My buddy Adam launched his new book, The Man of Cloud 9, on Friday.  I was supposed to run this then.  I flaked.  We’re all going to pretend that it’s September 30 right now and no one is ever going to mention this again.  I read an early version of this and enjoyed it quite a bit; I look forward to seeing what the final version looks like.  Attached is a blog post and the back cover text.  Check it out!

Science Fiction from the Steampunk meets Fairytale, and Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy guy?

After writing 4 novels and a novelette in the universe of The Yellow Hoods, I needed a break from my steampunk meets fairytale universe. I decided that this year would be about showing two completely different sides of me. I started with The Wizard Killer, which has been called “Harry Potter meets Die Hard” and “Mad Max meets Lord of the Rings.” Whereas that post-apocalyptic fantasy world was an exercise in showing my adrenaline junkie side, The Man of Cloud 9 is a much more cerebral science fiction side of me.

Rather than hard science fiction, I’ve been told it’s more in the vein of The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russell. It was wonderful to get such a positive review from Readers’ Favorite right out of the gate.

So what’s The Man of Cloud 9 about?

It’s set 70 years in the future. Civilization has been scared by the effects of climate change, but worse than the toll in human lives, has been the loss of appetite for real innovation. Brilliant inventor Niko Rafaelo finds himself fighting every inch of the way to get people to listen to his vision for resurrecting the banned technology of nanobots, connecting it with the bacteria cloud around people, and taking features like video calling out of the history books and bringing them back.


This is an intimate story, dealing with a handle of characters, and the choices and consequences of Niko’s relentless need to see his vision realized. It’s genius versus conscience versus company.

Your other works are YA, is The Man of Cloud 9?


Yes. While it doesn’t have any non-adult characters, I tried to make sure that a teen reader would be able to relate to the story, even when reading a boardroom scene. A lot of classic science fiction could be categorized the same way, and so I see The Man of Cloud 9 really for those ages 12 and up.

What was your greatest challenge writing the book?

This book was definitely the one that terrified me the most to write. Part of that was because I really reached into myself for core elements of the main character, his issues, and his relationships. There were many times in my life where I went left, and I made Niko go right. Another part was because in some ways, it felt like I was saying goodbye to my technology career. I spent 20 years in software, from Silicon Valley to Toronto, from startups to Microsoft to my own business. Lastly, there was the difference in style between The Wizard Killer and The Man of Cloud 9 that scared me, would I lose readers? It was a risk, a risk I was willing to take. 

Where can we get it?

The eBook is available on Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble. The paperback will be available on Amazon in the next week. However, signed hardcovers are available from Owl’s Nest books, which is local to me and a wonderful little bookstore.

“Adam Dreece continues to surprise, enthrall, and sweep us, his avid readers, along – with his elegant prose and insightful story telling. If you, like I, enjoy the sci/fi fantasy genre, you can’t do better than THE MAN OF CLOUD 9.”

– Rene Auberjonois, Avid Reader, Actor/Director

Niko Rafaelo is a brilliant and driven inventor, determined to flip the late 21st century on its head with a new take on a banned technology, nanobots.

In a world that has been battered and bruised for decades by endless natural disasters, Niko’s ambitions are seen as reckless and wasteful.

Following in the footsteps of his Silicon Valley heroes, Niko’s startup takes the planet by storm. But what happens when the corporate beast and Niko’s conscience conflict? And what is his ultimate goal?

“a truly unique voice and story”

– Readers’ Favorite