Cloud Atlas
by David Mitchell
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell holds a highly rated rating of 4.01 out of 5, based on 152.4K reader ratings. First published in 2004. The book spans 509 pages.
About Cloud Atlas
A postmodern visionary who is also a master of styles of genres, David Mitchell combines flat-out adventure, a Nabokovian lore of puzzles, a keen eye for character, and a taste for mind-bending philosophical and scientific speculation in the tradition of Umberto Eco, Haruki Murakami, and Philip K. Dick. The result is brilliantly original fiction as profund as it is playful. Now in his new novel, David Mitchell explores with daring artistry fundamental questions of reality and identity.Cloud Atlas begins in 1850 with Adam Ewing, an American notary voyaging from the Chatham Isles to his home in California. Along the way, Ewing is befriended by a physician, Dr. Goose, who begins to treat him for a rare species of brain parasite. . . .Abruptly, the action jumps to Belgium in 1931, where Robert Frobisher, a disinherited bisexual composer, contrives his way into the household of an infirm maestro who has a beguiling wife and a nubile daughter. . . . From there we jump to the West Coast in the 1970s and a troubled reporter named Luisa Rey, who stumbles upon a web of corporate greed and murder that threatens to claim her life. . . . And onward, with dazzling virtuosity, to an inglorious present-day England; to a Korean superstate of the near future where neocapitalism has run amok; and, finally, to a postapocalyptic Iron Age Hawaii in the last days of history.But the story doesn’t end even there. The narrative then boomerangs back through centuries and space, returning by the same route, in reverse, to its starting point. Along the way, Mitchell reveals how his disparate characters connect, how their fates intertwine, and how their souls drift across time like clouds across the sky.As wild as a videogame, as mysterious as a Zen koan, Cloud Atlas is an unforgettable tour de force that, like its incomparable author, has transcended its cult classic status to become a worldwide phenomenon.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | David Mitchell |
| Published | 2004 |
| Pages | 509 |
| Genres | Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 4.01 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 152,441 |
Reader Ratings & Analysis
Rating Overview
How It Compares
Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Cloud Atlas?
Cloud Atlas is categorized as Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is Cloud Atlas worth reading?
Based on 152.4K reader ratings, Cloud Atlas has an average score of 4.01 out of 5.00, which is considered "Highly Rated." Its large number of reviews suggests broad reader appeal.
How many pages is Cloud Atlas?
Cloud Atlas has 509 pages. It is a longer read suited for dedicated readers.
Who wrote Cloud Atlas?
Cloud Atlas was written by David Mitchell. It was first published in 2004.
What is the ISBN for Cloud Atlas?
The ISBN-13 for Cloud Atlas is 9780375507250.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
