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Der Luna Monolith #1
El Monolito Negro: Ciencia ficción dura
Un artefacto que nunca debió encontrarse.
Unos robots están construyendo un colosal telescopio en la cara oculta de la Luna, con solo dos personas supervisando su finalización. Tras un pequeño incidente, estos científicos se percatan de la existencia de un obstáculo enterrado en el suelo lunar. Está situado fuera de la zona reservada al hipertelescopio y, por tanto, no debería ser de su incumbencia.
Pero la curiosidad les puede. El artefacto parece tener propiedades que desafían completamente la física tal y como ellos la conocen. Al investigar, se sumergen sin querer en un terrible e inevitable torbellino de acontecimientos, arrastrando consigo todo el sistema solar.
¿Conseguirán inutilizar el misterioso monolito negro antes de que se acabe el tiempo?
Unos robots están construyendo un colosal telescopio en la cara oculta de la Luna, con solo dos personas supervisando su finalización. Tras un pequeño incidente, estos científicos se percatan de la existencia de un obstáculo enterrado en el suelo lunar. Está situado fuera de la zona reservada al hipertelescopio y, por tanto, no debería ser de su incumbencia.
Pero la curiosidad les puede. El artefacto parece tener propiedades que desafían completamente la física tal y como ellos la conocen. Al investigar, se sumergen sin querer en un terrible e inevitable torbellino de acontecimientos, arrastrando consigo todo el sistema solar.
¿Conseguirán inutilizar el misterioso monolito negro antes de que se acabe el tiempo?
371 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2024
862 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Q. Morris
135 books465 followersBrandon Q. Morris is a physicist and space specialist. He has long been concerned with space issues, both professionally and privately and while he wanted to become an astronaut, he had to stay on Earth for a variety of reasons. He is particularly fascinated by the "what if” and through his books he aims to share compelling hard science fiction stories that could actually happen, and someday may happen. Morris is the author of several best-selling science fiction novels.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 13, 2024
Brandon Q. Morris neuester Thiller (soll wohl der erste Teil einer Trilogie werden) präsentiert sich für mich wie ein klassisches Bühnenstück.
Die Bühne, ein Ausgrabungsort auf der Mondrückseite. Wir haben lediglich eine kleine Anzahl von Schauspielern, nämlich 6 Personen und ein Hund. Davon sind aber bald nur 4 aktiv an der Handlung beteiligt. Andere erwähnte Charaktere treten nie persönlich in Erscheinung, sondern sind nur akustische Auftritte im Funkverkehr. Man könnte sie als den Chor im klassisch griechischen Theater betrachten, der teilweise die Handlung erzählt. Das Artefakt ist nie mehr als eine Theaterrequisite, wir erfahren nicht das „wer-wie-was-woher und warum“. Sie ist einfach nur plötzlich da, erklärt sich nie und löst als Katalysator die weitere Entwicklung aus, womit wir wieder bei der Parabel sind. Ein richtig gutes Bühnenstück über menschlichen Mut, Zivilcourage, Vernunft im Widerstreit mit nationalem Gehorsam, Kampf zwischen Empathie und Angst oder Überlebenstrieb. Antrainiertes Misstrauen gegen Vertrauen, Wettkampf und Konkurrenz gegen Kollaboration, Wissenschaft gegen Politik, wobei die Politik die vorherrschende Kraft ausübt, die m.E. auch zu sehr an die heutige Situation auf der Erde angelehnt ist. Das Stück spielt in einer nicht allzu ferner Zukunft (2082), dennoch stehen die Amerikaner, die Chinesen und der Rest der Welt mistrauisch, wenn nicht sogar feindlich, gegenüber. Viele von ihnen betreiben Stationen auf dem Mond, die Chinesen bauen ein Riesenteleskop auf der Rückseite des Mondes, dort finden sei bei den Bauarbeiten ein außerirdisches Artefakt. Diese Entdeckung bleibt nicht unbemerkt, auf der Gateway-Station in der Umlaufbahn des Mondes beobachtet ein amerikanischer und ein europäischer Astronaut die Unregelmäßigkeiten bei den Chinesen, und die Europäer beobachten in ihrer Station ein Gravitationswellensignal, das auf einen außerirdischen Ursprung hindeutet. Jede Angehörige dieser Gruppe wird durch Geheimdienste und Militär gedrängt, sich gegen friedliche Forschung zu entscheiden um der jeweils anderen Gruppe diesen Fund nicht alleine zu überlassen. Die Chinesen drängen sogar darauf, die Stele durch eine Atombombe zu zerstören, damit keine andere Nation in deren Besitz gerät...
Das Ende kommt sehr plötzlich und überraschend, hinterlässt nur offene Fragen, die wohl in den nachfolgenden Bänden noch geklärt wird..
Mein Fazit ist, dass hier eine sehr spannende Geschichte vorliegt, die wissenschaftlich gut erklärt wird, auch die Raumfahrt wird gut geschildert, nur die Teilnahme der ESA ist kaum glaubhaft, da sie in der Gegenwart gerade dabei ist, sich zu zerlegen, die Russen spielen in dieser Zeit keine Rolle mehr. Auch der wissenschaftliche Anhang "Eine neue Biographie des Mondes" kann wieder überzeugen und macht Spaß, zu lesen, Chapeau !
Die Bühne, ein Ausgrabungsort auf der Mondrückseite. Wir haben lediglich eine kleine Anzahl von Schauspielern, nämlich 6 Personen und ein Hund. Davon sind aber bald nur 4 aktiv an der Handlung beteiligt. Andere erwähnte Charaktere treten nie persönlich in Erscheinung, sondern sind nur akustische Auftritte im Funkverkehr. Man könnte sie als den Chor im klassisch griechischen Theater betrachten, der teilweise die Handlung erzählt. Das Artefakt ist nie mehr als eine Theaterrequisite, wir erfahren nicht das „wer-wie-was-woher und warum“. Sie ist einfach nur plötzlich da, erklärt sich nie und löst als Katalysator die weitere Entwicklung aus, womit wir wieder bei der Parabel sind. Ein richtig gutes Bühnenstück über menschlichen Mut, Zivilcourage, Vernunft im Widerstreit mit nationalem Gehorsam, Kampf zwischen Empathie und Angst oder Überlebenstrieb. Antrainiertes Misstrauen gegen Vertrauen, Wettkampf und Konkurrenz gegen Kollaboration, Wissenschaft gegen Politik, wobei die Politik die vorherrschende Kraft ausübt, die m.E. auch zu sehr an die heutige Situation auf der Erde angelehnt ist. Das Stück spielt in einer nicht allzu ferner Zukunft (2082), dennoch stehen die Amerikaner, die Chinesen und der Rest der Welt mistrauisch, wenn nicht sogar feindlich, gegenüber. Viele von ihnen betreiben Stationen auf dem Mond, die Chinesen bauen ein Riesenteleskop auf der Rückseite des Mondes, dort finden sei bei den Bauarbeiten ein außerirdisches Artefakt. Diese Entdeckung bleibt nicht unbemerkt, auf der Gateway-Station in der Umlaufbahn des Mondes beobachtet ein amerikanischer und ein europäischer Astronaut die Unregelmäßigkeiten bei den Chinesen, und die Europäer beobachten in ihrer Station ein Gravitationswellensignal, das auf einen außerirdischen Ursprung hindeutet. Jede Angehörige dieser Gruppe wird durch Geheimdienste und Militär gedrängt, sich gegen friedliche Forschung zu entscheiden um der jeweils anderen Gruppe diesen Fund nicht alleine zu überlassen. Die Chinesen drängen sogar darauf, die Stele durch eine Atombombe zu zerstören, damit keine andere Nation in deren Besitz gerät...
Das Ende kommt sehr plötzlich und überraschend, hinterlässt nur offene Fragen, die wohl in den nachfolgenden Bänden noch geklärt wird..
Mein Fazit ist, dass hier eine sehr spannende Geschichte vorliegt, die wissenschaftlich gut erklärt wird, auch die Raumfahrt wird gut geschildert, nur die Teilnahme der ESA ist kaum glaubhaft, da sie in der Gegenwart gerade dabei ist, sich zu zerlegen, die Russen spielen in dieser Zeit keine Rolle mehr. Auch der wissenschaftliche Anhang "Eine neue Biographie des Mondes" kann wieder überzeugen und macht Spaß, zu lesen, Chapeau !
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2025
Really good story. Great dialogue and interplay. Bonus: Educational resources at the end of the book. Multi-country researchers on the moon discover an extraterrestrial monolith and its up to them, not the countries they represent, to determine what it will do. First book in what looks to become a trilogy.
June 13, 2025
Mr. Morris is very lucky he's come up with such an interesting story line, because his so-called "hard" science fiction is a bit weak on basic science:
He refers repeatedly to "plumes" and "clouds" of dust raised by travel across the Lunar surface. Where there's no atmosphere to support a plume or cloud of dust. Yes, vehicles could raise dust from the surface, but it would immediately settle back down with no air to support it, just as it does in footage of the Apollo 16 Lunar Rover in action. It does kick up dust, but it settles back to the surface in just a couple of seconds. No clouds or plumes there.
In another scene, characters are traveling across the surface on foot, for more than a single day (Earth day, of course), so they stop to sleep for the "night". There's no explanation at all of how they're carrying multiple "days" worth of oxygen. Not even a hint. Apparently they have astonishingly capacious oxygen tanks on their backs.
Then they lay down to sleep, and one character puts a rock under his head to support it. In a spacesuit. With a helmet that is locked onto the suit. So how does that rock support his head? Even though it's actually supporting his helmet, his head will still lay against the back of the helmet. If that's uncomfortable, the rock won't make any difference. If it's not uncomfortable, then what's the rock for? Worse, the character rolls onto his side at one point, and his head is described as slipping off the rock and hitting the ground! Again, isn't he wearing a helmet? Wouldn't his head hit the inside of the helmet, not the ground?
And my biggest "Oh, come on!": A dog on the moon. In a custom spacesuit. That can tell what direction a "come here" is coming from over the radio? No. Just no. Maybe they could get permission to take their pet with them, but what government or agency would spend the money to make that pet their own spacesuit?
The worst part of all this? I have to read the next book because I am that interested in the monolith that I'll put up with what I expect to be more of the same.
He refers repeatedly to "plumes" and "clouds" of dust raised by travel across the Lunar surface. Where there's no atmosphere to support a plume or cloud of dust. Yes, vehicles could raise dust from the surface, but it would immediately settle back down with no air to support it, just as it does in footage of the Apollo 16 Lunar Rover in action. It does kick up dust, but it settles back to the surface in just a couple of seconds. No clouds or plumes there.
In another scene, characters are traveling across the surface on foot, for more than a single day (Earth day, of course), so they stop to sleep for the "night". There's no explanation at all of how they're carrying multiple "days" worth of oxygen. Not even a hint. Apparently they have astonishingly capacious oxygen tanks on their backs.
Then they lay down to sleep, and one character puts a rock under his head to support it. In a spacesuit. With a helmet that is locked onto the suit. So how does that rock support his head? Even though it's actually supporting his helmet, his head will still lay against the back of the helmet. If that's uncomfortable, the rock won't make any difference. If it's not uncomfortable, then what's the rock for? Worse, the character rolls onto his side at one point, and his head is described as slipping off the rock and hitting the ground! Again, isn't he wearing a helmet? Wouldn't his head hit the inside of the helmet, not the ground?
And my biggest "Oh, come on!": A dog on the moon. In a custom spacesuit. That can tell what direction a "come here" is coming from over the radio? No. Just no. Maybe they could get permission to take their pet with them, but what government or agency would spend the money to make that pet their own spacesuit?
The worst part of all this? I have to read the next book because I am that interested in the monolith that I'll put up with what I expect to be more of the same.
July 12, 2025
Well researched and written
As a hard science fiction I enjoyed starting this saga. Tons of real facts combined with the author's conjecture makes this an enjoyable ride. I look forward to the next chapter.
As a hard science fiction I enjoyed starting this saga. Tons of real facts combined with the author's conjecture makes this an enjoyable ride. I look forward to the next chapter.
April 24, 2025
Good hard sci fi story about different countries exploring a strange monolith found buried on the moon
The monolith absorbs all radiation and is so dense it slows time
This story involves intrigue
The monolith absorbs all radiation and is so dense it slows time
This story involves intrigue
May 9, 2025
I have not been so disappointed in a sci-fi reading experience as I have with The Luna Monolith. At best it's a second-tier dramatization of The Three Body Problem series. The worst is primarily indexed by a flat narrative. Its entire energy is invested in merely telling its story. That story, unfortunately, is that we cannot trust our own kind to regard a commonweal in exploration and shared knowledge. So invested in Brandon Q. Morris in rejecting the metaphysical in favor of a hard science fiction, that Luna Monolith's language can only mechanically relay a problem-solving account of a first-contact tale. Entirely lacking is the exploration of hope in the human condition. For that, go to The Wandering Earth, after first wading through the nihilism and palpable despair of The Three Body Problem series. Read beyond the first volume of the Dune saga, at least until God Emperor of Dune, which offers both a familiar and allegorized eschaton. Read Robert Silverberg's Son of Man to at least find some hope in the evolutionary counterpart to revelation.
September 22, 2025
Dropped midway.
Illogical story line.Flat characters.
So the few elite selected to be astronauts and do research in space and whose lives are monitored every minute by ground control do things like hide strange data and anomalies because the data is absurd and people will laugh at them, or go on spacewalks and get stuck without communications for who knows how long without anyone being the wiser. Space ain't the hood nigga, there are procedures and discipline.
Also a bunch of pseudo-intellectualisms "Europe wouldn't have colonized America if the Indians immediately killed all the Europeams"
1. that's impossible. Do you not think there are skeleton crews left on ship at all times?
2. they would have just brought a bigger armada
I guess there are some "Hard Scifi" aspects in the book but they are basically a backdrop against the flat and dumb characters
Illogical story line.Flat characters.
So the few elite selected to be astronauts and do research in space and whose lives are monitored every minute by ground control do things like hide strange data and anomalies because the data is absurd and people will laugh at them, or go on spacewalks and get stuck without communications for who knows how long without anyone being the wiser. Space ain't the hood nigga, there are procedures and discipline.
Also a bunch of pseudo-intellectualisms "Europe wouldn't have colonized America if the Indians immediately killed all the Europeams"
1. that's impossible. Do you not think there are skeleton crews left on ship at all times?
2. they would have just brought a bigger armada
I guess there are some "Hard Scifi" aspects in the book but they are basically a backdrop against the flat and dumb characters
March 10, 2025
A hidden artifact is discovered on the moon
Two taikonauts are helping to build a giant telescope using some of the craters as giant lens. One of them detects something buried in the regolith outside the crater and tries to investigate without alerting his colleague or his Chinese countrymen. However, suspicions are raised by the Chinese, as well as the Americans and Europeans who each send their own team to investigate...
What was discovered? Why is it so black? Who created it? Why? Whose is it? These are all questions raised, some of which we may get an answer for....
There is intrigue, suspense, espionage, a dog on the moon, international politics, friendships, mixed in this novel, which ends on a 'cliff hanger' (sort of) leaving us eager for the next book.
Two taikonauts are helping to build a giant telescope using some of the craters as giant lens. One of them detects something buried in the regolith outside the crater and tries to investigate without alerting his colleague or his Chinese countrymen. However, suspicions are raised by the Chinese, as well as the Americans and Europeans who each send their own team to investigate...
What was discovered? Why is it so black? Who created it? Why? Whose is it? These are all questions raised, some of which we may get an answer for....
There is intrigue, suspense, espionage, a dog on the moon, international politics, friendships, mixed in this novel, which ends on a 'cliff hanger' (sort of) leaving us eager for the next book.
May 30, 2025
Can be mostly skipped
I understand writing backstory and developing characters, but it didn't even really get interesting until three-quarters of the way through the book. The proof readers should have suggested to the author yo either make the early book more interesting, or cut most of it completely and combine it with a second book. As it is, the events in this book could be happening in a real life. Yes, that does lend a certain amount of believability. But sci-fi books shouldn't reflect real life so completely. They should be about fantastical things. Because I'm reading these for free on kindle unlimited, it's just interesting enough for me to read the second book.
I understand writing backstory and developing characters, but it didn't even really get interesting until three-quarters of the way through the book. The proof readers should have suggested to the author yo either make the early book more interesting, or cut most of it completely and combine it with a second book. As it is, the events in this book could be happening in a real life. Yes, that does lend a certain amount of believability. But sci-fi books shouldn't reflect real life so completely. They should be about fantastical things. Because I'm reading these for free on kindle unlimited, it's just interesting enough for me to read the second book.
May 22, 2025
Very good hard scifi
I purchased this book for 99 cents figuring it was worth a try and ended up becoming greatly involved. Very good story but I don't think I will purchase the second book. There was a preview of it in this book. I won't give it away, but the outcome with the stele and the Liwei disappointed me.
I purchased this book for 99 cents figuring it was worth a try and ended up becoming greatly involved. Very good story but I don't think I will purchase the second book. There was a preview of it in this book. I won't give it away, but the outcome with the stele and the Liwei disappointed me.
June 4, 2025
EXCELLENT+++
And after reading all that came after the end of this story I may be reading this author for a long time!!! That's how great this experience was! WOW.... I loved all that came after the end of the story. Including his information on the moon. Another WOW! I love reading real science. Thank you!!! 🙂
And after reading all that came after the end of this story I may be reading this author for a long time!!! That's how great this experience was! WOW.... I loved all that came after the end of the story. Including his information on the moon. Another WOW! I love reading real science. Thank you!!! 🙂
July 24, 2025
Advertising module
The book, or rather the short story, was well written with a unique plot twist. I very much enjoyed the read. However, the last 100 pages of the 364 were advertisements for the authors other books. I don't mind a blurb, or a couple of paragraphs plugging your other work, but a hundred pages?! C'mon Man 🤦
The book, or rather the short story, was well written with a unique plot twist. I very much enjoyed the read. However, the last 100 pages of the 364 were advertisements for the authors other books. I don't mind a blurb, or a couple of paragraphs plugging your other work, but a hundred pages?! C'mon Man 🤦
July 3, 2025
Sounds good
Well, book one sets the tempo, and I must say I'm enjoying it,plus it leaves you guessing, and I'm loving the storyline and characters outstanding read jumping into book two now
Well, book one sets the tempo, and I must say I'm enjoying it,plus it leaves you guessing, and I'm loving the storyline and characters outstanding read jumping into book two now
March 8, 2025
I found that this novel was both entertaining and informative.
April 23, 2025
2.5 stars. It was slow, rather boring, and I kept waiting for it to get more interesting. With 75% left in my kindle version it abruptly ended in a cliffhanger! I'm disappointed.
August 17, 2025
an ok story
It was an ok story overall. It was not my cup of tea. It just didn’t flow in a coherent manner for me.
It was an ok story overall. It was not my cup of tea. It just didn’t flow in a coherent manner for me.
September 3, 2025
This novel doesn't deserve the title "science fiction "
There's little to no science and the fiction is absurd!
There's little to no science and the fiction is absurd!
September 18, 2025
me ha gustado mucho. siempre me gusta viajar a la luna
October 18, 2025
Me capturó la historia. Estoy leyendo ahora Monolito 2
December 9, 2025
Another good story by Brandon.
December 31, 2025
Ciencia ficción dura entretenida, esperaba un final diferente y prometia mas.
June 5, 2025
Solidly written. People orientated plot line. I am now reading the second book in the series after reading a book in another series I have trying to complete. I plan on reading the third book.
July 21, 2025
Enigmático, científico y político
El descubrimiento de un extraño monolito, de origen incierto, en la cara oculta de la luna da lugar a una carrera internacional para hacerse con (y quizá dominar) sus secretos.
Muy en la línea del autor, hay acción vertiginosa, curiosidad por lo desconocido... y un final abrupto que nos deja esperando ansiosos la segunda parte.
El descubrimiento de un extraño monolito, de origen incierto, en la cara oculta de la luna da lugar a una carrera internacional para hacerse con (y quizá dominar) sus secretos.
Muy en la línea del autor, hay acción vertiginosa, curiosidad por lo desconocido... y un final abrupto que nos deja esperando ansiosos la segunda parte.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews