This book had an interesting premise but I didn't feel like it was 100% fulfilled. There were parts that the author spent more time on which I didn't think added much to the story and some areas where I wanted more detail. But I still enjoyed it and would recommend it.

This was reminiscent of The Circle, while simultaneously feeling more and less realistic somehow. The idea that one company could take over so much infrastructure and government regulations (never mind the business aspect) should be far fetched but it really isn’t. The live - work - play nature of the community was very well detailed, including those who obviously saw through the Clouds BS and those who took it as it was and accepted their role in the machine. The two “big reveals” at the end (about the cloud burgers and about the power source) felt very flat and lackluster. The resolution of the two main characters plot, both romantically and their life paths also felt very meh and not either satisfying or a gut punch. Great ideas but the story just don’t quite live up.

Thanks Galley for the opportunity to preview this book. An interesting read. Fictional Amazon on steroids with 1984. Worthwhile and recommended.

Published by Crown on August 20, 2019

Many books, both fiction and nonfiction, have condemned the corporatization of America, the loss of worker’s rights, or the concentration of wealth and power into the hands of a shrinking few. Presidential candidates who have a chance to get elected are even talking about those issues (only to be condemned as radical by those who depend on the shrinking few for financial support). The Warehouse is an entertaining, near-future look at the consequences of allowing the top 1% to make policies that govern the rest of us.

The Warehouse is based on a company called Cloud, because Rob Hart would have been sued if he called it Amazon. It was founded by Gibson Wells, who might be even wealthier than Jeff Bezos, and is certainly older and (I assume) more devious. In an era of budget–tightening in industry and government, the unemployed are flocking to Cloud for monotonous, tiring, underpaid jobs (the kind of jobs that Amazon warehouse workers perform). Some of them worked for companies that were put out of business by Cloud’s predatory practices. In fact, Cloud is pretty much the only retail store that matters, the box stores having been run out of town by the convenience of online ordering and drone shipping.

The Warehouse is set a few years in the future, when global warming is having its predicted impact on the planet. Cloud is a throwback to corporate towns; employees live in dorm rooms provided by Cloud so they can focus on working rather than commuting. In exchange for discounted housing and healthcare, they earn less than minimum wage thanks to a business–friendly Congress. Deductions from meager wages are made for a variety of reasons, including the failure to make quotas. Workers wear watches that track their location and production. In fact, they can’t leave their dorm rooms without wearing the watch, even on their own time.

Gibson is an old-fashioned robber baron who relies on bromides to mask his self-interest. “Regulations are bad” because they keep him from doing all the awful things he wants to do. “Hard work is good” if the hard workers are filling his pockets with profits. “Privatization is efficient” because his control of newly privatized services efficiently increases his wealth. He views himself as “exceptional” so customary standards of human behavior, not to mention laws, cannot be expected to stand in the way of his achievements.

Gibson is dying of cancer and is blogging his final year of life, during which he intends to visit all 100 MotherClouds (fulfillment centers) so he can say hello to all his employees before he dies. He also blogs his self-aggrandizing ideas. He pats himself on the back for creating jobs when the jobs are crappy and employees are treated like slaves. He is virulently opposed to unions and thinks his “rating” system to overwork his underpaid employees is brilliant. Ebenezer Scrooge might agree.

The two key characters, Zinnia and Paxton, both make the hiring cut. They both have ulterior motives for taking the job. Zinnia is a corporate spy. Cloud claims to be energy independent but its wind farms and solar panels seem incapable of generating the necessary power. Zinnia has been hired to find the source of the power that Cloud doesn’t want to disclose for fear of losing its green tax breaks. What she actually finds, on several different fronts, casts Cloud in an even less favorable light.

Paxton tried to patent his own idea but was screwed over by Cloud. After working as a prison guard, he views a job at Cloud as temporary but essential to his survival. He hated being a prison guard so he is, of course, assigned to security. Naturally, his life intersects with Zinnia’s. He is smitten, while she is happy to develop an unwitting source for information about Cloud security. A reader will see where that plotline is going and will be either pleased or disappointed to learn that it does not deviate from expectations. The predictability didn’t bother me because I enjoyed the novel less for its plot than for its detailed imagining of the future of retail that Amazon might soon inspire.

The Warehouse argues that free people don’t have to accept the lives that are assigned to them by corporate masters. “At least I have a job” doesn’t justify being treated like garbage. Free people can fight for something better. Whether Zinnia’s way of fighting is the best way might be a question that readers debate, but she at least opens minds to the possibility of change. The novel’s underlying lesson is that compassion and fairness are more important than security and comfort. As important as security and comfort might be, they should not be achieved by sacrificing the security and comfort of others.

The Warehouse is also an indictment of: big businesses that use their economic might to drive small businesses out of the marketplace; big businesses that use their economic might to patent and control ideas developed by small businesses; and big businesses that use their economic might to convince people that big businesses act in the best interests of their employees and customers when they are only acting to further the interests of controlling shareholders. The story targets Amazon but it could just as easily target Purdue Pharma or Wal Mart or Johnson & Johnson or Wells Fargo or Ford Motors.

Readers who disagree with those propositions won’t like the book. Most other readers should enjoy it. Despite its predictable moments, the plot is lively and Paxton is a sympathetic protagonist who confronts a personal crisis in a way that readers can admire. It is the future that Hart builds, however, that makes The Warehouse memorable.

RECOMMENDED

This was an interesting book. I didn't love, it, I didn't hate it. It was definitely an interesting concept, and it made me think. Overall, I'm glad I read it.

This dystopian tale takes a big swing at Amazon, and it's a great read. Highly recommended. Thanks to the author Rob Hart, NetGalley, and the publisher Crown Publishing for the advance copy. I really enjoyed this book.

I wanted to like this book but sadly I did not. Not really my genre. I have ordered this book for the library because I feel some patrons will enjoy it.

This tedious book is told from three POV Paxton, an average Joe coming of a bad patch of life who wants a new start working at the warehouse for the company called "Cloud", Zinnia, a woman intent on corporate espionage, and Gibson the Jeff Bezos-like Cloud corporation CEO. There are pages of brochure text, employee manual text, and other mind numbing stuff. This kind of story has already been well done decades ago in books and movies. If we didn't currently have Amazon, we wouldn’t think of this particular book as scary or timely.

An ominous view of our business and political future. Reading this book will have you reconsidering that easy delivery option and all of its ramifications. What kind of a world do you want to live in? - Bet it's not this!

Realistic dystopian fiction that hits a little too close to home. I finished this book a couple months ago but can’t get it out of my head. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, Crown Publishing and the author Rob Hart for a digital review copy. This book was first published August 20, 2019.

I lost interest at about 40%. While the premise is good everything wad too slow and wasn't moving forward. Sorry but I gave up.

What happens when the "cure" becomes worse than the "disease"? In a world where the future is bleak, a merchandise/ marketing company has developed a business plan that includes managing the lives and welfare of their employees. Rob Hart has painted a picture, one that is not too hard to envision, and shown us some of the consequences we could face in the future. As the story shows us a community built to be insular, we are introduced to several characters unhappy with the company's complete control of their lives. A very unique setting for this thriller will keep readers engrossed enough to read through the night.

This was fairly entertaining, but a bit shallow for a dystopian novel. Nothing wrong with the events, but the relationships were anemic and it ended at the point where it was really getting interesting. [ What happens AFTER you blow up Amazon after it has taken over the world? It's a bit of a cop out to state you've introduced the virus that if going to accomplish that, and then write 'The End'. (hide spoiler)]

In Rob Hart's The Warehouse, an Amazon.com-like company - also known as Cloud - has essentially taken over a world that has been left barren and mostly inhabitable, stripped of the resources needed to manufacture goods. Cloud uses drones to transport goods to its consumers and has wiped out any need for big box or local stores. No one needs to leave the comfort and safety of their homes anymore; they can just wait for Cloud to deliver their goods, especially with the harsh, hostile world outside of their door.

Cloud is so powerful that its owner is able to pull the strings of the government to get everything he desires and then some. Cloud has become so enormous and successful that many feel it is too big to fail.

But when it is announced that Cloud's owner is dying and only has a few months to live, Cloud's future is uncertain.

Cloud has a growing number of enemies who are working behind the scenes to take the empire down. Zinnia is a hired spy working for a mysterious contractor who wants to crack Cloud's internal security systems. Paxton is a disgruntled inventor who has lost his livelihood due to Cloud's monopoly over every type of good and product you can imagine.

Zinnia and Paxton both use their creativity and intellect to worm their way into Cloud, both getting hired at one of Cloud's large warehouses. These warehouses are self-contained communities; workers need not leave Cloud - everything they want and desire is there for them. Cloud operates just like historic company towns; workers are paid in Cloud money that can be used to pay for Cloud apartments, Cloud food, and Cloud entertainment.

Cloud has also "perfected" managing workers and making them "efficient," but that, too, comes at a severe cost to workers' happiness, health, and livelihoods. There's a dark underbelly of Cloud, and Zinnia and Paxton may be the first ones to expose it., perhaps in time to take Cloud down before a new owner is appointed.

I loved this book - I am a huge fan of dystopian techy novels and this fit within that genre. It was fast-paced, character-driven, and so so hard to put down. It explores what happens when corporations become so big that they can control governments, citizens, and even disrupt democracies. What could be more timely and relevant than this? I was so sad when it ended, though the ending felt just right. I hope there is a sequel to this because I really enjoyed Hart's engaging writing style. This book will keep you on your toes!

This is not my usual type of book but, I thought this was a good and interesting read even though I wasn’t satisfied with the ending, questions left unanswered and unresolved situations.
This dystopian story takes place in the near future where the world is in chaos due to climate change. Jobs are scarce, streets are dangerous, no one wants to leave their house so they buy all their goods online that get delivered by drones from a company named The Cloud.
Those who are lucky enough to get hired live there as well and are constantly monitored.
The story is told from three different point of views. Zinnia is a corporate spy hired to find The Cloud’s secrets, Paxton a former business owner who was forced out of business by The Cloud and is now an employee of Cloud working in security and Gibson the founder of Cloud who’s dying of cancer and writing a memoir blog.
The pacing is a bit monotonous, has a clever concept and I liked the three point of views. The story kept me engaged, I found the plot/storyline interesting. If you’re a fan of dystopian novels this one is a good one to pick up.
Thank you #netgalley for providing this arc for an honest review

I have not read a dystopian in far too long, and I'm so glad I was able to pick up The Warehouse. It tells of a not so distant future where one company practically controls everything. I love the details in this story and how very real it all feels. My only issue was the ending, it certainly left me wanting more, which may have been the authors intent. If you're looking for a book that is eerily close to our world now, don't miss this one.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The Warehouse by Rob Hart is a dystopian novel that reads as a cautionary tale of what happens when big business has too much influence and control. The story is told through the viewpoints of Paxton, a security officer at Cloud, Zinnia, a corporate spy who is working as an order picker, and Gibson, founder and CEO of Cloud.

The world has basically become a wasteland as Cloud has put most businesses and citizens into bankruptcy. The world is also plagued by overpopulation and damage from climate change. The main option for relief people have from poverty and the unsettled climate is to find employment with Cloud (its not hard to figure out what company Cloud is based on.)

Not only do you work at Cloud, but you also live there too. There are dormitories on site, as well as a hospital, restaurants, movie theatre. Its basically an entire town, except here, you are constantly monitored by watches that you must have on at all times, except when the battery is being recharged. The workers are rated on a 5 star scale and strive to stay at 4 stars and above. However taking a day off for illness, is an example of how one's rating can drop.

We see through the eyes of Gibson how Cloud sprouted from an idea into basically the world's biggest and most powerful company. Through Paxton and Zinnia's viewpoints, we discover what brings them to Cloud and how working there and the constant monitoring impacts them physically and emotionally. We also see this through the eyes of secondary and minor characters.

This is an excellent and also frightening story, when you look at how the world is today. This is something that while fictional, isn't too far fetched in today's reality. The characters are well rounded and you grow attached quite easily to both Paxton and Zinnia. The plot is well drawn out and the pacing is excellent. If you want a thrilling dystopian novel with hints of espionage that is hard to put down, this is the one for you!

My appreciation to NetGalley, Rob Hart, and Crown for gifting me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Remember, freedom is yours until you give it up"

If ever there was a book that perfectly captured the predicaments of our modern times, it would be The Warehouse by Rob Hart. We face a time of massive technological advancement, political divisiveness, and the ever-mounting threat of a global climate crisis. With the reality of huge economic and social challenges looming over us, it seems as if we have turned inward to the technology that has become an essential piece of our day to day lives. In The Warehouse, Rob Hart imagines a not-too-distant future in which the above-mentioned instances have come to fruition.

A group of people is on a bus headed to one of the massive campuses that house Cloud. Cloud is the giant corporate conglomerate that has innovated its way to becoming the single largest means of commerce in the world. Think Amazon but on a much larger scale. At this point in history, Cloud is the singular provider of all consumer goods and most of the world's employment. Drones fill the sky delivering everything from bandaids to groceries. Each cloud campus has become a city of its own, housing all of the company's employees. If you work at could, you work, eat, and sleep on campus. Each person on this bus hopes to become part of Cloud's extensive ecosystem.

Two of the hopeful new recruits are Zennia and Patton. Patton has reluctantly decided to apply for a job with Cloud after his own small business was overtaken by the company. If you can't beat them, you might as well join them. Patton hopes to earn enough working for the company to eventually file for a new patent and become his own boss again. With the all-encompassing nature of Cloud, this will be extremely difficult to achieve. Zennia is much more reserved than Patton. She reluctantly reveals that she was a teacher before packing up her life to pursue a career at Cloud. Little does Patton know that Zennia is on a much more nefarious mission, the kind that could get them both killed.

When the publisher offered me a copy of The Warehouse to review, I was immediately drawn by the premise. Echoes of Eggers's The Circle and Orwell's 1984 ring through Hart's book. Hart roots his speculative fiction into a thriller that gives the narrative a momentum that helped to keep me engaged in the world he was building. Alternating perspectives between the two main characters give the reader insights into their motivations and makes the back and forth between the two all the more riveting. Interspersed between the main chapters are journal entries of Cloud's founder and CEO. With these, Hart illustrates the precarious balance between the well-intentions of large companies and the darker reality of what actually happens within them. The Warehouse is one of the most compelling books that I've read this year, a cautionary tale for our times that is an essential read for everyone.

This dystopian thriller with shades of Kafka and Frank Norris’s The Octopus centers on a bloated industrial empire in which merchandise of all kinds is stored, picked, packaged, and delivered via drones. The vast complex, set in a desert 100 miles from the nearest town, is not only the workplace for thousands, but its living quarters, medical, food, and recreational facilities. It’s all presided over by an avuncular “old white dude” who prides himself on having passed legislation to outlaw unions, do away with worker safety, and so forth, all under the guise of providing environmentally clean delivery of goods and great jobs for anyone willing to work hard. The true “MotherCloud” warehouse complex is anything but utopian. Work, especially for the “pickers,” is unrelentingly brutal, and security turns a blind eye to sexual harassment and other crimes for the sake of good reporting statistics. The enclosed environment, although air conditioned, is monotonous and humdrum, with few choices beyond soporific entertainment, alcohol, and illegal drugs.

Into this world come two applicants. John is an ex-prison guard whose dream of independent entrepreneurship came to a screeching halt with “The Cloud” stole his invention. He hopes to work anywhere but security, but that’s his assignment. Zinnia presents as a bright young teacher, taking time off to earn extra cash, but she is actually a corporate spy, hired to find out why the MotherCloud uses so much less energy than it actually requires. The mind-numbing work changes each of them.

Scathing condemnation of computerized factory life and its dehumanizing brutality, along with the naïve blindness of the privileged few, makes this book a stand-out for thoughtful political science fiction. If you aren’t outraged, you’re not paying attention.

This was an interesting but somewhat harrowing read. I will revisit it in the future, but it was just a little too grim for me right now. This book also made me a little afraid of Amazon...