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Girl on the Moon #1
Girl on the Moon
This near-future sci-fi adventure sends humankind back to the moon, this time to make first contact with an inscrutable alien race. And when Earth’s new acquaintances become new neighbors, humanity might not be done with the moon yet — and it might not be done with Earth. Fortunately for humankind, it has Conn Garrow.
They said Conn wasn’t qualified for astronaut training. To prove herself, all she’ll have to do is outwit alien races, escape from prison, run a huge business, survive assassination attempts, engineer impossible rescues — and walk on the moon. Never tell Conn there’s something she can't do.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 23, 2016
227 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
Jack McDonald Burnett
7 books43 followersJack McDonald Burnett is an attorney living in the Atlanta metro area. His short fiction is available at his website, scifijack.com. His nonfiction work has been published in a range of venues, from Economic Opportunity Report to American Builders Quarterly to Puck Daddy. His novels Girl on the Moon, Pauper, and Girl on Mars are available in the Kindle Store.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
August 15, 2017
Kindle Scout Book
Pretty good, few slow spots but overall good
Different story of this alien meets human
Rtc
Pretty good, few slow spots but overall good
Different story of this alien meets human
Rtc
January 19, 2018
Wow this book really packed a lot of material into it's 372 pages. There were a few times I thought it must be at least 600 pages because of how much happened in it. It was a good thing though because I wasn't quite ready for it to end.
If you enjoy space exploration you should give it a try. In most books, they only make one trip into space but in this book, we got to experience- four? five? six? I lost count but it was quite a few which was fantastic since those are usually my favorite parts!
If you enjoy space exploration you should give it a try. In most books, they only make one trip into space but in this book, we got to experience- four? five? six? I lost count but it was quite a few which was fantastic since those are usually my favorite parts!
June 7, 2016
This one doesn't quite make it to four stars, despite generally good writing and a protagonist I liked and wanted to succeed. The primary reason is that it spends so much of its time in "tell" mode.
There are a lot of events compressed into a relatively short period, and not all of them are necessarily as interesting to watch as they are plot-significant. I get that. But there are several ways to convey this kind of information in a book. You can go the epistolary route, and create "documents" like news reports, emails, blog posts, diary entries and the like. You can do exposition in dialog. Bare narration of events should be the last refuge, but much of the first third of the book, and a good chunk of the last third, uses bare narration. A better balance of scene to summary would have done a great deal to improve my enjoyment (and did, in the section actually set on the moon).
The other main problem is that Conn, the main character, borders on being what I call a "spoiled protagonist": one who gets handed help that she hasn't earned, at cost to the person offering the help, to the point that it becomes unrealistic. It's all a bit challenging to the suspension of disbelief for me. Again, I can kind of see why the author went in that direction, but it didn't completely work.
The writing itself is mostly fine. There's one word choice error ("sojourn" used to mean "journey", which it doesn't; in fact, it means "staying in one place"), and a few typos. Occasionally the past perfect tense goes missing, and "may" is used in past tense narration instead of "might", but almost every author gets those ones wrong these days. I've seen far worse.
An oddity in the future history: a female "President Clinton" is in office. The setting is 2034, which means (since Hillary Clinton is currently in her late 60s) that this is more likely to be Chelsea. I'm not sure if the author thought of that or just didn't do the calculation.
It's good, and shows a lot of promise, but the plot needed to be more believable and conveyed with more showing and less telling.
There are a lot of events compressed into a relatively short period, and not all of them are necessarily as interesting to watch as they are plot-significant. I get that. But there are several ways to convey this kind of information in a book. You can go the epistolary route, and create "documents" like news reports, emails, blog posts, diary entries and the like. You can do exposition in dialog. Bare narration of events should be the last refuge, but much of the first third of the book, and a good chunk of the last third, uses bare narration. A better balance of scene to summary would have done a great deal to improve my enjoyment (and did, in the section actually set on the moon).
The other main problem is that Conn, the main character, borders on being what I call a "spoiled protagonist": one who gets handed help that she hasn't earned, at cost to the person offering the help, to the point that it becomes unrealistic. It's all a bit challenging to the suspension of disbelief for me. Again, I can kind of see why the author went in that direction, but it didn't completely work.
The writing itself is mostly fine. There's one word choice error ("sojourn" used to mean "journey", which it doesn't; in fact, it means "staying in one place"), and a few typos. Occasionally the past perfect tense goes missing, and "may" is used in past tense narration instead of "might", but almost every author gets those ones wrong these days. I've seen far worse.
An oddity in the future history: a female "President Clinton" is in office. The setting is 2034, which means (since Hillary Clinton is currently in her late 60s) that this is more likely to be Chelsea. I'm not sure if the author thought of that or just didn't do the calculation.
It's good, and shows a lot of promise, but the plot needed to be more believable and conveyed with more showing and less telling.
September 4, 2016
4 Platypires for Girl On The Moon by Jack McDonald Burnett
I nominated this book from Kindle Scout on Amazon and I was pretty happy that it got selected. This is the second book I've read from that program and have been pleasantly surprised how much I liked them.
The cover and the synopsis is was intrigued to actually getting around to reading this book. I think I'm becoming a fan of space exploration books about first contact with another alien race and this book hit the mark.
This book reminds of The Martian, the movie Gravity and other sci movie yet still remain unique in its own right. I liked the story and I really couldn't put it down. The author had a way in captivating his readers with the next plot twist. There was definitely a lot of action "oh shit" moments.
My biggest complaint was that at times the story did drag especially in the beginning. Personally, I didn't need to know all about Conn's school. I got it. She's very smart and is really a driven person. The pacing could have been better but it wasn't horrible. I did read the book pretty quickly.
Overall, I really liked "The Girl On The Moon" and would recommend it to other sci-fi fans. Can't wait to read more from the author.
I nominated this book from Kindle Scout on Amazon and I was pretty happy that it got selected. This is the second book I've read from that program and have been pleasantly surprised how much I liked them.
The cover and the synopsis is was intrigued to actually getting around to reading this book. I think I'm becoming a fan of space exploration books about first contact with another alien race and this book hit the mark.
This book reminds of The Martian, the movie Gravity and other sci movie yet still remain unique in its own right. I liked the story and I really couldn't put it down. The author had a way in captivating his readers with the next plot twist. There was definitely a lot of action "oh shit" moments.
My biggest complaint was that at times the story did drag especially in the beginning. Personally, I didn't need to know all about Conn's school. I got it. She's very smart and is really a driven person. The pacing could have been better but it wasn't horrible. I did read the book pretty quickly.
Overall, I really liked "The Girl On The Moon" and would recommend it to other sci-fi fans. Can't wait to read more from the author.
March 28, 2016
Comparison of Burnett's
Girl on the Moon
with Andy Weir's
The Martian
is inevitable, so I'll just get it out of the way at the start. Both novels open with a disaster that strands a single person on a distant globe. And both were first "independently" published, independently, that is, of any traditional publishing house.
That's it, full stop. In Girl Conn Garrow's world, the Mars trip ended in complete disaster, killing all the astronauts involved, and NASA hasn't been back. No man has set foot on the moon since Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt left in 1972. And no woman has ever been on the moon.
The last person who tried, Peo Haskell, CEO of Dyna-Tech, was turned back on the brink of landing her privately-owned lander. Conn's own dream of going to space, fueled by her admiration of Peo Haskell and by witnessing a night of mysterious lights on the moon that was visible from Earth when she was a child, was derailed when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Disqualified by NASA because she is permanently on medication to treat her condition, she redirects her ambition to engineering. If she cannot be an astronaut, she can still make it possible for others to go to space in her stead.
At school, Conn connects with her idol Peo, and begins working for her to set up a private-enterprise trip to Saturn. An unusual video sent in secret to Peo holds a cryptic puzzle that Conn helps solve. They learn it is an invitation from the aliens who lit the moon that long-ago night, offering to meet near the Apollo 15 lander. The Chinese will be sending their own separate mission in response. Not to be out-done, NASA immediately sets up a rival moon-shot as a joint effort with the European Space Agency.
Dyna-Tech, stretched thin to support the four-year trip to Saturn, scrambles to set up its own mission to the Moon. Solving one problem after another, Conn is intimately connected with both space shots, telling herself that this is as close as she could possibly come to her dream. Because of the novel's opening scene, we know better; Conn will be the commander of the two-person moon-shot that will put her on the surface in time to meet the aliens. In their privately-funded launch, Peo Haskell and Dyna-Tech can override the restrictions NASA uses for astronaut selection.
Once past the largest unreal plot-point, ETs with YouTube accounts, the story seems realistic. It is further given reality by countless details that make sense in an 18-year distant future. Yet what feels even more real than the slightly-advanced tech are the emotional interactions, the jealousy and envy and spite, the admiration and aspiration and generosity, the fear and delight, displayed by all these people, human and alien alike. New authors (and sometimes veteran writers as well) can make the mistake of painting characters as either black or white. Burnett dodges this bullet; even Conn is a frustratingly messy mix of emotional reactions.
Conn must battle her own shortcomings and biases, the petty and major problems of any large commercial effort, her own government and the rival governments of those who meet the aliens on the moon, and the aliens themselves. Are these visitors to the Solar System evil, bent on conquering humanity by tempting them with alien tech, as the anti-science evangelist Bowman insists? Are they simply guilty of preferring to work with the Chinese and the Russians, as the US government accuses?
Or are they interstellar con-artists, looking for the equivalent of a Manhattan bead exchange?
Conn and her friends have a lot of mysteries to solve—not least of which is what the aliens want from our moon. Their struggle to find those solutions is exciting, and the suspense makes this novel a quick read. That they accomplish it all in the context of capitalist free enterprise is delightful.
I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next Girl (on Mars?) from Burnett.
Liner Notes:
* The publisher is Kindle Press, thanks to a successful Kindle Scout campaign. Because I was one of many who nominated this novel, I got a copy for free.
* An excellent map of the Apollo 15 landing site is available online from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
* Conn receives congratulations for being the first woman on the moon from a female US president named Clinton. The date is 2034. Chelsea?
That's it, full stop. In Girl Conn Garrow's world, the Mars trip ended in complete disaster, killing all the astronauts involved, and NASA hasn't been back. No man has set foot on the moon since Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt left in 1972. And no woman has ever been on the moon.
The last person who tried, Peo Haskell, CEO of Dyna-Tech, was turned back on the brink of landing her privately-owned lander. Conn's own dream of going to space, fueled by her admiration of Peo Haskell and by witnessing a night of mysterious lights on the moon that was visible from Earth when she was a child, was derailed when she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Disqualified by NASA because she is permanently on medication to treat her condition, she redirects her ambition to engineering. If she cannot be an astronaut, she can still make it possible for others to go to space in her stead.
At school, Conn connects with her idol Peo, and begins working for her to set up a private-enterprise trip to Saturn. An unusual video sent in secret to Peo holds a cryptic puzzle that Conn helps solve. They learn it is an invitation from the aliens who lit the moon that long-ago night, offering to meet near the Apollo 15 lander. The Chinese will be sending their own separate mission in response. Not to be out-done, NASA immediately sets up a rival moon-shot as a joint effort with the European Space Agency.
NASA wasn’t letting the moon get away from them again.
Dyna-Tech, stretched thin to support the four-year trip to Saturn, scrambles to set up its own mission to the Moon. Solving one problem after another, Conn is intimately connected with both space shots, telling herself that this is as close as she could possibly come to her dream. Because of the novel's opening scene, we know better; Conn will be the commander of the two-person moon-shot that will put her on the surface in time to meet the aliens. In their privately-funded launch, Peo Haskell and Dyna-Tech can override the restrictions NASA uses for astronaut selection.
"I wonder how many kids like you NASA misses out on because there are no Rite-Aids in space ... "Nope, sorry, you're lactose intolerant, we can't train you."
Once past the largest unreal plot-point, ETs with YouTube accounts, the story seems realistic. It is further given reality by countless details that make sense in an 18-year distant future. Yet what feels even more real than the slightly-advanced tech are the emotional interactions, the jealousy and envy and spite, the admiration and aspiration and generosity, the fear and delight, displayed by all these people, human and alien alike. New authors (and sometimes veteran writers as well) can make the mistake of painting characters as either black or white. Burnett dodges this bullet; even Conn is a frustratingly messy mix of emotional reactions.
Conn must battle her own shortcomings and biases, the petty and major problems of any large commercial effort, her own government and the rival governments of those who meet the aliens on the moon, and the aliens themselves. Are these visitors to the Solar System evil, bent on conquering humanity by tempting them with alien tech, as the anti-science evangelist Bowman insists? Are they simply guilty of preferring to work with the Chinese and the Russians, as the US government accuses?
Or are they interstellar con-artists, looking for the equivalent of a Manhattan bead exchange?
Conn and her friends have a lot of mysteries to solve—not least of which is what the aliens want from our moon. Their struggle to find those solutions is exciting, and the suspense makes this novel a quick read. That they accomplish it all in the context of capitalist free enterprise is delightful.
I'll be waiting with bated breath for the next Girl (on Mars?) from Burnett.
Liner Notes:
* The publisher is Kindle Press, thanks to a successful Kindle Scout campaign. Because I was one of many who nominated this novel, I got a copy for free.
* An excellent map of the Apollo 15 landing site is available online from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
* Conn receives congratulations for being the first woman on the moon from a female US president named Clinton. The date is 2034. Chelsea?
February 15, 2019
This didn’t feel “science fictiony” despite the space travel, aliens, and technology. It did feel much more like what might actually happen upon meeting aliens for the first time. Personally, I’m a bit sick of the strong girl who’s going to save the world but has some sort of mental and/or addiction disability she has to overcome to do it. Though this did play a role, and I squirmed when it first appeared on the page, I don’t think it was overdone. I’m not sure I will read the next one, but I probably will, who am I kidding?
February 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and, considering it is a first novel, I am fairly impressed. A strong 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.
I enjoyed the premise of an alien race coming to earth and, instead of conquering it as is the most common trope, entering into negotiations with several nations for various technology exchanges.
The Geopolitical results were interesting and I enjoyed the overall storyline. I am interested to see where the story goes and may read the sequels once published.
That being said, there were some significant issues with this book that bothered me throughout. Specifically,
That being said, I found the dialogue and personal relations interesting. I'm not sure that the details in the story were up to the epic scale of the tale, but I still enjoyed the story very much. Though some of the things that happened in the story were way too convenient, I still felt it was fairly consistent throughout and my interest was held enough that I want to see what happens next :-)
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars and recommended if you're looking for a good Saturday-matinee style sci-fi read.
I enjoyed the premise of an alien race coming to earth and, instead of conquering it as is the most common trope, entering into negotiations with several nations for various technology exchanges.
The Geopolitical results were interesting and I enjoyed the overall storyline. I am interested to see where the story goes and may read the sequels once published.
That being said, there were some significant issues with this book that bothered me throughout. Specifically,
That being said, I found the dialogue and personal relations interesting. I'm not sure that the details in the story were up to the epic scale of the tale, but I still enjoyed the story very much. Though some of the things that happened in the story were way too convenient, I still felt it was fairly consistent throughout and my interest was held enough that I want to see what happens next :-)
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars and recommended if you're looking for a good Saturday-matinee style sci-fi read.
June 22, 2016
I got my new Oasis and wanted to switch some of my reading so I wanted to go with a new Science Fiction book. I have followed Jack for a while on social media and thought this was a good chance to try out his first book.
I am very happy with it. I would venture to say that this is the best independent author's first book that I have read. I liked the overall theme of the book and the plot lines explored. This feels like classic science fiction with a good near future semi-hard science slant on things.
Yes there are a couple of small details that could be better thought out. Some of the plot twists are not brought out to their logical conclusion I felt. The ending also could be a bit different. I like that things are not all wrapped up, that life goes on beyond the end of the story. There does not HAVE to be a sequel but it is presumed to be in the works.
This is a fun quick read that I can recommend to anyone who is looking for an easy science fiction book to get into.
I am very happy with it. I would venture to say that this is the best independent author's first book that I have read. I liked the overall theme of the book and the plot lines explored. This feels like classic science fiction with a good near future semi-hard science slant on things.
Yes there are a couple of small details that could be better thought out. Some of the plot twists are not brought out to their logical conclusion I felt. The ending also could be a bit different. I like that things are not all wrapped up, that life goes on beyond the end of the story. There does not HAVE to be a sequel but it is presumed to be in the works.
This is a fun quick read that I can recommend to anyone who is looking for an easy science fiction book to get into.
June 21, 2016
I saw this book on Amazon and as soon as I read the description I knew I had to read it.
This book tells the story of Constance "Conn" Garrows, a young woman whose dream has been to go to the moon since she was a little girl. After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder she abandons her dreams of going to the moon and pursues a career in aerospace engineering instead. While in school, she meets her idol, Peo Haskell, a woman astronaut, the last person who tried to land on the moon. What follows next is a very good story with believable characters.
This was a fun book. There are many strong female characters, which I appreciate. Sometimes I felt the pacing got a bit slow, but it was overall a very enjoyable read.
I would definitely read more from this author, and wouldn't mind reading more about Conn.
This book tells the story of Constance "Conn" Garrows, a young woman whose dream has been to go to the moon since she was a little girl. After being diagnosed with bipolar disorder she abandons her dreams of going to the moon and pursues a career in aerospace engineering instead. While in school, she meets her idol, Peo Haskell, a woman astronaut, the last person who tried to land on the moon. What follows next is a very good story with believable characters.
This was a fun book. There are many strong female characters, which I appreciate. Sometimes I felt the pacing got a bit slow, but it was overall a very enjoyable read.
I would definitely read more from this author, and wouldn't mind reading more about Conn.
March 3, 2016
Well, it was a truly fast-paced and yet slow at the same time. It allowed for understanding and seeing what happened in the world. Conn was the epitome of the meaning behind don't stop me, I do what I want. She really gave the impression of a woman who did most of her own work and did well. The extraterrestrial beings in the book are compelling and mystifying. Trying to understand them is a hard thing
Quite an abrupt ending but it allows for sequels
Peace out
Quite an abrupt ending but it allows for sequels
Peace out
March 30, 2016
Girl on the Moon by Jack McDonald Burnett With a title like Girl on the Moon, one would expect some space travel for the protagonist Conn Garrow, and the reader is not disappointed. Apart from the titular clues, this near-future sci-fi adventure is full of surprises. Jack McDonald Burnett's page-turner is a thoroughly enjoyable, imaginative, wild-ride of a story. I'm looking forward to more.
December 26, 2016
I believe in Alien life after reading this book
Captivating to the end. The lead character is so real and so flawled, almost makes you feel like this what you would if you were in her position. The aliens are complicated yet simple to understand and it opens up your imagination as to where we really came from and and are there beings in this universe that are smarter and more capable than us? Can't wait for a sequel if there is one.
Captivating to the end. The lead character is so real and so flawled, almost makes you feel like this what you would if you were in her position. The aliens are complicated yet simple to understand and it opens up your imagination as to where we really came from and and are there beings in this universe that are smarter and more capable than us? Can't wait for a sequel if there is one.
October 24, 2016
Really good story. One star subtracted because there were a few too many leaps of faith / needless fast-forward moments, IMHO. Really touched a nerve for me as a kid who once wanted to go to space.
December 17, 2024
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
It's not too far into the future and humans have decided it's time to get back to the moon. There is an ulterior motive, of course ... this is where the alien race wants to meet. Man has not been to the moon since 1972 (Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt), and there has never been a woman on the moon.
Conn Garrow has dreamed of going to the moon since she was a child, but her dreams were dashed when NASA disqualified her for the astronaut program when she was diagnosed as bipolar. She then switched her focus to engineering hoping she could at the very least make it possible for others.
When the aliens invite humans to meet near the Apollo 15 lunar lander, the Chinese ready a craft and crew quickly. Not wanting to be outdone, NASA readies their own team. NASA is stretched thin due to a mission already underway (a four year, manned trip to Saturn), and Conn, knowing the engineering of the craft better than anyone, is selected to be a part of the team. Not bad for a 20 year old.
Contact is made and Conn because a spokesperson/translator for the aliens and all of earth. The aliens have quite a story to tell, and quite a request - they want the moon and promise unrivaled gifts of knowledge in payment.
Are the aliens looking to conquer Earth by luring humanity in with Trojan horse-like gifts? Or are they intergalactic conmen looking to gain valuable realistic for a few trinkets?
I had selected this as one of my free Kindle Unlimited reads a while back. I didn't expect too much from it - most of the books I've read through that program have been 'okay' - but this was really a fun read.
The character of Conn if quite well drawn. Accomplished, smart, and driven it's easy to see why she's our primary focus. But she's young and with that comes some inexperience and the questioning of her own abilities. My only real complaint about the character is that she seems to accomplish a little too much in her young age consider she's not set up to us as a child prodigy of any sort. Still, I really like the way she handles herself in a wide variety of tough situations.
Overall this was a really enjoyable sci-fi thriller and I'm hoping to read more in this series.
Looking for a good book? Girl on the Moon by Jack McDonald Burnett is a YA sci-fi space opera romp and an enjoyable one.
It's not too far into the future and humans have decided it's time to get back to the moon. There is an ulterior motive, of course ... this is where the alien race wants to meet. Man has not been to the moon since 1972 (Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmidt), and there has never been a woman on the moon.
Conn Garrow has dreamed of going to the moon since she was a child, but her dreams were dashed when NASA disqualified her for the astronaut program when she was diagnosed as bipolar. She then switched her focus to engineering hoping she could at the very least make it possible for others.
When the aliens invite humans to meet near the Apollo 15 lunar lander, the Chinese ready a craft and crew quickly. Not wanting to be outdone, NASA readies their own team. NASA is stretched thin due to a mission already underway (a four year, manned trip to Saturn), and Conn, knowing the engineering of the craft better than anyone, is selected to be a part of the team. Not bad for a 20 year old.
Contact is made and Conn because a spokesperson/translator for the aliens and all of earth. The aliens have quite a story to tell, and quite a request - they want the moon and promise unrivaled gifts of knowledge in payment.
Are the aliens looking to conquer Earth by luring humanity in with Trojan horse-like gifts? Or are they intergalactic conmen looking to gain valuable realistic for a few trinkets?
I had selected this as one of my free Kindle Unlimited reads a while back. I didn't expect too much from it - most of the books I've read through that program have been 'okay' - but this was really a fun read.
The character of Conn if quite well drawn. Accomplished, smart, and driven it's easy to see why she's our primary focus. But she's young and with that comes some inexperience and the questioning of her own abilities. My only real complaint about the character is that she seems to accomplish a little too much in her young age consider she's not set up to us as a child prodigy of any sort. Still, I really like the way she handles herself in a wide variety of tough situations.
Overall this was a really enjoyable sci-fi thriller and I'm hoping to read more in this series.
Looking for a good book? Girl on the Moon by Jack McDonald Burnett is a YA sci-fi space opera romp and an enjoyable one.
October 25, 2016
This review is going to seem overly critical, so I want to start by saying that I liked Girl on the Moon, by Jack McDonald Burnett. There are a lot of heated dialog on both sides of the indie versus traditional publishing argument. Kindle Press, and its slush pile, Kindle Scout, are a great hybridization of both worlds. I missed the Kindle Scout campaign for this book and would’ve readily nominated it had I seen it. I did pick up Girl on the Moon through the Prime Reading program through Amazon.
A review compared this to Andy Weir’s The Martian. While they both have a person stranded on a celestial body with little chance of rescue, the stories are nothing alike. Girl on the Moon tells us of the trials and tribulations of Constance “Conn” Garrow, who wants so bad to be an astronaut. The story fills in much back story, and after the opening scene continues beyond Conn’s stint on the moon.
When I say ‘tells,’ I mean it. There is very little dialog, with the author info-dumping large swaths of text. For some reason though, it seems to work. I did find some of the various solutions throughout the story to be a bit coincidental, and unlike The Martian, where the Watney character overcame adversity with intelligence, stubbornness and a witty snark, Conn seems to persevere through outside forces.
Here and there I had trouble suspending my disbelief, and Girl on the Moon doesn’t have the hard sci-fi angle that other stories like this have, but overall, I enjoyed the read. I would definitely look for more sci-fi in the future from Jack McDonald Burnett. I would probably bump my fractional rating up to four stars, and recommend this story to any sci-fi fan or an indie fan. Plus, it’s free with Amazon Prime membership, so get it.
A review compared this to Andy Weir’s The Martian. While they both have a person stranded on a celestial body with little chance of rescue, the stories are nothing alike. Girl on the Moon tells us of the trials and tribulations of Constance “Conn” Garrow, who wants so bad to be an astronaut. The story fills in much back story, and after the opening scene continues beyond Conn’s stint on the moon.
When I say ‘tells,’ I mean it. There is very little dialog, with the author info-dumping large swaths of text. For some reason though, it seems to work. I did find some of the various solutions throughout the story to be a bit coincidental, and unlike The Martian, where the Watney character overcame adversity with intelligence, stubbornness and a witty snark, Conn seems to persevere through outside forces.
Here and there I had trouble suspending my disbelief, and Girl on the Moon doesn’t have the hard sci-fi angle that other stories like this have, but overall, I enjoyed the read. I would definitely look for more sci-fi in the future from Jack McDonald Burnett. I would probably bump my fractional rating up to four stars, and recommend this story to any sci-fi fan or an indie fan. Plus, it’s free with Amazon Prime membership, so get it.
December 29, 2018
Not quite a four star book for me. It was often bogged down in narration, delivering tedious details that didn't really impact upon the plot, nor did they add any depth to the characters or story. There was a lot going on, and I think maybe the author tried to shoehorn too many things into the storyline. This sometimes complicated things to the point where I had to reread sections in order to figure out what was going on. I'm an avid and longtime sci fi fan, but I just couldn't suspend my disbelief here. Some of the technical breakthroughs were astounding, but the characters just seemed to take them in stride, as if they were no big deal.
Conn, the protagonist, started to grate on me. Her character development started out well, but she actually became more simplistic, one-dimensional, and predictable as the book went on. I started out rooting for her, then eventually found myself not caring. Everything seemed to be handed to her, but the narration continued to explain how hard everything was for her, which I found hard to believe. She had some mental disorders that could have helped shape the plot, but were largely wasted.
Still, it's a decent read, and I plan to give the author another shot, having bought the second book in the series. We'll see how it goes.
Conn, the protagonist, started to grate on me. Her character development started out well, but she actually became more simplistic, one-dimensional, and predictable as the book went on. I started out rooting for her, then eventually found myself not caring. Everything seemed to be handed to her, but the narration continued to explain how hard everything was for her, which I found hard to believe. She had some mental disorders that could have helped shape the plot, but were largely wasted.
Still, it's a decent read, and I plan to give the author another shot, having bought the second book in the series. We'll see how it goes.
January 6, 2017
I liked it. But I didn't love it. The characters were interesting, and the aliens were good. But just too much "oh crap, okay, starting over, I'll try this instead". The story moved forward only in fits and starts, and the more different things that happened, the more irritated I got. Yet they were all plausible, so maybe irritation was the intent.
But then it ends. Without anything being resolved. Like it was a much longer book, arbitrarily split into two (or maybe more) volumes. A lot was accomplished, but there's still so much unfinished! Not a cliff-hanger, but definitely far from the end of the story.
But then it ends. Without anything being resolved. Like it was a much longer book, arbitrarily split into two (or maybe more) volumes. A lot was accomplished, but there's still so much unfinished! Not a cliff-hanger, but definitely far from the end of the story.
November 25, 2019
A refreshing Sci fi story "down to earth"
The no nonsense way the author write this story is refreshing. Sticking with the technology humans have today. Using space history and proper science was refreshing.
The twist at the end here surprised me greatly. Quite often when I read books it's easy to guess the ending and tying of the loose ends to wrap the finale up.
To sum the book up in one word.
Plausible.
I genuinely hope the author writes a continuation. Not that the story needs it, but the Sci fi nerd in me wants more.
The no nonsense way the author write this story is refreshing. Sticking with the technology humans have today. Using space history and proper science was refreshing.
The twist at the end here surprised me greatly. Quite often when I read books it's easy to guess the ending and tying of the loose ends to wrap the finale up.
To sum the book up in one word.
Plausible.
I genuinely hope the author writes a continuation. Not that the story needs it, but the Sci fi nerd in me wants more.
December 27, 2017
This is a fun a n d interesting first contact book
This is an interesting narrative with good details, ok science, good science fiction, great characters and a good pacing. It could have been two longer books with a little more detail. I don't want to put in any spoilers but t h e second "group" I thought should have been introduced earlier and with more foreshadowing, an issue with the who l e story. All that being said I highly recommend this novel.
This is an interesting narrative with good details, ok science, good science fiction, great characters and a good pacing. It could have been two longer books with a little more detail. I don't want to put in any spoilers but t h e second "group" I thought should have been introduced earlier and with more foreshadowing, an issue with the who l e story. All that being said I highly recommend this novel.
August 29, 2017
I liked the story. The concept of the aliens was well-developed. There were parts that flowed nicely and kept my interest, but there were also a lot of places that read more like a documentary than a novel. This made it difficult to get a good feel for the characters. However, if you want to learn a lot about how astronauts train, then the first third of the book will interest you.
February 14, 2018
An interesting storyline...
An enjoyable journey...! I'm too easily distracted by typo-errors, but there weren't too many, and I actually got to enjoy the trip, without major distractions and delays...! I'll be buying the next book in the series, and that doesn't happen very often...!
An enjoyable journey...! I'm too easily distracted by typo-errors, but there weren't too many, and I actually got to enjoy the trip, without major distractions and delays...! I'll be buying the next book in the series, and that doesn't happen very often...!
November 29, 2018
Great book. Pro neuro-diversity.
As I read I kept hoping that Conn’s atypical brain would prove to be an asset, not the liability that she and others believed. This was accomplished in ways that were thought provoking instead of preachy. I want to thank the author for writing this book. Great story!
As I read I kept hoping that Conn’s atypical brain would prove to be an asset, not the liability that she and others believed. This was accomplished in ways that were thought provoking instead of preachy. I want to thank the author for writing this book. Great story!
November 30, 2018
Better than I expected
The title caught my attention so I decided to read the sample. Normally I can tell within a few paragraphs if something is going to be interesting enough to continue. I can only speak to my own preferences but I think this was very well written and original. I loved it from beginning to end.
The title caught my attention so I decided to read the sample. Normally I can tell within a few paragraphs if something is going to be interesting enough to continue. I can only speak to my own preferences but I think this was very well written and original. I loved it from beginning to end.
December 28, 2018
Just Ok
Took a long time to read, never mesmerized by it but interesting enough to keep coming back . The story as a whole is good but really dragged out in sections. Concept? Good. Writing? Above average. Editing? Poor. Superfluous information at times that slowed the pace when it actually needed to ramp up.
Took a long time to read, never mesmerized by it but interesting enough to keep coming back . The story as a whole is good but really dragged out in sections. Concept? Good. Writing? Above average. Editing? Poor. Superfluous information at times that slowed the pace when it actually needed to ramp up.
March 11, 2019
I'm not a big fan of science fiction as a rule, but this book is probably the most realistic sci-fi I've come across. It's futuristic, but only just. It's far fetched, but what I would describe as 'realistically far fetched'. This is just how you can imagine the first alien contact happening and how humans react to it. Conn is a flawed heroine, which makes her believable.
May 6, 2017
Great "first contact" sci-fi
If you're a fan of "The Martian," "Saturn Run," and "Seveneves," you're going to love "Girl on the Moon." This one is probably a little more plot driven but it has good characters and just enough science. I can't wait to read the sequel.
If you're a fan of "The Martian," "Saturn Run," and "Seveneves," you're going to love "Girl on the Moon." This one is probably a little more plot driven but it has good characters and just enough science. I can't wait to read the sequel.
September 14, 2017
Loved the first half that was about a girl who desperately wants to go into space. Didn't quite love the second half that was about politics and government overreach and mob mentality. But overall it was a fast and enjoyable read with a few surprises.
November 19, 2017
Interesting
I enjoyed this story. It was different because the main character wasn't perfect. The bad guys may or may not have been bad guys. It was a good story of a girl, in the not so distant future, going to the moon and beyond.
I enjoyed this story. It was different because the main character wasn't perfect. The bad guys may or may not have been bad guys. It was a good story of a girl, in the not so distant future, going to the moon and beyond.
April 24, 2018
An excellent old school read.
An extremely well written and paved adventure. It reminds me of Heinlein and Varley; higher praise I can't give. If that type of story is your cup of tea, this is well worth your time. I was highly entertained. Highly recommended.
An extremely well written and paved adventure. It reminds me of Heinlein and Varley; higher praise I can't give. If that type of story is your cup of tea, this is well worth your time. I was highly entertained. Highly recommended.
November 14, 2018
Not a bad read at all but suffered from some Dan Brownism writing style - even down to the end of chapter shocker sentences and simplistic reporting. Aliens on the moon and global politics along with a driven heroine.
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