella explores the issues of systemic inequality, injustice and the power of human connection.
You might enjoy the story if you like dark dystopian settings, don't mind a bit of horror and are looking for a shorter read.
Check out my blog about sci-fi by women and non-binary authors for book reviews, interviews, lists, short stories and more.
April 2, 2022
The City Below the Cloud is an entertaining read from start to finish. The novella has a very original setting and great worldbuilding. I appreciated the sense of being dropped right into the characters’ lives, to learn about their world as they lived it. The story follows Kalan most of the time, but a sudden shift to follow her sister, Sett, was jarring to me. I think that section was unnecessary because it didn’t move the story forward, but it did introduce a rather unique gang of salvagers.
Half-way through the story, Kalan learned the true potential of the fungi and that they are sentient. At this point, the character became even more compelling as she explored her own thoughts and questioned everything she thought she knew. Her predicament also empowered her because she could finally decide her own fate. The decision she made at the end provided a satisfying conclusion to the story, but it also feels like a good set-up for a series.
Half-way through the story, Kalan learned the true potential of the fungi and that they are sentient. At this point, the character became even more compelling as she explored her own thoughts and questioned everything she thought she knew. Her predicament also empowered her because she could finally decide her own fate. The decision she made at the end provided a satisfying conclusion to the story, but it also feels like a good set-up for a series.
April 30, 2023
Very interesting take on the dystopian genre. I was drawn in by the world and its complexities, and I wanted to know more about how it all workd and how it got that way. The hopping between the two POV characters felt a bit vague, and I didn't feel as connected to either as I hoped I would. The twist was unexpected but fascinating. I'm not sure exactly how it worked, but I also didn't feel the need to understand all the science. It worked, and that's what matters. And that ending...which I won't spoil. 3.5 stars.
March 31, 2021
I enjoyed reading this one, it is quick read.
Being so short, there is not a lot of setup or big development throughout it. It is more based on the concept and exploring it. I found it interesting, and what we got I really enjoyed; I liked the characters and tidbits we got from their world. Some scenes made me unsettled.
I think the best part is definitely atmosphere, it reflects the world very well.
Being so short, there is not a lot of setup or big development throughout it. It is more based on the concept and exploring it. I found it interesting, and what we got I really enjoyed; I liked the characters and tidbits we got from their world. Some scenes made me unsettled.
I think the best part is definitely atmosphere, it reflects the world very well.
October 4, 2020
Creative idea and world building, but lacks direction
I enjoyed the concept of this book, but it didn't keep me engaged. The world building and sci-fi elements were fantastic, but there just wasn't enough plot to it.
I enjoyed the concept of this book, but it didn't keep me engaged. The world building and sci-fi elements were fantastic, but there just wasn't enough plot to it.
March 2, 2022
Interesting Dystopian Cyberpunk
The City Below the Cloud was a fast read and the cyberpunk gave a fresh way to look at pollution, different from other dystopian novels I've read. I found the author's created world descriptive and the characterization effective at keeping my interest. The most interesting part of the novella was the main character's inner conflict over what it means to be human. However, the greed of the rich enslaving humans theme was a tad too predictable.
The City Below the Cloud was a fast read and the cyberpunk gave a fresh way to look at pollution, different from other dystopian novels I've read. I found the author's created world descriptive and the characterization effective at keeping my interest. The most interesting part of the novella was the main character's inner conflict over what it means to be human. However, the greed of the rich enslaving humans theme was a tad too predictable.
May 8, 2022
This is a light, quick read to pick up in-between and just refresh your brain. I really enjoyed this book the world building is just fantastic and really left me wanting more. Of course my only gripe is that it is a novella and therefore doesn't have the depth I really wanted. I really like the protagonist and the struggles they went through coming to terms with their story. But I found the antagonist just lacking a little. I would love a full novel of this as the concept to me is so interesting and the writer has created a really cool unique world.
April 27, 2024
The City Below the Cloud is conceptually brilliant while delivering a unique take on dystopian Scifi.
August 28, 2025
Great short scifi read. Very inventive and intriguing dystopian world, and a plot twist that will surprise you!
November 8, 2021
A fascinating novella that leaves you wanting more. If a sequel is ever written I'll want to read it. The world that the author creates is eerie and haunting.
December 17, 2021
I loved this
Superb I need to add this book to my personal library. I started to realize that I'd rather read my books either in audiobook or psychical copy. I cannot focus on ebooks.
Superb I need to add this book to my personal library. I started to realize that I'd rather read my books either in audiobook or psychical copy. I cannot focus on ebooks.
November 27, 2020
I really enjoyed the scifi, dystopian, fungus infused tense world. The mycelium network is real!!
The City Below the Clouds was a story I wanted to read immediately after the author sent me the official blurb. I’m a sucker for just about anything mushrooms, so when a science fiction or cyberpunk story is brought to my attention with a mushrooms element, why, my poor little heart just can resist taking a little peeksie. I’m pretty sure I freaked the writer out when I responded so quickly, and how excited I was to read it.
The book really surprised me in regards to the fungi aspect of the story. I assumed, or expected, magic mushrooms to be part of the story. Alas, they were not, but there is still a lot of magic in this book, in the form of imaginitive and absorbing storytelling.
I really loved this cyberpunk story set in a city that is below a perpetual layer of clouds. As a result, life is lived under a shadow of the sunlight, never seeing the sun, never knowing the sun. The people are kept ignorant of the wider world, as trying to survive, one day or one hour at a time is seriously exhausting stuff.
Its an acid rain soaked existence, surrounded by skyscrapers lit by neon signs, and mushrooms, fungi covering everything. That they have found some sort of equilibrium with the city is taken for granted, as they feed off the acid in the rain, which keeps the buildings from being eaten away. The world building was really top notch and one I would return too. But there’s a lot more to it.
“Our kind existed eons before the humans and their boned ilk crawled out of the oceans, and we will exist long after they have obliterated themselves into nothingness.”
The story follows a young girl, Kalan, and her younger sister, or friend, as they try to make it through this perilous life on their own. I found the MC very likeable and I was fully invested in her thoughts and actions. She was carrying a heavy burden in caring for another person, but was doing it out of love, and that was the heart of this story, and Shining bright was that portrayed, amidst this dystopian, and strange scifi tale.
When she takes a job that brings her up above the clouds, we get heartbreak, twists, and wonder, as well as a fantastic ending to The City Below The Clouds.
The world building is so detailed and interesting. I loved the descriptions of “charge” which is the form of currency the people use to pay for a place to stay, to eat, what we would call the essentials. There are unique forms of technology that are snugly fitted, or woven into the bleak and desperate slice of life the people lead.
There is also the mines. The majority of people work outside the city’s edge in the mines. The same mines that result in the acid that is in the moisture and rain. Mines being what mines are, lives are lost, cut short, and extinguished much too soon. Limbs lost are replaced using more interesting, and unique ideas that really set this book apart, and give this book its scifi and cyberpunk dystopian frame.
Filled within the frame though is the experience of trying to survive, to find a meal, to find an enclosed private space with the luxury of a bed. Its heartbreaking, and an overwhelming feeling of sadness i felt for the two girls. For me, having personal experiences of that kind of despair and emptiness allowed me to more fully understand and respect what T.S. has created within the pages of a shorter story. Well done!
There is also a narrated version on YouTube, read by the author. And also a soundtrack, or playlist put together by the writer, again easily accessible for one and all on YouTube. There is an interview to follow this where the author says a bit more about the music, and how it helped in getting him in the right cyberpunk mood. Don’t miss it!
The story does take off into some really twisty science fiction, and world shifting places while putting Kalan in an equally unimaginable position that is a memorable predicament. I would easily give 4 stars just for the uniqueness, but the heart in MC, along with the tech, scifi elements, and cyberpunk world make it a win. Can’t wait for T.S. Galindo’s next work.
The MC is forced to take a scrubbing job, (scrubbing, being the act of removing fungus from an area of the city that would create an inconvenience if left to grow.) The little machines that provide the job information and supplies needed indicates the job is in the 500 levels of one of the suffocating skyscrapers. To her it doesn’t seem real, the job might as well be on another planet, as beyond the clouds is a great unknown
The City Below the Clouds was a story I wanted to read immediately after the author sent me the official blurb. I’m a sucker for just about anything mushrooms, so when a science fiction or cyberpunk story is brought to my attention with a mushrooms element, why, my poor little heart just can resist taking a little peeksie. I’m pretty sure I freaked the writer out when I responded so quickly, and how excited I was to read it.
The book really surprised me in regards to the fungi aspect of the story. I assumed, or expected, magic mushrooms to be part of the story. Alas, they were not, but there is still a lot of magic in this book, in the form of imaginitive and absorbing storytelling.
I really loved this cyberpunk story set in a city that is below a perpetual layer of clouds. As a result, life is lived under a shadow of the sunlight, never seeing the sun, never knowing the sun. The people are kept ignorant of the wider world, as trying to survive, one day or one hour at a time is seriously exhausting stuff.
Its an acid rain soaked existence, surrounded by skyscrapers lit by neon signs, and mushrooms, fungi covering everything. That they have found some sort of equilibrium with the city is taken for granted, as they feed off the acid in the rain, which keeps the buildings from being eaten away. The world building was really top notch and one I would return too. But there’s a lot more to it.
“Our kind existed eons before the humans and their boned ilk crawled out of the oceans, and we will exist long after they have obliterated themselves into nothingness.”
The story follows a young girl, Kalan, and her younger sister, or friend, as they try to make it through this perilous life on their own. I found the MC very likeable and I was fully invested in her thoughts and actions. She was carrying a heavy burden in caring for another person, but was doing it out of love, and that was the heart of this story, and Shining bright was that portrayed, amidst this dystopian, and strange scifi tale.
When she takes a job that brings her up above the clouds, we get heartbreak, twists, and wonder, as well as a fantastic ending to The City Below The Clouds.
The world building is so detailed and interesting. I loved the descriptions of “charge” which is the form of currency the people use to pay for a place to stay, to eat, what we would call the essentials. There are unique forms of technology that are snugly fitted, or woven into the bleak and desperate slice of life the people lead.
There is also the mines. The majority of people work outside the city’s edge in the mines. The same mines that result in the acid that is in the moisture and rain. Mines being what mines are, lives are lost, cut short, and extinguished much too soon. Limbs lost are replaced using more interesting, and unique ideas that really set this book apart, and give this book its scifi and cyberpunk dystopian frame.
Filled within the frame though is the experience of trying to survive, to find a meal, to find an enclosed private space with the luxury of a bed. Its heartbreaking, and an overwhelming feeling of sadness i felt for the two girls. For me, having personal experiences of that kind of despair and emptiness allowed me to more fully understand and respect what T.S. has created within the pages of a shorter story. Well done!
There is also a narrated version on YouTube, read by the author. And also a soundtrack, or playlist put together by the writer, again easily accessible for one and all on YouTube. There is an interview to follow this where the author says a bit more about the music, and how it helped in getting him in the right cyberpunk mood. Don’t miss it!
The story does take off into some really twisty science fiction, and world shifting places while putting Kalan in an equally unimaginable position that is a memorable predicament. I would easily give 4 stars just for the uniqueness, but the heart in MC, along with the tech, scifi elements, and cyberpunk world make it a win. Can’t wait for T.S. Galindo’s next work.
The MC is forced to take a scrubbing job, (scrubbing, being the act of removing fungus from an area of the city that would create an inconvenience if left to grow.) The little machines that provide the job information and supplies needed indicates the job is in the 500 levels of one of the suffocating skyscrapers. To her it doesn’t seem real, the job might as well be on another planet, as beyond the clouds is a great unknown
August 9, 2025
Amazing roller coaster ride through this story
I was hooked from the beginning. I felt like I was walking through the city, through the darkness, trying to find a bit of good. Kalan goes on a journey I did not expect and ends up doing what we all wish we had the courage to do. All the ups and downs, twists and turns, lead to a satisfying but open-ended finish. I highly recommend The City Below the Cloud.
I was hooked from the beginning. I felt like I was walking through the city, through the darkness, trying to find a bit of good. Kalan goes on a journey I did not expect and ends up doing what we all wish we had the courage to do. All the ups and downs, twists and turns, lead to a satisfying but open-ended finish. I highly recommend The City Below the Cloud.
January 14, 2020
I read this book via an ARC from the author, for Rosie Amber's Book Review Team. The fact that it was free has not affected this honest review.
Kalan and her younger sister, Sett, live in a climate-changed world in which every minute of every day is a struggle to survive. Kalan spends her days scrubbing infected lichen from walls of buildings, trying to earn enough for her and Sett to sleep with a roof over their heads. Life is cheap...
The premise of this book is original, inventive and interesting, and the writing itself is intelligent and evocative. Some of the characterisation is great - namely Sett and a band of itinerant scavengers, the 'glow punks' - but at other times I felt it came second in the author's mind to describing the world he has created. Much of the world-building is delivered via an omniscient narrator, so it read like a newspaper article, or an introduction.
The dialogue is mostly sharp and convincing, except for sections of inner dialogue; rather than keeping Kalan and Sett's thoughts in the third person and writing them in 'deep point of view', the author has them talking to themselves, expressed in a rather clumsy first person.
To sum up, it's an unusual and most atmospheric story and has a lot going for it, and there is no doubt that the author has talent, but I think he would benefit from studying the craft of fiction writing in order to learn more effective methods of putting his story across. It is his debut; he clearly has much potential still to be realised.
Kalan and her younger sister, Sett, live in a climate-changed world in which every minute of every day is a struggle to survive. Kalan spends her days scrubbing infected lichen from walls of buildings, trying to earn enough for her and Sett to sleep with a roof over their heads. Life is cheap...
The premise of this book is original, inventive and interesting, and the writing itself is intelligent and evocative. Some of the characterisation is great - namely Sett and a band of itinerant scavengers, the 'glow punks' - but at other times I felt it came second in the author's mind to describing the world he has created. Much of the world-building is delivered via an omniscient narrator, so it read like a newspaper article, or an introduction.
The dialogue is mostly sharp and convincing, except for sections of inner dialogue; rather than keeping Kalan and Sett's thoughts in the third person and writing them in 'deep point of view', the author has them talking to themselves, expressed in a rather clumsy first person.
To sum up, it's an unusual and most atmospheric story and has a lot going for it, and there is no doubt that the author has talent, but I think he would benefit from studying the craft of fiction writing in order to learn more effective methods of putting his story across. It is his debut; he clearly has much potential still to be realised.
November 9, 2020
rating: 3.6
I was hyped, and a tad scared to start this book. It is on the shorter side, and trust me when I say; I did not know what to expect. There is an audiobook you can listen to it for free on YouTube. I tried to listen to it, but I realised I could finish the book faster if I read the ebook.
There were some things that I liked, and some that I did not. Let's start with the things that I loved about this book, just to set the mood for the review. I usually tend to avoid reading books with female protagonists written by male authors, because some of these people have no idea how women work. Happily, T.S. Galindo didn't make me rip off my eyelids. The way he described Kalan and Sett was just perfect, and I enjoyed reading about them. The author is very good when it comes to writing inner monologues (they make you question your ideas), but not great when it comes to the action. The book had a great premise and was off to a great start, but it wasn't as engaging as I wish it were. The description was amazingly written, giving you a detailed insight of how the life in the city below The Cloud was; and I enjoyed that.
FULL REVIEW ON DAILY DOSE OF BOOKS
I was hyped, and a tad scared to start this book. It is on the shorter side, and trust me when I say; I did not know what to expect. There is an audiobook you can listen to it for free on YouTube. I tried to listen to it, but I realised I could finish the book faster if I read the ebook.
The Cloud covered the entire metropolis, permanently blotting out the sun. The inhabitants of the city knew nothing of the sun, or of day or night.
There were some things that I liked, and some that I did not. Let's start with the things that I loved about this book, just to set the mood for the review. I usually tend to avoid reading books with female protagonists written by male authors, because some of these people have no idea how women work. Happily, T.S. Galindo didn't make me rip off my eyelids. The way he described Kalan and Sett was just perfect, and I enjoyed reading about them. The author is very good when it comes to writing inner monologues (they make you question your ideas), but not great when it comes to the action. The book had a great premise and was off to a great start, but it wasn't as engaging as I wish it were. The description was amazingly written, giving you a detailed insight of how the life in the city below The Cloud was; and I enjoyed that.
"I don't think I really have a choice. Do I?" No. You don't. You never did. That is the price of purpose."
FULL REVIEW ON DAILY DOSE OF BOOKS
June 5, 2021
The city below the clouds gives us a look into a world where everything is in shades of grey. There is a general feeling of hopelessness and a hand-to-mouth existence. This is magnified by the fungi that overgrow the buildings, the regimented life and the general feeling of people slaving in the mines. The air is poisonous as is the rain. The heroine, Kalan wakes up from a dreamless sleep to the sensation that something is different. Strange things start to happen. The task for a place that she never knew existed. The 'creep' who keeps following her around. Changes in her body that she couldn't explain. Without giving the story away, the story leads her to learn the truth about herself and her true purpose.
Let me tell you about the things I liked about the story. You definitely feel the atmosphere. The author paints a colourful(or rather colourless) picture of the struggle that life has become and how humans have adapted to what is their normal. I liked the new form of currency that the author has thought up. I was curious to know how it all ends. And the ending was unexpected.
Now, the negatives. I would have liked for Kalan's sister to have more of an active role. She seems to be the centre of Kalan's existence. There are some words in the chapter, 'the Tower', that were new and had no explanation. There was a portion in the same chapter where I was not sure about how many characters were in the room('they' instead of 'he' confused things) but things got clearer as I kept going.
Overall, it was an entertaining read and I would definitely read the sequel if it comes out.
Let me tell you about the things I liked about the story. You definitely feel the atmosphere. The author paints a colourful(or rather colourless) picture of the struggle that life has become and how humans have adapted to what is their normal. I liked the new form of currency that the author has thought up. I was curious to know how it all ends. And the ending was unexpected.
Now, the negatives. I would have liked for Kalan's sister to have more of an active role. She seems to be the centre of Kalan's existence. There are some words in the chapter, 'the Tower', that were new and had no explanation. There was a portion in the same chapter where I was not sure about how many characters were in the room('they' instead of 'he' confused things) but things got clearer as I kept going.
Overall, it was an entertaining read and I would definitely read the sequel if it comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2021
Excelent. Short. Really fun and interesting
March 29, 2022
Galindo’s debut, The City Below the Clouds, is a dystopian science fiction with a really interesting concept. The world the author created was wonderfully descriptive in how harsh the conditions are. No one sees the sun anymore, and some never even have. They have to buy oxygen, and mushrooms are planted on buildings to absorb pollution. These are just a few great details the author instilled to bring his world to life.
Unfortunately, while the science fiction elements are given a great deal of detail and care, the characters and plot aren’t. The narrative lacked a clear direction as it followed two sisters trying to survive in this harsh world. While not bad characters, Kalan and Sett aren’t fleshed out either. There wasn’t the emotional resonance that really pulls me into a story, and it may have had to do with some, at times, clumsy point of view hopping. Without that connection to the characters, it makes it hard to care about where their journey may lead. And that journey felt like it needed more room to breathe. The ending is the most compelling part of the plot, bringing in very important messages about socio-economic inequity. While it sets up a sequel nicely, this book could’ve used more lead up to the big revelation.
All in all, this was a very quick, easy read with some well-done world building. If you enjoy dystopian science fiction, you may want to give this novel a chance.
Unfortunately, while the science fiction elements are given a great deal of detail and care, the characters and plot aren’t. The narrative lacked a clear direction as it followed two sisters trying to survive in this harsh world. While not bad characters, Kalan and Sett aren’t fleshed out either. There wasn’t the emotional resonance that really pulls me into a story, and it may have had to do with some, at times, clumsy point of view hopping. Without that connection to the characters, it makes it hard to care about where their journey may lead. And that journey felt like it needed more room to breathe. The ending is the most compelling part of the plot, bringing in very important messages about socio-economic inequity. While it sets up a sequel nicely, this book could’ve used more lead up to the big revelation.
All in all, this was a very quick, easy read with some well-done world building. If you enjoy dystopian science fiction, you may want to give this novel a chance.
June 15, 2022
Overall, an enjoyable short read that transports its reader to another world.
From the beginning I was absorbed in Kalan’s world – a city enveloped by an inky smog with shelf mushrooms providing respite from the rain. A strong sense of place and characterisation carried me forward. Occasionally too much exposition for me (though I know some readers love this), simply because I wanted to be living in the city through her eyes and not have that narrative interrupted. Hence, I think the book could have been longer. There was also a playfulness with form (Ch8) that I appreciated.
I was absorbed, until the final chapter simply because I wanted more. A more subtle weaving of Kalan’s central dilemma, a bittier reveal of motivation (e.g. not via a ‘bad guy monologue’). Yet, although I am not a fan of monologue (taught to avoid them) other people might like it. In places the book gave me that emotional connection I wanted, and lost me with the way the exposition was handled. I wanted the final moment, in particular, to slow down so, as a reader, the emotions would come to life for me. It felt rushed.
Overall, an enjoyable short read that transports its reader to another world.
From the beginning I was absorbed in Kalan’s world – a city enveloped by an inky smog with shelf mushrooms providing respite from the rain. A strong sense of place and characterisation carried me forward. Occasionally too much exposition for me (though I know some readers love this), simply because I wanted to be living in the city through her eyes and not have that narrative interrupted. Hence, I think the book could have been longer. There was also a playfulness with form (Ch8) that I appreciated.
I was absorbed, until the final chapter simply because I wanted more. A more subtle weaving of Kalan’s central dilemma, a bittier reveal of motivation (e.g. not via a ‘bad guy monologue’). Yet, although I am not a fan of monologue (taught to avoid them) other people might like it. In places the book gave me that emotional connection I wanted, and lost me with the way the exposition was handled. I wanted the final moment, in particular, to slow down so, as a reader, the emotions would come to life for me. It felt rushed.
Overall, an enjoyable short read that transports its reader to another world.
January 18, 2024
"[E]very dystopia is someone's utopia."
I devoured this novella in one sitting and if the second book was out, I'd have devoured that one too.
The writing and point of view is very introspective, which I think adds to the dreary and lonely feeling of the world. The city is described to be dark and gray but you can feel the lack of color in how the characters interact with each other and how they internalize their thoughts rather than speaking to each other. The writing style works so well for this story and setting.
The mysterious aspects of the story are unique and mind boggling at times, but I really liked way the suspense was handled. There's some mild "body horror" scenes that might keep some readers from enjoying this, but overall, if you like dark sci-fi and dystopian themes (and mushrooms), you need to read this.
Content disclaimers: Very mild and infrequent cursing. No sexual content (or romance). Strong themes of death and semi-detailed descriptions of body horror (no gore).
I devoured this novella in one sitting and if the second book was out, I'd have devoured that one too.
The writing and point of view is very introspective, which I think adds to the dreary and lonely feeling of the world. The city is described to be dark and gray but you can feel the lack of color in how the characters interact with each other and how they internalize their thoughts rather than speaking to each other. The writing style works so well for this story and setting.
The mysterious aspects of the story are unique and mind boggling at times, but I really liked way the suspense was handled. There's some mild "body horror" scenes that might keep some readers from enjoying this, but overall, if you like dark sci-fi and dystopian themes (and mushrooms), you need to read this.
Content disclaimers: Very mild and infrequent cursing. No sexual content (or romance). Strong themes of death and semi-detailed descriptions of body horror (no gore).
July 13, 2022
Harrowing and poignant, this novella kept me guessing. We meet main character Kalan during what we discover is a typical "cycle" -- residents of this world live in a perpetual fog underneath a gigantic cloud. They've never seen the sun; there is no day or night, merely cycles that denote when they should work or rest. Kalan is a "scrubber" and ekes out a meager hand-to-mouth existence in a dystopian world earning credits by removing fungi from the walls of the skyscrapers in the city. Galindo paints a grim but vivid picture of a world all-but destroyed by pollution and dominated by violence. A quick but gripping read.
Currently reading
March 12, 2021The City Below the Cloud
"The dramatic twists in The City Below the Cloud will keep you guessing right until the end."
-Dave Allen, Indies Today
"An uncomfortable joy to read."
-Amazon Review
Links:
US Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XXGJ2LV
US Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/169336753X
FREE Audiobook: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
"The dramatic twists in The City Below the Cloud will keep you guessing right until the end."
-Dave Allen, Indies Today
"An uncomfortable joy to read."
-Amazon Review
Links:
US Amazon ebook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XXGJ2LV
US Amazon print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/169336753X
FREE Audiobook: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...
January 27, 2023
This book is described as a dystopian cyberpunk novella and while it does check those boxes the real star here is the fungus. Galindo seems to share VanderMeer's fascination with fungus and having recently read the Southern Reach Trilogy I couldn't help some of those comparisons regarding the power of fungus in my mind.
I enjoyed the concept of this story, even if parts of it feel a tad "cyberpunk cliche" at times and while the story was a quick, enjoyable read I was left feeling like I was getting a story excerpt from a much larger story that I'd love to read someday!
I enjoyed the concept of this story, even if parts of it feel a tad "cyberpunk cliche" at times and while the story was a quick, enjoyable read I was left feeling like I was getting a story excerpt from a much larger story that I'd love to read someday!
May 11, 2022
I was given this story to review and the best thing about it was the twist - very clever.
The tale is a dystopian view of a possible future and touches upon some thought-provoking subjects - humans really are destructive...
I liked the characters because they fitted well into the story but; no spoilers from me.
The sense of place was described well; certainly a sad but illuminating idea.
A good writing style added to the concept.
The tale is a dystopian view of a possible future and touches upon some thought-provoking subjects - humans really are destructive...
I liked the characters because they fitted well into the story but; no spoilers from me.
The sense of place was described well; certainly a sad but illuminating idea.
A good writing style added to the concept.
October 10, 2024
The City Below the Cloud is about a cleaner in a fungi covered city who discovers the secret above the city. This novella has an interesting premise and the dark fungal setting is aptly described. The characters' inner thoughts insightfully describes the sisters' relationship. The story is a bit rushed but this is a nice, quick dystopian read.
This book was discovered on myindiebookshelf.com.
This book was discovered on myindiebookshelf.com.
July 16, 2022
Quite interesting concepts! Had a hard time to attach to the story with many namnes, together with new world and tech in a few page. Overall good but not a favourite.
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