The Clouds

The Clouds is a complemented, 1926 science fiction novel by German author Thea von Harbou. It tells the story of a future society where a machine called the “Cloud” manages all aspects of life—communication, transportation, industry—aiming for efficiency and harmony. The novel explores themes of technological dependence, societal control, and the potential consequences of human reliance on automated systems. It reflects early 20th-century ideas about industrial progress and the impact of technology on human life, emphasizing both the possibilities and the risks of an increasingly automated world.