Orbital Cloud Sets a New Standard for Sci-Fi Spy Adventures

For the first time since my MacGyver obsession, I felt the same sense of thrill again as I read Taiyo Fujii’s Orbital Cloud. This novel is, simply put, an international whirlwind of science fiction excitement.
We follow Kazumi Kimura and Akari Numata, amateur web designers from Japan with unparalleled, and untapped, skill sets, as they uncover mysterious objects in low Earth orbit. The two are quickly whisked off to the United States by a Chinese spy after discovering they are being followed by North Korean operatives. The pair partners with the CIA, NORAD, and an Iranian professor of astronautical engineering in Tehran, to try and solve the who, how, and why of the objects in orbit before terrorists strike and an international catastrophe takes place.
Whew. Intense, right? Fujii (Gene Mapper) pulls off this epic sci-fi international spy thriller with such smooth prowess, I couldn’t put the book down. At first glance, the premise sounds like it might stretch plausibility to the breaking point. But Fujii not only creates a masterful sci-fi spy adventure, he makes it believable.
I took accelerated physics in high school some number of years ago, but the science of anything space related remains daunting. Fujii uses science in a really smart way, telling us just enough to make the plot tick along with precision without burying us in technical detail. I, a mere layman, could easily follow along, and I actually walked away wishing I knew a lot more about space-related science. Multiple times I paused in my reading when realized I was gripped with tension because of calculus.

Kazumi, with his enviable gift to do orbital calculus in his head, and Akari, with her computer-everything prowess, are the MacGyvers for the next generation. They can grasp concepts and formulate solutions before anyone else. They are far and away my favorite characters in the book, both for their impressive abilities and the friendship they share.
If you’ll pardon the pun, it’s the down-to-earth nature of the characters that really brings the book to life. Each of them, even the exceptionally skilled spies, remains recognizably flawed and human. No one is a super-powered Jason Bourne type. Their skill sets were developed over years—decades even—of learning and dedication to science. It is refreshing to be read about people doing the thing they do best, what they’ve trained their whole lives to do—it just so happens they’re saving the world at the same time.
Taiyo Fujii has set the bar for all near-future sci-fi thrillers exceptionally high. Here’s hoping he clears it with his next book.
Orbital Cloud is available now.