In the shadow of a near-future Oakland, where the chasm between wealth and poverty has stretched into a gaping maw, "Cumulus" weaves a chilling narrative of surveillance, power, and resistance. Eliot Peper plunges readers into a world teetering on the brink of civil unrest, painting a vivid tableau of a society ensnared by the watchful eyes of Cumulus, a tech behemoth that has redefined privacy, or the lack thereof. Through the lives of Lilly Miyamoto, a determined analog photographer chasing the ghosts of her dreams; Huian Li, the formidable CEO of Cumulus, whose vision of connectivity harbors dark undertones; and Graham Chandler, an intelligence agent disillusioned by the encroaching surveillance state, Peper crafts a mesmerizing tale of ambition, intrigue, and the quest for redemption. As their paths collide in a series of unforeseen events, Lilly, Huian, and Graham are thrust into the heart of a battle for the soul of their city. "Cumulus" is a gripping odyssey through the intertwined destinies of its characters, set against a backdrop of technological omnipotence and the fight for freedom. Peper challenges readers to question the price of convenience and the value of secrets in a world where everything is observed, recorded, and analyzed. This is a story not only of what it means to survive in such a world but of the power of human connection to challenge the status quo and inspire change.