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The Grand Tour: Moonbase Saga #1
Moonrise
There is a dream called Moonbase, nurtured by ex-astronaut Paul Stavenger and his wife, Joanna Masterson Stavenger, head of the powerful Masterson Corporation.
There is a future of astonishing possibilities and vital technological development waiting on a lifeless world of astonishing contrasts, where sub-frigid darkness abuts the blood-boiling light -- a future threatened by greed and jealousy, insanity and murder.
The Moon and its mysteries have captivated the Stavenger family, and it will continue to exert its pull upon subsequent generations. For all those who experience its magnificent desolation are haunted by it eternally. Some will be doomed by its pitiless aversion to human life.
And some can never leave.
There is a future of astonishing possibilities and vital technological development waiting on a lifeless world of astonishing contrasts, where sub-frigid darkness abuts the blood-boiling light -- a future threatened by greed and jealousy, insanity and murder.
The Moon and its mysteries have captivated the Stavenger family, and it will continue to exert its pull upon subsequent generations. For all those who experience its magnificent desolation are haunted by it eternally. Some will be doomed by its pitiless aversion to human life.
And some can never leave.
576 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Ben Bova
679 books1,074 followersBen Bova was born on November 8, 1932 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1953, while attending Temple University, he married Rosa Cucinotta, they had a son and a daughter. He would later divorce Rosa in 1974. In that same year he married Barbara Berson Rose.
Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.
In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.
In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".
Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.
Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.
Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.
Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).
Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
Bova was an avid fencer and organized Avco Everett's fencing club. He was an environmentalist, but rejected Luddism.
Bova was a technical writer for Project Vanguard and later for Avco Everett in the 1960s when they did research in lasers and fluid dynamics. It was there that he met Arthur R. Kantrowitz later of the Foresight Institute.
In 1971 he became editor of Analog Science Fiction after John W. Campbell's death. After leaving Analog, he went on to edit Omni during 1978-1982.
In 1974 he wrote the screenplay for an episode of the children's science fiction television series Land of the Lost entitled "The Search".
Bova was the science advisor for the failed television series The Starlost, leaving in disgust after the airing of the first episode. His novel The Starcrossed was loosely based on his experiences and featured a thinly veiled characterization of his friend and colleague Harlan Ellison. He dedicated the novel to "Cordwainer Bird", the pen name Harlan Ellison uses when he does not want to be associated with a television or film project.
Bova was the President Emeritus of the National Space Society and a past President of Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).
Bova went back to school in the 1980s, earning an M.A. in communications in 1987 and a Ph.D. in 1996.
Bova has drawn on these meetings and experiences to create fact and fiction writings rich with references to spaceflight, lasers, artificial hearts, nanotechnology, environmentalism, fencing and martial arts, photography and artists.
Bova was the author of over a hundred and fifteen books, non-fiction as well as science fiction. In 2000, he was the Author Guest of Honor at the 58th World Science Fiction Convention (Chicon 2000).
Hollywood has started to take an interest in Bova's works once again, in addition to his wealth of knowledge about science and what the future may look like. In 2007, he was hired as a consultant by both Stuber/Parent Productions to provide insight into what the world is to look like in the near future for their upcoming film "Repossession Mambo" (released as "Repo Men") starring Jude Law and Forest Whitaker and by Silver Pictures in which he provided consulting services on the feature adaptation of Richard Morgan's "Altered Carbon".
http://us.macmillan.com/author/benbova
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
December 4, 2018
So slow that I had to fight not to fall asleep while reading it. Bova is very hit or miss with me.
The hits are Mars, Jupiter, and Venus. This one however, was a big swing and a miss.
The hits are Mars, Jupiter, and Venus. This one however, was a big swing and a miss.
March 17, 2026
Moonrise is the first of two books set on Luna that are an early subset of his Grand Tour sequence. It's a big, sprawling family-saga epic, in the traditions of the John Jakes chronicles or the television shows like Dallas that were immensely popular at the time of its writing. There are a lot of characters, many of them seriously nasty and many of them members of the Stavenger family, and their machinations and power plays grow a little tedious at times, but the details of life and survival on Luna are quite interesting and well-done. Bova's science is as impeccable as usual, and his ruminations on nanotechnology (the main focus of this hard-sf story) are excellent. Bova had a knack for writing some really nasty characters but maintaining a positive and hopeful overall outlook. I recommend reading this one and then immediately jumping into the second book, Moonwar.
March 9, 2011
Moonrise, by Ben Bova, is a favorite of mine because it was the novel that finally convinced me that Hard Science-Fiction could be just as entertaining as the action-packed space opera and military science fiction that I have always loved.
In Ben Bova's Grand Tour series, of which this is an early example, the action is confined only to technology that is theoretically within our reach now, the colonisation of the solar system and the actions of the human race as a whole. There are no aliens to fight or magic FTL drives (or FTL communication for that matter) and the drama comes primarily from the conflict between powerful individuals and groups of individuals.
Moonrise in particular depicts a very plausible Earth coming slowly under the grip of politically powerful anti-science morality groups made up of a frightening alliance of religious interests and the actions of a few individuals devoted to be science and the ideal of the "frontier". I am led to understand that as the series progresses, this morality movement gradually gets more and more power even as humanity spreads out across the solar system, but here we get to see its birth amidst violent repression and fear.
What makes Moonrise such a fantastic novel however isn't just this grand scale political story, but the way this canvas is shown to us through the eyes of very believeable, understandable characters, and how the events of the novel drive these people to stand at the turning points of human history.
Believeable, well written and at times brutal, Bova does not hold back as he piles problems on to his characters to see which will stand the strain and which ones, eventually, will break. It's a fascinating journey that I cannot recommend enough.
In Ben Bova's Grand Tour series, of which this is an early example, the action is confined only to technology that is theoretically within our reach now, the colonisation of the solar system and the actions of the human race as a whole. There are no aliens to fight or magic FTL drives (or FTL communication for that matter) and the drama comes primarily from the conflict between powerful individuals and groups of individuals.
Moonrise in particular depicts a very plausible Earth coming slowly under the grip of politically powerful anti-science morality groups made up of a frightening alliance of religious interests and the actions of a few individuals devoted to be science and the ideal of the "frontier". I am led to understand that as the series progresses, this morality movement gradually gets more and more power even as humanity spreads out across the solar system, but here we get to see its birth amidst violent repression and fear.
What makes Moonrise such a fantastic novel however isn't just this grand scale political story, but the way this canvas is shown to us through the eyes of very believeable, understandable characters, and how the events of the novel drive these people to stand at the turning points of human history.
Believeable, well written and at times brutal, Bova does not hold back as he piles problems on to his characters to see which will stand the strain and which ones, eventually, will break. It's a fascinating journey that I cannot recommend enough.
July 23, 2020
At the dawn of the twenty first century, a scientific endeavour might make Masterson Aerospace the most profitable company in history. Nanotechnology will help the company extract resources from the regolith on the Moon.
But wars have always been fought over global resources, so why should it be surprising that war would loom once more?
Bova's future history is believable because his characters are believable. Society may evolve, but humans are still driven by primal instinct and it is this that drives the narrative. Jealousy, murder, greed and revenge fight against altruistic optimism.
But wars have always been fought over global resources, so why should it be surprising that war would loom once more?
Bova's future history is believable because his characters are believable. Society may evolve, but humans are still driven by primal instinct and it is this that drives the narrative. Jealousy, murder, greed and revenge fight against altruistic optimism.
March 6, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Moonrise – or: The Book That Made Me Love Hard Sci-Fi Even Though I Complained the Entire Time
I should probably start by saying this: apparently Ben Bova is quietly becoming my favourite science-fiction author. I realised this sometime around page 300 of Moonrise, while I was actively grumbling about the characters, the nanomachines, and the general unpleasantness of the human race.
So yes — five stars.
Let’s start with the problems.
First: nanomachines.
Nanomachines are a huge part of the plot and I do not like nanomachines. They feel like science fiction’s version of duct tape — whenever the plot needs something miraculous, someone just yells “nanotech!” and the problem goes away. In Bova’s otherwise carefully believable technological world, they stick out like a shiny magic wand someone dropped in the engineering department.
Second: the characters.
The book revolves around extremely rich entrepreneurs running lunar industries, and almost none of them are likeable. Not the Mastersons, not the Stavengers, not the assorted corporate sharks orbiting the Moonbase. Most of them are greedy, manipulative, selfish, or some impressive combination of all three.
The two nicest people in the entire book appear to be: an elderly Russian playboy cosmonaut and a young astronomy student... They are also minor characters, which tells you everything you need to know about the emotional climate of this lunar colony.
Third: the motivations.
The plot is largely driven by people being greedy, stupid, power-hungry, vindictive, or morally flexible enough to bend themselves into a pretzel. Normally I read science fiction to escape the daily news, not relocate it to the Moon.
And yet…
This is exactly why the book works!
Because beneath all the corporate nastiness and family dysfunction, Bova builds one of the most convincing near-future space settings I’ve read. The lunar geology, the engineering, the fragile logistics of surviving on the Moon — it all feels real enough that you start thinking, “Yes… humanity absolutely would take all its worst habits into space.”
The novel also sits inside Bova’s wider Grand Tour series, alongside his Mars novels like Return to Mars and Mars Life. Events from those books echo in the background, but you don’t need to have read them to enjoy Moonrise. It just makes the solar system feel like one big unfolding story.
And when Bova gets to the science... the real science... the book shines. The lunar environment, the politics of technology, and the creeping rise of anti-science movements on Earth all feel disturbingly plausible.
Also worth mentioning: one of the best sequences in the whole Grand Tour involves Paul Masterson desperately trekking across the lunar surface trying to reach Moonbase before his oxygen runs out. It’s tense, brutal, and exactly the kind of hard-science survival drama that Bova does brilliantly.
Is the book a little long? Yes.
Are many of the characters awful human beings? Also yes.
Do I still want to immediately read the sequel Moonwar? Absolutely.
Because despite all my complaints, Moonrise is the book that finally convinced me that hard science fiction can be just as gripping as space opera or military sci-fi — just with fewer laser battles and more morally questionable billionaires arguing on the Moon.
Which, now that I think about it, is probably the most realistic future of all. 🚀
Moonrise – or: The Book That Made Me Love Hard Sci-Fi Even Though I Complained the Entire Time
I should probably start by saying this: apparently Ben Bova is quietly becoming my favourite science-fiction author. I realised this sometime around page 300 of Moonrise, while I was actively grumbling about the characters, the nanomachines, and the general unpleasantness of the human race.
So yes — five stars.
Let’s start with the problems.
First: nanomachines.
Nanomachines are a huge part of the plot and I do not like nanomachines. They feel like science fiction’s version of duct tape — whenever the plot needs something miraculous, someone just yells “nanotech!” and the problem goes away. In Bova’s otherwise carefully believable technological world, they stick out like a shiny magic wand someone dropped in the engineering department.
Second: the characters.
The book revolves around extremely rich entrepreneurs running lunar industries, and almost none of them are likeable. Not the Mastersons, not the Stavengers, not the assorted corporate sharks orbiting the Moonbase. Most of them are greedy, manipulative, selfish, or some impressive combination of all three.
The two nicest people in the entire book appear to be: an elderly Russian playboy cosmonaut and a young astronomy student... They are also minor characters, which tells you everything you need to know about the emotional climate of this lunar colony.
Third: the motivations.
The plot is largely driven by people being greedy, stupid, power-hungry, vindictive, or morally flexible enough to bend themselves into a pretzel. Normally I read science fiction to escape the daily news, not relocate it to the Moon.
And yet…
This is exactly why the book works!
Because beneath all the corporate nastiness and family dysfunction, Bova builds one of the most convincing near-future space settings I’ve read. The lunar geology, the engineering, the fragile logistics of surviving on the Moon — it all feels real enough that you start thinking, “Yes… humanity absolutely would take all its worst habits into space.”
The novel also sits inside Bova’s wider Grand Tour series, alongside his Mars novels like Return to Mars and Mars Life. Events from those books echo in the background, but you don’t need to have read them to enjoy Moonrise. It just makes the solar system feel like one big unfolding story.
And when Bova gets to the science... the real science... the book shines. The lunar environment, the politics of technology, and the creeping rise of anti-science movements on Earth all feel disturbingly plausible.
Also worth mentioning: one of the best sequences in the whole Grand Tour involves Paul Masterson desperately trekking across the lunar surface trying to reach Moonbase before his oxygen runs out. It’s tense, brutal, and exactly the kind of hard-science survival drama that Bova does brilliantly.
Is the book a little long? Yes.
Are many of the characters awful human beings? Also yes.
Do I still want to immediately read the sequel Moonwar? Absolutely.
Because despite all my complaints, Moonrise is the book that finally convinced me that hard science fiction can be just as gripping as space opera or military sci-fi — just with fewer laser battles and more morally questionable billionaires arguing on the Moon.
Which, now that I think about it, is probably the most realistic future of all. 🚀
November 3, 2013
For those of us who were just the right age when the first astronauts stepped onto the moon, who have never stopped being spellbound by the thought of setting foot on other worlds, who still believe humanity will make it to the stars . . . this book is for us.
Bova is at his best when describing the scientific and technological aspects of a lunar colony, such as nanotechnology and the very real dangers of living on an atmosphereless rock. But he can also wax poetic when describing the lunar landscape, the hard-edged horizon, the Earth hanging overhead, the scoured rock below.
The characters and plot lines were a bit thin, and if you want a really compelling take on lunar survival, I would recommend “The Martian” by Andy Weir, but hard-core sci-fi readers will want to add Moonrise to their reading list.
[I listened to this as an audio book read by Stefan Rudnicki. I love Rudnicki’s voice, but I am glad I followed the advice of other listeners—I listened at 1.5 speed and that felt perfect.]
Bova is at his best when describing the scientific and technological aspects of a lunar colony, such as nanotechnology and the very real dangers of living on an atmosphereless rock. But he can also wax poetic when describing the lunar landscape, the hard-edged horizon, the Earth hanging overhead, the scoured rock below.
The characters and plot lines were a bit thin, and if you want a really compelling take on lunar survival, I would recommend “The Martian” by Andy Weir, but hard-core sci-fi readers will want to add Moonrise to their reading list.
[I listened to this as an audio book read by Stefan Rudnicki. I love Rudnicki’s voice, but I am glad I followed the advice of other listeners—I listened at 1.5 speed and that felt perfect.]
June 1, 2018
Um bom livro de Hard SF, bem construído nas suas premissas, que não mostra os sinais de envelhecimento da FC clássica. Não é por acaso, Bova foi um dos mais ardentes defensores da Hard SF pura, como romancista e editor da Analog.
Alvorada Lunar é o primeiro livro da sua saga Moonbase, sobre o estabelecimento de uma colónia lunar privada, que eventualmente se tornará o primeiro passo do homem na expansão pelas estrelas. Mas para isso, é preciso que a colónia vingue, tarefa só tornada possível pela vontade indomitável de alguns que são capazes de ver o futuro a longo prazo. Parte do livro são intrigas familiares e empresariais, no processo de convencer uma empresa a manter um investimento que dá prejuízo na manutenção e expansão de uma base lunar. O mais interessante, em linha com a hard SF de Bova, é a plausibilidade da sua visão de colonização lunar, em abrigos subterrâneos cheios de condicionantes, à vida na lua inóspita, e à nanotecnologia como forma de, usando nanomáquinas, revolucionar processos de fabricou ou medicina. Parte do livro passa-se num cenário anti-científico, com a sociedade global dominada por religiosos e moralistas que procuram ativamente impedir investigações promissoras.
Alvorada Lunar é o primeiro livro da sua saga Moonbase, sobre o estabelecimento de uma colónia lunar privada, que eventualmente se tornará o primeiro passo do homem na expansão pelas estrelas. Mas para isso, é preciso que a colónia vingue, tarefa só tornada possível pela vontade indomitável de alguns que são capazes de ver o futuro a longo prazo. Parte do livro são intrigas familiares e empresariais, no processo de convencer uma empresa a manter um investimento que dá prejuízo na manutenção e expansão de uma base lunar. O mais interessante, em linha com a hard SF de Bova, é a plausibilidade da sua visão de colonização lunar, em abrigos subterrâneos cheios de condicionantes, à vida na lua inóspita, e à nanotecnologia como forma de, usando nanomáquinas, revolucionar processos de fabricou ou medicina. Parte do livro passa-se num cenário anti-científico, com a sociedade global dominada por religiosos e moralistas que procuram ativamente impedir investigações promissoras.
January 15, 2022
Bova, Ben. Moonrise. Grand Tour No. 5. Harper Voyager, 1996.
When Ben Bova sat down to write Moonrise, the TV serial Dallas had been off the air for only 4 or five years. “Who shot JR?” was still a meme. So, it is reasonable to speculate that Bova might have thought, let’s take the family drama of Dallas and combine it with the corporate and political drama of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and The Man Who Sold the Moon. Update the science. And Bob’s your uncle. Certainly, Heinlein was on his mind. Jinny Anson is a character whose name is a mashup of Heinlein’s middle name and his wife’s first name. The plot involves a multigeneration family saga about control of an industry uniquely suited to develop Lunar resources and kickstart expansion into the solar system. The key technologies are nanotech and controlled fusion that does not need to make steam to produce electricity. Both technologies are taboo on Bova’s Earth, so the Moon is a sensible locale to develop them. The cultural attitudes seem more dated than the tech this quarter of a century later. Still worth a read. 4 stars.
When Ben Bova sat down to write Moonrise, the TV serial Dallas had been off the air for only 4 or five years. “Who shot JR?” was still a meme. So, it is reasonable to speculate that Bova might have thought, let’s take the family drama of Dallas and combine it with the corporate and political drama of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress and The Man Who Sold the Moon. Update the science. And Bob’s your uncle. Certainly, Heinlein was on his mind. Jinny Anson is a character whose name is a mashup of Heinlein’s middle name and his wife’s first name. The plot involves a multigeneration family saga about control of an industry uniquely suited to develop Lunar resources and kickstart expansion into the solar system. The key technologies are nanotech and controlled fusion that does not need to make steam to produce electricity. Both technologies are taboo on Bova’s Earth, so the Moon is a sensible locale to develop them. The cultural attitudes seem more dated than the tech this quarter of a century later. Still worth a read. 4 stars.
April 24, 2019
Finally continuing on in The Grand Tour... I didn’t realize that this was part of a “saga” until I searched for it to mark it read, but that is feel of this book - following a family and it’s foibles and achievements on Moon Base. Definitely enjoyed it!
December 29, 2018
Good material on moon base speculations, but very dated in terms of sexism, misogyny, and xenophobia.
February 22, 2026
Before starting the Moonbase saga, I’d only read one of Ben Bova’s early short stories and his brilliant Mars trilogy. Thus, I can’t say I’m an expert on Bova, but somewhat familiar anyway. With that background, I have to admit that Moonrise was a bit of a disappointment.
The book takes place during the same time period as the Mars trilogy (I think between Return to Mars and Mars Life, although I can’t be sure and cannot check that right now). So those events are mentioned in Moonrise, but one doesn’t have to be familiar with the Mars books in order to enjoy Moonrise.
Nanomachines are a big part of the story in Moonrise. And that’s a drag, because I’m not a fan of them. Sure, one day we could be able to develop something like them, but not within the timeframe depicted in Moonrise (or Mars Life). While the rest of the technological development is sort of believable, the nanomachines aren’t, so the world in Moonrise doesn’t seem to be in sync with itself.
In the Mars trilogy, the main character was a geologist, which I as a planetary geologist really loved. In Moonrise the main characters are filthy rich entrepreneurs. And none of the Mastersons or the Stavengers are particularly likeable people. Neither are the rest of the characters. The only two people that seemed to be more or less nice or friendly were an elderly Russian playboy cosmonaut, and a young female astronomy student, and they are minor characters.
A bigger problem for me were the motivations of the characters. The plot is based on people being just plain evil, greedy (in one way or another) and/or stupid. People in real life are evil, greedy and stupid, and I read about them in the newspapers every day. I read the books that I read because want to escape from all that. Having those same types of people in the Moonbase is of course realistic, but it’s not really my cup of tea.
The protagonist of the latter half of the book, Douglas Stavenger, is probably supposed to be the relatable hero type. But he’s a rich kid, a teenager, and somewhat annoying. I met an older version of him very briefly in Mars Life, and he was more or less alright there. That gives me hope that he’s less annoying in the second book of the Moonbase saga, i.e. Moonwar, which I will hopefully get to in the fairly near future.
As in the Mars trilogy, the lunar geology and science (except for the nanomachines) are again mostly right or at least believable, which is something I really enjoy in Bova’s books. There was also enough of excitement and action, but as I didn’t really care what happened to the characters, it didn’t quite work on an emotional level. The book was, like the ones in Mars trilogy, also a bit too long. Thus, Moonrise was definitely worth reading and I want to read the sequel, but it just wasn’t quite what I had hoped it to be.
3.5/5
The book takes place during the same time period as the Mars trilogy (I think between Return to Mars and Mars Life, although I can’t be sure and cannot check that right now). So those events are mentioned in Moonrise, but one doesn’t have to be familiar with the Mars books in order to enjoy Moonrise.
Nanomachines are a big part of the story in Moonrise. And that’s a drag, because I’m not a fan of them. Sure, one day we could be able to develop something like them, but not within the timeframe depicted in Moonrise (or Mars Life). While the rest of the technological development is sort of believable, the nanomachines aren’t, so the world in Moonrise doesn’t seem to be in sync with itself.
In the Mars trilogy, the main character was a geologist, which I as a planetary geologist really loved. In Moonrise the main characters are filthy rich entrepreneurs. And none of the Mastersons or the Stavengers are particularly likeable people. Neither are the rest of the characters. The only two people that seemed to be more or less nice or friendly were an elderly Russian playboy cosmonaut, and a young female astronomy student, and they are minor characters.
A bigger problem for me were the motivations of the characters. The plot is based on people being just plain evil, greedy (in one way or another) and/or stupid. People in real life are evil, greedy and stupid, and I read about them in the newspapers every day. I read the books that I read because want to escape from all that. Having those same types of people in the Moonbase is of course realistic, but it’s not really my cup of tea.
The protagonist of the latter half of the book, Douglas Stavenger, is probably supposed to be the relatable hero type. But he’s a rich kid, a teenager, and somewhat annoying. I met an older version of him very briefly in Mars Life, and he was more or less alright there. That gives me hope that he’s less annoying in the second book of the Moonbase saga, i.e. Moonwar, which I will hopefully get to in the fairly near future.
As in the Mars trilogy, the lunar geology and science (except for the nanomachines) are again mostly right or at least believable, which is something I really enjoy in Bova’s books. There was also enough of excitement and action, but as I didn’t really care what happened to the characters, it didn’t quite work on an emotional level. The book was, like the ones in Mars trilogy, also a bit too long. Thus, Moonrise was definitely worth reading and I want to read the sequel, but it just wasn’t quite what I had hoped it to be.
3.5/5
January 11, 2021
Listening to Ben Bova books while I exercise has been a great combination of fun and works. Truth be told, it is the books that keep me going. Being witness to the history of humankind’s migration to the stars is truly humbling. Bobas characters are compelling and consistent. And he is not afraid to kill off a character for the plot.
Oh. And I soooo want nanomachines!!
Oh. And I soooo want nanomachines!!
April 5, 2021
This is a posthumous recommendation from a beloved close friend who begged me to read this years ago. Sadly, it’s a request I didn’t get around to until some five months after his death. I wish now I had gotten to it sooner; I can only imagine the great discussions we would have had.
Greg Masterson is dead. He either died by his own hand or someone murdered him. His unstable son, Greg II, believes somebody killed his father. He’s sure he knows who it was. The killer surely was Paul Stavenger, an employee of the Masterson Corporation, famous for its airliner engines and for maintaining a base on the moon that is losing the company money but has promise of one day being profitable. Paul wants to keep the base open; he’s convinced of its profitability. Greg senior wants it closed.
But you see, Paul couldn’t have murdered the old man. He was boinking Masterson’s wife, the beautiful Joanna. After Greg senior’s death, Paul and Joanna agree to marry, and he becomes head of Masterson Corporation. Greg II, as you can imagine, is beyond outraged. Paul will die. And indeed, he does in a classic case of corporate sabotage. Greg II is the saboteur. Paul’s death on the lunar surface isn’t something you’ll ever forget if you read this. In fact, the book opens with a slamming attention grabber. Paul walks to a temporary shelter to avoid inadvertently contaminating other employees by the same means that contaminated him. He dies a grim death in the process.
Leap forward 18 years, and Greg II’s half-brother, Douglas, is on the surface of the moon. He went there for his 18th birthday. Greg II, meanwhile, has convinced Mommy that he is stable, after years of therapy, and she can trust him with the Moonbase directorship. She doesn’t want to have both half-brothers on Moonbase at the same time, but she has no choice, and thus begins a brutal family saga that will include massive solar flares and a host of tension-building experiences. Best of all, the ending is a suspenseful one by every measure, and it is a healthy mix of satisfaction and sadness. There’s lots of room here for additional books in a series.
The downside is this gook doesn’t hold up well. It’s ridiculously dated. It feels like the ‘80s even though it has a ‘90s copyright date. The Japanese, for example, are the threat, as they were to many in the ‘80s with their multiple investments in U.S. real estate and other things. The sex scenes in the book are gratuitous at best, and the females, with rare exceptions, are more submissive than you might expect, especially those who appear to have some power in the book.
Greg Masterson is dead. He either died by his own hand or someone murdered him. His unstable son, Greg II, believes somebody killed his father. He’s sure he knows who it was. The killer surely was Paul Stavenger, an employee of the Masterson Corporation, famous for its airliner engines and for maintaining a base on the moon that is losing the company money but has promise of one day being profitable. Paul wants to keep the base open; he’s convinced of its profitability. Greg senior wants it closed.
But you see, Paul couldn’t have murdered the old man. He was boinking Masterson’s wife, the beautiful Joanna. After Greg senior’s death, Paul and Joanna agree to marry, and he becomes head of Masterson Corporation. Greg II, as you can imagine, is beyond outraged. Paul will die. And indeed, he does in a classic case of corporate sabotage. Greg II is the saboteur. Paul’s death on the lunar surface isn’t something you’ll ever forget if you read this. In fact, the book opens with a slamming attention grabber. Paul walks to a temporary shelter to avoid inadvertently contaminating other employees by the same means that contaminated him. He dies a grim death in the process.
Leap forward 18 years, and Greg II’s half-brother, Douglas, is on the surface of the moon. He went there for his 18th birthday. Greg II, meanwhile, has convinced Mommy that he is stable, after years of therapy, and she can trust him with the Moonbase directorship. She doesn’t want to have both half-brothers on Moonbase at the same time, but she has no choice, and thus begins a brutal family saga that will include massive solar flares and a host of tension-building experiences. Best of all, the ending is a suspenseful one by every measure, and it is a healthy mix of satisfaction and sadness. There’s lots of room here for additional books in a series.
The downside is this gook doesn’t hold up well. It’s ridiculously dated. It feels like the ‘80s even though it has a ‘90s copyright date. The Japanese, for example, are the threat, as they were to many in the ‘80s with their multiple investments in U.S. real estate and other things. The sex scenes in the book are gratuitous at best, and the females, with rare exceptions, are more submissive than you might expect, especially those who appear to have some power in the book.
April 14, 2012
EDIT: Finished 2012-04-19. Went between Kindle and iPod (mp3 audiobook) to fit this book into my schedule. I have older-version audiobook -- Dick Hill is an EXCELLENT performer, as noted below -- so this version of Moonrise works best. I just began the sequel, Moonwar, and the narrator (performer) is not as good (the extra engineering -- voice effects, see below -- is also absent).
Bova, because of his background, is noted to incorporate substantial real science into his stories and plots. I wish he had incorporated some info-graphics. E.g., KSR's sci-fi novels add geographical maps (Mars, Antarctica). Also, Crichton throws adds statistical charts and graphs (Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, etc.). Hopefully, authors -- especially hard-science writers -- will take advantage of new e-pub and multimedia formats to enhance their storytelling.
(reading in-progress...)
Really enjoying Bova's novel. Not entirely orig. (standing on shoulders of Clarke, Heinlein, et. al.) ... and ... too much booze and sex (seems to be added after the fact .... low-effort attempt to appeal to 'mature' audience??). The inclusion of sub-plot of evil-son-willing-to-do-anything-to-control family-fortune is so surprising, methinks Bova must be going for some sort of retro/atavistic plot-device trick (everything super old/cliche is new again!).**
All that said ... decent story + well-paced, well-structured/edited plot. Good/credulous sci./technology and corporate politics. The audiobook narrator, Dick Hill (also did Clarke's 2001), PERFORMS various roles v. effectively (& uses electronic processing for simulating intercom/radio chat).
FYI/Notes:
Format; reading method/"strategy": ebook (Kindle) + audiobook (iPod mp3); on at-home recumbent cycle, I use both ebook and follow along on ipod (earphone) ... switch to ipod only when doing chores.
** Some other reviewers have noted unbelievable or unrealistic elements in this novel. Generally speaking, fiction authors may consciously and deliberately choose to go this route because REALISTIC scenarios (real-life events) are usually not so interesting. E.g., examine your own life -- how many really "memorable" days/weeks do you have? If you want drama and entertainment (and SELL books, of course), you may have to sprinkle on sensationalistic distortions. Sugar-coat the pill, like children's vitamins, and hope you swallow SOME good stuff (like the hard science Bova incorporates).
Bova, because of his background, is noted to incorporate substantial real science into his stories and plots. I wish he had incorporated some info-graphics. E.g., KSR's sci-fi novels add geographical maps (Mars, Antarctica). Also, Crichton throws adds statistical charts and graphs (Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, etc.). Hopefully, authors -- especially hard-science writers -- will take advantage of new e-pub and multimedia formats to enhance their storytelling.
(reading in-progress...)
Really enjoying Bova's novel. Not entirely orig. (standing on shoulders of Clarke, Heinlein, et. al.) ... and ... too much booze and sex (seems to be added after the fact .... low-effort attempt to appeal to 'mature' audience??). The inclusion of sub-plot of evil-son-willing-to-do-anything-to-control family-fortune is so surprising, methinks Bova must be going for some sort of retro/atavistic plot-device trick (everything super old/cliche is new again!).**
All that said ... decent story + well-paced, well-structured/edited plot. Good/credulous sci./technology and corporate politics. The audiobook narrator, Dick Hill (also did Clarke's 2001), PERFORMS various roles v. effectively (& uses electronic processing for simulating intercom/radio chat).
FYI/Notes:
Format; reading method/"strategy": ebook (Kindle) + audiobook (iPod mp3); on at-home recumbent cycle, I use both ebook and follow along on ipod (earphone) ... switch to ipod only when doing chores.
** Some other reviewers have noted unbelievable or unrealistic elements in this novel. Generally speaking, fiction authors may consciously and deliberately choose to go this route because REALISTIC scenarios (real-life events) are usually not so interesting. E.g., examine your own life -- how many really "memorable" days/weeks do you have? If you want drama and entertainment (and SELL books, of course), you may have to sprinkle on sensationalistic distortions. Sugar-coat the pill, like children's vitamins, and hope you swallow SOME good stuff (like the hard science Bova incorporates).
January 10, 2023
I have mixed feelings about this story. This is the fifth in the series from the Grand Saga Tour, but the first of a dual set from the Moonbase saga. It is also the first one I have read by this author. I find it interesting that there are several sub-series within the overall saga, and what appears to be a considerable timeline. Even Moonrise takes place over a couple of decades.
The basis for Moonrise is the rise of nanotechnology. From what I know of the series, this is a reoccurring theme. Also, the idea of wealthy entrepreneurs, sabotage, religious fundamentalism, politics, and technology seem to intertwine. I found the ideas behind the technology and wealthy entrepreneurs interesting, the politics and religious fundamentalism slightly prophetic, and the idea of sabotage (and murder) a central theme.
One of the aspects of the story that I didn’t like was in the character sphere. For such a long story, I found there were a few characters who could have been developed better. The ones that come to minds are Bianca, who is sort of a love of friendship interest, but seems like a third wheel for the parts of the story where she appears. Melissa appears at the beginning of the story but is forgotten until the end. Even the abrupt end of the Paul, who I thought might be the protagonist for the story, comes to an abrupt end and is somewhat forgotten for the remainder of the story. The author seems to like having characters com to an abrupt end, which threw me off because I had some emotional investment in them. The character names also could have been slightly more unique. They tended to be common four-letter first names for the male characters and slightly better, but still common female character names.
On the positive side, I loved the story world. I thought it is an excellent mix of hard science and near-future prognostication. I would have like a little more depth and description of the physical elements in the story, to give me a better mind’s eye image, but the story world was nicely thought out.
The story is slow-paced, but I enjoyed it. Not that this is a bad thing for a complex story, however I felt there was some room for better world descriptions and character development. Not enough investment in the characters would be my primary disappointment. Despite its shortcomings, I still give Moonrise four of five stars, and I am looking forward to reading the second part, Moonwars.
The basis for Moonrise is the rise of nanotechnology. From what I know of the series, this is a reoccurring theme. Also, the idea of wealthy entrepreneurs, sabotage, religious fundamentalism, politics, and technology seem to intertwine. I found the ideas behind the technology and wealthy entrepreneurs interesting, the politics and religious fundamentalism slightly prophetic, and the idea of sabotage (and murder) a central theme.
One of the aspects of the story that I didn’t like was in the character sphere. For such a long story, I found there were a few characters who could have been developed better. The ones that come to minds are Bianca, who is sort of a love of friendship interest, but seems like a third wheel for the parts of the story where she appears. Melissa appears at the beginning of the story but is forgotten until the end. Even the abrupt end of the Paul, who I thought might be the protagonist for the story, comes to an abrupt end and is somewhat forgotten for the remainder of the story. The author seems to like having characters com to an abrupt end, which threw me off because I had some emotional investment in them. The character names also could have been slightly more unique. They tended to be common four-letter first names for the male characters and slightly better, but still common female character names.
On the positive side, I loved the story world. I thought it is an excellent mix of hard science and near-future prognostication. I would have like a little more depth and description of the physical elements in the story, to give me a better mind’s eye image, but the story world was nicely thought out.
The story is slow-paced, but I enjoyed it. Not that this is a bad thing for a complex story, however I felt there was some room for better world descriptions and character development. Not enough investment in the characters would be my primary disappointment. Despite its shortcomings, I still give Moonrise four of five stars, and I am looking forward to reading the second part, Moonwars.
February 17, 2023
Too many sexist narcissists in this novel for my taste. A son who wants power and money thinks everyone is against him, so he decides to kill his father. His mother covers it up and gets a psychiatrist to regularly visit their home to address the son's issues. The son just learns to mask his true intent better. When one of the son's jilted lovers threatens to let the world know of the murder, the son loses his sanity again and tries to kill everyone, including himself, on the moon base he is in charge of. He tries to cut off the moon base's air supply, but his stepbrother stops him.
Beyond most of the novel's action taking place on the moon, this is a sci-fi novel because it explores inserting nanobots into the human body to heal it. There is huge public protest against this because only the richest of the rich could ever afford this advantage. The stepbrother had the procedure done after another responsibility shirking whiner tried to kill him. The stepbrother survived, but then was permanently exciled to the moon base because no country on Earth would allow him entry, and anti-nanoboters would be continually trying to kill him.
Beyond most of the novel's action taking place on the moon, this is a sci-fi novel because it explores inserting nanobots into the human body to heal it. There is huge public protest against this because only the richest of the rich could ever afford this advantage. The stepbrother had the procedure done after another responsibility shirking whiner tried to kill him. The stepbrother survived, but then was permanently exciled to the moon base because no country on Earth would allow him entry, and anti-nanoboters would be continually trying to kill him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2017
Another hefty sci-fi tome from Bova which details and epic struggle to maintain a base upon the Moon. The usual Bova mechanics are in place; a brave hero, carefully thought out companions, company power struggles and family feuds. Of course the future technology is well detailed and explained, Bova is brilliant at creating believable science fiction scenarios. The action and suspense is well crafted with interesting characters and plot components. Moonrise is no short tale, at six hundred pages it uses long term relationships, in both personal and business terms, to propel a non-stop page turner. The finale doesn't ring true to the rest of the story before it, however Moonrise, as any entry in the Grand Tour series before it, is a standalone novel definitely worth reading.
April 16, 2018
This is an early entry in Bova's Grand Tour, and one of the better ones at that. Paul and Joanna Stavenger are desperately trying to keep their vision of colonizing the moon alive while many on Earth (as well as members of their own family) are doing their best to sabotage this mission. Bova again mixes drama with hardcore science fiction to create a suspenseful story about the future of mankind's exploration of the moon as well as the solar system. I really enjoyed this one.
January 12, 2012
This is the story of the early development of the new frontier on the moon, bound up by the lives of a far knit family. Tedious in places, but worth the read. Along with the story of development on the lunar surface, is the story of the triumph of fanaticism in the world. On the moon there is hope, on the earth despair. The truth of religion trumps liberty worldwide.
July 7, 2013
Whilst I quie enjoyed the story I found the writing a little too simplistic a lot of the time. Too many inconsistencies that bugged me as I read through this novel. I'd recommend it though, as long as you are someone that can get over some annoying aspects of the story telling.
March 31, 2026
I remember liking this mid-90s duology about the first lunar settlement within author Ben Bova's larger Grand Tour sequence of space exploration stories, but mainly for the political element, which it turns out is mostly in the sequel Moonwar. Here that takes a backseat to the action-adventure thrills and general speculative worldbuilding around the nanobots and other near-future technology that would be required for humanity to establish a long-term habitat on the moon -- and that's solid enough for genre works of this era, but not quite as gripping in my opinion.
The novel is divided into three parts, separated by time jumps. We start with an astronaut-turned-executive in the company that runs the base, alternating between his current life-or-death predicament with sabotaged equipment out on the surface and the backstory that brought events to this point. After that resolves, we skip forward eighteen years to follow his son as our new protagonist, who arrives at the setting only to be immediately thrown into the peril of a solar storm stranding him and his team without adequate shelter from the intense radiation. Finally, the narrative leaps another six months to that same hero navigating a crisis with his deranged half-brother, who's intent on destroying the moonbase by any means necessary.
It's sadly more soap opera than space opera, especially where that villain is concerned. Rehabilitation is great, but I don't really know what to do with a mentally-ill character who -- spoiler alert -- murders his stepfather and several other people, then undergoes therapy and spends decades as a well-adjusted businessman before snapping again to become a cackling terrorist. It's not remotely nuanced, and is easily the weakest component of the entire volume.
Where this title does succeed is in the background intrigues of a rising religious movement aimed at outlawing all nanotechnology and related modern science. Its adherents are gathering followers and pressuring nations to pass their repressive laws, which would effectively end the nascent colony off-planet that relies on such techniques to survive. As a result the self-styled "lunatics" begin seeking ways to secure an independent existence for themselves, although that effort and the ensuing pushback from earth are more a matter for the next installment to explore. Hopefully my memory of its strengths proves accurate!
[Content warning for gun violence, suicide, racism, and gore.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
The novel is divided into three parts, separated by time jumps. We start with an astronaut-turned-executive in the company that runs the base, alternating between his current life-or-death predicament with sabotaged equipment out on the surface and the backstory that brought events to this point. After that resolves, we skip forward eighteen years to follow his son as our new protagonist, who arrives at the setting only to be immediately thrown into the peril of a solar storm stranding him and his team without adequate shelter from the intense radiation. Finally, the narrative leaps another six months to that same hero navigating a crisis with his deranged half-brother, who's intent on destroying the moonbase by any means necessary.
It's sadly more soap opera than space opera, especially where that villain is concerned. Rehabilitation is great, but I don't really know what to do with a mentally-ill character who -- spoiler alert -- murders his stepfather and several other people, then undergoes therapy and spends decades as a well-adjusted businessman before snapping again to become a cackling terrorist. It's not remotely nuanced, and is easily the weakest component of the entire volume.
Where this title does succeed is in the background intrigues of a rising religious movement aimed at outlawing all nanotechnology and related modern science. Its adherents are gathering followers and pressuring nations to pass their repressive laws, which would effectively end the nascent colony off-planet that relies on such techniques to survive. As a result the self-styled "lunatics" begin seeking ways to secure an independent existence for themselves, although that effort and the ensuing pushback from earth are more a matter for the next installment to explore. Hopefully my memory of its strengths proves accurate!
[Content warning for gun violence, suicide, racism, and gore.]
Like this review? Find more of my writing on:
--https://www.goodreads.com/lesserjoke
--https://letterboxd.com/lesserjoke
--https://lesserjoke.home.blog
Or check out these ways to support me, if you'd like:
--https://ko-fi.com/lesserjoke
--https://patreon.com/lesserjoke
May 26, 2019
A bit of a jump in focus and topic from Mars, Moonrise is more similar to Privateers et al (the Dan Randolph books), with more of a focus on corporate structure over science.
Amusingly, despite the title/series, Moonrise is only tangentially about the Moonbase, despite a large chunk of the book taking place there. Really, it's about the bizarre broken family and corporate dynamic of Masterson Aerospace and the rise of nanotechnology in Ben Bova's universe. From what I remember of other books in the series (from more than a decade ago), the rise of technology and the idea of it being banned on Earth for religious reasons is a fairly major plot point from here on out, so it's interesting to see how that all began.
That being said, wow I had some issues with the characters in Moonrise. I didn't expect someone I disagreed with and disliked more than Dan Randolph... but both Paul () and Greg give him a run for their money. Greg is a fundamentally broken person, with some mix of mental health issues and his mother is probably doing him no favors. I liked Paul's son/Greg's half brother Doug Stavenger though. He's overly idealistic, but that's actually refreshing, and he does seem to really care about making the world a better place. So I'll give him that.
Despite my misgivings about Paul's character, I will say that one of the best scenes I've read yet in the Grand Tour is relatively early in the book, showing flashbacks of Paul trekking across the lunar surface, trying to get back to Moonbase before he runs out of oxygen. It's an intense scene that really underscores just how alien and desolate an environment that the Moon is and .
Overall, it's not my favorite of the series, but it's still probably worth reading, just for the bits of insight into the roots of the whole Grand Tour universe.
Amusingly, despite the title/series, Moonrise is only tangentially about the Moonbase, despite a large chunk of the book taking place there. Really, it's about the bizarre broken family and corporate dynamic of Masterson Aerospace and the rise of nanotechnology in Ben Bova's universe. From what I remember of other books in the series (from more than a decade ago), the rise of technology and the idea of it being banned on Earth for religious reasons is a fairly major plot point from here on out, so it's interesting to see how that all began.
That being said, wow I had some issues with the characters in Moonrise. I didn't expect someone I disagreed with and disliked more than Dan Randolph... but both Paul () and Greg give him a run for their money. Greg is a fundamentally broken person, with some mix of mental health issues and his mother is probably doing him no favors. I liked Paul's son/Greg's half brother Doug Stavenger though. He's overly idealistic, but that's actually refreshing, and he does seem to really care about making the world a better place. So I'll give him that.
Despite my misgivings about Paul's character, I will say that one of the best scenes I've read yet in the Grand Tour is relatively early in the book, showing flashbacks of Paul trekking across the lunar surface, trying to get back to Moonbase before he runs out of oxygen. It's an intense scene that really underscores just how alien and desolate an environment that the Moon is and .
Overall, it's not my favorite of the series, but it's still probably worth reading, just for the bits of insight into the roots of the whole Grand Tour universe.
October 4, 2025
The Grand Tour 05 Moonrise by Ben Bova
4.0 Stars
challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
I have to say that the rating that I gave this story...was based mostly on the tension built, then released, built and released, and then built and released.
Did I enjoy the story points at these inflection points? No.
The characters in this book are not good people (in general). There is ONE character that is innocent (to a point), but even that character does things that I do not believe a "normal person" would actually do.
I actively wanted one of the characters to die. FYI - I am a very peaceful person, but even I was done with that character.
I still have a "head canon" view of this series (The Grand Tour), being linked "somehow" as the historical link to our real Earth, to one of my favourite Science Fiction series...The Expanse by James S.A. Corey.
I can see people of our world...becoming these FLAWED people...to bring our Real World, to this chaotic and sad world...and the more that I read in this series...the more that I see The Expanse becoming its spiritual child.
I did feel happy...about the way this novel ended, but also sad...for I believe the nanobytes have created people that had received the transcranial magnetic hyperstimulation procedure. IYKYK
Okay, on to the next book in The Grand Tour 06 Moonwar. Talk to you, on the other side.
4.0 Stars
challenging dark hopeful reflective sad tense
Medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
I have to say that the rating that I gave this story...was based mostly on the tension built, then released, built and released, and then built and released.
Did I enjoy the story points at these inflection points? No.
The characters in this book are not good people (in general). There is ONE character that is innocent (to a point), but even that character does things that I do not believe a "normal person" would actually do.
I actively wanted one of the characters to die. FYI - I am a very peaceful person, but even I was done with that character.
I still have a "head canon" view of this series (The Grand Tour), being linked "somehow" as the historical link to our real Earth, to one of my favourite Science Fiction series...The Expanse by James S.A. Corey.
I can see people of our world...becoming these FLAWED people...to bring our Real World, to this chaotic and sad world...and the more that I read in this series...the more that I see The Expanse becoming its spiritual child.
I did feel happy...about the way this novel ended, but also sad...for I believe the nanobytes have created people that had received the transcranial magnetic hyperstimulation procedure. IYKYK
Okay, on to the next book in The Grand Tour 06 Moonwar. Talk to you, on the other side.
May 30, 2024
Moonrise is a story about some folks trying to make things better, while others are trying to tear it all down. (never understood the second kind), The story is interesting, (as almost all space colinization stories are for me), and it definitely portrays a possible future to be sure. This isn't the first Grand Tour series book I've read from Ben Bova, but it is taking me a *long* time to find all of the books in formats I can read and/or afford, so I'm slowly working my way through the books as I find them. Moonrise is the latest one I've gotten my hands on, and I like the story, so will most certainly continue finding more (already have the one after this one, Moonwar), so will read that one next. It's some nice writing, and the storylines are connected, but diverse enough that nobody should get bored reading the whole series. Scifi fans should enjoy this one.
December 6, 2020
If I could put 4.5 stars I would have! I loved this book! Bova at times reminded me of Michael Crichton, at time Tom Clancy, and at times... I got a Hitchcock Psycho vibe. This is the third Bova book I've read and I am beginning to think he is the most under-rated Sci-fi author ever! I was smack in the middle of this book when news broke of his passing. I am saddened I didn't find him sooner!
The only reason I didn't or wouldn't give this a 5 star is... every character is a terrible person... I'm not just talking "flawed"... I'm talking... do you even care about others? Usually I hate books like that... but for me... the story of moonbase as a whole was so engaging that it overcame the fact that I didn't find myself rooting for any character... I guess I was rooting for moonbase itself...
The only reason I didn't or wouldn't give this a 5 star is... every character is a terrible person... I'm not just talking "flawed"... I'm talking... do you even care about others? Usually I hate books like that... but for me... the story of moonbase as a whole was so engaging that it overcame the fact that I didn't find myself rooting for any character... I guess I was rooting for moonbase itself...
July 14, 2018
I picked this up in a used bin hoping for a bit of summer fluff, so I did not bring very high expectations, but this was pretty bad. The action moved along well enough, but the characters were all 1-dimensional, and Bova reveals an embarrassing sexism as he tries (unsuccessfully) to paint strong women characters. As if that were not enough, the science is a little patchwork; I found myself checking and rechecking the publication date, trying to figure out why, writing in the late 90s, he seems stuck in mid-century physics (perhaps to be consistent with his gender politics?).
May 27, 2023
This is the most detailed and realistic science fiction I’ve ever read. Bova created such a lush and vivid world. However, there were so few likable characters. Bianca was constantly body shamed and friend zoned because she was “round”. Melissa talking about killing her baby by getting an abortion seemed rather archaic. So in this future world nanotechnology is legal but abortions are illegal? The women were constantly talked about in a sexual fashion. The men talked about sexual conquests but were never sexualized. So I had to knock it down a star due to what I saw as blatant sexism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2024
This is so far one of the more interesting of the Grand Tour books I've read. While still relying on "crazy" people, and lovers who consistently pick career over love, it has an interesting position on the moon vs earth argument. I thought the politics of this novel were well thought out, and I can believe some of the more fervent followers of the anti-nano organization. The main hero type is flawed and pulled in many directions, but his plot and the introduction of nanobots to save his life, was terrific. It feels like this is going to spin the whole series on its ear.
September 21, 2025
The Masterson family run Moonbase and are a big player in Earth politics but when Greg Masterson
Ill divides his family over jealousy of a woman the results get ugly. Nanotechnology underpins their efforts to make Moonbase a going concern but when more conservative politics start banning it and fanatics kill the researchers there is nowhere left but the Moon... Bova's trademark technological optimism and vivid storytelling bring the story to life. High adventure on the high fontier. RECOMMENDED.
Ill divides his family over jealousy of a woman the results get ugly. Nanotechnology underpins their efforts to make Moonbase a going concern but when more conservative politics start banning it and fanatics kill the researchers there is nowhere left but the Moon... Bova's trademark technological optimism and vivid storytelling bring the story to life. High adventure on the high fontier. RECOMMENDED.
May 18, 2024
This was a pretty good book. I think it was a little bit too long at times. And the story seemed pretty simple and it feels almost a little bit dated. But I certainly like the setting. And generally the concept. I’d say this is more like a 3.5 out of five, but I certainly would read the next one in the series. I like the nano technology aspect. Not quite sure I believe in the future of new morality. But it made for a good story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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