Cloud Atlas
by David Mitchell · first published 2004
57% recommend43% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Six nested stories in very different styles, linked by an unusual structure that rewards the reader; praised for its writing and its look at the best and worst of humanity. Suits readers who like non-linear fiction.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
From David Mitchell, the Booker Prize nominee, award-winning writer and one of the featured authors in Granta’s “Best of Young British Novelists 2003” issue, comes his highly anticipated third novel, a work of mind-bending imagination and scope. A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; an ambitious journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing the mendicant and violent family of his star author; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacif
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…Childhood's End Fantasy: - The Stormlight Archives - The First Law Trilogy - The Lord of the Rings Literature: - The Stranger - Dubliners - Things I've Learned from Dying - The Things They Carried - Cloud Atlas - Stoner - Pillars of the Earth
on “Ask HN: Which non-programming books are a beneficial read for programmers?” ↗Non-fiction: "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert Cialdini Fiction: "Cloud Atlas" by David Mitchell I'm going to assume that you've read Crytonomicon and Snowcrash by Neal Stephenson, but if not... they are #1 on any list.
on “Ask HN: Good books?” ↗The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell does this brilliantly IMHO
on “Why Finish Books?” ↗Cloud Atlas, little scifi in it. Good writer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Atlas_(novel) http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Atlas-Novel-David-Mitchell/dp/03...
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2012” ↗Either Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell or The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon.
on “Ask HN: What is your comfort book?” ↗…and The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet are both greatly entertaining novels as well (and tangentially related to both, the shorter novel Slade House). Personally I found these more enjoyable than Cloud Atlas, which is good and a must-read nonetheless, but relies a lot on its narrative structure for its effect (this is not a negative, but the Matryoshka doll structure of the book does define it rather strongly).
on “50 authors, 50 science fiction stories shorter than novels” ↗Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell. Very interesting read about best and worst of humanity. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoevsky. One of the most famous authors and his phenomenal work.
on “Ask HN: Book Recommendations 2021” ↗In no particular order: - The siege of Krishnapur by J G Farrell - War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - The Radetsky March, by Joseph Roth - The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa - Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy - Wolf Hall, by Hilary Mantel - 1984, by George Orwell - Never Mind, by Edward St Aubyn
on “Ask HN: What is your favorite fiction book?” ↗…(particularly if you enjoy its historical setting of Edo period Japan on the artificial island of Deshima where the Dutch were allowed to operate a trading post), or the shorter Slade House. Of course Cloud Atlas is well-known and a good read. Utopia Avenue, his latest work about a fictional band in the 1960s, is a very pleasant and frankly fun read too, although different from the others. In typical Mitchell…
on “Ask HN: What is the best thing you read in 2022?” ↗…an influence on Looper. Wong Kar-wai says he took inspiration from Murakami in Chunking Express. David Mitchell is clearly influenced by his works (worth reading if you're a Murakami fan). His novel Cloud Atlas got a film adaptation with Tom Hanks and some other big names. In anime, Satoshi Kon and Makoto Shinkai have said Murakami was a big influence on them. There's also Haibane Renmei which was influenced…
on “Disappearing Act: The working life of Haruki Murakami” ↗1) Three-Body Problem series 2) Hyperion series (first two books especially) 3) Cryptonomicon 4) Cloud Atlas 5) Wandering Earth (collection of short stories)
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite sci-fi books?” ↗…micro and macro structure of the book. The build up, introduction to and revealing of mysteries, are all perfectly timed to keep you hanging onto every word. 2. All the Light We Cannot See - Doerr 3. Cloud Atlas - Mitchell
on “Ask HN: What are the best Well-Written Books?” ↗I found the book even better and started reading more novels from David Mitchell. "Cloud Atlas" is still my favorite of his books. A lot of his essays are available online via The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/davidmitchell
on “Ask HN: What movies changed your perception of reality or life?” ↗…your favorite book" Mortal Engines - The first book of a surprisingly poignant YA series which is not only fun throughout, but has one of the greatest and most thought provoking endings of all time. Cloud Atlas - A beautifuly written story that somehow manages to intertwine separate narratives across time. Children of Time - A wonderful story about time, evolution, survival and what it means to be human.
on “Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books of the 21st Century (So Far)” ↗Excellent essay. To those who enjoyed it so much as to come here and read these comments, I'd suggest to fetch a copy of David Mitchell's "Cloud Atlas", and appreciate the multiple style changes between the various sections.
on “How far back in time can you understand English?” ↗