In 'Above the Ether,' Eric Barnes paints a chilling portrait of a near-future earth agonized by catastrophic climate changes. As we traverse from one group of characters to another, their interconnected stories unfurl against the backdrop of a society on the brink of disruption and despair. From a father leading his children away from a tsunami's wrath, to a couple haunted by the loss of their sons, their lives juxtaposed with that of an investor seizing on disaster's opportunities, the tapestry of human resilience and frailty is poignantly woven. Whether it's the struggle of immigrants in a desert camp, the escape from a violent past at a carnival, or the routine of fast-food management in a wind-battered city, 'Above the Ether' reveals humanity's small battles amidst civilization's overwhelming war with nature. It is a prequel that illustrates the early rumblings before the full fury of climate calamity, culminating as our protagonists converge in a city fallen into shadow, witnessing a gathering storm that symbolizes a more profound and permanent darkness.