Lunar

The Aftermath #1

by Bradley James

WELCOME TO THE AFTERMATH... Elliot Adams, a seasoned astronaut, embarks on a routine mission to survey the site for humanity’s first lunar base. However, a catastrophic collision between an asteroid and Earth, coupled with a violent meteor shower, disrupts the moon’s serenity and upends Elliot’s world.
In the aftermath, Elliot finds himself trapped under the moon’s surface beneath layers of rock, dust, and debris. As he struggles to escape, he stumbles upon a mysterious airlock – a doorway to a world that defies imagination.
Welcome to Lunar, a hidden civilization flourishing beneath the moon’s crust. With Earth seemingly destroyed, Lunar appears to be the answer to Elliot’s prayers, but will it prove too good to be true? And how exactly did Lunar come to exist?
Follow Elliot on his perilous journey as he attempts to unlock the secrets of Lunar. Humanity’s survival might just depend on it.

Genres: Science Fiction

411 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2024

About the author

Bradley James published his debut novel, The Aftermath: Lunar, in early 2024, realizing a long-held dream. Since then, he has been irreversibly bitten by the writing bug, immediately embarking on his next literary adventure without looking back. When not immersed in crafting narratives, Bradley can be found indulging in long runs, losing himself in books, consuming copious amounts of coffee, or passionately cheering on his favorite football team. Though born in London, he now resides in Southwest England, where the lush landscapes often serve as a backdrop for his creativity.

Reviews

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 5 out of 5]

No reason not to give a 5. Really enjoyed this new to me author. I will be pursuing the rest of the series. I really loved this first in the series take of the Lunari? Colony on the moon. Some sad parts, but overall a good, fast moving pace. I look forward to seeing how the characters develop in the next book.
I listened to the audio version of this on my phone through Audible. I hardly ever am very much impressed by the narrator, but this guy was solid. No mispronunciations that I noticed.
this was a free download from StoryOrigin. Did not affect my honest review.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really great! Everything you could want from a fast paced, high tension sci fi adventure! A great main character, a really great idea, as well as well written & developed characters & storyline! A really brilliant first part to this interesting series! I do recommend!

[Jim Arrowood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Aftermath: Lunar is the debut novel and first part of a planned series by Bradley James.

When I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one. Imagine standing on the surface of another world where you have had to bring everything you need to survive and then you witness the destruction of your home planet. Unimaginable, you say? Yes, it is. But the author of this brilliant first novel builds a world on another world to spark the imagination.

There are twists and turns galore at nearly every page turn, making this unlikely story seem plausible. It is packed with plenty of action that begins on the opening page and never lets up right through to the end. I found myself not wanting to put Aftermath down because the ends of most chapters are cliffhangers in miniature spurring one to read on.

Astronauts Elliot Adams and Franklin Lewis are on a mission to the Earth's Moon near the site of a base under construction. When they look up, they see rocks and boulders impacting the surface, kicking up dust and debris and seek to get undercover to wait the event out.

But that is only the beginning of the explorer's problems.

In the chaos, the pair dash for cover and become separated. Elliot notices a large shadow pass over the surface and can only watch as the Earth suffers from the impact of a huge asteroid. There isn't time for reminiscing, as survival is the first order of business. Elliot and Franklin become separated and lose communication. Elliot falls unconscious.

When he awakes, he literally stumbles into something that shouldn't be on the moon. What he finds is only the beginning of an adventure to boggle and fascinate the reader.

One of the author's major strengths in the writing of this story is a bullpen of well-developed characters. Many are characters the reader will certainly find themselves caring about, while others are shrouded in mystery. This makes for a fascinating and well-paced read. I will not talk too much about them because it would lead to some major spoilers.

The principal character, and the one whom we follow through the story, Elliot, is a strong character and the one we get to know the best. He is a good man with a solid moral base. Even with everything he faces, he doesn't lose his composure as he works out puzzles and navigates through and around obstacles the author places in his way. He also has some special skills that make him even more fun to read.

Another of Bradley James’ strengths in Aftermath is the world building and is my favorite plot point in the book.

Right from the beginning, during the meteor storm all the way to the end of the book are vivid and make an amazing backdrop for the characters to move through.

The major theme of this tale is survival. There are numerous and varied situations presented to challenge Elliot and others as they work to overcome them. There is never a dull moment in this book.

My takeaway from Aftermath is to remember that no matter how hopeless things may seem, there will always be a solution to problems as long as one doesn't stop thinking and acting while taking advantage of what one has at hand and remains open to learning something new.

The Aftermath: Lunar is just a fun and entertaining story that is hard to put down once the reader cracks the cover. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a fantastic journey. I think even those who are not sci-fi fans would enjoy this just for the humanity in it. It is a cracker-jack of a first novel that includes not only a great story but also great characters and some fine world building. It has everything one could want in a well-crafted tale of adventure and survival.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Old School OtherWorldly

Jules Verne writing style. Astronaut fumbles into Heroic situations and episodes. Unthinkable circumstances thrust upon everyday thinking earthing. Dominating Aliens, violence, attraction, familial scenes,

[Jon Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminds me of Journey to the Center of the Earth

Action. Drama. Science. Bears. Moon. Bullies. Action heros. Love. And change of hearts.
This novel has them all. Oh. And did I say it's IN the moon? A asteroid strike on the Earth changes everything.

[Debbie Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book!

Sometimes you come across a book that you can't wait to read, but don't want it to end!
Well, this is the book to read. It started strong, and never let up! I can not wait for the second installment, so please hurry! I need to see what happens next!!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has gone to the moon to find a suitable site for the first colony for them to live in. Disaster hits and he will struggle to survive as he is now trapped. Can he escape? How will he survive? See how he gets on

[J.D. Schechter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasant diversion

An enjoyable, feel-good story, light on science and heavy on fiction. Humanoid aliens determined on conquest, cell phones that never need recharging...

[Sally Mander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good one, solid 5 stars. #bingedbook #sciencefiction #moon

[Geary Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good from start to finish

This story is well written. The scenario was a little difficult for me to accept, however that is a personal opinion . I continued reading and the story got even better as it went . Looking forward to book 2.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Brief
In a switch from typical science fiction with colonies on the moon, The Aftermath: Lunar gives readers a hidden colony inside the moon, where the descendants of people taken from Earth a century before thrive and where a sinister plot lurks behind the mountains and walls. Elliot Adams is an astronaut working on building a base on the moon when asteroids begin to strike the moon and Earth, sending him into a crater with no way out. Desperate to get back to his partner, Elliot finds himself traversing strange tunnels and airlocks that shouldn’t exist, but which ultimately spit him out into a world inside the moon. Here, the people have lived with the idea that Earth was inhabitable, and those who saved them a century ago are gods who have promised to return them to Earth when it became livable again. Only Elliot knows the destruction was just yesterday. With conflicting stories, gods who kidnap people for days at a time, and a mission to find out what happened to his friend, Elliot, with mother and daughter Ava and Bella, work to get to the bottom of things, uncovering a nefarious alien plot and an even stranger secret base inside the moon. The Aftermath: Lunar requires some initial suspension of belief, but, once the story gets underway, it’s almost non-stop with missions, misunderstandings, battles, romance, and sweet character relationships. The writing doesn’t always jive well with the story, lacking maturity and polish, but the characters are the stars here against an improbable backdrop. It’s often a wild ride as revelations are made and secrets uncovered, but watching the characters grow and develop relationships really holds things together.

Extended Thoughts
I’m not the biggest sci-fi reader out there, but one of my favorite things to read in the genre is space colonization. The Aftermath: Lunar gave me this, but with a unique twist I don’t believe I’ve read before. It was quite different, but I enjoyed it, and was sometimes surprised by how much I enjoyed it. It also brings in aliens, but not the kinds of aliens with tentacles and six eyes. So, while I’m not a big fan of aliens, I liked this take on them, and am intrigued to see if they’ll continue to have a presence in the rest of the series. I will say the writing and I didn’t exactly jive, but the story it told was well worth it, even if it did have me suspending belief more than I prefer.

Elliot Adams is an astronaut tasked with working on building a lunar base along with fellow astronaut Franklin. But, just as they’re getting started, asteroids appear out of nowhere and start hitting the moon and the Earth. After a particularly big asteroid hits Earth, Elliot and Franklin are separated as they dodge for cover, only for Elliot to find himself in a crater of some sort. Desperate to find his way out to determine if Franklin still lived, Elliot finds himself in tunnels that shouldn’t exist and airlocks that definitely shouldn’t. With nowhere else to go, he follows them straight into a world hidden inside the moon. Here, he comes across a mother and daughter, Ava and Bella, who are descended from people who were taken from Earth a century before, having been told by gods that they were saved because Earth was dying, and they were promised a return when Earth could support life again. Of course, this doesn’t jive with Elliot’s knowledge, having just witnessed life being extinguished, but he has nowhere else to go. Upon seeing these gods for himself, though, he suspects things are definitely not as they seem, even as he feels a pressing need to find out what happened to Franklin. Events, though, force him to seek the truth, which will lead him and his new friends straight into trouble and a sinister plot that could destroy everything he knows and has come to know.

First of all, I want to acknowledge that the writing was a little stark and sometimes lacked a bit of maturity, but the story itself was quite compelling. Even though the writing took me out of the story now and then, I still really enjoyed Lunar, and had a fantastic time getting to know Elliot. The characters were incredible with stories, pasts, and the ability to grow. The world inside the moon was awe-inspiring. I had never considered something like it before, and the science, technology, and engineering that had to have gone into it is just staggering. Sometimes I felt like I must be reading a fantasy novel only for something scientific to correct my slips, but never in a jarring way. I had a ton of fun reading this one, and can’t wait to see what’s in store for Elliot and his new friends in the next book.

I really liked Elliot. There were times when he felt younger than his thirty-something years, but there were also times when I admired how much time and care he put into his thoughts and ideas that definitely spoke to his age and years of experience. Sometimes he did come across as superior, especially physically, or a little too perfect, but that was easily explained by the difference in gravity between the moon and Earth and the fact that he grew up with things the people of Lunar had no clue about. See? Sometimes it felt a bit like a fantasy novel, but then the science is just slipped so well and so casually into the narrative that it’s just an excellent reminder. Elliot has a fantastic sense of humor and his enthusiasm for his new situation was just infectious. I loved how cautious he was, but he also wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Lunar is a bit slow to get going as we spend approximately 15% or so wandering the innards of the moon with just Elliot, and I have to admit Elliot wasn’t exactly the most interesting guy to read about for so many chapters despite the moments of humor, but he really shone when he finally came into contact with other people. From there the story just picked up and I flew through it.

Ava and Bella were also wonderful. Even though Ava felt young to me, I really felt her love for her daughter, and the struggles she’s had to go through as a single mother. Sometimes she felt a bit more like a big sister, so when she was really in mom mode I absolutely loved her. I wasn’t quite as keen on the romance, but it was still sweet and I liked how it felt like it progressed naturally. Bella was a lot of fun. The only problem I had with her was that her stated age is thirteen, but she felt more like she was somewhere between eight and ten. Her speech was more immature than I would expect and her behavior generally tended to make her feel younger. I didn’t really get that independent, rebellious streak young teens usually start to develop, but instead a really strong need to be with her mother. But, when she was independent and determined, she really shone and I felt that spark that she just might be closer to thirteen.

The other characters we get to know include the chief’s son Mayto, Franklin, and some of these gods. I really liked Mayto’s characterization. He initially came off as one note, being nothing more than angry and aggressive towards Elliot, but, over time, he and Elliot came to see eye to eye and I just loved watching them in action together. They were such a strong pair and they really came to understand each other. Their friendship was a bit of a surprise, but it absolutely delighted me. Franklin was quite a trooper. I loved the beginning when he and Elliot were working together. While we never really get to know him well, he’s always on Elliot’s mind, so, considering what I know of Elliot, Franklin must have been a good guy. I really enjoyed Elliot’s commitment to his friend no matter how much Ava, Bella, and the rest of the colony offered a new life to him. I don’t want to go too much into these gods, but they never failed to remind me Lunar is sci fi. They were brutal, and I was a little surprised by how one note they were, but I also think there’s more to them than what this novel has. They were fascinating, and I’m hoping they make appearances in future books because I’d love to learn more about them.

As for the colony itself, it seemed rather idyllic and primitive. It almost felt like it took people far back in time to the days of hunter-gatherers, and yet sometimes they reminded me of Native American tribes from early American history, which was a bit strange considering a century ago was the 1920s, and the author is English. First of all, the creation of this world inside the moon is just insane. It’s an incredible, masterful feat, and I am both in awe that fictional people created it and that an actual person is behind this idea and put it down to paper. While I’m dimly aware there must be fictional works about cities under a planet’s or satellite’s surface, a world like this inside the moon just bowls me over. That said, everything else kind of puzzled me. Somehow these people had the same speech patterns as Elliot, suggesting they progressed roughly similarly to people on Earth, but without the benefit of all the innovation and technological advances. I’m also dying to know what kind of phone Elliot had because it seemed to never require charging. Clearly, a lot of thought went into crafting this world, but some elements just didn’t fit in, which started creating a lot of questions.

Fortunately, the story has continuous forward movement, so it was easy to set those questions aside in favor of finding out what was going to happen next. There always seemed to be something on the horizon, and I couldn’t wait to find out how it would unfold. It was nicely balanced between being predictable and unpredictable, which I really appreciated. I loved the way the story progressed, and I loved finding everything out alongside the characters. It made a ton of sense, so I found it easy to buy into this premise and how it was carried out. There’s a good deal of fighting in this novel, but I thought it was nicely balanced with the world building, romance, and camaraderie development. I didn’t feel like any element overshadowed everything else or stepped to the forefront longer than necessary. While I wish the writing had been a little snappier here and there, a bit more polished, and more dynamic, I appreciated the way it kept me focused and kept the story moving. This was really an interesting story with a premise I don’t believe I’ve read before, so I think it’ll stick with me for a while. I loved the surprises, and I loved that it took me on quite an adventure.

The Aftermath: Lunar was a surprisingly fun read. It’s not heavy on the science, which I appreciated, and had a nice mix of elements that held my interest. I adored the characters and the relationships they built between them, and I loved being alongside them as they discovered secrets that had been kept from them. I now find myself dying to know what will happen next, especially with the way it ended. I found this to be unique and, after a bit of a rough start, I really found it unputdownable.

Thank you to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the whole concept of this engaging sci-fi novel. Well recommended especially for those old school fans who like the works of Verne, Herbert and Asimov.

[Gretchen Bernet-Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elliot Adams is an astronaut given the job of building a lunar base on the moon. He is teamed with fellow astronaut Franklin Lewis. Just as they get to work on the project a frightening asteroid storm appears and starts smashing into the moon surface, raining biblical fire and brimstone down on them. They stare in disbelief to see a huge asteroid hit Earth. In shock, Elliot and Franklin become separated then disorientated as they frantically dodge around looking for cover but it’s too late. Waking from being knocked unconscious, Elliot finds himself partially trapped in a rocky crater. He is desperate to free himself, locate Franklin, hopefully alive, and find a way out. Elliot’s space suit is damaged but once he gets upright he discovers that he’s in tunnels that shouldn’t exist and an airlock that is beyond anything he has seen before. With no other options and only one direction to go, Elliot works out the entry mechanism and follows the tunnels straight into a world hidden inside the moon. So, apart from the fact that it is only two workmen on the moon without any safety equipment or shelter, this opening gambit stretched my credibility. Also, the copious amount of adverbs distracted me. Show don’t tell. I will give a star rating for the portion I have read but I was gifted 30 pages (six chapters) of this sci-fi story so cannot offer a full review. I like the cover and hope the book reaches its target audience.

[Tom Copeland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this novel suitable for a young adult audience who are not overly critical of improbability. Elliot’s success in bypassing the security system of the hidden world seems unlikely, but the adventure surrounding it distracts the reader from carping. The characters are well drawn and likable, but the one individual Elliot fails to charm yields at last too easily. In fact, once things begin to move in the good guys’ favor, they move so slickly that the villains become straw men. Perhaps young readers will not mind.

Even though the Lunari are the descendants of earthlings of a century earlier, they appear to speak without any trace of an accent, and the English language appears to have developed among them in tandem with that on Earth: “show you something cool,” “updates,” “yeah.” It is also curious that the aliens speak among themselves in English. However, the shaking of hands is a custom that has apparently died out on the moon until Elliot’s arrival. It is also unfortunate that the author seems to get confused at one point about how many uniforms are available and where they are.

The one sex scene is handled with almost a 1940s decorum, possibly with a younger audience in mind, and the short chapters will appeal to young readers. The advanced vocabulary will be instructive. The following list is representative: devoid, endeavour, unobtrusive, surmise, conduit, hypothesize, anticlimactic, akin, escalating, imminent, conspicuous, lest, immerse, meld, ethnicity, hierarchy, captivate, unobstructed, intermittent, permeate, iteration, culminate, harrowing, laden, palpable, ensue, ambient, proximity, cumbersome, dissipate, emanate, intimidate, predatory, iconic, surreal, interloper, acumen, respite, sentient, plethora, inexorable, elusive, formidable, persist, prominent, escalate, inadvertent, emit, comply ,exude, enhance.

A few words are misused (“viable” to mean “workable” and “transfixed” to mean “focused”), and there are a few jingles (“intense tension,” “abruptly disrupted”). Absolute constructions are effectively used, but danglers abound. Nods are said to “echo,” and the verb “teem” is misspelled “team.”

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome! However, I'm warning you now, you WILL have to suspend belief through the entire thing. The very first thing is an asteroid hitting earth so fast that no one sees it coming, and it's basically going the speed of light. Even when it's (very slightly) explained later in the story, I just don't buy it. I can't tell you the rest because it would ruin the entire book. It caused me to do some pretty deep math after researching distance and time between the Earth & Moon. Then there's this whole other thing (I can't say because it would spoil the entire rest of the book) that *also* made me scoff in annoyance.
I'd classify this as pure fantasy rather than scifi just because it is completely and without a doubt unbelievable.
The reason I still gave it 5 stars, even though I scoffed through the whole first half, is because it's really well written. The plot moves along nicely, the characters are believable, and I finished the thing! I honestly wanted to put it down after the asteroid, but I couldn't! And at the end, I really loved it. But the asteroid still ticks me off. :)

[T Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm 76, grew up reading "New Wave " and also the SiFi classics from the "Golden Age". I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is very reminiscent of those that first got me hooked on hard SiFi. The seeming inconsistency," how come they speak English?", presented initially was very neatly addressed in later chapters.

As for missing the rock shown on the cover. No system is perfect and if intentionally aimed with only 18 months lead time it is very possible to be missed.

I very much look forward to reading what happens next.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Aftermath: Lunar, a debut novel by Bradley James, gets off to a good start as a near-future astronaut survival story, but then it takes a sharp turn into a fantasy land that becomes less believable as it goes along. Elliot Adams is driving a lunar rover when a large meteor shower destroys the rover and leaves him out of contact with his partner and the base on Earth. Looking for shelter, he stumbles on a concealed airlock that leads him to a large base with terrestrial flora and fauna. After that, the story becomes something you might find on kid TV.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: This was my first experience with this author's work, and I found it very entertaining. I thought the worldbuilding was fascinating. I liked Elliot who faced his challenges with courage, strength, and intelligence. I enjoyed the almost non-stop action. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I was entertained by Roberto Scarlato's narration as his performance kept my attention. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Lyle Blosser · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book did not live up to the expectations I had based on the title and the cover image. I expected more of a thriller-with-aliens storyline instead of an exploration of a hidden civilization on the moon.

[Chuck Woodbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adventure under the moon.

A disaster on the moon leads to an incredible journey under the moon. Interesting take on first contact. Familiar tropes but still an entertaining read. Looking forward to book 2.

[Jimbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding - one of the best books I have read in a long time. A real page turner with excellent characters and a captivating story. This book will be enjoyed by everyone.

[Kirsty Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pleasant read. Strong characters and steady plot. Worth reading.

[Pierrette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging read, but...

Suspension of disbelief is needed to enjoy this book. But the plot is unusual and bold. It will keep your interest.

[Earl Truss · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what made me feel like it was hard to read.