Moonwar

The Grand Tour: Moonbase Saga #2

by Ben Bova

Ben Bova's extraordinary Moonbase Saga continues with a breathtaking near-future adventure rich in character and incident. Seven years after the indomitable Doug Stavenger has realized his cherished dream of establishing a colony on the inhospitable lunar surface, Moonbase is a thriving community, a marvel of scientific achievement created and supported by nanotechnology: virus-sized machines that can build, cure, and destroy. But nanotechnology has been declared illegal by the home planet's leaders, and a powerful despot is determined to lay claim to Stavenger's peaceful city--or obliterate it, if necessary. The people of Moonbase, a colony with no arms or military, must now defend themselves from earthborn aggression with the only weapon at their disposal: the astonishing technology that sustains their endangered home.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Ebooks, Audiobook, Science Fiction Fantasy, Space Opera, Technology

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Ben 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

Reviews

[Steve Goble · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really, really wanted to like "Moonwar."

Near- future science fiction by a guy who knows his science, writing a tale of a Moonbase embroiled in political battles and a takeover threat by Earthers who fear the nanotechnology used at the lunar site? Espionage? Battles? I figured it would have to be good.

It isn't.

SPOiLERS BELOW

I gave up on page 281, about midpoint. What started it downhill it for me was Bova's portrayal of journalism and interpersonal communications. The book was published in 1998, but it seems to not have taken the Internet into account. The Moonbase declares independence from Earth, and the U.N. sends a military team to take over the base, and there is no media outlet on Earth willing to report the damned story, because they are all in lockstep with the U.N. Secretary General? Really? And the Moonbase folks have trouble getting this story out to the public, even though people on the moon are able to conduct interpersonal communications with people on Earth? And that story didn't spread online like a bad itch and get the world's attention? Really?

Even though a global media network had a reporter embedded with the military force ( and by embedded, I mean the reporter slept with the Secretary General to get herself on the flight ... ), that global media network sat on the reports she sent back to Earth? Really? I am a career journalist. No publisher is going to pay the insurance bill to send a media darling to the fricking moon and then decide not to publish her reports. Really.

In the reporter's defense, she slept with the leader of the Moonbase, too, so there was at least a nod toward the notion of journalistic balance ...

I tried to ignore all that and just concentrate on the cool nanotechnology and the challenge of defending a weaponless Moonbase from a vastly superior force. I really did. And then one of the plotters slept with a woman -- a woman with known, well publicized and deep connections to the fricking Moonbase -- and in a state of post-coital bliss reveals to her the existence of a hush-hush force of soldiers being quietly assembled at a Japanese moon base. And so, of course, she goes and blabs this to her buddy at Moonbase.

I tried to convince myself the guy was just feeding false information to the woman, in an effort to disrupt whatever defense Moonbase was cooking up. But then I remembered how ineptly Bova was handling journalism and communications in the story, and decided not to read any further. Maybe, just maybe, Bova handles espionage better than he handles journalism -- but I decided it was not worth my time to find out.

Bova knows his hard science, but in this novel, he does not seem to understand how people work.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grand Tour 06 Moonwar by Ben Bova

4.0 Stars

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense

Medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters are a main focus: No

This was a book of clashing ideologies (religious extremism, United Nations have more power...than individual countries, corporations are fueling the divides). Like I've said before...for me, and my head canon...this is a "possible" future for us on earth, and in some ways...it's already happening (in a bad way). Sad to say. BUT, also...The Grand Tour could possibly be the predecessor to The Expanse (what got us from her to there...could be this series).

I liked Doug a LOT more in this story, than the previous. I still don't like Joanna (his mother). Also, I'm not sure I "for" the nanobytes, but if you want to put them in YOUR body, I'm not stopping you.

There were a number of characters in this story...that did things (within the story) that I wasn't expecting. I have become extremely cynical with character motivations within this series...since it DOES seem like people are doing what they want (for themselves), and not doing things for others). I saw a change in someone...who has given me a little more hope for humanity.

The corporate greed and backstabbing is frustrating to read about, especially since the "average joe" has not say in anything that goes on in those rooms...though they are massively effected by "those" decisions.

Not sure what happens, next. The Grand Tour 07 Return to Mars.n

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Luddite cult Known as The New Morality insists that nanotechnology is evil. For that reason, Doug Stavenger can never again leave the moon and the journey to earth. He has nanotechnology inside him that assists him in a variety of ways, most of which are medical. If he ever goes to earth, cult members will assassinate him. The authoritarian and evil United Nations insists that nanotechnology is evil, and it wants to obliterate the use of it wherever possible. To that end, its leaders have determined that Moonbase must either cease using nanotechnology or cease to exist altogether. If the flourishing mooned colony ceases to use nanotechnology, its very existence is at stake.

In a desperate move to escape the wrath of a United Nations peacekeeping force headed for Moonbase, the lunar colony declares its independence from its corporate owners headquartered on the island of Kiribati in the South Pacific. But the United Nations has cut off all broadcasting in and out of the colony. Still, talented engineers find ways around the broadcast ban. It isn't long before a young woman representing the Global News Network is broadcasting harrowing stories about the inhabitants of the lunar colony who fear for their lives from a peacekeeping force that wants to do anything but keep the peace.

I loved nearly everything about this book. It feels a little dated to the 1990s, Bova doesn't always write female characters as sensitively and with as much sophistication as he might. But I found this plot wonderfully enjoyable. At a time when breathing is hard and escaping to the lunar surface is easy, it's no contest. I'm on the moon in a heartbeat.

The plot twists Bova introduces to prevent the lunar colony people from evaporating the world's support by killing members of the peacekeeping force amazed me. The author captivated me with the ingenious manner he found to solve problems so that this tiny group of underdog colonists could achieve so much. It feels like it's been years since I read book one in this series, and I don't remember much about it. I enjoyed it, I know that much. But you can read this without first reading book one if you want, and it won’t harm your ability to fully enjoy the story.

[Geoff Battle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonwar jumps right in to the action, following on from the scenario laid out in Moonrise. Once again Douglas Stavenger, the man in symbiosis with nanobots, is protecting his father's dream, now his own, of a sustainable colony upon the moon. Bova weaves a tale of a political as well as conventional warfare, with Moonbase on the short end of the stick. As Doug tries to rally support the scientists upon the moon must create a way to prevent disaster, without any weapons at their disposal. A clever story, entwined with treachery and betrayal, continues to deliver the action right until the end. There are some leaps of faith required along the way as Bova puts his hero through the motions and there are a few plot elements that will raise an eyebrow in bewilderment, yet on the whole Moonwar in inventive in the right ways and for all the right reasons. An enjoyable sci-fi blast and a decent entry in the Grand Tour series.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonwar finishes the story of Moonrise, really establishing Moonbase as a power in the solar system in its own right and a refuge from the growing New Morality movements on Earth--especially when it comes to developing nano-technology.

There are certainly parts of the story that are hard to believe--particularly just how much control the UN has over ... well, anything, but especially the media. It's just... strange and feels like a manufactured threat. On the other hand, the idea of a religious far right growing to power and working to completely ban 'unnatural' technology (like nanomachines) feels altogether too prescient.

Really, the best part of the book is the action, especially towards the end, where the people of Moonbase have to fend off a far, far more powerful adversary without having any weapons of their own and without releasing the one weapon they know they could never use directly: the nanomachines. And with that comes worldbuilding that I only expect is really going to lead the way towards conflict throughout the solar system in books to come.

Because it bears mentioning: This book and Bova in general really could still do better in terms of writing minorities and women. At this point though, that's really not something I'm expecting to see better from Bova, but perhaps some day...

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as its predecessor Moonrise, it tells the story of the small outpost Moon Base gaining independence form the increasingly technophobic "flat-landers". The Earth is increasingly falling under the influence of scientifically illiterate fundamentalist religious groups and the struggling Moon Base, humanity's foothold in the final frontier, is economically and physically attacked by the UN in an attempt to bring them to heal and exert control over one of the last bastions of free thought and scientific inquiry.

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much better than I expected. Great action with trends sounding like modern political happenings even though this was written in 1998. Complex plot with well drawn characters, it kept me hanging through the end.

[Henry · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was no where as great a book as "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and was a bit slow at times.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Moonrise before this novel, it will be easier to follow the characters and issues. Bova will never disappoint you if you like your science fiction to be close to scientific possibility.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonwar is the second half of the Moonbase saga, part of the huge Grand Tour series (a roughly 27 book series), and predominantly follows the story of Doug Stavenger’s family building a profitable and self-sustaining Moonbase. Many of the same characters from the first story continue their roles, but the political climate on earth has changed. New threats from the nanoluddites on earth, backed by changes in governments and public opinion, along with a good measure of corporate politics, are plotting to end Moonbase’s existence.

In this vision of the world, the United Nations are manipulated into forcing all nations to give up nanotechnology, and this is being extended to the moon. In response, Moonbase declares independence from earth, and the moonwar ensues. Ben Bova has created a detailed world based on hard science fiction as a backdrop to these events.

My biggest criticism of this story are the characters. Many have a single-minded goal of inflicting pain or a doctrine on Moonbase without a clear reason other than general quasi-religious fervour. Most are given some motivation to see the demise of Moonbase, while others just seem to be following public opinion. It’s a bit of stretch to see the potential benefits of nanomachines to be seen as so totally evil. There were a couple of incidents in the first story that serve as the basis of these fears, but they fall short of explaining the general public hatred, especially since Moonbase is so distant and isolated.

However, I did like the overall story, the way the plot progresses and the story’s pace. The standout character, Doug Stavenger, has a believable vision and personality. The technology that has been created is both interesting and innovative yet shows vulnerability. Perhaps that is the point. The tension builds to a frenzied climax, much more than the first story in the series.

The point I want to make is that I felt the author was stereotypical and dated in their treatment of female characters, perhaps from the time the stories were written. I thought the small amount of sexual violence would not be acceptable if it were written today, and for me, detracted from the story. I did enjoy the story, but it had the potential to be so much better. Four of five stars on Goodreads.

[Tate Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update, about halfway through:

I'm not sure what to think about this book. The plot is quickly paced and interesting; for some reason I keep reading chapter after chapter.


Here are the negatives:

Most blaringly, this is the most racist, sexist book I've ever read (and I've read some doozies). The most prominent black character is most frequently called "the mercenary" and lives with a chip on his shoulder because of his "color problems" back on Earth citing that every black man on Earth has color problems. This is almost a noble statement but the shoulder chip gets heavier when he asks a woman (explicitly described as having stereotypical Caucasian traits) to go to dinner with him. The woman hesitates for a few moments and the man interprets this to mean that she doesn't want to be seen eating with a black man. It's more likely that she's thinking about her schedule, considering if she wants to go to dinner with the man, or, most likely of all, she's a little disconcerted by the creep messing with the space suits asking her out on their first meeting pretty much out of the blue.
But it gets worse. There is a Muslim character—a profit-hungry, mother-hating, sex-crazed, harem-keeping, resentful, revengeful, lying, hateful Muslim character. Enough said.
Every woman in the book, especially the major ones, is sexualized. Bova isn't even subtle about it! The only one not explicitly described having sex was a lesbian who when she shrugged her shoulders it was "very delicious" for the males who saw it.

The plots a little crazy too. The politics are oversimplified and the plot goes from zero to ten thousand without any in between. One moment we're walking on the beach, the next there's a very graphic description of a murder/rape (committed on one of the super sexy women by a man who belongs to a zealous religious group only described as "nano-luddites" who do "God's will").


There are more examples, but I'm done for now. I wouldn't write a review like this one if I didn't want to like the book, but, at this point, I can't.



Update, finished book.

Okay, there was some redeption by the end, but it didn't make up for the first part of the book. As I said before, I really wanted to like this book. I can't though. Three stars because it's well written and a good story.

[Kevin Phyland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonbase is the only place still using nanotechnology and the New Morality, a powerful group of nanoluddites, has finally pressured the UN to force it to stop. This has been driven by zealots within New Morality but being subtly manipulated by a rival tech corporation in Japan who wish to stop
Moonbase's monopoly on lunar manufacture and instead make helium-3 using nanos for a global fusion cartel. Doug Stavenger, head of the Moonbase, and his team of assorted scientists, techs and a rogue Earther reporter must prepare for a battle of survival against nukes and a ground assault by heavily armed UN troops using only what's on hand without weapons. Ben Bova has painted an absorbing picture of lunar life and death which is less overtly macho than some of his other books and has us greedily waiting to see what happens next. And what about the suicide bombers planted amongst the UN troops? Good stuff with realistic characters.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen Bova's name around for a while but never saw him on the top SF lists. Written in 1998, the sexism is so glaring. Characters are introduced by the same formula and rarely developed except for the several villains, who are broad stereotypes of megalomaniac, cult maniac and death wish maniac (and I don't think that's a thing). The hero rages against his enemies but unbelievably struggles to save the death wish maniac (DWM) after DWM slits his throat (Yes, a spoiler).
Compared to the recent psychologically-oriented space operas, the focus on plot and hard sci-fi looks very old. Several plot holes ( eg, unreported suit tampering, unexplained mass driver misfire) were very annoying since they were so obvious and therefore insulting to an intelligent reader.
This has dissuaded me from reading any of the old SF novels except for the still highly rated classics.

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bova, Ben. Moonwar. Harper, 1997. Grand Tour 6.
Over time I have read many of Ben Bova’s Grand Tour novels, but I have read them out of order with lots of gaps. So now, I am picking up the loose ends of Bova’s future history of the space age. Moonwar, the sixth stop on the tour, is a close sequel to Moonrise (1996). Moonbase is now a successful colony with an economy based on nanotechnology that is banned on Earth. Trouble is afoot when the secretary general of the United Nations and a fanatical Luddite cult attack the base, either because they want the technology for themselves or because they want to destroy it all. Can a colony that has no purpose-made weapons defend itself? Moonwar is a page-turner with all the strengths and weaknesses of Bova’s work, which is always good but never quite as good as one hopes. Still, worth a read. 4 stars.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picking up fairly recently after the events of Moonrise, the citizens of Moonbase continue to live and operate their colony while fighting (politically and ultimately physically) the forces of the U.N. back on Earth, which is trying desperately to shutdown their base due to their fear of nanotechnology, among other motivations. This is an excellent tale of how the people of Moonbase use their wits and courage to repel the bigger and stronger forces of the U.N. Peacekeeping soldiers to survive and eventually live on their own on the moon as an independent nation. The conclusions of this book ultimately set in motion many of the future tales of Bova's Grand Tour, which makes this book a real critical pivot point in this saga.

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well I didn't expect this to have aged so poorly. It is an interesting phenomenon how science-fiction can remain avant-garde with respect to "science" yet become so rapidly dated with respect to the "fiction" (reflecting society and values of the writer, not of the era being depicted in the book).

However, while Heinlein may be quaint in his reflection of social stereotypes from the 50s and 60s, Bova's uncritical use of sexual abuse as a plot device is not so charming (and wasn't even necessary to move the story forward).

Furthermore, looking back with 2021 eyes, the geopolitics reflected in the book are laughably naïve and lacking any credence.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good read for those into hard SF. i enjoyed it, despite being somewhat predictable. Good driving plot with good scientific ideas all the way through. Excellent use of solid science behind all of the ideas which is somewhat unusual in many SF novels. Bit simplistic on character development, but you can't have everything! Really liked the idea that all of the religious fanatics, and even the "good" assassin are all escaping terrible events in their respective pasts. Recommend only if you are into hard SF.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I pulled what I thought was a stand-alone that turned out to be the second book in a series. This one was a better choice than Area 51 though. I forgot how much I liked Bova's writing too. He executes a nice balance between hard science and the human condition. This novel is chock full of tension, passion, courage, treachery, romance, hubris, and many other emotions and subplots that kept me hooked. The corporate-political alliances also provide significant food for thought regarding our future technological developments.

[Will Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was better then the last one. Ben really needs on developing characters that are not so one dimensional. Which seems to be a theme in my Sci Fi book reviews of late. The premise is great and the writing is good. You end up though with a couple of characters that are well fleshed out and then the rest end up being stereotypes of one kind or another. Granted, we are all that way in the real world to some degree, but you expect more from a book. LOL!

[Joe Seliske · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion of the Moonbase Saga did not disappoint. Bova weaves a tale that is a page-turner jumping around subplots that include the many well-described characters in the books. As I am reading this after reading most of the Grand Tour books (due to availability) everything now falls into place about man's expansion to the moon, the asteroid belt and beyond. (Dose this not sound like what NASA currently has planned?) Well done.

[Durval Menezes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good book, much better than its predecessor (in my experience, a very rare situation: the usual is for the sequel to be worse than the original): the characters are interesting and much better developed, the situations are well thought out, and a couple of twisters add spice to the mix. I really liked it!

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas Stavenger is the kind of guy that helps mankind move forward. If the future of mankind has a couple people like him, we will survive. Great characters. Great plot. Bova could let go of stereotypes a little, but, frankly, it sets the period and gives a sense that this is an alternate timeline so I would t ding him for that. Read this book.

[Juan Sanmiguel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moonbase tries to win its independence from Earth. They have to do it without spilling blood. I did not think that there could be such a thing a bloodless revolution. Bova proved me wrong. Bova's colonists use every scintilla of intelligence to accomplish their goal. Need to make time for the rest of Bova's solar system.

[Gordon Popular · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before you read this book it might help to read the first in the series, Moonrise. The book continues the story of use of Nano machines and how the moon base depends on the use of them. Things change when the UN outlaws the Nano machines. The rest of the story tells about how the UN tries to take over the moon base. Recommended.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this series book on its own despite being in a series. I like the setting, a moonbase and nanotechnology. I was hoping for more nanotechnology. This book has a lot of lead up to the main conflict, and then it ended fast.

[George Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. When I read the (2) books in the Moonbase Saga, I had no idea they were part of a larger collection; the The Grand Tour. I was just happy there was a continuation of Moonrise ... now I have to look into the Grand Tour. Loved the Moonbase Saga.

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonbase's illegal use of nanotechnology has raised the ire not only of neo-Luddites but also the United Nations, who decide to take matters into their own hands.

Bova's political intrigue keeps the reader captivated as he paints a world not unlike our own.

[Brett O'Callaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly better than the first book, but it shares the problem of having utterly ludicrous villains. Bova probably should have done these two books about lunar independence in one novel (Heinlein managed it!), but he would still have had the core problem with the villains.

[Tom Rowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fun of the Grand Tour books is not in the individual books, but it is the collection as a whole that makes them interesting. It is the exploration and science that make it interesting. It is the larger story arc of the exploration of the solar system.

[John Ulrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot of hype and buildip to this conflict, but very little action. A lot of what ifs and scenarios to plan for this big event and then there was only one short battle. Was hoping for a bit more.