The Matter of Cloud
#5654.12 adjusted 3.97 for sample size in the official ranking · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Ongoing 1991–present Reading commitment Low Greer Gilman Last reviewed 2026-11-01
Overview
The Matter of Cloud is a mythic fantasy sequence by Greer Gilman, begun with the novel Moonwise, first published by Roc in 1991. Two friends who once invented a game of nine worlds find themselves in Cloud, a wintry world shaped by northern English and Scottish ballads, seasonal ritual and the stars. Gilman's site calls the whole work the Cloudish Triptych. The second part, Cloud & Ashes (2009), is a collection of three stories and is not counted as a novel. The third part, Lightwards, is new work announced for 2028, and Lanternfish Press plans new editions of the first two in 2027. So far Moonwise is the only novel in print.
Mythic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
The Matter of Cloud Greer Gilman
| Work | Year | Internal chron. | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Moonwise | 1991 | 1 | core | 4.12 (173 ratings) |
A mythic fantasy set in Cloud, a world built from ballads, seasons and stars, of which one novel is published.
Quick answers
- How many books are in The Matter of Cloud? The Matter of Cloud's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is The Matter of Cloud finished? Ongoing (1991–present).
- How much reading does The Matter of Cloud take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book).
- How is The Matter of Cloud ranked? #565 in this site's official ranking, based on 173 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #565?
Ranked #565 in the official ranking.
- Average reader rating of 4.12 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (173 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- Less than 0.01 behind #564, Die uralte Metropole (a finer tie-break level decides the order).
- Below the top-10 average of 4.46.
Why explore this universe?
Highly rated · 1 book · Ongoing · 173 ratings · Ranks #565 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment mythic fantasy universe that's still ongoing, with new books still coming.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- Otherwise Award (then the Tiptree Award), 1991: nominated: Moonwise
- Mythopoeic Award, 1992: nominated: Moonwise
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Suggestions computed from what The Matter of Cloud and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- The Song of Achilles and Circe Mythic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.27
- The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi Historical fantasy / Mythic fantasy · Ongoing · Low commitment · 4.26
- Elements of Cadence Romantasy / Mythic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.15
- The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue / Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil Mythic fantasy / Dark fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.13
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 4.12 across 173 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Canon Extension: 27 universes from the candidate register; 3 candidates ruled out accepted 2026-11-01
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
- Greer Gilman, author site Tier 2
- Greer Gilman, Moonwise page Tier 2
- Wikipedia, Greer Gilman Tier 2
- Publishers Weekly review of Moonwise Tier 2
- Worlds Without End, Moonwise Tier 2
Last reviewed: 2026-11-01
Rule: Core Canon = Moonwise (1991). Cloud & Ashes (2009) is excluded as a story collection.