The Water Carriers

A hopeful dystopia where new world powers emerge

In the Water Carriers, seventeen years without rain have shifted the global balance of power. Once-dominant countries collapsed under their own weight, while the Ivory Coast and Cambodia rule the world stage by shipping water in massive, retrofitted oil tankers.

Kasemchai, heir to Cambodia’s water empire, is no hero—at least not at first. He wants his father’s approval more than he wants to change the world. After a chance encounter with Liv, a Dutch engineer, he sees an opportunity to finally make a name for himself. But what begins as ambition soon collides with political intrigue, buried truths, and a future that won’t wait for him to grow up.

For fans of:

• Hopeful dystopias like The Ministry for the Future or The Parable of the Sower
• Climate fiction rooted in political intrigue and character
• Global perspectives, especially outside the typical Western lens

Inside you’ll find:

• A richly imagined world where water becomes currency
• An ambitious protagonist from Cambodia
• Themes of power, inheritance, rebellion, and renewal
• A story that begins with ego—and ends with something deeper

What Makes It Different?

• Climate fiction with a non-Western lens
• Explores AI, future energy storage, and devices like the AugWatch
• A character arc rooted in personal ambition, not revolution
• Political tension meets speculative world-building

Perfect for readers who ask big questions:

• Can clean energy outcompete fossil fuels—and reshape the global balance of power?
• Is climate change a slow burn, or a chaotic force that upends everything we thought was certain?
• What would life without rain look like—and how close are we to finding out?

What readers are saying:

• “…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
• “Kasemchai’s transformation from reckless heir to a man with a cause is compelling and authentic. I couldn’t put it down.” - Amazon Review
• “The writer has a particular knack for projecting very detailed imagery in the reader’s mind that truly teleports you into the story. A really engaging and entertaining futuristic thriller.” - Amazon Review 
• “First-time author Greunke crossbreeds “cli-fi” SF with the “business novel” genre…the narrative is disquietingly persuasive; read with a cool beverage on hand for best effect.” – Kirkus (Our verdict: Get it)
• “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.” – Foreword 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 

Awards

The BookFest first place award for Dystopian and Climate Fiction categories April 5, 2025

Literary Titan Gold Book Award for Fiction April 4, 2025

Interviews

My Story Evolved Literary Titan April 2, 2025

Genres

Speculative Fiction, Climate Fiction (Cli-Fi), Science Fiction, Thriller, Political/Corporate Intrigue

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 (18 words 114 characters)

The global distribution of fresh water on a planet devastated by climate change relies on two oligarchic families.

Book metadata
Audiobook ISBN: 979-8-9918682-3-5
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

Media assets
The Water Carriers cover flat
The Water Carriers cover 3D
The Water Carriers Cover Combined
Headshot Square