Above the Clouds

In this science fiction novel, Earth is wrapped in permanent cloud cover, so no one has ever seen the stars. The author imagines how human history would have unfolded under such a sky. Lacking a view of the heavens, people turned their gaze downward. Volcanoes and the god Vulcan became the center of worship, and the faith's best-known saying, "Everything you need is beneath your feet!", kept believers from looking up.

A newly elected progressive president changes course by ordering scientists to build a probe that can finally reveal what lies beyond the clouds. The project meets resistance from religious extremists, from allies who turn against the effort, and from shifting political alliances. Jason, the central character, relies on his friends and his team as he pushes forward, knowing that the probe's launch and the sharing of its findings with the world could cost him his professional standing.