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The Cloud
In twenty-second century L.A. dominated by The Cloud, every imaginable pleasure is accessible—yet the entire world can vanish in a single upload.
That choice rests in one man’s hands.
Blaise, a brilliant but tormented VR programmer, is trying to forget his violent past as a special forces commando by throwing himself into creating VR fantasies. He finds himself tempted by his megalomaniac boss, who offers him wealth, power, and eternal life in exchange for coding a new VR series that will addict and eliminate billions of “unproductives.”
Caught between joining those who want to bring down the ruling Cloud regime in Hong Kong, or accepting the offer of personal immortality, Blaise finds himself flanked by two relentless women—a psychic hacker risking overwhelming personal odds to save humanity from annihilation, and the other using her extraordinary carnal wiles to accelerate the final triumph of The Cloud. Ultimately, Blaise must reembrace his violent warrior nature in a desperate bid to destroy it.
That choice rests in one man’s hands.
Blaise, a brilliant but tormented VR programmer, is trying to forget his violent past as a special forces commando by throwing himself into creating VR fantasies. He finds himself tempted by his megalomaniac boss, who offers him wealth, power, and eternal life in exchange for coding a new VR series that will addict and eliminate billions of “unproductives.”
Caught between joining those who want to bring down the ruling Cloud regime in Hong Kong, or accepting the offer of personal immortality, Blaise finds himself flanked by two relentless women—a psychic hacker risking overwhelming personal odds to save humanity from annihilation, and the other using her extraordinary carnal wiles to accelerate the final triumph of The Cloud. Ultimately, Blaise must reembrace his violent warrior nature in a desperate bid to destroy it.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 24, 2022
16 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Robert Rivenbark
2 books9 followersIt’s perhaps a cliché to say one person can make a huge difference in your life—except in the case of someone like Mrs. Lee, my sixth-grade homeroom and English teacher at Sagamore Hills Grammar School in Atlanta. She changed mine, profoundly, by making me the class playwright and short story writer. In my clumsy but passionate initial attempts at writing, I discovered my calling. Now that I’ve published my speculative fiction novel The Cloud (details at www.thecloudnovel.com) I hope I can find my beloved teacher. I’d like to hug and thank her with tears of gratitude in my eyes.
My passion for writing eventually landed me in Oxford and London, England, where I earned a master’s degree in Creative Writing from Antioch University, on the strength of my short stories. I won a full scholarship for two years of study there; then returned to the U.S. with a thick English accent to pursue a career in journalism and advertising in Atlanta, Miami, and L.A. Eventually, in 2019, my novel The Cloud won First Place in the science fiction category in the San Antonio Writers Guild 27th Annual Writing Contest. That won me representation from Hollywood literary manager/producer Ken Atchity of Story Merchant Books and Atchity Productions.
Ken liked the concept for The Cloud right away because it’s speculative fiction exploring frightening possibilities about the future implicit in today’s world. The dramatized events are conceivable, even possible, in my unspecified future. The science and technology I dramatize is already in use or under development: VR, mind control, psychic powers, 24/7 surveillance, disease reversal tech, cryogenics, nanobots, and a global recrudescence of patriarchal political oppression. These elements make The Cloud a spiritual descendant of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale and her stunning 2020 sequel, The Testaments; George Orwell’s 1984; and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World.
The Cloud emerged from three key events in my life. 1) My 8 ½ years living in Los Angeles during the Great Recession of 2007-2015. 2) A failed romantic relationship with a beautiful Asian electric violinist and operatic vocalist I met in L.A. To heal that relationship, I split her into two characters in my novel: the femme fatale Mitsuko and the female protagonist, Kristina--the two women fighting for the soul of my male protagonist Blaise Pascal VI. 3) My three years working for a Fortune 500 commercial real estate company that builds cities of the future worldwide for the top 10% only. My rage against that trend gave me the fire in the belly to write my novel. I front-load my story with plenty of thriller elements--action, suspense, violence, and sexual intrigue--but it's essentially a novel of ideas, a cautionary tale about a future I hope we can avoid.
Beyond my first novel, my goal for The Cloud trilogy is to make it a mythological epic, further exploring in novels two and three a possible future for an earth threatened by global warming, horrific wars,
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 16, 2025
REVIEW TIME:
"The Cloud" by Robert Rivenbark takes place in 22nd-century Los Angeles, where the world is completely controlled by a massive virtual reality system called The Cloud. Its tropes are dystopian sci-fi, moral dilemma, resistance vs power, and a little slow-burn connection in between ✨
Blaise Pascal VII, a brilliant but broken VR programmer, is given a choice either join the ones fighting to destroy The Cloud or help complete Project Gilgamesh, a digital program that promises immortality to a few but will erase billions of people forever. This one decision changes everything for him.
In all this chaos, Blaise is caught between two women. Kristina, a psychic hacker, fights for humanity, risking her life to end The Cloud. And Mitsuko, who works for Minsheng, uses her charm to pull Blaise to their side. He’s torn between illusion and truth, selfish gain and what’s right.
My favorite character was definitely Kristina, her hacker skills were insane 🔥 and she carried herself with so much grace and strength, I absolutely loved her. Blaise was good too, just… complicated. He’s confused, haunted by his past, but what matters is the choice he makes in the end. Also, I loved the slow-burn tension between Blaise and Kristina, subtle but full of emotion.
The one-line quotes in this book were everything! They just hit so hard. One of my favorites was:
“We built a heaven of light and code, only to find it filled with ghosts.”
Each character had their own space in the story their flaws, strengths, and the role they played in either saving or destroying the world. The coding parts were a little complex for me at first, but once I got into the flow, everything started clicking.
I honestly loved The Cloud. It makes you question what’s real and what’s just illusion. The world, the emotions, the writing everything felt so intense and thought-provoking. I’d totally recommend it, it’s one of those stories that take you somewhere else completely, where everything depends on the choices you make.
"The Cloud" by Robert Rivenbark takes place in 22nd-century Los Angeles, where the world is completely controlled by a massive virtual reality system called The Cloud. Its tropes are dystopian sci-fi, moral dilemma, resistance vs power, and a little slow-burn connection in between ✨
Blaise Pascal VII, a brilliant but broken VR programmer, is given a choice either join the ones fighting to destroy The Cloud or help complete Project Gilgamesh, a digital program that promises immortality to a few but will erase billions of people forever. This one decision changes everything for him.
In all this chaos, Blaise is caught between two women. Kristina, a psychic hacker, fights for humanity, risking her life to end The Cloud. And Mitsuko, who works for Minsheng, uses her charm to pull Blaise to their side. He’s torn between illusion and truth, selfish gain and what’s right.
My favorite character was definitely Kristina, her hacker skills were insane 🔥 and she carried herself with so much grace and strength, I absolutely loved her. Blaise was good too, just… complicated. He’s confused, haunted by his past, but what matters is the choice he makes in the end. Also, I loved the slow-burn tension between Blaise and Kristina, subtle but full of emotion.
The one-line quotes in this book were everything! They just hit so hard. One of my favorites was:
“We built a heaven of light and code, only to find it filled with ghosts.”
Each character had their own space in the story their flaws, strengths, and the role they played in either saving or destroying the world. The coding parts were a little complex for me at first, but once I got into the flow, everything started clicking.
I honestly loved The Cloud. It makes you question what’s real and what’s just illusion. The world, the emotions, the writing everything felt so intense and thought-provoking. I’d totally recommend it, it’s one of those stories that take you somewhere else completely, where everything depends on the choices you make.
October 16, 2025
Imagine a world where VR is life, and the line between reality and fantasy blurs. The Cloud is a gripping ride through moral darkness, power, and temptation.
Blaise, a VR programmer with a dark past, gets an offer he can't refuse: build a VR series that weeds out the 'unproductive' in exchange for eternal life and influence. It's a wild ride with morally complex characters, mind-bending tech, and tough questions about humanity's future. Some parts are intense and uncomfortable, but that's what makes it thought-provoking.
Looking forward to more books!
Blaise, a VR programmer with a dark past, gets an offer he can't refuse: build a VR series that weeds out the 'unproductive' in exchange for eternal life and influence. It's a wild ride with morally complex characters, mind-bending tech, and tough questions about humanity's future. Some parts are intense and uncomfortable, but that's what makes it thought-provoking.
Looking forward to more books!
February 6, 2025
The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark
4.5 ⭐️
Wow! Where do I even start with this book! First and foremost I would like to thank Robert Rivenbark and his team for offering me a copy of this book for an honest review and honestly I am floored because this book is fantastic and more people need to have this on their radar if you enjoy speculative fiction or sci fi!
So we follow Blaise, a software developer in the future. The world is a mess! The metaverse and AI rule with the upper class wanting to keep all the lower class people in line.. by submission through addiction to VR and degenerative behaviors running rampant, common sense and critical thinking is lost.. though it seems. Blaise has been appointed to carry out finishing a new highly addictive video game that will be used for nefarious purposes in the cloud.
There are so many real life parallels in this book, it was truly chilling. This dystopian looking future could very well be not too far off if people don’t get it together now. All the characters we come across in this book, including the main character, all have issues, and are flawed, and that’s what makes it work, it’s realistic. We don’t have perfect little people in a world this broken.
The writing was phenomenal too. I was worried honestly how fleshed out this book would be considering the page count and the huge premise of the book, but the way things are unfolded were amazing, he did an amazing job with world building. The story telling and the way his descriptions came to life off the pages were solid!
This is a wonderful, action packed, fast paced book to add to your TBR!
4.5 ⭐️
Wow! Where do I even start with this book! First and foremost I would like to thank Robert Rivenbark and his team for offering me a copy of this book for an honest review and honestly I am floored because this book is fantastic and more people need to have this on their radar if you enjoy speculative fiction or sci fi!
So we follow Blaise, a software developer in the future. The world is a mess! The metaverse and AI rule with the upper class wanting to keep all the lower class people in line.. by submission through addiction to VR and degenerative behaviors running rampant, common sense and critical thinking is lost.. though it seems. Blaise has been appointed to carry out finishing a new highly addictive video game that will be used for nefarious purposes in the cloud.
There are so many real life parallels in this book, it was truly chilling. This dystopian looking future could very well be not too far off if people don’t get it together now. All the characters we come across in this book, including the main character, all have issues, and are flawed, and that’s what makes it work, it’s realistic. We don’t have perfect little people in a world this broken.
The writing was phenomenal too. I was worried honestly how fleshed out this book would be considering the page count and the huge premise of the book, but the way things are unfolded were amazing, he did an amazing job with world building. The story telling and the way his descriptions came to life off the pages were solid!
This is a wonderful, action packed, fast paced book to add to your TBR!
September 29, 2022
The Cloud is a thought-provoking, page-turning futuristic thriller that projects today’s trends into a scary yet probable future. It’s written in high literary style with fully rounded characters, and throws twists and turns into the story so you’re never sure whether the protagonist, Blaise Pascal VII, and two female lead characters, Mitsuko Brown (the femme fatale), and Kristina Sun (the female protagonist) will survive the horrors they face. Blaise is a successful VR programmer in a future L.A. He’s got PTSD from his years as an atrocity-committing soldier fighting in the Cloud army in Nigeria against the Caliphate. The Cloud, a corporate conglomerate, rules China, Southeast Asia, and North America, and controls citizens with 24/7 neural surveillance and propaganda and a horrifying VR assassin called the Mantis. Blaise’s psychopathic boss, Minsheng Lu, offers him a promotion and eternal life in exchange for coding a lethal VR-delivered drug in Blaise’s new VR series. The Cloud regime hopes to reverse global warming by driving the Slag underclass to mass suicide. Blaise is torn between a desire for eternal life—a course Mitsuko urges him to accept—and carrying out a plot Kristina recruits him for to bring down the Cloud with a killer software worm. This is an outstanding novel I’m giving Five Stars. - Ron Ovadia
August 7, 2025
Robert Rivenbark’s The Cloud is a speculative fiction book about VR programmer Blaise Pascal VII. He’s throwing himselft into creating VR fantasies to escape his violent past as a special forces commando. His megalomaniac boss Minsheng wants Blaise to create a new VR series that’ll addict and elimanate billions of ”unproductives.” In return Blaise will get wealth and immortality.
The book starts of strong and it piques your interest from the very first page. Throughtout the book there’s a changing amount of suspense between the lines. Suspense increases towards the end and you must just keep reading until the final page.
What I really liked in this book was that the author describes the events, places and people with great detail. One example of this is the following quote about Blaise: ”He was a Shakespeare among game planners.”
What I didn’t like was Blaise’s boss Minsheng. Minsheng makes Miranda Priestley seem like a kitten. He’s the revil boss from hell.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes speculative fiction, VR, complex characters and suspenseful books.
On final note I want to share my favorite quote from The Cloud: ”This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.”
The book starts of strong and it piques your interest from the very first page. Throughtout the book there’s a changing amount of suspense between the lines. Suspense increases towards the end and you must just keep reading until the final page.
What I really liked in this book was that the author describes the events, places and people with great detail. One example of this is the following quote about Blaise: ”He was a Shakespeare among game planners.”
What I didn’t like was Blaise’s boss Minsheng. Minsheng makes Miranda Priestley seem like a kitten. He’s the revil boss from hell.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes speculative fiction, VR, complex characters and suspenseful books.
On final note I want to share my favorite quote from The Cloud: ”This is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper.”
September 28, 2022
The Cloud is a powerfully written speculative fiction novel that could well become a classic. The author, Robert Rivenbark, offers the reader believable characters who must make moral choices while tempted by promises of ever-lasting love, sex, security, luxury, and power. How do we know what is real and what is fake? What is programmed into us versus what we can freely choose? Is there a “group mind,” a way to tap into a collective force for the good of all or have we long ago been seduced into an easily manipulated hive mentality? The Cloud is a riveting exploration of these questions at a time when implementing the right answers becomes just as urgently needed. Not unlike the power of The Matrix, The Cloud taps into a supra-reality that transcends the simple boundary of fact and fiction. For that reason, I'm giving The Cloud Five Stars.
September 25, 2022
The Cloud extrapolates from what’s happening in VR and surveillance tech; in the rise of authoritarian political movements; and the advancement of life-extending medical tech for the top 1%. It projects these trends into a terrifying future likely to come to pass—unless humanity reverses them. It dramatizes the journeys of three compelling characters faced with impossible choices: Blaise Pascal VII, the male protagonist, a VR programmer coding soul-enslaving VR series; Mitsuko Brown, the femme fatale VR executive who seduces him for her own ends; and Kristina Sun, an idealistic psychic hacker who recruits Blaise to help her overthrow the corrupt Cloud corporate regime. It’s a classic hero’s journey; a page-turning thriller with action, suspense, and romantic intrigue; and it works as a philosophical novel asking eternal questions about human freedom, the quest for enlightenment, and the meaning of suffering and evil. So I am giving this book a Five Star review.
April 25, 2025
This story takes place in a futuristic lifestyle through VR. It’s an addictive advance technology where humans use to escape reality. Who or what is real and who or what is fake?
On a mission to conquer the old ways and save lives the cloud must be destroy before it wipes the rest of humanity or as they called them the “slags”. Kristina and Blaise mission is to stop Misheng and Mitsuko from wiping the rest of mankind and stopping him from gaining more power than he already has. Will the world and humans cease to exist with these technologies advances or will the cloud collapse giving the world a new beginning, hope for humanity?
On a mission to conquer the old ways and save lives the cloud must be destroy before it wipes the rest of humanity or as they called them the “slags”. Kristina and Blaise mission is to stop Misheng and Mitsuko from wiping the rest of mankind and stopping him from gaining more power than he already has. Will the world and humans cease to exist with these technologies advances or will the cloud collapse giving the world a new beginning, hope for humanity?
October 13, 2025
A Dark Look at Humanity’s Obsession with Digital Eternity is what this is screaming...
I really enjoyed the overall premise of this story, a dystopian future where VR has taken control of nearly every aspect of life, and people chase digital immortality while the world outside crumbles. It’s a fascinating setup that kept me turning the pages, eager to see how it would all end.
That said, a few parts didn’t quite connect for me. There are lingering plot holes surrounding Blaise’s deceased wife and daughter that left me wanting more clarity, and the shift in his feelings toward Mitsuko felt sudden, it moved from hatred to love in a way that didn’t feel fully earned (pheromones and attraction I get, the love and continued growth of this relationship: that one lost me). The instant attraction to Kristina also seemed a little underdeveloped given how little real interaction we saw between them.
Still, the book’s exploration of technology, morality, and what it means to play god through VR was intriguing. The concept of The Cloud as both a system of control and a gateway to eternal life was unique and thought-provoking. Even with some uneven pacing and character leaps, it’s an interesting, immersive read for anyone who enjoys dark futuristic worlds and morally gray characters.
BookBound and Blushed
Sonya
I really enjoyed the overall premise of this story, a dystopian future where VR has taken control of nearly every aspect of life, and people chase digital immortality while the world outside crumbles. It’s a fascinating setup that kept me turning the pages, eager to see how it would all end.
That said, a few parts didn’t quite connect for me. There are lingering plot holes surrounding Blaise’s deceased wife and daughter that left me wanting more clarity, and the shift in his feelings toward Mitsuko felt sudden, it moved from hatred to love in a way that didn’t feel fully earned (pheromones and attraction I get, the love and continued growth of this relationship: that one lost me). The instant attraction to Kristina also seemed a little underdeveloped given how little real interaction we saw between them.
Still, the book’s exploration of technology, morality, and what it means to play god through VR was intriguing. The concept of The Cloud as both a system of control and a gateway to eternal life was unique and thought-provoking. Even with some uneven pacing and character leaps, it’s an interesting, immersive read for anyone who enjoys dark futuristic worlds and morally gray characters.
BookBound and Blushed
Sonya
October 29, 2022
wow
An impressive story. Even though it’s labeled speculative fiction, it’s almost like a sci-fi version of 1984 by George Orwell.
It goes through what it would be like if we were massacring people for the greater good and individuals that get you rooting for the underdog. It’s a story of survival with twisted humor and spiritual undertones. Fantastic job.
An impressive story. Even though it’s labeled speculative fiction, it’s almost like a sci-fi version of 1984 by George Orwell.
It goes through what it would be like if we were massacring people for the greater good and individuals that get you rooting for the underdog. It’s a story of survival with twisted humor and spiritual undertones. Fantastic job.
September 7, 2022
Summary
The Cloud is a scifi and action thriller by Robert Rivenbark. It centers around Blaise, a genius VR programmer with a violent past that he wants to forget. His boss, who is obsessed with power, offers him wealth and eternal life if he decides to create a new VR series that will eliminate billions of "unproductives." While he is tempted to take the offer, he finds himself flanked by two relentless women: one wants to save humanity, and the other wants the success of The Cloud. Once and for all, Blaise must choose between self-preservation and world destruction.
Review
Manipulation is the craziest most evil thing in the world and that’s exactly what this story shows. That if you have the power, you can act like a god and control everything you can. This was a very dark and intriguing story with a concept I’ve never heard of anywhere (unless I missed it). Though there were cringe-worthy moments due to the very sensitive topics that were tackled like human trafficking, incest, and other types of immoral conducts, the story was unique and well written. Hence, I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to mature readers who love science fiction.
The Cloud is a scifi and action thriller by Robert Rivenbark. It centers around Blaise, a genius VR programmer with a violent past that he wants to forget. His boss, who is obsessed with power, offers him wealth and eternal life if he decides to create a new VR series that will eliminate billions of "unproductives." While he is tempted to take the offer, he finds himself flanked by two relentless women: one wants to save humanity, and the other wants the success of The Cloud. Once and for all, Blaise must choose between self-preservation and world destruction.
Review
Manipulation is the craziest most evil thing in the world and that’s exactly what this story shows. That if you have the power, you can act like a god and control everything you can. This was a very dark and intriguing story with a concept I’ve never heard of anywhere (unless I missed it). Though there were cringe-worthy moments due to the very sensitive topics that were tackled like human trafficking, incest, and other types of immoral conducts, the story was unique and well written. Hence, I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to mature readers who love science fiction.
December 13, 2022
Lots of action
I was introduced to virtual reality about which I knew very little. The book is very well done packed with action and enjoyable I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction. I would caution sensitive readers that there is a depiction of genocide that you may find unsettling.
I was introduced to virtual reality about which I knew very little. The book is very well done packed with action and enjoyable I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys science fiction. I would caution sensitive readers that there is a depiction of genocide that you may find unsettling.
January 21, 2023
Let me start by saying, the story is good, but there are things that I didn’t really enjoy and others that didn’t really make sense, at least for me… but let me break it down, I did like the idea of the virtual world and that what you felt in the virtual world you felt as it was in the real world, this would make almost impossible to differentiate reality from the cloud world, this was a plus to me, but if the virtual has this much power, why bring a image of a mantis to the real world to rip people, that shouldn’t be necessary… the mythology is also very much present in this book, Babylon, the ancients gods and demons.
I felt that it relied too much in intrigue, the moral choices were very much gray all over and that is OK, but our main character felt to me that he kind of swung with the wind… I also didn’t enjoy the importance of sex during the whole book, I wouldn't recommend this book to young readers as we have several graphic sexual scenes in the book, first with Kristina, and later with Mitsuko, but for me this was really weird since he at first hatted her… even if you join forces with someone to take other down you wont do the “dirty” if you hate someone…
Basically our main character is offered eternal life, in exchange of finishing a “game” that will kill all non necessary people… the boss of our main character also want to kill the other board leaders for him to “rule” everything, but will he let Blaise live after his usefulness is over? Well that is for you to find out ;)
if you like everything I said I don’t and all that I said is on the book, you will probably love this book, because like I said this is well written, I just wasn't the right reader for it…
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
I felt that it relied too much in intrigue, the moral choices were very much gray all over and that is OK, but our main character felt to me that he kind of swung with the wind… I also didn’t enjoy the importance of sex during the whole book, I wouldn't recommend this book to young readers as we have several graphic sexual scenes in the book, first with Kristina, and later with Mitsuko, but for me this was really weird since he at first hatted her… even if you join forces with someone to take other down you wont do the “dirty” if you hate someone…
Basically our main character is offered eternal life, in exchange of finishing a “game” that will kill all non necessary people… the boss of our main character also want to kill the other board leaders for him to “rule” everything, but will he let Blaise live after his usefulness is over? Well that is for you to find out ;)
if you like everything I said I don’t and all that I said is on the book, you will probably love this book, because like I said this is well written, I just wasn't the right reader for it…
Thank you NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.
November 19, 2022
Very entertaining dystopian futuristic novel. Lots of unexpected twists and turns. I’d give it 5 stars except for 2 things. I feel like the climate change concept should have been introduced earlier as it was a critical plot point. It was also a bit distracting to mention certain world leaders by name but not the US world leader. It may have been better to make up names for all the leaders.
November 13, 2022
As a reader who is already mistrustful of our present-day "Cloud," and worried about climate change running amok, I found Robert Rivenbark's The Cloud highly possible and chapter-by-chapter more terrifying. Protagonist Blaise is between the worst "rock and a hard place" imaginable. Blaise's addiction to two women, one good, one evil, is realistically portrayed and believable. Chinese Director Minsheng's menacing appearance and actions exceed those of any evil soul the world has seen so far. Fictional elements are ground in true science. For example: the mention of trees, communicating with each other to protect their species. In chapter four, the book's honorable higher purpose to awaken humanity peeks through with a group of hackers who have rediscovered the ancient wisdom of psychic powers.
Altogether a captivating read, I'm pleased to give this courageous author Five Stars.
Altogether a captivating read, I'm pleased to give this courageous author Five Stars.
May 25, 2023
Spoilers: It's always a treat when I read one book, then I read its polar opposite. I read two books set in the 2040s, Mark Richardson's Malibu Burns and Robert Rivenbark's The Cloud. Both are set in California, both after times of political and environmental unrest and both have worlds in which technology and AI have taken over. However, in execution the two books go in opposite directions. Malibu Burns doesn't concentrate on the futuristic world so much as it does on the mindscape of its lead protagonist. The Cloud does involve interesting characters but it concentrates more on how this futuristic world affects them. Malibu Burns is strong on character and The Cloud is strong on setting and world building.
Blaise Pascal is a VR designer who works for The Cloud, the tech corporation that practically runs the world. He is currently working on Gilgamesh V, the latest game to appeal to The Slags, the lower classes who aren't connected to The Cloud (like Blaise once was). His director, Minsheng is impressed with Blaise's work but wants him to tweak the game to include an addictive drug which will control The Slags. As Blaise climbs higher in the corporation and spends time with the Slags, he begins to see the corruption, dehumanization, and mass murder that his superiors are planning. He is caught between the luxurious technology driven world that he wants and the honest connections of the human driven world that he needs.
Many of the characters are well written, Blaise in particular, but mostly they serve as microcosms of the society in which they live. They are shaped and changed by the universe around them and we see the strengths and weaknesses of the world because of how it affects them.
Blaise is the person in the middle. He came up from the low tech Slag world leaving behind a missing father, a mentally ill and deceased mother, and intense poverty to move to the high rise Cloud world. He hooked himself up to the devices that monitor his actions and created VR simulations for the people that he was once a part of.
While Blaise is a huge part of how the Cloud works, he is not exactly enamored with his surroundings. He is a military vet who has seen his share of bloodshed in the name of the corporations and governments who pulled the strings. He also is mourning the deaths of his wife and daughter, the last people he felt connected to. Now he buries himself in work and a sardonic attitude. While his remarks are humorous (for example when his immediate supervisor, Mitsuko gives him an order, he remarks, "I ignored you the first time."), they reveal a cynical detachment for a lifestyle that provided him with creature comforts but little else.
Blaise's only relief is the downtime he gets when he goes to the Slags towns, perhaps his only means of any type of companionship and the only time that he can be himself without being spied upon. It is here that he meets Kristina, who is part of a resistance group against The Cloud. She tells Blaise some important information about his mother and what his role is to be in this revolution. As Blaise starts to see the Cloud for its true colors, as a dictatorship, he becomes an active participant in ending it by being the revolution's inside person and saboteur.
Unfortunately, Blaise's new role as rebel coincides with his promotion through The Cloud and his involvement with his supervisors, Mitsuko and Minsheng and the shady directors behind them. The threats and underhanded deals that collapse the lower classes are made all too real. In one chapter, Blaise is nearly tortured by mantises, cybernetic insects which inject their victims with a painful venom. He then watches in horror as those mantises are then used on people including many of the rebels.
Blaise becomes involved in a love triangle between Kristina and Mitsuko. While normally, I don't like love triangles because I find them cliched and often unnecessary with The Cloud, I will make an exception because of what each character represents.
Mitsuko represents The Cloud. She is a narcissistic ambitious person who uses many that come near her. In her world, relationships can only be made on a superficial shallow level. Because of this, terms like "friends, "family," and "lovers" are mere words. Because they are just words without feeling around them, those terms can be redefined however they see fit as Mitsuko reveals during one of the few times when she displays some reality beyond the materialistic driven persona that we have already seen. She is a woman who has been hurt in the past, knows what it's like to struggle to get to where she is, but doesn't care. She lost her humanity and compassion for others and sees the people around her as allies for or obstacles against the company that she reveres and even worships. She represents the worst that Blaise could be.
Kristina represents the resistance, the rebels that are still in touch with their humanity. They have technology in that they were able to build a functioning self-sustaining community, but all of their technology is used to benefit a larger society, rather than controlling it. They, particularly Kristina, haven't lost who they are or the love for those around them.
Kristina cares about her fellow rebels and family. Even though she is in love with Blaise, she isn't afraid to call him out on the actions and the people behind The Cloud's actions.
Kristina has a strange ability to read into other's souls. This ability opens up possibilities that when society heads further into progress and science, what was once considered magic could be rediscovered.
It also gives Kristina deeper insight into people. She sees beyond the surface that Mitsuko sees. She sees into Blaise's past and how he really feels. She makes a real connection with him, a connection that Blaise thought was lost.
The Cloud shows us a world that becomes so intertwined with its technology, that only the very few remember what it means to be human and it is them who will rebuild the world once that heavily technological superficial world is gone.
Blaise Pascal is a VR designer who works for The Cloud, the tech corporation that practically runs the world. He is currently working on Gilgamesh V, the latest game to appeal to The Slags, the lower classes who aren't connected to The Cloud (like Blaise once was). His director, Minsheng is impressed with Blaise's work but wants him to tweak the game to include an addictive drug which will control The Slags. As Blaise climbs higher in the corporation and spends time with the Slags, he begins to see the corruption, dehumanization, and mass murder that his superiors are planning. He is caught between the luxurious technology driven world that he wants and the honest connections of the human driven world that he needs.
Many of the characters are well written, Blaise in particular, but mostly they serve as microcosms of the society in which they live. They are shaped and changed by the universe around them and we see the strengths and weaknesses of the world because of how it affects them.
Blaise is the person in the middle. He came up from the low tech Slag world leaving behind a missing father, a mentally ill and deceased mother, and intense poverty to move to the high rise Cloud world. He hooked himself up to the devices that monitor his actions and created VR simulations for the people that he was once a part of.
While Blaise is a huge part of how the Cloud works, he is not exactly enamored with his surroundings. He is a military vet who has seen his share of bloodshed in the name of the corporations and governments who pulled the strings. He also is mourning the deaths of his wife and daughter, the last people he felt connected to. Now he buries himself in work and a sardonic attitude. While his remarks are humorous (for example when his immediate supervisor, Mitsuko gives him an order, he remarks, "I ignored you the first time."), they reveal a cynical detachment for a lifestyle that provided him with creature comforts but little else.
Blaise's only relief is the downtime he gets when he goes to the Slags towns, perhaps his only means of any type of companionship and the only time that he can be himself without being spied upon. It is here that he meets Kristina, who is part of a resistance group against The Cloud. She tells Blaise some important information about his mother and what his role is to be in this revolution. As Blaise starts to see the Cloud for its true colors, as a dictatorship, he becomes an active participant in ending it by being the revolution's inside person and saboteur.
Unfortunately, Blaise's new role as rebel coincides with his promotion through The Cloud and his involvement with his supervisors, Mitsuko and Minsheng and the shady directors behind them. The threats and underhanded deals that collapse the lower classes are made all too real. In one chapter, Blaise is nearly tortured by mantises, cybernetic insects which inject their victims with a painful venom. He then watches in horror as those mantises are then used on people including many of the rebels.
Blaise becomes involved in a love triangle between Kristina and Mitsuko. While normally, I don't like love triangles because I find them cliched and often unnecessary with The Cloud, I will make an exception because of what each character represents.
Mitsuko represents The Cloud. She is a narcissistic ambitious person who uses many that come near her. In her world, relationships can only be made on a superficial shallow level. Because of this, terms like "friends, "family," and "lovers" are mere words. Because they are just words without feeling around them, those terms can be redefined however they see fit as Mitsuko reveals during one of the few times when she displays some reality beyond the materialistic driven persona that we have already seen. She is a woman who has been hurt in the past, knows what it's like to struggle to get to where she is, but doesn't care. She lost her humanity and compassion for others and sees the people around her as allies for or obstacles against the company that she reveres and even worships. She represents the worst that Blaise could be.
Kristina represents the resistance, the rebels that are still in touch with their humanity. They have technology in that they were able to build a functioning self-sustaining community, but all of their technology is used to benefit a larger society, rather than controlling it. They, particularly Kristina, haven't lost who they are or the love for those around them.
Kristina cares about her fellow rebels and family. Even though she is in love with Blaise, she isn't afraid to call him out on the actions and the people behind The Cloud's actions.
Kristina has a strange ability to read into other's souls. This ability opens up possibilities that when society heads further into progress and science, what was once considered magic could be rediscovered.
It also gives Kristina deeper insight into people. She sees beyond the surface that Mitsuko sees. She sees into Blaise's past and how he really feels. She makes a real connection with him, a connection that Blaise thought was lost.
The Cloud shows us a world that becomes so intertwined with its technology, that only the very few remember what it means to be human and it is them who will rebuild the world once that heavily technological superficial world is gone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 24, 2023
This sci-fi dystopian novel gives a glimpse into a futuristic world where VR has taken over and everything is not as it seems. When the lines of reality and the virtual world start to blur, Blaise has to weigh the consequences of creating limitless power. More for a mature audience, The Cloud has quite a few elements of spice though I don’t consider it a romance novel. I enjoyed this read and I look forward to seeing what is in store for the rest of this thrilling trilogy.
March 19, 2025
Book Review: The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark
In The Cloud, Robert Rivenbark crafts an unnervingly plausible vision of the future, where technology and human nature collide in ways that are as exhilarating as they are terrifying. This isn’t just another cyberpunk thriller—it’s a thought-provoking deep-dive into the consequences of a fully digitized world, where pleasure is limitless, but so is control. With echoes of Neuromancer and Black Mirror, Rivenbark delivers a novel that challenges our reliance on technology, making us question how close we are to a society where entertainment is weaponized and digital immortality is the ultimate prize.
A Future Dystopia That Feels Frighteningly Close
Set in the 22nd century, The Cloud imagines a Los Angeles where all desires can be satisfied with the click of a button, thanks to an omnipresent digital system known as The Cloud. Think of it as the metaverse on steroids—an all-encompassing network designed to keep people pacified, endlessly entertained, and most importantly, under control. At the heart of the story is Blaise, a former special forces commando turned virtual reality programmer, whose troubled past is buried beneath layers of digital escapism. But when his employer tempts him with god-like power—the ability to create a VR series that will addict and effectively cull billions deemed unnecessary—Blaise is forced to reckon with his own morality.
The world Rivenbark paints is one of excess, corruption, and ultimate convenience. But beneath its shimmering surface, there’s a rotting core—a society that has become numb to its own destruction. The Cloud isn’t just a tool for entertainment; it’s a means of control, manipulation, and, in the wrong hands, mass extermination. The scariest part? The technological trajectory we’re currently on makes it feel all too real.
A Protagonist Caught Between Immortality and Humanity
Blaise is not your typical hero. He’s deeply flawed, haunted by his past, and, at times, entirely unsure of which side he wants to take. Rivenbark does an excellent job fleshing out his character, showing his internal struggle between self-preservation and doing what’s right. There’s a weight to Blaise’s decisions that makes his journey compelling—you can feel his desperation, his moments of hesitation, and his gradual transformation from a man resigned to his fate to one who dares to fight back.
Then there are the two women who influence his journey in drastically different ways. On one side, we have a psychic hacker determined to dismantle The Cloud’s grip on humanity. She represents resistance, hope, and the idea that maybe—just maybe—there’s still something left worth saving. On the other, there’s a seductive force working to push him deeper into the system, a character who embodies the temptation of power and digital immortality. This dynamic adds layers of tension, both romantic and philosophical, as Blaise grapples with a choice that will determine the fate of billions.
A Cyberpunk Thriller with Heavy Moral Questions
What sets The Cloud apart from other dystopian novels is how seamlessly Rivenbark blends high-stakes action with profound ethical dilemmas. The novel forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions:
If given the chance, would you trade your humanity for immortality?
At what point does entertainment become a means of control?
In a world where virtual pleasure is limitless, what happens to reality?
The story doesn’t just explore these themes; it forces the reader to sit with them. There are no easy answers, and just when you think you’ve figured out where the novel is headed, Rivenbark throws in another twist that makes you reconsider everything.
A Writing Style That Balances Action and Introspection
Rivenbark’s prose is sharp and cinematic, effortlessly shifting between adrenaline-pumping action sequences and deeply introspective moments. The pacing is relentless but never overwhelming, keeping you hooked from the first page to the last. There’s an almost hypnotic rhythm to the way he builds tension, making you feel just as trapped as the characters within The Cloud’s grasp.
His world-building is meticulous, rich with sensory details that bring this dystopian future to life. Whether it’s the neon-lit skyline of a futuristic Los Angeles or the claustrophobic corridors of a virtual construct, every setting feels immersive and tangible. And while the technology is advanced, it’s never so complex that it alienates the reader—everything is explained in a way that feels natural, allowing even those unfamiliar with cyberpunk tropes to dive right in.
Final Verdict: A Chilling, Thought-Provoking, and Thrilling Read
The Cloud isn’t just a story—it’s a warning, a reflection of the path we may already be on. It’s a gripping, adrenaline-fueled ride that will leave you questioning how much control we’ve already surrendered to technology. Rivenbark has created a novel that feels disturbingly relevant, making it a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, cyberpunk thrillers, and anyone fascinated by the dark side of technological advancement.
If you’re looking for a book that will keep you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page, The Cloud delivers in spades. It’s provocative, unsettling, and impossible to put down—a true gem in the genre.
In The Cloud, Robert Rivenbark crafts an unnervingly plausible vision of the future, where technology and human nature collide in ways that are as exhilarating as they are terrifying. This isn’t just another cyberpunk thriller—it’s a thought-provoking deep-dive into the consequences of a fully digitized world, where pleasure is limitless, but so is control. With echoes of Neuromancer and Black Mirror, Rivenbark delivers a novel that challenges our reliance on technology, making us question how close we are to a society where entertainment is weaponized and digital immortality is the ultimate prize.
A Future Dystopia That Feels Frighteningly Close
Set in the 22nd century, The Cloud imagines a Los Angeles where all desires can be satisfied with the click of a button, thanks to an omnipresent digital system known as The Cloud. Think of it as the metaverse on steroids—an all-encompassing network designed to keep people pacified, endlessly entertained, and most importantly, under control. At the heart of the story is Blaise, a former special forces commando turned virtual reality programmer, whose troubled past is buried beneath layers of digital escapism. But when his employer tempts him with god-like power—the ability to create a VR series that will addict and effectively cull billions deemed unnecessary—Blaise is forced to reckon with his own morality.
The world Rivenbark paints is one of excess, corruption, and ultimate convenience. But beneath its shimmering surface, there’s a rotting core—a society that has become numb to its own destruction. The Cloud isn’t just a tool for entertainment; it’s a means of control, manipulation, and, in the wrong hands, mass extermination. The scariest part? The technological trajectory we’re currently on makes it feel all too real.
A Protagonist Caught Between Immortality and Humanity
Blaise is not your typical hero. He’s deeply flawed, haunted by his past, and, at times, entirely unsure of which side he wants to take. Rivenbark does an excellent job fleshing out his character, showing his internal struggle between self-preservation and doing what’s right. There’s a weight to Blaise’s decisions that makes his journey compelling—you can feel his desperation, his moments of hesitation, and his gradual transformation from a man resigned to his fate to one who dares to fight back.
Then there are the two women who influence his journey in drastically different ways. On one side, we have a psychic hacker determined to dismantle The Cloud’s grip on humanity. She represents resistance, hope, and the idea that maybe—just maybe—there’s still something left worth saving. On the other, there’s a seductive force working to push him deeper into the system, a character who embodies the temptation of power and digital immortality. This dynamic adds layers of tension, both romantic and philosophical, as Blaise grapples with a choice that will determine the fate of billions.
A Cyberpunk Thriller with Heavy Moral Questions
What sets The Cloud apart from other dystopian novels is how seamlessly Rivenbark blends high-stakes action with profound ethical dilemmas. The novel forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions:
If given the chance, would you trade your humanity for immortality?
At what point does entertainment become a means of control?
In a world where virtual pleasure is limitless, what happens to reality?
The story doesn’t just explore these themes; it forces the reader to sit with them. There are no easy answers, and just when you think you’ve figured out where the novel is headed, Rivenbark throws in another twist that makes you reconsider everything.
A Writing Style That Balances Action and Introspection
Rivenbark’s prose is sharp and cinematic, effortlessly shifting between adrenaline-pumping action sequences and deeply introspective moments. The pacing is relentless but never overwhelming, keeping you hooked from the first page to the last. There’s an almost hypnotic rhythm to the way he builds tension, making you feel just as trapped as the characters within The Cloud’s grasp.
His world-building is meticulous, rich with sensory details that bring this dystopian future to life. Whether it’s the neon-lit skyline of a futuristic Los Angeles or the claustrophobic corridors of a virtual construct, every setting feels immersive and tangible. And while the technology is advanced, it’s never so complex that it alienates the reader—everything is explained in a way that feels natural, allowing even those unfamiliar with cyberpunk tropes to dive right in.
Final Verdict: A Chilling, Thought-Provoking, and Thrilling Read
The Cloud isn’t just a story—it’s a warning, a reflection of the path we may already be on. It’s a gripping, adrenaline-fueled ride that will leave you questioning how much control we’ve already surrendered to technology. Rivenbark has created a novel that feels disturbingly relevant, making it a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction, cyberpunk thrillers, and anyone fascinated by the dark side of technological advancement.
If you’re looking for a book that will keep you thinking long after you’ve turned the last page, The Cloud delivers in spades. It’s provocative, unsettling, and impossible to put down—a true gem in the genre.
November 6, 2022
Didn't get much sleep last night as I couldn't rest until I finished this thoroughly entertaining dystopian novel. A very entertaining adult read with a fantastic romance that keeps you guessing. I thoroughly recommend!
June 24, 2023
I have rounded up my review from 3.5 to 4 stars.
Introduction
I was given a copy to review for by Henry Roi for a Black Phoenix Book Tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #TheCloud #RobertRivenbark #HenryRoiPR #BlackPhoenixBookTours #Specultaive #BookReview #gifted #ad
Review
The Cloud is a speculative narrative set in twenty-second century L.A. Within the Cloud every imaginable pleasure is accessible and yet the entire world could be wiped out by a single upload and that choice rests in the hands of one man.
Blaise is a brilliant but tormented VR (Virtual Reality) programmer. Haunted by his violent past as a special forces commando he throws himself into VR fantasies. Soon he finds himself tangled in a web of intrigue as his megalomaniac boss offers him wealth, power and ultimately eternal life in exchange for coding a new VR series that will addict and eliminate billions of unproductives. Torn between bringing down the ruling Cloud Regime in Hong Kong or accepting immorality Blaise finds himself flanked by two relentless women. One a psychic hacker risking overwhelming personal odds to save humanity, the other using her carnal wiles to accelerate the final triumph of the Cloud. Blaise must ultimately embrace his violent past to decide the fate of humanity.
I will start with the positives of the book. The narrative is engaging and easy to understand for the most part. The writing and plot are imaginative and engaging to a point. I did like how a lot of the morality is grey and nothing is black or white. It feels almost like a Matrix-Esque tale where Blaise and the hackers are trying to break free from the virtual world that is taking over, no matter the cost. All of which is brilliantly written but there a couple of negatives for me personally that unfortunately meant I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would.
I am by no means a prude when it comes to novels, having read various genres and styles both for personal and academic life but I found in The Cloud there is a lot of sexually explicit scenes and sexual violence (mentions of years of rape) within the novel that seemed just a bit too much and honestly I don’t feel it added that much to the story. Particular when it comes to Mitsuko, a woman that Blaise seemingly hates yet within a short space of time he starts a relationship with her and becomes torn. I realise feelings change but it seemed a bit too much of leap for me that he went from one extreme to another. I appreciate that Mitsuko was meant to be using her wiles on him but it seemed just a bit to jarring how quickly it worked. In fact Blaise himself is a bit annoying, to me at least, in the way he seems to go from one side to the other, on the positive it does capture the human condition – being offered immorality is arguably the ultimate temptation but it just was something personally I couldn’t gel with.
That said, while I did not like that mentioned above the story was good and did keep me engaged, even if aspects of it I didn’t like. I do normally like speculative fiction and I did enjoy this one but it just ultimately wasn’t for me. However any one who is interested in considering humanities ties to technology and ideas of ‘big brother’ watching you I am sure they will like this.
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Introduction
I was given a copy to review for by Henry Roi for a Black Phoenix Book Tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #TheCloud #RobertRivenbark #HenryRoiPR #BlackPhoenixBookTours #Specultaive #BookReview #gifted #ad
Review
The Cloud is a speculative narrative set in twenty-second century L.A. Within the Cloud every imaginable pleasure is accessible and yet the entire world could be wiped out by a single upload and that choice rests in the hands of one man.
Blaise is a brilliant but tormented VR (Virtual Reality) programmer. Haunted by his violent past as a special forces commando he throws himself into VR fantasies. Soon he finds himself tangled in a web of intrigue as his megalomaniac boss offers him wealth, power and ultimately eternal life in exchange for coding a new VR series that will addict and eliminate billions of unproductives. Torn between bringing down the ruling Cloud Regime in Hong Kong or accepting immorality Blaise finds himself flanked by two relentless women. One a psychic hacker risking overwhelming personal odds to save humanity, the other using her carnal wiles to accelerate the final triumph of the Cloud. Blaise must ultimately embrace his violent past to decide the fate of humanity.
I will start with the positives of the book. The narrative is engaging and easy to understand for the most part. The writing and plot are imaginative and engaging to a point. I did like how a lot of the morality is grey and nothing is black or white. It feels almost like a Matrix-Esque tale where Blaise and the hackers are trying to break free from the virtual world that is taking over, no matter the cost. All of which is brilliantly written but there a couple of negatives for me personally that unfortunately meant I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would.
I am by no means a prude when it comes to novels, having read various genres and styles both for personal and academic life but I found in The Cloud there is a lot of sexually explicit scenes and sexual violence (mentions of years of rape) within the novel that seemed just a bit too much and honestly I don’t feel it added that much to the story. Particular when it comes to Mitsuko, a woman that Blaise seemingly hates yet within a short space of time he starts a relationship with her and becomes torn. I realise feelings change but it seemed a bit too much of leap for me that he went from one extreme to another. I appreciate that Mitsuko was meant to be using her wiles on him but it seemed just a bit to jarring how quickly it worked. In fact Blaise himself is a bit annoying, to me at least, in the way he seems to go from one side to the other, on the positive it does capture the human condition – being offered immorality is arguably the ultimate temptation but it just was something personally I couldn’t gel with.
That said, while I did not like that mentioned above the story was good and did keep me engaged, even if aspects of it I didn’t like. I do normally like speculative fiction and I did enjoy this one but it just ultimately wasn’t for me. However any one who is interested in considering humanities ties to technology and ideas of ‘big brother’ watching you I am sure they will like this.
Hashtags
#TheCloud #RobertRivenbark #BlackPhoenixBookToours #BookTour #LiteraryFiction #BookReview #gifted #ad #BookReviewer #BookBlogger #BookHoader #RegenacyRead #BookDragon #BookShark #BookReader #Bookstagram #BookNerd #BookReader #BookLover #BooksBooksBooks #BookAddict #Book
March 31, 2025
The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark is a fascinating exploration of the intersection between technology, humanity, and the concept of consciousness in the digital age. At its core, this novel raises thought-provoking questions about the evolving role of artificial intelligence and its potential to shape the future of human existence.
Rivenbark crafts a narrative that feels both contemporary and futuristic, seamlessly blending speculative elements with philosophical musings. The story revolves around a central technology known as “The Cloud,” a system that allows individuals to upload their memories and experiences, effectively preserving their consciousness. This innovation promises the possibility of immortality but comes with its own set of challenges and moral dilemmas.
The pacing of the novel is methodical, with a deliberate buildup to the major revelations. Rivenbark does an excellent job of introducing us to the characters, who feel grounded despite the abstract nature of the plot. Their internal conflicts and relationships with technology give the story an emotional depth that prevents it from feeling too detached. There are moments where the narrative seems to be more philosophical discourse than action-driven, which might slow the pace for some readers, but it contributes to the overall contemplative tone of the book.
One of the book's strongest elements is its examination of the ethical questions surrounding digital immortality. The characters grapple with the implications of uploading their consciousness—Is it truly living if it’s only a digital replica? What happens to the soul when the body no longer defines identity? These questions are explored with nuance, encouraging the reader to think critically about the rapid advances in technology and their potential consequences.
The writing itself is clean and accessible, with Rivenbark’s prose making complex concepts easier to digest. The science fiction elements feel plausible within the world Rivenbark has created, and while the technology presented in the novel may seem speculative, it is not far from some of the conversations happening in the tech world today. The author balances technical explanation with character-driven storytelling, making the speculative technology believable rather than overwhelming.
However, where The Cloud falters is in its tendency to focus too heavily on the philosophical aspects, sometimes at the expense of plot. While the concept of consciousness upload is intriguing, the narrative sometimes becomes bogged down in discussions of identity, memory, and the implications of technology on society, which may leave some readers wanting more concrete developments in the plot.
Overall, The Cloud is a gripping, thought-provoking novel that delves into significant questions about the future of humanity and technology. Rivenbark’s ability to weave a compelling narrative around such complex themes makes this an engaging read for those interested in the ethical and philosophical implications of emerging technologies. It is a book that doesn’t just entertain but challenges readers to reflect on the world they’re living in—and the one they might someday inhabit.
Rivenbark crafts a narrative that feels both contemporary and futuristic, seamlessly blending speculative elements with philosophical musings. The story revolves around a central technology known as “The Cloud,” a system that allows individuals to upload their memories and experiences, effectively preserving their consciousness. This innovation promises the possibility of immortality but comes with its own set of challenges and moral dilemmas.
The pacing of the novel is methodical, with a deliberate buildup to the major revelations. Rivenbark does an excellent job of introducing us to the characters, who feel grounded despite the abstract nature of the plot. Their internal conflicts and relationships with technology give the story an emotional depth that prevents it from feeling too detached. There are moments where the narrative seems to be more philosophical discourse than action-driven, which might slow the pace for some readers, but it contributes to the overall contemplative tone of the book.
One of the book's strongest elements is its examination of the ethical questions surrounding digital immortality. The characters grapple with the implications of uploading their consciousness—Is it truly living if it’s only a digital replica? What happens to the soul when the body no longer defines identity? These questions are explored with nuance, encouraging the reader to think critically about the rapid advances in technology and their potential consequences.
The writing itself is clean and accessible, with Rivenbark’s prose making complex concepts easier to digest. The science fiction elements feel plausible within the world Rivenbark has created, and while the technology presented in the novel may seem speculative, it is not far from some of the conversations happening in the tech world today. The author balances technical explanation with character-driven storytelling, making the speculative technology believable rather than overwhelming.
However, where The Cloud falters is in its tendency to focus too heavily on the philosophical aspects, sometimes at the expense of plot. While the concept of consciousness upload is intriguing, the narrative sometimes becomes bogged down in discussions of identity, memory, and the implications of technology on society, which may leave some readers wanting more concrete developments in the plot.
Overall, The Cloud is a gripping, thought-provoking novel that delves into significant questions about the future of humanity and technology. Rivenbark’s ability to weave a compelling narrative around such complex themes makes this an engaging read for those interested in the ethical and philosophical implications of emerging technologies. It is a book that doesn’t just entertain but challenges readers to reflect on the world they’re living in—and the one they might someday inhabit.
March 12, 2025
Warning: Contains sexual content and strong language
The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark is a captivating, edge-of-your-seat dystopian thriller that delves deep into the dark potential of a hyper-connected, surveillance-driven future. The pacing is exceptional, with a relentless flow that keeps you hooked from the very first page. Rivenbark's narrative is unpredictable, often leaving you unsure of where the story will take you next. It’s a powerful reminder of how modern technology could spiral into something both terrifying and, unfortunately, all too plausible.
Set in the twenty-second century in a world ruled by The Cloud—an omnipresent virtual reality system—The Cloud examines the stark divisions between the privileged professional class addicted to VR and the "slags" who live in squalor and struggle to survive. The rich live in a hedonistic dream, while the impoverished endure a grim existence, yet still manage to procreate. It's a chilling reflection on society’s potential path, resembling the controlled world of 1984.
The protagonist, Blaise Pascal, is an intriguing and complex character—a brilliant but tormented VR programmer with a violent past. As a coder behind the most popular VR series designed to addict its users, Blaise stumbles upon a horrifying truth: his creation is set to eliminate billions of "unproductives"—the poorest of society. The narrative explores the themes of privacy, control, freedom, and the consequences of advanced technology being exploited by the powerful elite. As Blaise navigates this high-stakes world, he must confront not only his guilt and regrets but also the larger moral and ethical dilemmas of a world gone wrong.
Rivenbark’s writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, painting a future that is as chilling as it is fascinating. The blend of technology and dystopia keeps the reader fully immersed, while the protagonist’s internal battle adds depth and relatability. Blaise’s journey of self-discovery, as he struggles between the tempting offer of wealth, power, and immortality, and his growing desire to fight back against the regime, is a compelling central arc. His interactions with two relentless women—one a psychic hacker determined to save humanity, and the other using her carnal influence to manipulate the regime’s success—add layers of tension and intrigue.
The story isn’t without its darker elements—there’s sexual content (subtle but present) and violence that will challenge some readers, but these elements are essential to the narrative’s bleak and uncompromising tone.
The Cloud is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction. Rivenbark’s vision of a future dominated by surveillance, VR addiction, and ruthless oligarchs is a warning wrapped in an exhilarating, unpredictable tale. A perfect blend of technological horror and philosophical reflection, this book will leave readers thinking long after the last page is turned.
As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Phoenix Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it.
The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark is a captivating, edge-of-your-seat dystopian thriller that delves deep into the dark potential of a hyper-connected, surveillance-driven future. The pacing is exceptional, with a relentless flow that keeps you hooked from the very first page. Rivenbark's narrative is unpredictable, often leaving you unsure of where the story will take you next. It’s a powerful reminder of how modern technology could spiral into something both terrifying and, unfortunately, all too plausible.
Set in the twenty-second century in a world ruled by The Cloud—an omnipresent virtual reality system—The Cloud examines the stark divisions between the privileged professional class addicted to VR and the "slags" who live in squalor and struggle to survive. The rich live in a hedonistic dream, while the impoverished endure a grim existence, yet still manage to procreate. It's a chilling reflection on society’s potential path, resembling the controlled world of 1984.
The protagonist, Blaise Pascal, is an intriguing and complex character—a brilliant but tormented VR programmer with a violent past. As a coder behind the most popular VR series designed to addict its users, Blaise stumbles upon a horrifying truth: his creation is set to eliminate billions of "unproductives"—the poorest of society. The narrative explores the themes of privacy, control, freedom, and the consequences of advanced technology being exploited by the powerful elite. As Blaise navigates this high-stakes world, he must confront not only his guilt and regrets but also the larger moral and ethical dilemmas of a world gone wrong.
Rivenbark’s writing is both engaging and thought-provoking, painting a future that is as chilling as it is fascinating. The blend of technology and dystopia keeps the reader fully immersed, while the protagonist’s internal battle adds depth and relatability. Blaise’s journey of self-discovery, as he struggles between the tempting offer of wealth, power, and immortality, and his growing desire to fight back against the regime, is a compelling central arc. His interactions with two relentless women—one a psychic hacker determined to save humanity, and the other using her carnal influence to manipulate the regime’s success—add layers of tension and intrigue.
The story isn’t without its darker elements—there’s sexual content (subtle but present) and violence that will challenge some readers, but these elements are essential to the narrative’s bleak and uncompromising tone.
The Cloud is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction. Rivenbark’s vision of a future dominated by surveillance, VR addiction, and ruthless oligarchs is a warning wrapped in an exhilarating, unpredictable tale. A perfect blend of technological horror and philosophical reflection, this book will leave readers thinking long after the last page is turned.
As BookHookup, I am a longtime book reviewer. I received a free review copy of this book from Black Phoenix Book Tours and have not received compensation for reviewing or recommending it.
June 23, 2023
A Thrilling Technological Odyssey with High-Stakes Consequences.
"The Cloud" by Robert Rivenbark takes readers on a thrilling journey into a future Los Angeles where the pervasive power of The Cloud reigns supreme, granting access to boundless pleasures while holding the world's fate in its digital grasp.
Blaise, a brilliant and troubled VR programmer, seeks refuge from his haunted past as a special forces commando by immersing himself in the creation of virtual fantasies. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when his enigmatic and power-hungry boss presents him with an irresistible offer: wealth, dominion, and eternal life in exchange for developing a new VR series that will addict and eliminate billions deemed "unproductive" by The Cloud's ruling regime.
Caught between the choice of joining rebellious forces in Hong Kong, determined to dismantle the oppressive Cloud regime, or surrendering to the allure of personal immortality, Blaise finds himself flanked by two formidable women. One is a courageous psychic hacker, defying insurmountable odds to safeguard humanity from annihilation, while the other employs her irresistible charms to hasten The Cloud's ultimate triumph.
As the narrative unfolds, Blaise grapples with his own inner turmoil, forced to confront the darker aspects of his nature and reconcile his past deeds with an uncertain future. The stakes escalate as he embarks on a perilous quest to dismantle The Cloud, realizing that in order to save humanity, he must confront his own violent instincts and harness his dormant warrior spirit.
Rivenbark's masterful storytelling invites readers into a dystopian world where the boundaries between reality and virtuality blur, posing profound questions about the nature of power, morality, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancement. "The Cloud" is a riveting exploration of humanity's capacity for both creation and destruction, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate a treacherous landscape filled with twists, turns, and moral dilemmas that challenge the very fabric of existence.
With its captivating blend of action, suspense, and philosophical depth, "The Cloud" captivates readers from the first page to the last. Rivenbark's vivid prose and well-crafted characters draw readers into a future that feels both chillingly plausible and brimming with possibilities. This thought-provoking novel serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to tread carefully as we navigate the ever-expanding frontiers of technology and the profound implications they hold for the future of humanity.
"The Cloud" by Robert Rivenbark takes readers on a thrilling journey into a future Los Angeles where the pervasive power of The Cloud reigns supreme, granting access to boundless pleasures while holding the world's fate in its digital grasp.
Blaise, a brilliant and troubled VR programmer, seeks refuge from his haunted past as a special forces commando by immersing himself in the creation of virtual fantasies. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when his enigmatic and power-hungry boss presents him with an irresistible offer: wealth, dominion, and eternal life in exchange for developing a new VR series that will addict and eliminate billions deemed "unproductive" by The Cloud's ruling regime.
Caught between the choice of joining rebellious forces in Hong Kong, determined to dismantle the oppressive Cloud regime, or surrendering to the allure of personal immortality, Blaise finds himself flanked by two formidable women. One is a courageous psychic hacker, defying insurmountable odds to safeguard humanity from annihilation, while the other employs her irresistible charms to hasten The Cloud's ultimate triumph.
As the narrative unfolds, Blaise grapples with his own inner turmoil, forced to confront the darker aspects of his nature and reconcile his past deeds with an uncertain future. The stakes escalate as he embarks on a perilous quest to dismantle The Cloud, realizing that in order to save humanity, he must confront his own violent instincts and harness his dormant warrior spirit.
Rivenbark's masterful storytelling invites readers into a dystopian world where the boundaries between reality and virtuality blur, posing profound questions about the nature of power, morality, and the consequences of unchecked technological advancement. "The Cloud" is a riveting exploration of humanity's capacity for both creation and destruction, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate a treacherous landscape filled with twists, turns, and moral dilemmas that challenge the very fabric of existence.
With its captivating blend of action, suspense, and philosophical depth, "The Cloud" captivates readers from the first page to the last. Rivenbark's vivid prose and well-crafted characters draw readers into a future that feels both chillingly plausible and brimming with possibilities. This thought-provoking novel serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to tread carefully as we navigate the ever-expanding frontiers of technology and the profound implications they hold for the future of humanity.
June 23, 2023
I went into The Cloud completely blind; as with most of the books I'm asked to review, I usually leave them long enough to forget the synopsis completely before I start them so I wipe any expectations I have of them. Going into this, I thought it would be your average dystopian race against time, but instead I was treated to a deep discussion of immortality, spirituality, and the potential future of AI technology.
In a world where virtual reality dominates, society is split into distinct classes and ascension is the key to survival. Our protagonist, Blaise, creates VR games that can affect the physical world, and his talent has marked him as the target of the power-hungry director. Blaise is catapulted into a plot thick with temptation, betrayal, and bloodshed.
At its core, The Cloud is dark. With virtual reality weapons resembling giant praying mantises able to be summoned at will by those at the peak of society, the constant looming threat of climate change-induced flooding, and the perpetual monitoring of your every thought, the stakes are raised throughout. I loved the subversion of the stereotypical love triangle, with Blaise caught between two women on either side of the revolution, and the fact the story was told through the 'inside man' rather than the leader of the rebellion.
Personally, I felt Blaise was a little too weak for a protagonist, simply because his only motivation seemed to be sex. While he's torn between two women, it's not their mindsets that truly sway him but rather his attraction to them, and to me that made his motivations-and therefore his character as a whole-weak.
I did like the plausibility of the dystopia. The world of 22nd-century LA felt like it had been extrapolated straight from our current reality, and the idea of a mind-altering VR drug was too possible. This was a setting I couldn't get enough of, and I wanted to explore it forever.
Despite my own personal feelings about Blaise, The Cloud is a fascinating look at a plausible future that blends dystopia and horror to produce a memorable novel, and the implications will stay with you long after you reach the last page.
I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.
In a world where virtual reality dominates, society is split into distinct classes and ascension is the key to survival. Our protagonist, Blaise, creates VR games that can affect the physical world, and his talent has marked him as the target of the power-hungry director. Blaise is catapulted into a plot thick with temptation, betrayal, and bloodshed.
At its core, The Cloud is dark. With virtual reality weapons resembling giant praying mantises able to be summoned at will by those at the peak of society, the constant looming threat of climate change-induced flooding, and the perpetual monitoring of your every thought, the stakes are raised throughout. I loved the subversion of the stereotypical love triangle, with Blaise caught between two women on either side of the revolution, and the fact the story was told through the 'inside man' rather than the leader of the rebellion.
Personally, I felt Blaise was a little too weak for a protagonist, simply because his only motivation seemed to be sex. While he's torn between two women, it's not their mindsets that truly sway him but rather his attraction to them, and to me that made his motivations-and therefore his character as a whole-weak.
I did like the plausibility of the dystopia. The world of 22nd-century LA felt like it had been extrapolated straight from our current reality, and the idea of a mind-altering VR drug was too possible. This was a setting I couldn't get enough of, and I wanted to explore it forever.
Despite my own personal feelings about Blaise, The Cloud is a fascinating look at a plausible future that blends dystopia and horror to produce a memorable novel, and the implications will stay with you long after you reach the last page.
I was offered a copy of this book with a request for an honest review.
December 20, 2023
I was asked to read "The Cloud," written by Robert Rivenbark.
It was Robert himself on tiktok. While the concept of the story was intriguing, I found myself somewhat disappointed by its execution.
The novel follows the protagonist on a journey into a mystical and ethereal world known as "the cloud." I struggled to fully immerse myself in the narrative.
One of the main shortcomings I found in this book was the lack of character development. While the protagonist was likeable enough, I felt that their growth and transformation were underdeveloped. Their motivations and reactions to the challenges they faced often felt predictable and cliché, making it difficult to truly connect with them on an emotional level.
Additionally, the pacing of the story felt inconsistent. At times, the narrative would become unnecessarily slow, delving into unnecessary details and tangents. Conversely, during crucial moments, the pacing would suddenly pick up, leaving me feeling slightly overwhelmed and rushed.
The world-building, while interesting in concept, could have been more robust. The cloud itself was described with vivid imagery, but I longed for a deeper exploration of its rules, inhabitants, and the magic it contained. Many elements felt unexplained or lacked proper context, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction.
Furthermore, the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural. The interactions between characters lacked authenticity, making it challenging to fully invest in their relationships and conversations. This diminished the impact of crucial plot points and emotional exchanges, making them feel contrived and superficial.
Despite these criticisms, I must acknowledge that Rivenbark's writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The prose flows smoothly, allowing for a relatively effortless reading experience. It's just a shame that some fundamental aspects of the story weren't given the necessary attention to truly bring it to life.
Readers seeking a novel that combines a poignant human saga with speculative elements will find "The Cloud" an evocative read. Despite slight pacing issues, Rivenbark delivers a celestial literary experience that is sure to linger in readers' minds long after the last page is turned.
It was Robert himself on tiktok. While the concept of the story was intriguing, I found myself somewhat disappointed by its execution.
The novel follows the protagonist on a journey into a mystical and ethereal world known as "the cloud." I struggled to fully immerse myself in the narrative.
One of the main shortcomings I found in this book was the lack of character development. While the protagonist was likeable enough, I felt that their growth and transformation were underdeveloped. Their motivations and reactions to the challenges they faced often felt predictable and cliché, making it difficult to truly connect with them on an emotional level.
Additionally, the pacing of the story felt inconsistent. At times, the narrative would become unnecessarily slow, delving into unnecessary details and tangents. Conversely, during crucial moments, the pacing would suddenly pick up, leaving me feeling slightly overwhelmed and rushed.
The world-building, while interesting in concept, could have been more robust. The cloud itself was described with vivid imagery, but I longed for a deeper exploration of its rules, inhabitants, and the magic it contained. Many elements felt unexplained or lacked proper context, leaving me with a sense of dissatisfaction.
Furthermore, the dialogue often felt forced and unnatural. The interactions between characters lacked authenticity, making it challenging to fully invest in their relationships and conversations. This diminished the impact of crucial plot points and emotional exchanges, making them feel contrived and superficial.
Despite these criticisms, I must acknowledge that Rivenbark's writing style is engaging and easy to follow. The prose flows smoothly, allowing for a relatively effortless reading experience. It's just a shame that some fundamental aspects of the story weren't given the necessary attention to truly bring it to life.
Readers seeking a novel that combines a poignant human saga with speculative elements will find "The Cloud" an evocative read. Despite slight pacing issues, Rivenbark delivers a celestial literary experience that is sure to linger in readers' minds long after the last page is turned.
June 25, 2023
I can't help but give five stars to The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark. From the very first page, I was completely engrossed, captivated by the author's vivid portrayal of a not-so-distant future that is as thrilling as it is terrifying. The dystopian society, where virtual reality reigns supreme and societal hierarchy dictates survival, was brought to life so vividly that I felt like I was living it myself.
The protagonist, Blaise, is a genius VR programmer with a complex past, and it's through his eyes that we navigate this intricate world. His skill for creating VR games that can affect the physical world has marked him for the attention of a power-hungry director, thrusting him into a whirlwind of temptation, betrayal, and violence. I particularly enjoyed how the story was told from the perspective of this inside man, a unique and refreshing deviation from the usual rebellion leader archetype.
What really sets The Cloud apart is its exploration of deep themes, such as immortality and the potential future of AI technology. It's not just about the action-packed plot, but also about these thought-provoking ideas. The story had me contemplating the implications long after I turned the last page, proving that Rivenbark's writing packs a lasting punch.
In the midst of the darker themes, there are moments of light, like the subversion of the typical love triangle. Blaise is torn between two powerful women on opposite sides of the revolution, each with her own compelling attributes and motivations. This added a layer of complexity to the story and to Blaise's character, making the narrative even more compelling.
In the end, The Cloud is a stunning blend of dystopia and horror that creates an unforgettable narrative. It's a riveting exploration of a plausible future that is both exhilarating and chilling. For anyone who appreciates science fiction that's not afraid to delve into deeper philosophical and moral issues, this book is a must-read. I can confidently say it's one of the best books I've delved into this year, and I look forward to seeing what else Robert Rivenbark has in store.
The protagonist, Blaise, is a genius VR programmer with a complex past, and it's through his eyes that we navigate this intricate world. His skill for creating VR games that can affect the physical world has marked him for the attention of a power-hungry director, thrusting him into a whirlwind of temptation, betrayal, and violence. I particularly enjoyed how the story was told from the perspective of this inside man, a unique and refreshing deviation from the usual rebellion leader archetype.
What really sets The Cloud apart is its exploration of deep themes, such as immortality and the potential future of AI technology. It's not just about the action-packed plot, but also about these thought-provoking ideas. The story had me contemplating the implications long after I turned the last page, proving that Rivenbark's writing packs a lasting punch.
In the midst of the darker themes, there are moments of light, like the subversion of the typical love triangle. Blaise is torn between two powerful women on opposite sides of the revolution, each with her own compelling attributes and motivations. This added a layer of complexity to the story and to Blaise's character, making the narrative even more compelling.
In the end, The Cloud is a stunning blend of dystopia and horror that creates an unforgettable narrative. It's a riveting exploration of a plausible future that is both exhilarating and chilling. For anyone who appreciates science fiction that's not afraid to delve into deeper philosophical and moral issues, this book is a must-read. I can confidently say it's one of the best books I've delved into this year, and I look forward to seeing what else Robert Rivenbark has in store.
October 13, 2025
The Cloud: A Speculative Fiction Novel
By: Robert Rivenbark
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: August 24, 2022
ASIN: B0BBTDFJFT
Page Count: 226
Triggers: Violence, manipulation, psychological trauma, corporate dystopia
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: ☠️☠️ (Mostly existential dread, less body horror)
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Welcome to the twenty-second century, where everyone’s addicted to virtual reality and the government is run by a glorified cloud storage service. Think Black Mirror meets Altered Carbon with a dash of “maybe I should unplug my Wi-Fi before Skynet notices me.” Blaise, our emotionally fried ex-commando-turned-VR-coder, is stuck between two very persuasive women, a power-drunk boss who’d sell his soul for eternal bandwidth, and the growing realization that his job might literally delete humanity.
Here’s What Slapped:
Mr. Rivenbark writes like someone who has seen the apocalypse and decided to code it instead of describe it. The world-building is sharp and eerily plausible—neon corporate skylines, corrupted data temples, and digital immortality sold like a Black Friday deal. The tension hums like a server farm about to overheat. The philosophical undercurrent—control, addiction, and what’s left of the human soul when we outsource our reality—is what gives this book its staying power.
Blaise’s PTSD, guilt, and moral conflict add depth you don’t usually get in your standard tech-noir. And the prose? Beautiful. It’s literary sci-fi done right—complex without pretension, fast-paced without brain-rot.
What Could’ve Been Better:
A few adjective pileups here and there (as if the thesaurus also achieved sentience), but honestly, it fits the vibe. The sensory overload mirrors the chaos of the world he’s built. You’re supposed to feel a little dizzy.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Blade Runner’s rain-slicked ethics debates
The dark charm of Altered Carbon
Tech dystopias that whisper, “We’re closer to this than you think.”
Moral quandaries served with neon lights and existential crisis
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
By: Robert Rivenbark
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: August 24, 2022
ASIN: B0BBTDFJFT
Page Count: 226
Triggers: Violence, manipulation, psychological trauma, corporate dystopia
Star Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Skull Dread Rating: ☠️☠️ (Mostly existential dread, less body horror)
What Did I Just Walk Into?
Welcome to the twenty-second century, where everyone’s addicted to virtual reality and the government is run by a glorified cloud storage service. Think Black Mirror meets Altered Carbon with a dash of “maybe I should unplug my Wi-Fi before Skynet notices me.” Blaise, our emotionally fried ex-commando-turned-VR-coder, is stuck between two very persuasive women, a power-drunk boss who’d sell his soul for eternal bandwidth, and the growing realization that his job might literally delete humanity.
Here’s What Slapped:
Mr. Rivenbark writes like someone who has seen the apocalypse and decided to code it instead of describe it. The world-building is sharp and eerily plausible—neon corporate skylines, corrupted data temples, and digital immortality sold like a Black Friday deal. The tension hums like a server farm about to overheat. The philosophical undercurrent—control, addiction, and what’s left of the human soul when we outsource our reality—is what gives this book its staying power.
Blaise’s PTSD, guilt, and moral conflict add depth you don’t usually get in your standard tech-noir. And the prose? Beautiful. It’s literary sci-fi done right—complex without pretension, fast-paced without brain-rot.
What Could’ve Been Better:
A few adjective pileups here and there (as if the thesaurus also achieved sentience), but honestly, it fits the vibe. The sensory overload mirrors the chaos of the world he’s built. You’re supposed to feel a little dizzy.
Perfect for Readers Who Love:
Blade Runner’s rain-slicked ethics debates
The dark charm of Altered Carbon
Tech dystopias that whisper, “We’re closer to this than you think.”
Moral quandaries served with neon lights and existential crisis
Reviewed by Robin for Robin’s Review
November 4, 2022
Do we live in a Virtual Reality world?
1984. If you immerse yourself in Orwell's vision of the future, you will be transported to a world where the government controls everything and your every move is watched.
George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 doesn't feel like fiction these days. We are living through an extraordinary time, with social, environmental, and political upheaval all around us.
When reading a novel, the last thing you want is to be constantly questioning the events that are taking place. You want to be able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story. This is why a well-written novel is so important. It should be easy to believe in the events taking place, even if they're far-fetched. Or… are they?
Robert Rivenbark’s The Cloud expresses the primal fears instilled in us when we look at the yawning inequity between us and the wealthy tech overlords who hold all the power. With the disturbing rise in Virtual Reality, AI-generated artificial content such as text, images, audio, and video content as well as Deep Fake technology, it can be challenging to determine whether what we are seeing on the internet is real. It is easy to posit that the Metaverse may exist as a bridge between our physical and digital worlds, which makes this novel so very easy to believe.
The Cloud projects these present-day technological trends into a possible future even more terrifying than Orwell’s. Here, 24/7 neural surveillance prevails, traitorous thoughts are punished by a VR-delivered assassin called the Mantis, and total-immersion VR entertainment enslaves the masses. These terrors are inflicted upon beautifully developed characters who struggle to remain human and fight back against the ruling regime in the face of total mind control.
The author has lived in several countries and observed many governments at work and the impact of globalization on our world. Through the rich tapestry of his imagination, he brings us a fascinating story about the dark side of messianic criminals who fancy themselves as gods.
1984. If you immerse yourself in Orwell's vision of the future, you will be transported to a world where the government controls everything and your every move is watched.
George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 doesn't feel like fiction these days. We are living through an extraordinary time, with social, environmental, and political upheaval all around us.
When reading a novel, the last thing you want is to be constantly questioning the events that are taking place. You want to be able to suspend disbelief and just enjoy the story. This is why a well-written novel is so important. It should be easy to believe in the events taking place, even if they're far-fetched. Or… are they?
Robert Rivenbark’s The Cloud expresses the primal fears instilled in us when we look at the yawning inequity between us and the wealthy tech overlords who hold all the power. With the disturbing rise in Virtual Reality, AI-generated artificial content such as text, images, audio, and video content as well as Deep Fake technology, it can be challenging to determine whether what we are seeing on the internet is real. It is easy to posit that the Metaverse may exist as a bridge between our physical and digital worlds, which makes this novel so very easy to believe.
The Cloud projects these present-day technological trends into a possible future even more terrifying than Orwell’s. Here, 24/7 neural surveillance prevails, traitorous thoughts are punished by a VR-delivered assassin called the Mantis, and total-immersion VR entertainment enslaves the masses. These terrors are inflicted upon beautifully developed characters who struggle to remain human and fight back against the ruling regime in the face of total mind control.
The author has lived in several countries and observed many governments at work and the impact of globalization on our world. Through the rich tapestry of his imagination, he brings us a fascinating story about the dark side of messianic criminals who fancy themselves as gods.
July 24, 2023
Alright, so there I was, sprawled on my couch, crumbs from my half-eaten sandwich scattered around, my dog snoring somewhere in the vicinity, when I stumbled upon The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark. Now, I’ve read my fair share of books, but this one – oh boy! It was like finding a golden ticket in a Wonka bar!
The story grabbed me by the collar and yanked me into a world that was as fascinating as the inside of my grandma’s old attic. Each character was juicier than a ripe watermelon in summer, and the plot twists? They were so unexpected, I might as well have been trying to predict the weather in London!
Rivenbark’s writing is as smooth as the peanut butter in my sandwich, and just as addictive. I mean, seriously, this guy could describe a dust particle and make it sound like the eighth wonder of the world. And let’s not even get started on his humor. It’s as if he went to the Comedy Store, gathered all the laughs, and then sprinkled them generously throughout his book. I was chuckling more often than my neighbor’s old bulldog snorts, and that’s saying something.
But what really stood out for me was the authenticity of The Cloud. It was like Rivenbark had taken a chunk of real life, added a dash of fantasy, a sprinkle of humor, and baked it into a delicious narrative pie. Every event, every character reaction, every dialogue was so real, I felt like I was right there in the middle of it all, rather than just a spectator hiding behind the safety of printed words.
So, if you’re looking for a book that’s as satisfying as a warm mug of cocoa on a cold winter night, The Cloud is your ticket. I laughed, I gasped, I even shed a tear or two – but don’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want to ruin my tough-as-nails reputation.
The Cloud is a solid 5-star read. It’s got the laughs, the tears, the gasps, and the “holy guacamole, did that just happen?” moments. So, grab a copy, put on your comfiest pajamas, and prepare for a ride that’s more thrilling than my last attempt to assemble IKEA furniture. And that’s saying something!
The story grabbed me by the collar and yanked me into a world that was as fascinating as the inside of my grandma’s old attic. Each character was juicier than a ripe watermelon in summer, and the plot twists? They were so unexpected, I might as well have been trying to predict the weather in London!
Rivenbark’s writing is as smooth as the peanut butter in my sandwich, and just as addictive. I mean, seriously, this guy could describe a dust particle and make it sound like the eighth wonder of the world. And let’s not even get started on his humor. It’s as if he went to the Comedy Store, gathered all the laughs, and then sprinkled them generously throughout his book. I was chuckling more often than my neighbor’s old bulldog snorts, and that’s saying something.
But what really stood out for me was the authenticity of The Cloud. It was like Rivenbark had taken a chunk of real life, added a dash of fantasy, a sprinkle of humor, and baked it into a delicious narrative pie. Every event, every character reaction, every dialogue was so real, I felt like I was right there in the middle of it all, rather than just a spectator hiding behind the safety of printed words.
So, if you’re looking for a book that’s as satisfying as a warm mug of cocoa on a cold winter night, The Cloud is your ticket. I laughed, I gasped, I even shed a tear or two – but don’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want to ruin my tough-as-nails reputation.
The Cloud is a solid 5-star read. It’s got the laughs, the tears, the gasps, and the “holy guacamole, did that just happen?” moments. So, grab a copy, put on your comfiest pajamas, and prepare for a ride that’s more thrilling than my last attempt to assemble IKEA furniture. And that’s saying something!
March 21, 2025
The Cloud by Robert Rivenbark
Thank you @henryroi.pr for the ebook.
The Cloud is a fast paced sci-fi novel set in 22nd century America.
It's a dystopian nightmare come true with a total reliance on AI and VR, citizens hooked up with neurofeeds able to stream constant advertising or trap you in a virtual reality indistinguishable from real life.
There are a few good moments where it's unclear to the protagonist what is reality and what isn't, a cyberpunk philosophical melding of Philip K Dick and William Gibson. I could have done with a little more of that as our MC, Blaise, a VR programmer and creator spends a lot of time undecided as to whose side he's on and is quickly swayed into allegiance through the promise of sex.
Blaise is the conventional tragic hero. Good looking & smart with an ex-military background and a dead wife and child making him susceptible to PTSD outbreaks.
He's brought in to work for The Cloud as the top programmer on the latest VR which once finished will be used to rid the world of the 'undesirables', the millions of low class people that the megalomaniacs in control have deemed as expendable in order to usher in a new age of luxury for the newly immortal class thanks to the Lazarus drug.
The poor class are known as Slags.
(Side note: it's an American novel. The slang meanings of slags in the UK gives it a different feel. I'm imagining Danny Dyer shouting 'shut it you slags'😂)
Blaise is torn between two women. Slag supporter and incredible hacker Kristina who enlists Blaise via being sexy to agree to upload a virus to take down the Cloud. Of course it's not as easy as that. Secondly there's Mitsuko, arrogant and beautiful. He's forced to work with her on the VR code. He hates her. But possibly loves her because she's sexy.
Which side will Blaise help? Will he accept immortality at the expense of billions of lives?
There's plenty of action (and sexy time) with weaponry both real & virtual including death dealing giant mantises.
The villain is diabolically evil and the story highly entertaining.
Thank you @henryroi.pr for the ebook.
The Cloud is a fast paced sci-fi novel set in 22nd century America.
It's a dystopian nightmare come true with a total reliance on AI and VR, citizens hooked up with neurofeeds able to stream constant advertising or trap you in a virtual reality indistinguishable from real life.
There are a few good moments where it's unclear to the protagonist what is reality and what isn't, a cyberpunk philosophical melding of Philip K Dick and William Gibson. I could have done with a little more of that as our MC, Blaise, a VR programmer and creator spends a lot of time undecided as to whose side he's on and is quickly swayed into allegiance through the promise of sex.
Blaise is the conventional tragic hero. Good looking & smart with an ex-military background and a dead wife and child making him susceptible to PTSD outbreaks.
He's brought in to work for The Cloud as the top programmer on the latest VR which once finished will be used to rid the world of the 'undesirables', the millions of low class people that the megalomaniacs in control have deemed as expendable in order to usher in a new age of luxury for the newly immortal class thanks to the Lazarus drug.
The poor class are known as Slags.
(Side note: it's an American novel. The slang meanings of slags in the UK gives it a different feel. I'm imagining Danny Dyer shouting 'shut it you slags'😂)
Blaise is torn between two women. Slag supporter and incredible hacker Kristina who enlists Blaise via being sexy to agree to upload a virus to take down the Cloud. Of course it's not as easy as that. Secondly there's Mitsuko, arrogant and beautiful. He's forced to work with her on the VR code. He hates her. But possibly loves her because she's sexy.
Which side will Blaise help? Will he accept immortality at the expense of billions of lives?
There's plenty of action (and sexy time) with weaponry both real & virtual including death dealing giant mantises.
The villain is diabolically evil and the story highly entertaining.
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