CloudWorld
is a fantasy novel for children, published by Faber and Faber. A sequel, CloudWorld
At War, is forthcoming. It is set on a planet entirely covered in
a thick cloud layer. Mountain peaks rise out of the clouds all over the
planet, their gentle slopes covered in fields and orchards. Many of the
peaks also have citadels on them – citadels built in layers, each
layer wider than the one above and encircled by a fortified wall. The
topmost layer is crowned by a marble palace.
The cloud-dwellers are not aware that they live on mountain peaks and the nature of the cloud depths is an abiding mystery to them; many believe that it’s the realm of Omnium, a divine being who created their world. At the beginning of CloudWorld, the king of one of the citadels – Heliopolis (‘city of the sun’) – fails to return from a diplomatic visit to a neighbouring citadel, Selenopolis (‘city of the moon.’). He is presumed lost in the cloud depths. His son, Marcus, who lives a sheltered but lonely life in the palace, insists that a mission across the cloudscape be staged in search of the king. But Marcus realises too late that there is conspiracy in the citadel. Someone wants him dead and he is plunged into a terrifying new world beneath the clouds.
Called Daldriadh, this is a more ancient, less evolved place. Its inhabitants have created a whole religion based around debris fallen through the clouds over many centuries. They are perpetually at odds with one another, but also determined not to be colonised. Marcus has to not only survive in this world, but also win the trust of the races who live there and find a way of getting home…
CloudWorld is available from amazon.co.uk, amazon.com, amazon.ca, amazon.fr, amazon.de, amazon.jp.
Illustrations by David Wyatt