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The Oxygen Farmer
Sabotage, murder, cover-ups. Just another day on the Moon. After 35 years of living on the Moon, cranky old oxygen farmer Millennium Harrison has stumbled onto a hidden facility in the shadows of the Slayton Ridge Exclusion Zone with a radiation leak and a deadly secret. Mil's discovery leads to the death of a young astronaut, sabotage, murder, and cover-ups that may go all the way to the Chief Administrator of the space agency. Unfortunately, she happens to be Mil's estranged daughter, busy trying to secure her own legacy―the first international mission to Mars. With time ticking down to a limited launch window, enemies, friends, and even family may do anything to ensure the truth doesn't come out. Or will history finally catch up with a deadly scheme that has the potential to destroy the moon and eradicate all life on Earth? It seems the planet’s only hope is a cantankerous guy who never really liked those people in the first place. For readers who enjoy 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke, Artemis by Andy Weir, MoonFall by Jack McDevitt.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2023
38 people are currently reading
5317 people want to read
About the author
Colin Holmes
2 books96 followersBefore the pandemic, I toiled away in a beige cubical as a mid-level marketing and advertising manager for an international electronics firm. A recovering advertising creative director, I spent far too long at ad agencies and freelancing as a hired gun in the war for capitalism.
My ad copywriting covered everything from newspaper classifieds, TV commercials, and radio spots to trade journal articles and tweets. I've sold cowboy boots and cheeseburgers, 72-ounce steaks, and hazardous waste site clean-up services. And encountered fascinating characters at every turn.
Now I write stories - novels, short stories, and screenplays in an effort to stay out of the way and not drive my far too patient wife completely crazy. I am an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a former board member of the DFW Writers Workshop, and serve on the steering committee of the DFW Writers Conference.
I was the original writer on the film Edge of the World which made the festival rounds in 2019 and I detail that story on my website at byColinHolmes dot com.
My ad copywriting covered everything from newspaper classifieds, TV commercials, and radio spots to trade journal articles and tweets. I've sold cowboy boots and cheeseburgers, 72-ounce steaks, and hazardous waste site clean-up services. And encountered fascinating characters at every turn.
Now I write stories - novels, short stories, and screenplays in an effort to stay out of the way and not drive my far too patient wife completely crazy. I am an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a former board member of the DFW Writers Workshop, and serve on the steering committee of the DFW Writers Conference.
I was the original writer on the film Edge of the World which made the festival rounds in 2019 and I detail that story on my website at byColinHolmes dot com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
November 21, 2023
This book has the perfect balance of science fiction and suspense and is a book you will want to read, especially if you enjoy Star Trek and Space Force or really anything having to do with space. I have to admit that my husband has turned me onto Star Trek, and the concept of traveling through space is one that boggles the mind. But is a topic I am always willing to explore.
Set 50+ years in the future, Mil (short for Millennium) has been living on the moon, farming oxygen from the soil until he is told that someone else will be providing all of the oxygen for the moon and shuttles. On top of that, Mil has discovered a secret bunker that is in an exclusion zone. His curiosity about the bunker in a moon's crater has all the markings of a conspiracy theory. What ensues is a search for the truth, evading those in authority, and trying to stay alive.
I wasn't sure what to expect since this isn't a genre I typically read. I found myself engaged in the story from the start. Mil may be a crusty old fella, but he isn't stupid. He has had a hard life, and isolation on the moon wouldn't be easy for many. That isolation also kept him from his children and grandchildren. Despite that, it is ironic that his daughter and granddaughter are both in the space field. One is willing to help him, the other not so much. Family! But you shouldn't count Mil out; he is in the game and willing to do what he needs to do to uncover this secret. Or maybe it is just his curiosity.
The upside to this science fiction novel is that it is primarily set on the moon and Earth. There isn't any world-building that has to be done other than a little bit on the moon. The characters are not perfect, and some are flawed, but there is depth to all of them.
I had a hard time putting this book down, and I certainly didn't want it to end. I was invested in Mil and his discoveries. I thought about how I would react if I were in his shoes. I probably wouldn't have the gumption that he has, but if I lived on the moon, I might be the same way. I do have to say that the first few times I saw the name Mil, my mind automatically went to the acronym for mother-in-law until I realized that it was short for Millennium.
We give this book 5 paws up.
Set 50+ years in the future, Mil (short for Millennium) has been living on the moon, farming oxygen from the soil until he is told that someone else will be providing all of the oxygen for the moon and shuttles. On top of that, Mil has discovered a secret bunker that is in an exclusion zone. His curiosity about the bunker in a moon's crater has all the markings of a conspiracy theory. What ensues is a search for the truth, evading those in authority, and trying to stay alive.
I wasn't sure what to expect since this isn't a genre I typically read. I found myself engaged in the story from the start. Mil may be a crusty old fella, but he isn't stupid. He has had a hard life, and isolation on the moon wouldn't be easy for many. That isolation also kept him from his children and grandchildren. Despite that, it is ironic that his daughter and granddaughter are both in the space field. One is willing to help him, the other not so much. Family! But you shouldn't count Mil out; he is in the game and willing to do what he needs to do to uncover this secret. Or maybe it is just his curiosity.
The upside to this science fiction novel is that it is primarily set on the moon and Earth. There isn't any world-building that has to be done other than a little bit on the moon. The characters are not perfect, and some are flawed, but there is depth to all of them.
I had a hard time putting this book down, and I certainly didn't want it to end. I was invested in Mil and his discoveries. I thought about how I would react if I were in his shoes. I probably wouldn't have the gumption that he has, but if I lived on the moon, I might be the same way. I do have to say that the first few times I saw the name Mil, my mind automatically went to the acronym for mother-in-law until I realized that it was short for Millennium.
We give this book 5 paws up.
November 14, 2023
The Oxygen Farmer is so entertaining that I’m utterly over the moon about it! (Yes - it’s a pretty cheap pun, but somebody had to say it.) But seriously, I am very impressed with this clever storyline from author Colin Holmes, and even more impressed with the way Holmes tells this sci-fi story without getting too far into the sci-fi weeds.
Mil Harrison (short for Millennium, because he was the first child born into the new millennium in the year 2000) has been an oxygen farmer on the Moon for over three decades, and the writing is on the wall that his services will soon no longer be needed. Very quick to break rules in the interest of efficiency, Mil literally stumbles upon a radioactive hotbed in the dark of a crater. That happenstance begins a series of events that could not only take Mil’s life, but also destroy the Moon and impact the Earth in a fatalistic way.
That’s the initial premise of the story, but it goes into oh so much more than I can explain in a few sentences. Mil is quite the character with quite the history. He is an icon on the Moon, well known to anyone who ever studied the history of mankind creating livable settlements there. His family history is rich in astronautics, with his daughter and granddaughter currently involved in the preparations for the first manned mission to Mars.
Rather than go further into the fabulous storyline, I’d rather discuss some other fabulous stuff, such as pacing, description and technology.
In stories with a lot of future tech, it’s very easy to get tangled up in the weeds, slowing the story. Not so with The Oxygen Farmer! The tech is kept to a minimum—to the author’s credit—and the emphasis is kept on the story, where it belongs! The pacing in this story never slows down. It’s wonderful and kept my full attention.
Some authors go crazy with world-building in sci-fi novels. Not so in this one. Again, it’s all about the story. There is some new tech, sure, but it’s kept to a minimum. Surprisingly, the story contains a lot of old tech. Props to any author who can handle that as well as Holmes did.
I also enjoyed the way the author included some pretty dry humor. For example, in one scene someone was describing the arrival of a nuclear physicist who wore a T-shirt that said, “Bomb Tech— If You See Me Running Try To Keep Up.” The cast of characters also includes a crusty AI (artificial intelligence) unit that seems to surpass Mil in the persnickety department.
In my opinion, this storyline is completely original, and it gives a feel of humanity to future space exploration. Rarely have I read a sci-fi novel that I’ve enjoyed more!
I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. You certainly won’t be disappointed!
Mil Harrison (short for Millennium, because he was the first child born into the new millennium in the year 2000) has been an oxygen farmer on the Moon for over three decades, and the writing is on the wall that his services will soon no longer be needed. Very quick to break rules in the interest of efficiency, Mil literally stumbles upon a radioactive hotbed in the dark of a crater. That happenstance begins a series of events that could not only take Mil’s life, but also destroy the Moon and impact the Earth in a fatalistic way.
That’s the initial premise of the story, but it goes into oh so much more than I can explain in a few sentences. Mil is quite the character with quite the history. He is an icon on the Moon, well known to anyone who ever studied the history of mankind creating livable settlements there. His family history is rich in astronautics, with his daughter and granddaughter currently involved in the preparations for the first manned mission to Mars.
Rather than go further into the fabulous storyline, I’d rather discuss some other fabulous stuff, such as pacing, description and technology.
In stories with a lot of future tech, it’s very easy to get tangled up in the weeds, slowing the story. Not so with The Oxygen Farmer! The tech is kept to a minimum—to the author’s credit—and the emphasis is kept on the story, where it belongs! The pacing in this story never slows down. It’s wonderful and kept my full attention.
Some authors go crazy with world-building in sci-fi novels. Not so in this one. Again, it’s all about the story. There is some new tech, sure, but it’s kept to a minimum. Surprisingly, the story contains a lot of old tech. Props to any author who can handle that as well as Holmes did.
I also enjoyed the way the author included some pretty dry humor. For example, in one scene someone was describing the arrival of a nuclear physicist who wore a T-shirt that said, “Bomb Tech— If You See Me Running Try To Keep Up.” The cast of characters also includes a crusty AI (artificial intelligence) unit that seems to surpass Mil in the persnickety department.
In my opinion, this storyline is completely original, and it gives a feel of humanity to future space exploration. Rarely have I read a sci-fi novel that I’ve enjoyed more!
I whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story. You certainly won’t be disappointed!
April 8, 2024
2.5 stars this was so disappointing 😢
The chapters were too short to feel fully engaged with the story, the writing was mid (something that can be overlooked if the plot and characters were to carry the work instead... which they do not in this case) and the pacing was not conducive to a fun-engaging adventure the premise sets up to be. This turned out to be more of a (bad) mystery/thriller set in space using classic scifi tropes than whatever sort of scifi story I anticipated this to be. Perhaps that's my own fault. In any case, I still didn't enjoy this nor do I find it worth more than a 2.5/5 rating on a craft level and overall as a piece. Unless you already enjoy this author or really like Armageddon (1998) or similar stories.
What follows is my under-baked dis-appreciation of the work, spoilers abound.
The chapters were too short to feel fully engaged with the story, the writing was mid (something that can be overlooked if the plot and characters were to carry the work instead... which they do not in this case) and the pacing was not conducive to a fun-engaging adventure the premise sets up to be. This turned out to be more of a (bad) mystery/thriller set in space using classic scifi tropes than whatever sort of scifi story I anticipated this to be. Perhaps that's my own fault. In any case, I still didn't enjoy this nor do I find it worth more than a 2.5/5 rating on a craft level and overall as a piece. Unless you already enjoy this author or really like Armageddon (1998) or similar stories.
What follows is my under-baked dis-appreciation of the work, spoilers abound.
November 18, 2023
I have read the conspiracy comments that Armstrong never stepped on the moon. Armstrong was there and took a giant leap. I can only imagine how he was both excited and scared at the same time. What if his one giant leap eventually led to a major war? Impossible right? That’s where genius science fiction storytelling takes off with Author Colin Holmes.
He has crafted such a well-written story in The Oxygen Farmer around the moon, potential warfare, and the hope of going to Mars that I felt I was riding along with the characters with each page-turn. Kudos to Holmes for his research homework with The Oxygen Farmer. How do I know? There are parts of the story mentioning Buckminster Fuller and the Pantex Plant in the Texas Panhandle. The small elements like these in this story give it a sense of realness and plausibility.
What you have in this story is an older man named Mil who farms oxygen on the moon. He soon stumbles across a piece of covered history on the moon from over a century ago from our government. That unexpected discovery leads to murders, intrigue about what’s going on, some radiation poisoning, and plots that go back to Earth and soon to Mars.
Science fiction is supposed to make us think about the possibilities of the future. Holmes did a masterful job in The Oxygen Farmer. Also, what I loved about this book is Holmes dropping bits of humor making you connect with the characters even more. This story is wrapped up perfectly and advances splendidly.
If you love science fiction, relatable characters, and major mystery then this space-age story is a must-read. It will take you on a journey where the moon has been colonized, Mars is set to be, radiation still can cause your death, and the secrets of our government run deep.
He has crafted such a well-written story in The Oxygen Farmer around the moon, potential warfare, and the hope of going to Mars that I felt I was riding along with the characters with each page-turn. Kudos to Holmes for his research homework with The Oxygen Farmer. How do I know? There are parts of the story mentioning Buckminster Fuller and the Pantex Plant in the Texas Panhandle. The small elements like these in this story give it a sense of realness and plausibility.
What you have in this story is an older man named Mil who farms oxygen on the moon. He soon stumbles across a piece of covered history on the moon from over a century ago from our government. That unexpected discovery leads to murders, intrigue about what’s going on, some radiation poisoning, and plots that go back to Earth and soon to Mars.
Science fiction is supposed to make us think about the possibilities of the future. Holmes did a masterful job in The Oxygen Farmer. Also, what I loved about this book is Holmes dropping bits of humor making you connect with the characters even more. This story is wrapped up perfectly and advances splendidly.
If you love science fiction, relatable characters, and major mystery then this space-age story is a must-read. It will take you on a journey where the moon has been colonized, Mars is set to be, radiation still can cause your death, and the secrets of our government run deep.
December 28, 2023
What a disappointment. The book started out so well, with interesting characters and an interesting near-future moon colony. About halfway through the book it devolved into a ridiculous conspiracy theory. Perhaps if I knew less about the moon and the moon program I would have found it readable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2023
"You run on full caffeine, huh?"
"Well, the world's been spinning pretty fast lately."
The Oxygen Farmer by Colin Holmes is an interplanetary mystery and an all-around engaging story. While worldbuilding, plot dynamics, and action are important in sci-fi, in-depth characterization is key also, and the author nails it. All of it. Fantastic!
It is 2077, and Millennium Edward Harrison, or Mil to most people, has been an oxygen farmer on the moon (Luna) for years, hailing originally from Houston, Texas. What in the galaxy is an oxygen farmer? Well, if you are on any surface other than Earth, a steady and reliable supply of oxygen must come from somewhere. Better call Mil!
Unfortunately, times are changing, and new tech has arrived. At almost 80 years old, Mil, along with his oxygen farm, is being phased out. But this irascible, stubborn, and highly ingenious man has other ideas, especially when he stumbles upon a mysterious, off-limits, and highly radioactive zone on Luna called Slayton Ridge. Once Mil opens that hatch to investigate, danger, death, and destruction gain traction and then skitter wildly across the following chapters.
With such superb storytelling and characterization, putting aside The Oxygen Farmer for even a moment is torture. Mil is a wonderful protagonist because he is flawed and sarcastic, has been through the emotional familial ringer, and is incredibly hard to annihilate. He can be loveable too, in a grouchy kind of way. This man is like a cat with nine lives, but he’s on the downhill side of life number ten. The other characters are equally developed and shine brightly throughout. Characterization is key, remember?
Colin Holmes has created a completely fresh story line under the sci-fi genre, which is not easy because this genre is quite saturated, but the imagination is not, thankfully. The overall plot and technology in The Oxygen Farmer are in no way farfetched and feel all too possible right now!
The secrecy and purpose of Slayton Ridge on the moon began way back in the 1980s. These secrets are explosive, terrifying, potentially catastrophic, and a dream come true for mystery lovers. The suspense and tension build steadily throughout the beginning, before hurtling full speed ahead as Mil and a few others sidestep, fly, and flat out run ever closer to the truth.
The Oxygen Farmer is a humdinger and perfect for any reader who loves a good puzzle, great characterization, and a meteoric plot like no other. While this story is labeled as science fiction, it encompasses many genres (even some romance) and will snag anyone’s attention and imagination based on the compelling title alone. The ending is spectacular.
"The Man from the Moon had returned to Earth."
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
"Well, the world's been spinning pretty fast lately."
The Oxygen Farmer by Colin Holmes is an interplanetary mystery and an all-around engaging story. While worldbuilding, plot dynamics, and action are important in sci-fi, in-depth characterization is key also, and the author nails it. All of it. Fantastic!
It is 2077, and Millennium Edward Harrison, or Mil to most people, has been an oxygen farmer on the moon (Luna) for years, hailing originally from Houston, Texas. What in the galaxy is an oxygen farmer? Well, if you are on any surface other than Earth, a steady and reliable supply of oxygen must come from somewhere. Better call Mil!
Unfortunately, times are changing, and new tech has arrived. At almost 80 years old, Mil, along with his oxygen farm, is being phased out. But this irascible, stubborn, and highly ingenious man has other ideas, especially when he stumbles upon a mysterious, off-limits, and highly radioactive zone on Luna called Slayton Ridge. Once Mil opens that hatch to investigate, danger, death, and destruction gain traction and then skitter wildly across the following chapters.
With such superb storytelling and characterization, putting aside The Oxygen Farmer for even a moment is torture. Mil is a wonderful protagonist because he is flawed and sarcastic, has been through the emotional familial ringer, and is incredibly hard to annihilate. He can be loveable too, in a grouchy kind of way. This man is like a cat with nine lives, but he’s on the downhill side of life number ten. The other characters are equally developed and shine brightly throughout. Characterization is key, remember?
Colin Holmes has created a completely fresh story line under the sci-fi genre, which is not easy because this genre is quite saturated, but the imagination is not, thankfully. The overall plot and technology in The Oxygen Farmer are in no way farfetched and feel all too possible right now!
The secrecy and purpose of Slayton Ridge on the moon began way back in the 1980s. These secrets are explosive, terrifying, potentially catastrophic, and a dream come true for mystery lovers. The suspense and tension build steadily throughout the beginning, before hurtling full speed ahead as Mil and a few others sidestep, fly, and flat out run ever closer to the truth.
The Oxygen Farmer is a humdinger and perfect for any reader who loves a good puzzle, great characterization, and a meteoric plot like no other. While this story is labeled as science fiction, it encompasses many genres (even some romance) and will snag anyone’s attention and imagination based on the compelling title alone. The ending is spectacular.
"The Man from the Moon had returned to Earth."
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
March 4, 2024
This is a difficult book to rate, if I could i would give it 2,5, but I give it a weak 3.
The reason for this is merely because the book did not surprise me in anyway. It is not a bad written book, it just not that entertaining in my eyes. The plot is very standard and the characters are as well, Mil Harrison reminds me of Christian Slaters character Randy Ridley in "Inside Job" for anyone who has seen that.
I liked the si-fi part being very plausible, I believe that we will some day inhabit the moon on a more permeant basis and I can envision the scenario in this book as what it would be like. You can compere it to Andy Weirs "The Martian" in that regard.
The reason for this is merely because the book did not surprise me in anyway. It is not a bad written book, it just not that entertaining in my eyes. The plot is very standard and the characters are as well, Mil Harrison reminds me of Christian Slaters character Randy Ridley in "Inside Job" for anyone who has seen that.
I liked the si-fi part being very plausible, I believe that we will some day inhabit the moon on a more permeant basis and I can envision the scenario in this book as what it would be like. You can compere it to Andy Weirs "The Martian" in that regard.
November 20, 2023
Heart-stopping action by memorable characters made this a stellar reading experience!
The Oxygen Farmer is an excellent new sci-fi mystery/thriller by Texas author Colin Holmes slated for release early next month and just in time for Christmas gift-giving. Its lunar setting, heart-stopping action, and memorable characters made for an absolutely stellar reading experience.
The main character, Millennium “Mil” Harrison, has lived and worked on the moon longer than anyone else. He’s a legend on Earth and among the employees assigned to Armstrong Base. Pushing 80, he’s cranky and cantankerous, and after dedicating his life to making the lunar settlements sustainable, his patented oxygen farming process is being replaced by new technology. However, he was fairly accepting of being “retired” and living the rest of his life out on his farm, focusing on his other interests, including his relationship with Emma, the only doctor on the moon. Just because there’s snow on the roof, you know. In Mil, the author has created a truly multidimensional character.The story begins years after the moon settlements have been established; Mars is now the target of Earth’s exploration and expansion aspirations. The author does a great job creating a long-established lunar setting with mentions of past station commanders, making Armstrong Station a routine duty station that employees transfer in and out of, and descriptions of dusty, abandoned equipment and historic sites for tourists to visit that commemorate important milestones in the Earth’s space race past.
The action and mystery begin immediately, and surprising plot twists keep the suspense running at top speed. A small thing I enjoyed during Mil's sojourn in Japan were the use of pop culture names for some of the characters such as Ash, Yoshi, Hina. Yet, in this vision of a better future, as the multinational mission to Mars on a space vessel named Humanity prepares to get underway, some humans still revert to type to pursue personal gain while others sacrifice everything for the greater good.I recommend THE OXYGEN FARMER to science fiction readers, especially those who enjoy a planet-side story.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Book Blog Tours.
June 27, 2024
As a way of passing three hours reading on a train this was fine, but that's as far as I'd go.
The problem with this book is it reads like something Dan Brown might have written as a boy. It is a stereotypical SF thriller with a predictable plot and the science in it ranges from implausible to just plain wrong. The characters are stereotypes - from the curmudgeon with a heart of gold to the evil billionaire.
If you too just want a way to pass the time on a long train journey then this will do the job, but otherwise you'd just be wasting the time that could be spent reading something better.
The problem with this book is it reads like something Dan Brown might have written as a boy. It is a stereotypical SF thriller with a predictable plot and the science in it ranges from implausible to just plain wrong. The characters are stereotypes - from the curmudgeon with a heart of gold to the evil billionaire.
If you too just want a way to pass the time on a long train journey then this will do the job, but otherwise you'd just be wasting the time that could be spent reading something better.
November 17, 2023
A science fiction story about a man living on the moon as an oxygen farmer? Yes please! I'm not normally a huge science fiction fan unless it's science fiction fantasy, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! What was neat about it was all the history that was woven into the story. I thought this was clever and it kept me very engaged through out the story.
The novel follows Mil Harrison. I love how Mil is short for Millennium, the first person born in the year 2000! He's been an oxygen farmer on the moon for 35 years! He ends up finding something that could destroy the moon, and have drastic and fatal effects on the Earth. I loved learning about his life as an oxygen farmer, it was fascinating! I also love how he's a bit of a rule breaker, but it's because of this that is why he stumbles upon the radioactive hotbed in a crater and the whole mystery of the story begins.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this story, and how Holmes weaves so much to love into this science fiction story. I love the family dynamic between himself and his daughter and granddaughter. I loved the bit of history that was woven into it. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of the story as it unfolded. I think Holmes created some loveable and memorable characters and their relationships with each other were such a great glue to the scientific foundation of this well crafted story!
Family drama, mystery, science fiction, history.... Like I said, science fiction tends to be hit or miss for me, but I feel like Holmes told this story perfectly, it was just the right combination of each writing ingredient for it to grip me and pull me in.
Definitely one to add to your TBR list!
The novel follows Mil Harrison. I love how Mil is short for Millennium, the first person born in the year 2000! He's been an oxygen farmer on the moon for 35 years! He ends up finding something that could destroy the moon, and have drastic and fatal effects on the Earth. I loved learning about his life as an oxygen farmer, it was fascinating! I also love how he's a bit of a rule breaker, but it's because of this that is why he stumbles upon the radioactive hotbed in a crater and the whole mystery of the story begins.
I really enjoyed the pacing of this story, and how Holmes weaves so much to love into this science fiction story. I love the family dynamic between himself and his daughter and granddaughter. I loved the bit of history that was woven into it. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery of the story as it unfolded. I think Holmes created some loveable and memorable characters and their relationships with each other were such a great glue to the scientific foundation of this well crafted story!
Family drama, mystery, science fiction, history.... Like I said, science fiction tends to be hit or miss for me, but I feel like Holmes told this story perfectly, it was just the right combination of each writing ingredient for it to grip me and pull me in.
Definitely one to add to your TBR list!
December 18, 2023
Sci-fi mixed with a mystery, I couldn’t put this one down. I loved Mil and his granddaughter Nique. They had a unique relationship and I liked their sense of humor. Being set on the moon there wasn’t as much of world-building as some sci-fi novels but it was done well. It wasn’t an information dump, we learned about the technology and chain of command as it was being used. The technology was really interesting and it added to the secret that Mil uncovered. The pacing was great and the twists kept me guessing to the end. While I don’t think we be living on the moon when this book is set everything seemed really plausible.
Thank you @bycolinholmes and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
Thank you @bycolinholmes and @suzyapprovedbooktours for the gifted copy.
November 12, 2024
A fun read! I raced through this and really enjoyed the character development. I'm not typically a SciFi reader, but that didn't keep me from understanding and enjoying the solid plot.
I would definitely recommend!
I would definitely recommend!
February 10, 2024
3.5 stars :)
June 6, 2024
7.7/10
Had a lot of fun with this one. Really solid political thriller where the main character is in his late 70s, and in space! Just a real good time overall.
Had a lot of fun with this one. Really solid political thriller where the main character is in his late 70s, and in space! Just a real good time overall.
November 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this sci-fi novel that takes place on the moon. An engaging story with wit and a wonderful audiobook.
December 29, 2024
Overrated. Not engaging; I cared not at all for the underdeveloped characters. Repetitious characterizations: Mil is crumudgeonly, I get it. The writing was dull, the plot not able to carry the work instead. Suggested retitle: "How to make living on the moon and a mysterious anomaly utterly boring," by Colin Holmes.
April 28, 2024
Wasn't a bad book, but I did have some significant issues with it.
Never mind the hidden moon base with ICBMs on it, however impossible that would have been to do (particularly secretly) in the 1980s - perhaps this was some alternate version of our history where things played out differently than in our timeline.
Never mind the concept that personnel on a mission to Mars could be swapped out at whim mere days before that mission is scheduled to depart. Or that it could unilaterally be done on the behest of one of the space organizations involved in that effort. That was dumb, but not an absolute deal-breaker.
No, what killed it for me was the idea to launch the rogue lunar nuclear missiles into the sun and the explicit acceptance of all the astronauts involved in the plan that this would be simply accomplished. Launching something into the sun is not like pushing something down a hill where gravity will ensure it gets to the bottom. When dealing with orbital dynamics, it doesn't work that way. Look up the concept of Delta V Budget - it would be way easier to launch the missiles out of the solar system than into the sun. Missiles with barely enough power to reach low Earth orbit simply would not have the fuel to drop themselves into the Sun - they'd end up in an odd elliptical orbit instead.
This simple fact completely broke my suspension of disbelief. I had been able to ignore all my other issues with the plot and physics involved, but this one showed such a lack of care to get it right that it killed the book for me. After finishing this book I moved on to re-read the much better lunar thriller Artemis.
Never mind the hidden moon base with ICBMs on it, however impossible that would have been to do (particularly secretly) in the 1980s - perhaps this was some alternate version of our history where things played out differently than in our timeline.
Never mind the concept that personnel on a mission to Mars could be swapped out at whim mere days before that mission is scheduled to depart. Or that it could unilaterally be done on the behest of one of the space organizations involved in that effort. That was dumb, but not an absolute deal-breaker.
No, what killed it for me was the idea to launch the rogue lunar nuclear missiles into the sun and the explicit acceptance of all the astronauts involved in the plan that this would be simply accomplished. Launching something into the sun is not like pushing something down a hill where gravity will ensure it gets to the bottom. When dealing with orbital dynamics, it doesn't work that way. Look up the concept of Delta V Budget - it would be way easier to launch the missiles out of the solar system than into the sun. Missiles with barely enough power to reach low Earth orbit simply would not have the fuel to drop themselves into the Sun - they'd end up in an odd elliptical orbit instead.
This simple fact completely broke my suspension of disbelief. I had been able to ignore all my other issues with the plot and physics involved, but this one showed such a lack of care to get it right that it killed the book for me. After finishing this book I moved on to re-read the much better lunar thriller Artemis.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2024
The best way I can describe this book is “cozy sci-fi”. It is more of a character study than hard science fiction. It is the story of a cranky, stubborn old man who has lived on the moon for decades who stumbles on a long forgotten secret and what happens from there. Most of the supporting characters are reasonably well developed. While not a great book, it was entertaining and I did enjoy it.
November 22, 2023
Mil Harrison (short for Millennium, since he was the first baby born in the year 2000 – I love that!) knows the end is near. The end of his time as the only oxygen farmer on the Moon, that is. He’s been at this job for 35 years, but newer technology is being brought online, and his role will soon be obsolete. He’s getting up in years, but that hasn’t quelled his sense of curiosity, and when he stumbles into an unexpected radioactive locale in an off-limits area, that curiosity begins to run rampant.
Colin Holmes has created a marvelous protagonist in Mil. He’s crotchety, hard-headed, and willful. Past experiences have conspired to give him a crusty outer shell, and not everyone sees past it. He doesn’t know when to quit, and he’ll need every bit of that tenacity to dig into a mystery that someone definitely wants to keep hidden. Once that secret hatch is opened, death and treachery are released, along with what could be a life-ending dose of radiation for Mil. But who knew it was there? Why is it there? These are the questions Mil must answer, even at considerable risk to his own well-being.
Holmes also gives us some delightfully written female characters. The ones we see the most – Mil’s daughter, Bailey; his granddaughter, Nique; and his doctor and love interest, Emma – are all smart, capable women. We get to see Bailey later in the story. Mil hasn’t spoken to her in decades, not since the accident that took the life of his wife, Bailey’s mother. But we meet Nique early on, and she is fantastic. She wants to continue the family legacy of space exploration, hopes to go on the mission to Mars. When Mil inadvertently botches her chance at that, she’s fiery and feisty enough to tell him precisely what she thinks. But she loves him enough to keep helping him dig for answers, as much as she can. Emma is equally outspoken, both about Mil’s health and about his quest to find out what’s going on. Mil has no shortage of women in his life who aren’t afraid to be honest with him, and I am here for it. I also appreciate the fact that he’s pretty well up in years by society’s standards, but he’s still spry enough to have a girlfriend.
The story is set in the not-too-distant future, and Holmes gives us just enough world-building to let us picture the environment well. He doesn’t expend too much effort creating a lot of new technology. Rather, he uses existing technology and a solid foundation of space-age history to give the reader a good feel for things. As with his book Thunder Road (which I also loved – see my review here), he uses actual history to give his book the feeling that maybe it really could have happened like he described.
Solid sci-fi, excellent characters, a compelling mystery, family drama, a little bit of old Cold War-style political tension – all of this adds up to a rip-snortin’ good read that’s hard to put down! I’ve seen it described as “Tom Clancy in space.” I’d take that one step farther and call it “Tom Clancy in space with a slightly ironic sense of humor.” Highly recommended for anyone who likes a book that’s well-written, that sucks you in, and that’s got just that little something different about it that makes it sparkle. Colin Holmes is firmly on my list of authors to watch, and I’ll keep reading his books with great glee.
Colin Holmes has created a marvelous protagonist in Mil. He’s crotchety, hard-headed, and willful. Past experiences have conspired to give him a crusty outer shell, and not everyone sees past it. He doesn’t know when to quit, and he’ll need every bit of that tenacity to dig into a mystery that someone definitely wants to keep hidden. Once that secret hatch is opened, death and treachery are released, along with what could be a life-ending dose of radiation for Mil. But who knew it was there? Why is it there? These are the questions Mil must answer, even at considerable risk to his own well-being.
Holmes also gives us some delightfully written female characters. The ones we see the most – Mil’s daughter, Bailey; his granddaughter, Nique; and his doctor and love interest, Emma – are all smart, capable women. We get to see Bailey later in the story. Mil hasn’t spoken to her in decades, not since the accident that took the life of his wife, Bailey’s mother. But we meet Nique early on, and she is fantastic. She wants to continue the family legacy of space exploration, hopes to go on the mission to Mars. When Mil inadvertently botches her chance at that, she’s fiery and feisty enough to tell him precisely what she thinks. But she loves him enough to keep helping him dig for answers, as much as she can. Emma is equally outspoken, both about Mil’s health and about his quest to find out what’s going on. Mil has no shortage of women in his life who aren’t afraid to be honest with him, and I am here for it. I also appreciate the fact that he’s pretty well up in years by society’s standards, but he’s still spry enough to have a girlfriend.
The story is set in the not-too-distant future, and Holmes gives us just enough world-building to let us picture the environment well. He doesn’t expend too much effort creating a lot of new technology. Rather, he uses existing technology and a solid foundation of space-age history to give the reader a good feel for things. As with his book Thunder Road (which I also loved – see my review here), he uses actual history to give his book the feeling that maybe it really could have happened like he described.
Solid sci-fi, excellent characters, a compelling mystery, family drama, a little bit of old Cold War-style political tension – all of this adds up to a rip-snortin’ good read that’s hard to put down! I’ve seen it described as “Tom Clancy in space.” I’d take that one step farther and call it “Tom Clancy in space with a slightly ironic sense of humor.” Highly recommended for anyone who likes a book that’s well-written, that sucks you in, and that’s got just that little something different about it that makes it sparkle. Colin Holmes is firmly on my list of authors to watch, and I’ll keep reading his books with great glee.
November 14, 2023
The Oxygen Farmer has it all: a plausible near-future science fiction setting, compelling characters, family drama, and a mystery that catches your interest from the start and expands until the end. With perfect pacing, realistic dialogue, and a deep love of real-world space history that shows in every description, this novel is intriguing, entertaining, and truly satisfying.
As a space junkie myself, I loved the blending of real history and fiction that author Colin Homes used to make his version of the moon feel like a living place and not just a dusty rock we visited a few times, many decades ago. As someone who has watched Apollo 13 and the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon countless times, and has devoured every account of the space race and many astronauts’ autobiographies, I appreciated the rich lore Holmes created on his personal lunar surface. I smiled the first time I read “Slayton Ridge,” because I understood the reference (Deke Slayton totally deserves to have a lunar landmark namesake) and that enhanced my enjoyment of the story, but there’s enough world-building and character work here to engage people who are less familiar with NASA history.
The story itself is as wonderful as the setting Holmes has created. Mil Harrison is the perfect protagonist. Cantankerous and aging, but still curious, he represents the contemporary world and the future in equal measures, and his status as the first baby born in the twenty-first century just adds to the created history in this book. Mil’s work as the titular Oxygen Farmer is interesting, but it’s also a mechanism to get us into the mystery of an undocumented lunar facility, among other things. The family saga aspect of this novel – Nique, Mil’s granddaughter, aspires to an assignment on Mars, carrying their family further into space – really resonated with me, and I thought this generational storytelling was well-plotted. I felt like this was a real family, with real issues – Mil’s poking around adversely affects Nique’s career at one point – and grounded the science fiction in emotional truth. (Mil’s daughter Bailey is also exceptional – and may I just take a moment to compliment the author on writing fantastic female characters?)
Holmes has an exceptional ear for dialogue. The shifting between workplace banter and military professionalism was brilliantly executed, and helped to establish relationships between the character. Pacing, also, is a skill this author demonstrates ably. I never felt like there was too much exposition or that the mystery was solved too soon.
If you like family drama, mysteries, or solid science fiction, you will enjoy The Oxygen Farmer. If you enjoy all those things combined, or have a passion for any of them you will LOVE this book, as I did.
Goes well with: freeze-dried ice cream and Tang. Just kidding. A bacon cheeseburger, french fries, and a chocolate milkshake.
As a space junkie myself, I loved the blending of real history and fiction that author Colin Homes used to make his version of the moon feel like a living place and not just a dusty rock we visited a few times, many decades ago. As someone who has watched Apollo 13 and the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon countless times, and has devoured every account of the space race and many astronauts’ autobiographies, I appreciated the rich lore Holmes created on his personal lunar surface. I smiled the first time I read “Slayton Ridge,” because I understood the reference (Deke Slayton totally deserves to have a lunar landmark namesake) and that enhanced my enjoyment of the story, but there’s enough world-building and character work here to engage people who are less familiar with NASA history.
The story itself is as wonderful as the setting Holmes has created. Mil Harrison is the perfect protagonist. Cantankerous and aging, but still curious, he represents the contemporary world and the future in equal measures, and his status as the first baby born in the twenty-first century just adds to the created history in this book. Mil’s work as the titular Oxygen Farmer is interesting, but it’s also a mechanism to get us into the mystery of an undocumented lunar facility, among other things. The family saga aspect of this novel – Nique, Mil’s granddaughter, aspires to an assignment on Mars, carrying their family further into space – really resonated with me, and I thought this generational storytelling was well-plotted. I felt like this was a real family, with real issues – Mil’s poking around adversely affects Nique’s career at one point – and grounded the science fiction in emotional truth. (Mil’s daughter Bailey is also exceptional – and may I just take a moment to compliment the author on writing fantastic female characters?)
Holmes has an exceptional ear for dialogue. The shifting between workplace banter and military professionalism was brilliantly executed, and helped to establish relationships between the character. Pacing, also, is a skill this author demonstrates ably. I never felt like there was too much exposition or that the mystery was solved too soon.
If you like family drama, mysteries, or solid science fiction, you will enjoy The Oxygen Farmer. If you enjoy all those things combined, or have a passion for any of them you will LOVE this book, as I did.
Goes well with: freeze-dried ice cream and Tang. Just kidding. A bacon cheeseburger, french fries, and a chocolate milkshake.
December 9, 2023
"For all the wonders promised by Science Fiction, physics were a bitch to overcome."
Dang. That quote has stuck with me for days. And is an excellent place to start my review of THE OXYGEN FARMER. Sci Fi with a side of action\adventure and mystery-solving.
WRITING\PLOT
What struck me right away is that THE OXYGEN FARMER is set in the very near future - 2077. That's 54 years from now. Our main character's birthdate is 1/1/2000. Mil is, at this moment, 23 years old. Try wrapping your brain around that! Humans, living on the moon, getting ready to head to Mars, all in the very near future. All those millennials and Gen Zers as old people!
The writing is clever and a pleasure to read. Holmes does a remarkable job blending current ideals with future tech. Mil receives super-secret handwritten spy notes from his employer, Amon Neff, on paper. Mil remarks more than once that even he struggles to read the handwriting after so many years of only seeing typed pages. Neff remarks that the paper notes cannot be hacked. And he's got a point. My handwriting is horrible. I freely admit that. But wow to not seeing handwriting on a regular basis. I still write my grocery lists on note paper!
As for the plot, I wasn't expecting a Cold War spy novel in the middle of a Sci Fi one. But I liked it! Mil and the team must contain a radioactive leak without the Russians finding out. Or, you know, blowing up the moon. No biggie! I appreciated that Mil is a doer, all action, working to solve the problems. Not even wanting to take time out to recover from massive radiation doses.
I adored the subtle humor in this book. Cranky sarcasm is my wheelhouse! Even Mil's AI system is sarcastic. Some examples: Mil has a tear in this pressure suit, on his rear end. Is he wearing underwear? Nope. Nique (Mil's granddaughter) gives her mother an 'over-the-top salute' with plenty of Yes, Ma'ams. Later, Nique is placed on 'double-secret probation.' One of the physicists on the original project wears a t-shirt with "BOMB TECH - If You See Me Running Try To Keep Up." Given my penchant for punny t-shirts, I'd be all over that.
CHARACTERS
The characters shine in THE OXYGEN FARMER. Sure, it's Sci Fi. There's tech, danger, and problem solving. But all those are secondary to the characters.
Mil is one of those 'old people' who probably has some great stories to tell from their lives and adventures. Living and thriving on the moon for thirty years will do that. He's also a flawed character who figures out his faults and works towards fixing those issues by the end of the novel.
The interpersonal relationships between the characters, especially Mil, Bailey (his daughter), and Nique (granddaughter) really shine. But also, Mil's interactions with the other characters, like when Mil 'accidentally' locked a medical escort in the barn to avoid having to leave the moon. Or playing chess with his friends. There is great banter and connection between all the characters.
NARRATION
I listened to the narration of THE OXYGEN FARMER at 1.25x speed. Narrator Szarabajka does a good job with Mil's voice and the general narration. I struggled with the female characters, though. I didn't find their voices distinct enough. Luckily, there aren't too many characters to keep track of. I didn't have any issues with distinguishing the characters from context. I also found I needed to keep turning up the volume when the narrator was whispering or for character asides. The audio quality was fine on my headphones, but not as great in my car with background noise. The overall quality of the narration did not detract from my enjoyment of the book in the least. And as I'm at +35 audiobooks so far this year, I have plenty of experience listening.
As an avid Sci Fi reader, THE OXYGEN FARMER knocks it out of the park. No pew-pew space battles. But there are explosions! And heart. And humor. A great read overall.
Dang. That quote has stuck with me for days. And is an excellent place to start my review of THE OXYGEN FARMER. Sci Fi with a side of action\adventure and mystery-solving.
WRITING\PLOT
What struck me right away is that THE OXYGEN FARMER is set in the very near future - 2077. That's 54 years from now. Our main character's birthdate is 1/1/2000. Mil is, at this moment, 23 years old. Try wrapping your brain around that! Humans, living on the moon, getting ready to head to Mars, all in the very near future. All those millennials and Gen Zers as old people!
The writing is clever and a pleasure to read. Holmes does a remarkable job blending current ideals with future tech. Mil receives super-secret handwritten spy notes from his employer, Amon Neff, on paper. Mil remarks more than once that even he struggles to read the handwriting after so many years of only seeing typed pages. Neff remarks that the paper notes cannot be hacked. And he's got a point. My handwriting is horrible. I freely admit that. But wow to not seeing handwriting on a regular basis. I still write my grocery lists on note paper!
As for the plot, I wasn't expecting a Cold War spy novel in the middle of a Sci Fi one. But I liked it! Mil and the team must contain a radioactive leak without the Russians finding out. Or, you know, blowing up the moon. No biggie! I appreciated that Mil is a doer, all action, working to solve the problems. Not even wanting to take time out to recover from massive radiation doses.
I adored the subtle humor in this book. Cranky sarcasm is my wheelhouse! Even Mil's AI system is sarcastic. Some examples: Mil has a tear in this pressure suit, on his rear end. Is he wearing underwear? Nope. Nique (Mil's granddaughter) gives her mother an 'over-the-top salute' with plenty of Yes, Ma'ams. Later, Nique is placed on 'double-secret probation.' One of the physicists on the original project wears a t-shirt with "BOMB TECH - If You See Me Running Try To Keep Up." Given my penchant for punny t-shirts, I'd be all over that.
CHARACTERS
The characters shine in THE OXYGEN FARMER. Sure, it's Sci Fi. There's tech, danger, and problem solving. But all those are secondary to the characters.
Mil is one of those 'old people' who probably has some great stories to tell from their lives and adventures. Living and thriving on the moon for thirty years will do that. He's also a flawed character who figures out his faults and works towards fixing those issues by the end of the novel.
The interpersonal relationships between the characters, especially Mil, Bailey (his daughter), and Nique (granddaughter) really shine. But also, Mil's interactions with the other characters, like when Mil 'accidentally' locked a medical escort in the barn to avoid having to leave the moon. Or playing chess with his friends. There is great banter and connection between all the characters.
NARRATION
I listened to the narration of THE OXYGEN FARMER at 1.25x speed. Narrator Szarabajka does a good job with Mil's voice and the general narration. I struggled with the female characters, though. I didn't find their voices distinct enough. Luckily, there aren't too many characters to keep track of. I didn't have any issues with distinguishing the characters from context. I also found I needed to keep turning up the volume when the narrator was whispering or for character asides. The audio quality was fine on my headphones, but not as great in my car with background noise. The overall quality of the narration did not detract from my enjoyment of the book in the least. And as I'm at +35 audiobooks so far this year, I have plenty of experience listening.
As an avid Sci Fi reader, THE OXYGEN FARMER knocks it out of the park. No pew-pew space battles. But there are explosions! And heart. And humor. A great read overall.
January 17, 2025
Ahoy there me mateys! This sci-fi read was a random pick from the local library because I liked the title and the cover. The premise is that on the Moon a cranky old man named Millennium Harrison trips (literally) over a secret bunker that has leaking radiation. Shenanigans ensue.
This was a very uneven read but there was a lot to like here. I loved Harrison who just wants to be left alone and occasionally talk to the few people he likes. He is extremely self-sufficient, caring under his gruff exterior, and intelligent. I also enjoy an older protagonist and at 80 years old Mil fits the bill. The reason for his name and fame were silly and fun. He is the oxygen farmer of the title.
The set-up about Harrison's job and how the Moon is run was lovely. I liked reading about the oxygen farming and how the technology is shifting. I enjoyed hearing about the history of the developing the Moon and how the next push is Mars. Then there is the family drama. Mil is estranged from his daughter who just happens to be the head of the Space Program. Mil's discovery leads to his granddaughter being in hot water. Watching those relationships play out were entertaining and somewhat poignant. Mil (and his attitude) were the highlight for me.
The two biggest issues of the book come down to the second half. All of the politics on Earth and the plot that takes place there were not very interesting to me. Part of this is that I felt like I was reading about the Cold War 2.0 where all Russians are evil and humans have learned absolutely nothing from past conflicts. There is also a capitalism is evil plot that wasn't particularly thought out. I also didn't really like how the radiation problem was being dealt with in general.
But the absolute biggest disappointment was the ending. ***MINOR SPOILER*** Mil is put into a deep sleep and when he wakes up he is TOLD how all the politics and conflicts were fixed. How boring is that? The main character isn't even really involved in the entire resolution!
I am not sad that I read this book but I do feel like it could have been immensely improved. If 1950s cold war type stories or movies like Armageddon float yer boat then this may work better for ye. If not, I am not sure I can recommend it in general. Arrrr!
This was a very uneven read but there was a lot to like here. I loved Harrison who just wants to be left alone and occasionally talk to the few people he likes. He is extremely self-sufficient, caring under his gruff exterior, and intelligent. I also enjoy an older protagonist and at 80 years old Mil fits the bill. The reason for his name and fame were silly and fun. He is the oxygen farmer of the title.
The set-up about Harrison's job and how the Moon is run was lovely. I liked reading about the oxygen farming and how the technology is shifting. I enjoyed hearing about the history of the developing the Moon and how the next push is Mars. Then there is the family drama. Mil is estranged from his daughter who just happens to be the head of the Space Program. Mil's discovery leads to his granddaughter being in hot water. Watching those relationships play out were entertaining and somewhat poignant. Mil (and his attitude) were the highlight for me.
The two biggest issues of the book come down to the second half. All of the politics on Earth and the plot that takes place there were not very interesting to me. Part of this is that I felt like I was reading about the Cold War 2.0 where all Russians are evil and humans have learned absolutely nothing from past conflicts. There is also a capitalism is evil plot that wasn't particularly thought out. I also didn't really like how the radiation problem was being dealt with in general.
But the absolute biggest disappointment was the ending. ***MINOR SPOILER*** Mil is put into a deep sleep and when he wakes up he is TOLD how all the politics and conflicts were fixed. How boring is that? The main character isn't even really involved in the entire resolution!
I am not sad that I read this book but I do feel like it could have been immensely improved. If 1950s cold war type stories or movies like Armageddon float yer boat then this may work better for ye. If not, I am not sure I can recommend it in general. Arrrr!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2023
This is my 36th book read of the year and will likely be my favorite. I read Colin Holmes first novel, Thunder Road last year and was blown away. The noir period piece (set in the late 40's, Fort Worth Texas and Las Vegas) was filled with well crafted characters and interesting and unexpected plot twists. It introduced detective Jefferson Sharp who I am expecting will be returning as a series main character. Looking forward to the further exploits of Sharp.
So for his 2nd outing, Holmes jumps from 1947 to 2177 and from dusty west Texas and Nevada to the moon. Mil Harrison produces oxygen for the moon's settlement as he has done for 30 years. Heading home to his oxygen farm one lunar day he stumbles across what turns out to be a top secret missle silo placed there by the US during the Ronnie Ratgun period and abandoned. Unfortunately, one of the forgotten nuclear missles is deterioratinn. If it blows, it could kill everyone on the moon and possible impact life on Earth.
Great set up. Then throw in some irritating bureaucrats, conniving Russians, and a murderous trillionaire and you have a recipe for a first class space yarn. Think Andy Weir's Artimes without the whiny teenager and with characters that will do anything, including murder, for their own self interest. Oh, and throw in a world-wide effort to go to Mars using the moon as the launchpad.
This definitely earns the tag as a page turner. I had planned a leisurely read while finishing several other books over the Christmas holidays but ended up halting everything to finish this. Oh, and did I mention, I'm not really a Sci Fi reader. You don't need to be either.
A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying story. Well worth your time.
So for his 2nd outing, Holmes jumps from 1947 to 2177 and from dusty west Texas and Nevada to the moon. Mil Harrison produces oxygen for the moon's settlement as he has done for 30 years. Heading home to his oxygen farm one lunar day he stumbles across what turns out to be a top secret missle silo placed there by the US during the Ronnie Ratgun period and abandoned. Unfortunately, one of the forgotten nuclear missles is deterioratinn. If it blows, it could kill everyone on the moon and possible impact life on Earth.
Great set up. Then throw in some irritating bureaucrats, conniving Russians, and a murderous trillionaire and you have a recipe for a first class space yarn. Think Andy Weir's Artimes without the whiny teenager and with characters that will do anything, including murder, for their own self interest. Oh, and throw in a world-wide effort to go to Mars using the moon as the launchpad.
This definitely earns the tag as a page turner. I had planned a leisurely read while finishing several other books over the Christmas holidays but ended up halting everything to finish this. Oh, and did I mention, I'm not really a Sci Fi reader. You don't need to be either.
A thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying story. Well worth your time.
August 11, 2024
I picked this book up to help me fulfil one of the categories for the Reading Harder challenge and a sci-fi mystery/thriller was definitely my cup of tea.
This book is about Mil Harrison, a man who has made the moon his home, and he and his late wife worked together in order to make the moon a feasible place to travel and live, even though Mil is now estranged from his daughter because of it. Mil is an oxygen farmer reaching retirement when he stumbles (literally) on something in one of the restricted areas of the moon.
I really enjoyed this. I liked Mil as a character, flaws and all, and the complicated relationships he had with his daughter and granddaughter. He manages to be grumpy but not cruel towards people. He gets a lot of hero worship because of his role in making the moon liveable but while he doesn't really like the fame, he isn't looking to shoot people down or to crush any dreams they had of meeting him. It was definitely something I appreciated about him, and it helped when he had his truly arsehole moments with his girlfriend, family and friends.
I enjoyed the plot of this book, both in Mil trying to find out what the secret was and what to do about it after he had found out. I will say that the plot did progress a tad too slowly for my tastes, especially since most of the book was about finding out what the secret was (and how far people will go to keep it) while only a few chapters is dedicated to what Mil does about the secret and the revelation about who is behind everything. I wish we had gotten more to do with the aftermath as well as finding out the secret.
But it was an enjoyable book and I would recommend it.
4 stars!
This book is about Mil Harrison, a man who has made the moon his home, and he and his late wife worked together in order to make the moon a feasible place to travel and live, even though Mil is now estranged from his daughter because of it. Mil is an oxygen farmer reaching retirement when he stumbles (literally) on something in one of the restricted areas of the moon.
I really enjoyed this. I liked Mil as a character, flaws and all, and the complicated relationships he had with his daughter and granddaughter. He manages to be grumpy but not cruel towards people. He gets a lot of hero worship because of his role in making the moon liveable but while he doesn't really like the fame, he isn't looking to shoot people down or to crush any dreams they had of meeting him. It was definitely something I appreciated about him, and it helped when he had his truly arsehole moments with his girlfriend, family and friends.
I enjoyed the plot of this book, both in Mil trying to find out what the secret was and what to do about it after he had found out. I will say that the plot did progress a tad too slowly for my tastes, especially since most of the book was about finding out what the secret was (and how far people will go to keep it) while only a few chapters is dedicated to what Mil does about the secret and the revelation about who is behind everything. I wish we had gotten more to do with the aftermath as well as finding out the secret.
But it was an enjoyable book and I would recommend it.
4 stars!
December 22, 2023
I will admit that I’m not a big sci-fi reader, but I loved this book!
Millennium Harrison is an outstanding character. I usually don’t make comparisons, but I kept thinking that he was like Ove, from 𝐴 𝑀𝑎𝑛 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑣𝑒, but living on the moon. Mil is a cantankerous, know-it-all oxygen farmer who was once a commander in the space force. Now he has earned himself the reputation of a, well, I can’t say, but he’s happier on the moon.
But Mil stumbles onto the moon's hidden and off-limits Exclusion Zone, leaking radiation. Mil feels this must be a cover-up, and he, of course, begins to nose around. What he has discovered is a deadly scheme, leading to the death of an astronaut and an explosion. The Space Agency, run by Mil’s estranged daughter, makes Mil the prime suspect trying to shut him down. But when the fates of the moon and life on Earth hang in the balance, they may turn to none other than Mil.
Not only is this fast-paced, but it has all the elements of a great mystery and adventure. The author does a fabulous job of describing what our world might be like in the not-so-distant future - with space exploration. The emotions come in with Mil and his relationships, especially with his granddaughter, girlfriend and the tension with his daughter. He may come across as ornery and distant, but this man on the moon just might capture your heart.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @bycolinholmes for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
Millennium Harrison is an outstanding character. I usually don’t make comparisons, but I kept thinking that he was like Ove, from 𝐴 𝑀𝑎𝑛 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑂𝑣𝑒, but living on the moon. Mil is a cantankerous, know-it-all oxygen farmer who was once a commander in the space force. Now he has earned himself the reputation of a, well, I can’t say, but he’s happier on the moon.
But Mil stumbles onto the moon's hidden and off-limits Exclusion Zone, leaking radiation. Mil feels this must be a cover-up, and he, of course, begins to nose around. What he has discovered is a deadly scheme, leading to the death of an astronaut and an explosion. The Space Agency, run by Mil’s estranged daughter, makes Mil the prime suspect trying to shut him down. But when the fates of the moon and life on Earth hang in the balance, they may turn to none other than Mil.
Not only is this fast-paced, but it has all the elements of a great mystery and adventure. The author does a fabulous job of describing what our world might be like in the not-so-distant future - with space exploration. The emotions come in with Mil and his relationships, especially with his granddaughter, girlfriend and the tension with his daughter. He may come across as ornery and distant, but this man on the moon just might capture your heart.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @bycolinholmes for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
March 30, 2025
35 years on the moon, harvesting oxygen from the moon's regolith. Not a job I would want, but it is perfect for Mil, a cantankerous and fabulous old coot.
Pretty sure he did not start out as an old coot, but life threw him a couple of ugly curveballs, and well, here we are. He is also a legend. He and his wife figured out the science and engineering to extract oxygen from the moon dust. That, and the fact that he has been doing it for so long has turned him into a legend. Kind of a from-afar legend, as he has had very little contact with other people on the moon for years and years, so most of his admirers have not met him. When they do, he does not disappoint.
So, in the time that this book takes place, there is a colony of sorts on the moon, and we are going to Mars, supplied by the oxygen harvested by Mil.
Things can't be as easy as that though. While coming back to the base, Mil happens upon a thing that doesn't make sense. A thing that isn't on any of the moon maps. There are places on the moon that no one can disturb. Think of a national park, where you can visit, but not touch. The site of the Apollo 11 landing, etc.
So, when Mil stumbles upon a site that shouldn't exist, things start to go a bit off the charts. I don't want to give anything away, because the story is just fun to uncover as you go. If you are a fan of new frontiers stories, and political secrets stories, then pick this one up. Mil is a great character, and the supporting cast is fun as well.
Pretty sure he did not start out as an old coot, but life threw him a couple of ugly curveballs, and well, here we are. He is also a legend. He and his wife figured out the science and engineering to extract oxygen from the moon dust. That, and the fact that he has been doing it for so long has turned him into a legend. Kind of a from-afar legend, as he has had very little contact with other people on the moon for years and years, so most of his admirers have not met him. When they do, he does not disappoint.
So, in the time that this book takes place, there is a colony of sorts on the moon, and we are going to Mars, supplied by the oxygen harvested by Mil.
Things can't be as easy as that though. While coming back to the base, Mil happens upon a thing that doesn't make sense. A thing that isn't on any of the moon maps. There are places on the moon that no one can disturb. Think of a national park, where you can visit, but not touch. The site of the Apollo 11 landing, etc.
So, when Mil stumbles upon a site that shouldn't exist, things start to go a bit off the charts. I don't want to give anything away, because the story is just fun to uncover as you go. If you are a fan of new frontiers stories, and political secrets stories, then pick this one up. Mil is a great character, and the supporting cast is fun as well.
December 17, 2023
Mil Harrison is my new hero. In his 80's, pioneer to the moon and responsible for producing oxygen from moon rock to sustain the moon base as well as an imminent mission to Mars, Mil is cranky, creaky and despises authority of any kind. Thank God for that! Mil stumbles (literally) on a hidden bunker in the dark side of the moon on the lip of a crater. That discovery sets into motion a number of dramatic events that jeopardizes the Mars mission, and actually the existence of life on Earth and the moon, to boot. Mil can't leave it alone, and defying many sincere attempts to distract him, Mil shows what it means to be heroic, in the process of pissing off just about everyone else. This is great science fiction: more about what it means to be human, when family and personal relationships clash with a larger duty to mankind, the quagmire of Earthly politics and the inability of mankind to just get along with itself, and the triumph of the power of one individual to make a difference when the fate of existence is at stake. The characters are absolutely real, the writing sweeps you along so you are completely immersed in this story, and the plot is airtight. One of the best books I have read all year.
April 23, 2024
One of my favorite books of 2024 so far (it's April). The slow reveal and development of character is well done in this book. Even a character, who had less than a page of dialogue, had a solid backstory (one totally caught me off guard in a good way).
In books if a plan is laid out for the reader beforehand, it doesn't work, and the reader feels engaged knowing what's going wrot. At the very end of this book, the plan did go exactly according to plan. It was a little clean up loose ends moment in the story and as a reader, amazing to read! Loved it!
I love how accurate a representation of farmers' keeping everything we get in a sci-fi story. It's pretty cool. They also tend to be independent and can fix things on the fly, which is also well represented here.
Things to be aware of: umm... I was so wrapped up in the story, I didn't pay as much attention as I normally do, sorry! Milliniom cusses, but most everyone else doesn't, I think there's one F-bomb, no sex scenes but a few times it's implied that it will or just did happened, the high up Americans of the 1980's and Russians are some of the "bad" guys, dysfunctional family dynamics, liftoff flight explosions, nuclear radiation poisoning
In books if a plan is laid out for the reader beforehand, it doesn't work, and the reader feels engaged knowing what's going wrot. At the very end of this book, the plan did go exactly according to plan. It was a little clean up loose ends moment in the story and as a reader, amazing to read! Loved it!
I love how accurate a representation of farmers' keeping everything we get in a sci-fi story. It's pretty cool. They also tend to be independent and can fix things on the fly, which is also well represented here.
Things to be aware of: umm... I was so wrapped up in the story, I didn't pay as much attention as I normally do, sorry! Milliniom cusses, but most everyone else doesn't, I think there's one F-bomb, no sex scenes but a few times it's implied that it will or just did happened, the high up Americans of the 1980's and Russians are some of the "bad" guys, dysfunctional family dynamics, liftoff flight explosions, nuclear radiation poisoning
June 5, 2023
Read this over a weekend, couldn't stop wanting to figure out what Mil was up against. It's an enjoyable sci fi mystery, but there are family problems that give the story depth. In the book, Mil's background has him being classified as a jerk and you see some of this, honestly, I didn't think he was that bad! Maybe that could have been ramped up a notch. Fundamentally, he is not an asshole or else he wouldn't have done what he did in this story. Defense mechanisms from a past tragedy made him a loner. Others don't know his full life story, or care to know (one person finds that Mil is chatty when it comes to baseball), therefore, most everyone heedlessly labels him. His granddaughter knows him better than anyone, and she gets mad at him, but it's clear she knows he's not one dimensional. I wasn't sure if he was going to die at the end. Even though that would have made the story poignant in a different way, it's nice to read something where joy isn't tossed aside. Powerful stories aren't required to have tragic endings. We aren't told for sure, but it's inferred that Mil will probably be able to salvage a long-time, broken relationship, and I am glad for that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2023
A clever and well crafted Sci-Fi mystery filled with drama, suspense and heart.
Cantankerous Millennium (Mil) Harrison has lived on Luna (the moon) for the last thirty-five years and has no interest in returning to earth. He's responsible for supplying oxygen from his oxygen farm to both the outpost and the upcoming mission to Mars. While out on a supply run he stumbles onto a hidden bunker buried in a crater at the Slayton Ridge Exclusion Zone. What is it and why has Mil never known about it being there? While exploring the facility, Mil is exposed to a dangerous amount of radiation that is trapped inside of it adding to the mystery. From here this captivating story filled with family drama and intrigue races to a conclusion I couldn't have imagined.
I really enjoyed this one. I found it to be very well written and researched using real science and believable characters. At almost eighty, Mil is a fun protagonist with real life family relationships that give an added layer to this thrilling story, a story I highly recommend to both lovers of the genre and those who just enjoy a well told story.
Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
Cantankerous Millennium (Mil) Harrison has lived on Luna (the moon) for the last thirty-five years and has no interest in returning to earth. He's responsible for supplying oxygen from his oxygen farm to both the outpost and the upcoming mission to Mars. While out on a supply run he stumbles onto a hidden bunker buried in a crater at the Slayton Ridge Exclusion Zone. What is it and why has Mil never known about it being there? While exploring the facility, Mil is exposed to a dangerous amount of radiation that is trapped inside of it adding to the mystery. From here this captivating story filled with family drama and intrigue races to a conclusion I couldn't have imagined.
I really enjoyed this one. I found it to be very well written and researched using real science and believable characters. At almost eighty, Mil is a fun protagonist with real life family relationships that give an added layer to this thrilling story, a story I highly recommend to both lovers of the genre and those who just enjoy a well told story.
Thank you to the author, CamCat Books and Suzy Approved Book Tours for the gifted copy and including me on this tour.
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