Cloud Nine (novel)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
Cloud Nine is a hard-boiled detective story authored by James M. Cain, released in 1984 through Mysterious Press.
Plot
Graham Kirby, who was brought up by his foster mother Jane Silbert, expects to inherit her estate to fund a real estate development project. When Kirby’s half-brother Burl impregnates sixteen-year-old Sonya Lang, Kirby marries Sonya to avoid scandal and arrange for an abortion. Following Sonya’s miscarriage, Kirby begins to develop sincere affection for her.
Jane harbors secret feelings for Kirby and resents his marriage. After Burl seduces Jane, Sonya reveals Burl’s history of violence and his suspected role in the death of a former partner. Burl attacks Kirby and threatens Sonya; in self-defense, Sonya kills him. Through these ordeals, Kirby and Sonya grow closer and plan their future with Jane’s endorsement.
Publication history
William Koshland, editor at Alfred A. Knopf, declined the manuscript due to dissatisfaction with its characters and storyline. The book was later published by Mysterious Press in 1984.
Critical assessment
According to literary analyst Paul Skenazy, Cloud Nine functions as a troubling rationalization of adult male attraction to adolescent females, depicting unsettling relationships that undermine female autonomy.