On Cloud Nine

by Jake Hogeterp

The Sprites who inhabit Cloud Nine are in disarray. But how can they be, when they are the ones charged with managing the happiness of humans Down Below? Will they have to turn to Paul Hogarth, the quintessential flesh-creature underachiever to help them out of their jamb and save humanity from itself in the bargain?

Avalable at
http://www.hiddenbrookpress.com/Book-...

214 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Cloud Nine: A mock-serious fantasy

A review by Ben Antao


On Cloud Nine, a fantasy novel by Jake Hogeterp, is a mock-serious fantasy designed to put you on cloud nine. The double entendre is intentional, in keeping with the tone of the narrative and its unlikely theme.

I don’t know about you, but there was one time in my life, over 40 years ago, when I felt I was on cloud nine and almost floating as if walking on air. Naturally, such a supercharged state of happiness could not endure for long, as after a day or so, I came down to earth.

The author builds the novel around this cute idea that excessive joy or happiness is beyond our ability to cope because it taxes the human spirit. So the overburdened part of the spirit is transported to Cloud Nine for much-needed R & R, that is, rest and rehabilitation.

In this fantastic story, a group of human spirits arrive in a spaceship called Joyful Reaper at the hatch of Cloud Nine docked at one of the three Realms, the other two being the Dumps (limbo) and Seventh Heaven. Two of the earthlings in the group are Paul, a baker who has written a novel Paradigm Lost, and his lady-love Sandra, a musician who plays viola. Cloud Nine has a governing council of Sprites, including Emmenda, Priam, Portia, Arathane, Whorlic, Lonika, guardian spirits Gabe and Meph, and the angel Lucina.

What makes this story of R & R humanly engaging—and might I add, even humane—reflects the author’s control of diction and imagery worthy of a fantasy. The dialogue is rendered in the Elizabethan style of high sonority, with due deference to class consciousness even on a make-believe realm such as the cloudworld.

As we follow Paul and Sandra’s rehabilitation, we’re brought down to earth with a rousing choral recital of Handel’s Messiah and the goodwill it will generate between heaven and earth, if only the earthlings would care more for peace among the people than on being on cloud nine.

It’s been ages, nay aeons, since I’ve read a fantasy novel and enjoyed it. Frankly, I’m impressed with Hogeterp’s debut novel.

[Michael]

Fantasy is a genre I don't often partake of in my adventures in reading. But "Cloud Nine" is a refreshing excursion in that field. It skillfully draws you into a world of sprites, cloudscapers and guardians of the realm who are sworn to protect the inhabitants of "Down Below".

It doesn't take long to realize that this tale is an allegory on several levels. You soon see reflections of real life in the human beings who are whisked to Cloud Nine for rehabilitation. At the same time, the unsettling events in the sprite's world have their parallels down below.

Jake Hogeterp has fashioned a vivid and thought-provoking fantasy world that catches you up in its spell. The intersection of this "nether-heavens" and "down below" reminds us that truth often emerges the clearest when we embrace our similarities and let go of our differences.

All in all, an enjoyable and engaging book that gives you pause to think as it entertains you. I highly recommend it.