The Cloud

Elmore Hammes
Kanapolis Fog Publishing Emporium (2008)
ISBN 9780615147154
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/08)

 

A menacing cloud is moving through the universe destroying all life forms that cross its path. It does this by depleting the energy of everything that it encounters.  Huge and unstoppable, it is now headed towards earth.  An alien who managed to survive its destruction beats the cloud to earth.  His father created him and sent him off in a spaceship prior to his own death by the cloud.  Having absorbed some of the cloud’s material, it has become a part of him.  Learning from lessons left by his father, this man knows these deaths must be avenged and the cloud must be stopped. 

Arriving on earth, he takes on human form and discovers that he has to fight his own urges to deplete the energy around him.  He lands on a farm and encounters a woman, Char, who lives there with her father.  The two are immediately drawn to each other. He tells her his story and lets her know that the earth has less than 24 hours.  They have to race against the clock to convince the military that the planet is in danger.  Grant, as he is now called, has an idea that might destroy the cloud.  He knows that if it doesn’t work, he will lose Char forever, because his spaceship only holds one.

“The Cloud” is actually divided into two parts.  The first part is about Grant’s arrival, his relationship with Char, and how the cloud is defeated.  The second part follows the aftermath of the actions taken by Char and Grant.  Certain government officials find themselves unable to leave the family alone.  They see that they can use the alien abilities and technology for their own power.

“The Cloud” is an excellent science fiction novel. The plot is incredibly unique and it was refreshing for me to have something so different to read.  I enjoyed the concept behind the cloud and the fact that it wasn’t inherently evil, it was just doing what it was created to do.  I was able to suspend my beliefs for the science fiction aspects of the novel.  I did have some difficulty accepting that the hero and heroine were able to fall in love in less than 24 hours and that the government so readily accepted the information given to them by an alien.  If a gorgeous alien landed in my backyard, I would need some more time to adapt to the idea.  Of course in this story, they did not have time. 

I think that “The Cloud” by Elmore Hammes will be enjoyed by all fans of science fiction and that it would be a great selection for a readers group.  It definitely will be a source for thought-provoking, lively conversations.   I highly recommend this novel.

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