Above the Clouds
Tim Vee’s Above the Clouds plunges readers into a bleak, beautifully wrought dystopian future where survival is a relentless struggle against environmental decay and human frailty. Set in a rain-soaked, shadowed world, the narrative follows two sisters, Squirt and Dara, whose lives diverge sharply yet remain tethered by desperate familial bonds. This dark exploration of existence at society’s fringes offers a gripping and thought-provoking meditation on identity, trust, and what it means to remain human amidst crumbling paradigms.
The strength of Above the Clouds lies in its atmospheric world-building and the dual perspectives of the sisters. Squirt’s forced ascent to a pristine, almost surreal paradise above the clouds acts as a stunning and unsettling counterpoint to Dara’s gritty, ground-level fight within their underground clan. The balance between these two realms—the oppressive yet superficially perfect tower and the raw, desperate survival below—creates a powerful tension throughout the novel. Vee skillfully evokes the claustrophobia of paradise as an “idyllic prison,” where every smile and gesture is shadowed by suspicion and hidden motives.
Characters like Charlotte and Mrs. Wallis are intriguingly ambiguous, embodying the novel’s central unease: that the greatest dangers are often invisible, lurking beneath polished surfaces or behind warm smiles. Meanwhile, Dara’s journey through betrayal and loss adds emotional depth and urgency, anchoring the story’s larger existential questions in raw human experience. The narrative’s gradual unveiling of secrets and moral ambiguities compels readers to reconsider notions of trust, loyalty, and sacrifice.
While the pacing occasionally slows in its detailed world exposition, the prose is immersive and evocative, never losing sight of the novel’s core themes. The haunting question—What does it truly mean to be human?—resonates deeply, especially as the story confronts the cost of immortality and the fragility of hope in a fractured world.
In summary, Above the Clouds is a captivating addition to dystopian literature, blending atmospheric setting with complex characters and philosophical weight. It suits readers who appreciate layered narratives that combine suspense, moral complexity, and a richly imagined future. For those intrigued by the intersections of survival, identity, and the nature of humanity, Tim Vee’s novel offers a compelling journey both above and below the clouds.
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