Editorial Reviews

“Greunke is a splendid writer. Adroitly crafted, The Water Carriers is a dizzying, dazzling depiction of a thirsty Earth, a kick-in-the-pants reminder of what’s at stake if we don’t act now. Highly recommended for fans of Paolo Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl and Naomi Alderman’s The Power.” – BlueInk Review

“…serious Bond villain energy…If you’re into stories like The Ministry for the Future or Black Mirror, you’ll enjoy this story.” – Thomas Anderson Literary Titan

“The Water Carriers is a smart, thrilling read that will stick with anyone who loves environmental fiction, political intrigue, or just a well-crafted, high-stakes story.” – K.C. Finn Readers’ Favorite 

“The Water Carriers is a thought-provoking book that kept me wondering about possibilities for the future of humanity.” – Gabriel Santos Readers’ Favorite 

“The Water Carriers is a sweeping, urgent science fiction novel set in a future that’s devastated by climate disaster but that inches toward the rediscovery of hope.” – Foreward Reviews

“The Water Carriers is both an engaging and cautionary read; I felt it was encouraging me to reflect on the real-world implications of climate change and resource control.” – Mary Clarke Readers’ Favorite 

Media Release

Exploring Power, Greed, and Survival in a World Where Water Is the Ultimate Currency

Author bio (62 words)

Gregory Greunke is a speculative fiction author dedicated to exploring the intersection of nature, technology, and the human spirit. He creates immersive worlds that pose important questions about society, survival, and hope. He loves playing with his two kids and impressing his wife with meals from the backyard, but every day, he’s happiest near water—on it, in it, or under it.

The Water Carriers book information

Logline (43 words)

In a drought-stricken, post-apocalyptic world where two powerful water families rule, the son of the Cambodian water tycoon abandons his AI dating empire to launch a bold environmental venture—only to be blamed for unleashing a rainstorm that triggers a dangerous new rival.

Short Description (59 characters)

Thirsty Earth. Water is power. Two families control it all.

Press Summary (74 words)

The Water Carriers takes readers into a near-future world where prolonged drought has elevated water to a status of power and privilege. In this landscape, two powerful families rule the water supply. The story follows the son of a Cambodian water tycoon, who leaves behind his thriving AI dating empire to pursue an ambitious environmental project—only to find himself at the center of blame for a rainstorm that triggers a new, dangerous competitor.

Short summary (118 words)

In the near future, the balance of power shifts dramatically when all the world’s water falls in only two locations, leaving Cambodia and the Ivory Coast as unexpected water-rich havens.

Kasemchai, the heir to Cambodia’s water family, recklessly transitions from the business of AI dating to an audacious plan to end fuel-powered tanker ships, a move complicated by his clandestine relationship with the daughter of the African water family and his partnership with a brilliant yet initially unassuming engineer.

When rain suddenly appears in Brazil, due to the success of the battery-powered ships, Kasemchai faces the shifting loyalties of his family, partners, and hidden enemies. A third water nation is rising—and it could destroy his family’s empire.

Book blurb (182 words)

When two parties control all the water in the world, how far will they go to stay in power?

In a post-apocalyptic world, the balance of power shifts dramatically when all the world’s water falls in only two locations, leaving Cambodia and the Ivory Coast as unexpected water-rich havens. Kasemchai, the heir to Cambodia’s water family, recklessly transitions from the business of AI dating to an audacious plan to end fuel-powered tanker ships, a move complicated by his clandestine relationship with the daughter of the African water family and his partnership with Liv, a brilliant yet initially unassuming Dutch engineer.

Liv’s ambition transforms the shipping industry, but her groundbreaking innovations and controversial military contracts force the company’s founder out and ignite the collapse of an oil-rich nation. When rain suddenly appears in Brazil, spurred by the widespread adoption of battery-powered ships, Kasemchai faces shifting loyalties among his family, partners, and hidden enemies. A third water nation is rising—and it threatens to destroy his family’s empire.

With themes of power, greed, and survival, this gripping tale explores the fragile balance of ambition in a world on the edge of ruin.

Long summary (329 words)

In a post-apocalyptic world devastated by catastrophic floods and droughts, rain falls relentlessly in only two locations, earning them the name “Rain Walls.” Two developing countries emerge from these rains, harnessing their abundant water supplies to become global superpowers.

Philippe Labonne leads the most potent water family in the Ivory Coast, while Preap Seng heads the second-most powerful water family in Cambodia. Kasemchai, the heir of the Seng family, is fabulously wealthy but desires more. However, he is dismissed when he attempts to gain his father’s respect by negotiating oil prices with the Saudis.

After a secret tryst, Philippe’s daughter urges Kasemchai to escape his discontent by diving with giant manta rays off an island in Japan. There, he meets Liv, a beautiful Dutch engineer who works for Sol-vang, a company which aims to revolutionize the shipping industry with solar-powered ships. In an act of spite, Kasemchai invests in this company and elevates Liv to the role of president. However, Liv’s ambition and success triggers a series of events that threaten to destroy the Seng family’s empire.

The founder of Sol-vang is pushed out of the company when Liv shifts its focus to a revolutionary battery system. Enraged by the company’s decision to convert military vehicles to battery power, the disgruntled founder descends into a downward spiral, ultimately aligning with communist revolutionaries who believe that Cambodia has long planned to take over the world. Together, they conspire to destroy the Seng family’s fleet of ships.

As the earth’s environment changes due to the rise of battery-powered ships, tensions flare when a Rain Wall appears in Brazil. Kasemchai realizes his only true friend may be a refugee from Hawaii as he navigates the dangerous waters of ambition, power, and greed.

If you enjoyed Wool by Hugh Howey, The Ministry of the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson, or Dune by Frank Herbert, you’ll also love this gripping tale of power, ambition, and family in a world on the brink of destruction.

Genres

Science Fiction
Set in the near future, The Water Carriers introduces advanced technologies like the AugWatch, AI companions, and virtumersion, all woven into a world where battery-powered tanker ships challenge the status quo. BlueInk Review described it as a “cautionary science fiction tale,” while Foreword Reviews called it “a sweeping, urgent science fiction novel.”

Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi)
At its core, the novel is a gripping exploration of climate change’s devastating impact—extreme heat, drought, flooding, and water scarcity reshape society. It highlights the environmental cost of large container ships running on bunker fuel and imagines a battery-powered alternative. The central conflict revolves around the control and distribution of water in this altered world. Readers’ Favorite praised it as “a gripping environmental thriller” that prompts reflection on real-world climate issues. BlueInk called it a cautionary tale about “the consequences of unrestricted fossil fuel use and unchecked greed.” Foreword Reviews described it as “a sweeping, urgent science fiction novel set in a future that’s devastated by climate disaster but that inches toward the rediscovery of hope.”

Thriller
Powerful water families like the Sengs and the Labonnes engage in corporate rivalries where control over a vital resource means control over the future. High-stakes conflicts, power struggles, and moments of tension drive the narrative, delivering a thriller that feels both urgent and unnervingly realistic. Readers’ Favorite called it “a gripping environmental thriller,” and said, “The story hits the spot between corporate drama and edge-of-your-seat action, blending big ideas with moments that’ll have you holding your breath.”

Speculative Fiction
Grounded in real-world environmental and technological trends, The Water Carriers imagines a plausible future shaped by resource scarcity and corporate dominance. The novel poses urgent “what if” questions about our trajectory, making it a compelling work of speculative fiction. Foreword Reviews described it as “an intricate and empathetic speculative novel” and a “dystopian novel.”

Political/Corporate Intrigue
Beneath the environmental and technological themes lies a world of high-stakes negotiations, business strategies, and the influence of powerful individuals and corporations. The water families shape global politics, driving a complex narrative of power and ambition that mirrors the Democratic and Republican duopoly that rules the United States. Readers’ Favorite noted how the characters “set off a crazy chain reaction of political chaos and corporate backstabbing,” delivering a story that “hits the spot between corporate drama and edge-of-your-seat action.”

Book metadata

Paperback ISBN: 979-8-9918682-0-4

Hardcover ISBNs: 979-8-9918682-1-1

e-Book ISBN: 979-8-9918682-2-8

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024925793

Self-published under Greunke Haus™ – www.greunke.com