When a cluster of blazingly fast meteorites strikes Earth's upper stratosphere in the year 2129, they release three destabilizing elements into the atmosphere-Strongzine, Stradamine, and Starlox-which encircle the Earth's surface in a thick, partially solidified layer of cloud and begin to spew a constant stream of acid rain onto the surface below. Organic life forms are all but obliterated, and the human race is reduced to a tiny fraction of its population. This event is known as the Ruin.But five centuries later, humanity still survives. Cloudwalkers tells the story of Conn Brataich, a young man who lives a privileged life above the cloudbank, relying on his noble heritage-and the abilities it provides-to guide him through his beautiful but treacherous realm in the New York skylands, and Misty Casper, a Grounder who lives an arduous and somber life hundreds of feet below in the former subway tunnels of crumbling midtown Manhattan. Their two cultures live in uneasy, segregated codependence, rarely interacting until late one fall evening when, mysteriously, an experienced Cloudwalker of noble blood falls five hundred feet to his death. Conn is sent to recover the body in secret, but he doesn't expect to encounter Misty on the dangerous streets of the dying city.Their chance encounter triggers a domino effect that throws them both headlong into a struggle for their very survival. Conn and Misty soon discover that only by working together can they succeed, but first they'll have to put aside their preconceived notions about one another. Dark forces, long thought to have been expunged, have returned and are threatening to destroy both their ways of life. Through love, loss, and the looming threat of war, Misty and Conn will be forced to face their greatest fears for the sake of their very world and each other. A well-developed syfy saga adventure above and below New York City, hundreds of years in the future. It's an exciting blend of hardcore science fiction, a futuristic struggle to survive, and an impossible love affair. I have enjoyed many of McGinnis' books in the past and he created a fantastic new world with Cloudwalkers. If there's a sequel, and I can't imagine there won't be, I'll be one of the first to re-enter the world of grounders and cloudwalkers.- Stuart W. Church I'm the biggest fan of Mark Wayne McGinnis. Cloudwalkers was impressive on a lot of levels... the multi-dimensional characters and the unusual and brilliant world he created, and just the science fiction and fantasy and historical mood he created.. it all blended together in one of the best books I've ever read. I read all of Mark's books. I recommend them all - Scrapyard Ship, Star Watch, Ship Wrecked Stranded on an Alien Planet, Boy Gone, The Hidden Ship, Gun Ship, Guardian Ship, USS Hamilton, and USS Jefferson. Please read this author's work, if you love action and adventure sci-fi or fun and entertaining space scifi space opera, McGinnis will not disappoint.- Copman I've been a big fan of MWM but I have to admit I wasn't too sure if I was going to enjoy this book going into it. I was interrupted beta reading two other books but my thoughts kept coming back to the characters in this book and wondering what was going to happen. I'm actually glad I was interrupted reading this book because it gave me more time to think and by the end I was truly hooked! Looking forward to the next book.- Trudi