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We’ve known that the moon is dead since Apollo. But what if something lay dormant in the dust, waiting to be found?

In 2028, Mark Noble is conducting a survey of a moon crater. The entity secretly grabs a ride back to Moonbase on Mark’s buggy. Once in the habitat, it begins to infect the crew. They find themselves in a frightening, helter-skelter adventure with only two possible losing or saving the Earth.

Moonscape is the latest hard science fiction story from Tony Harmsworth, a First Contact specialist who writes in the style of the old masters. If you like fast-paced adventure, fraught with the additional dangers found in space, then Tony’s latest tale has been written especially for you.

376 pages, ebook

Published March 28, 2019

109 people are currently reading
80 people want to read

About the author

Tony Harmsworth

37 books39 followers
Born in Brocket Hall.

Educated in Welwyn Garden City and Bude to 'A' level standard.

Entered industry in 1968 rising to store manager of a retail company at 21 then into systems and procedure management with Wella and Lentheric.

Created the Loch Ness Centre in 1980 and designed other exhibitions including the Macbeth Experience and Fort Augustus Abbey Heritage Centre.

Acknowledged as one of the foremost experts on Loch Ness and its (now solved) phenomenon.

Became a tour operator when the Abbey was closed and built his businesses to become the first official 5 star coach tour and also to become the number one tour in Scotland on Trip Adviser.

Retired in 2013 to concentrate on writing and now has seven science fiction novels published and two in the pipeline.

Has written two non-fiction books: Scotland's Bloody History and Loch Ness Explained.

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5 stars
75 (41%)
4 stars
64 (35%)
3 stars
33 (18%)
2 stars
8 (4%)
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2 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Jean Holtof.
426 reviews4 followers
August 13, 2021
A thrilling futuristic Science Fiction novel where Mark Noble s part of the team surveying the moon. An entity that has lain dormant for a very long time is excited to sense living beings and quickly adjusts to catching a ride on the space mobile. Mark comes up against something that has him puzzled. His good friend, Roy, suddenly collapses and convulses. A strange set of circumstances with Roy lead Mark to suspect all is not right with his friend. The increasing sense that something is present within Roy leads to him being quarantined. A fascinating fight between the humans and this entity begins and doesn't stop. A great read with exciting scenes. Very well written. Thanks Tony for a very pleasurable read.
Profile Image for Chad Woolley.
27 reviews4 followers
August 15, 2019
I'm busy. And only getting pickier about my fiction as I age.

So, the only fiction genre I really like anymore is hard sci-fi.

And I want my hard sci-fi without frills. I don't need chapters of character development or exposition; if I wanted that I'd read Pride and Prejudice or Anna Karenina.

I just want interesting, thought-provoking, hard scienc-y stuff to start happening, soon, and non-stop.

Tony's novels deliver on this, and this one is no exception. Can't wait to read the rest of his works.
Profile Image for Kevin Sells.
192 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2020
This book ranks in the top ten scariest books I’ve ever read. I don’t know how many times I’ve wondered about this very subject. And aside from the moon base not having happened (yet)... I’ve convinced myself that this simply HAS to have happened and the earth is already invaded. Why else would we so mindlessly wreck our planet and disregard our fellow humans as though they’re beneath us? Read it for the hard science... Look at your fellow humans with a different mindset after.
Profile Image for Jefrois.
481 reviews4 followers
January 14, 2023
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“…One of the sofas was occupied by Jenny, a diminutive, early-thirties, oriental woman from Korea, and Crystal, with whom she was having an open affair. Crystal was a slim, tall, jet-black woman of Ghanaian origin….”

“… Mary, a forty-year-old woman of Pakistani extraction, sat at the console. She was Blake’s deputy.…”

There does not appear to be any real STORY-reason for these revelations, and they are not brought up again in any significant manner, only in passing.

It seems to me that there is a LAW in this sort of book that there MUST be such, and there MUST be “diversity.”

(I am older than the author and may —probably— know more.)
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11 reviews
November 10, 2024
rollercoaster ride of space thriller

Spoiler free but couldn’t stop reading this which is unusual for me. Not been hooked on characters / situation like this since Ready Player One and even had the occasional feeling of dread for things happening, which I only usually get in hands on computer games. Great read, and off to purchase the second one at the standard non-offer price, that’s how much I want to find out the next part of the world the author has set. (And I’m Scottish so I usually wait till a book’s on offer)
15 reviews
July 13, 2020
I wasn’t sure about this one at first, but what a ride! Once I started, I couldn’t put it down. A fast-moving science fiction delight. The protagonist, Mark Noble, is no superhero, just a smart guy with a real personality and honest emotions. As soon as I finished “Moonscape,” I started the sequel, “Moonstruck.” Made for an enjoyable, relaxing weekend’s reading. Up next: “Trappist-1,” the next book in the series. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Profile Image for David Taylor.
1,538 reviews24 followers
July 2, 2019
Real honest science fiction with plenty of action, in this case lots of suspense and an extraterrestrial entity determined to survive and multiply. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Moonscape, and really want to read the follow-up Moonstruck! In the meantime I will investigate more stories by Tony Harmsworth. I received a review copy and chose to provide this review.
Profile Image for Mrs LIR Linda.
391 reviews13 followers
Read
February 18, 2021
I received a free copy of this book as the author lives in the same northerly part of Scotland as me. I was surprised that he wrote Science Fiction books based in the future. This definately grabbed me and I would say that it is a very well written book. The twist at the end was very well reached but nevertheless surprised me. I will be reading more of Mr. Harnsworth's books.
Profile Image for Barry Doswell.
31 reviews
July 3, 2022
Fast paced, light technically, nice read

I didn’t think the main characters were ever going to catch a break. Having read the Visitor, I approached this book with caution. I needed have bothered, it’s as well written but highly focused, and character sensitive. The story builds well, and reaches a good conclusion. Onto book two.
Profile Image for Steven O'Driscoll.
30 reviews
July 7, 2024
Superb

Outstanding start to a series I will finish, pacing is perfect ,I'm not a fan at all of books written in the first person but this was different enough to get me past that.
Quick easy to read hard sci fi with a great plot ,what more can you ask for, looking forward to the next book.
Highly recommended
1 review
August 29, 2019
Good start.. then went downhill

Really disappointing read... idea is great and thought it would make a good holiday read but contained really simplistic characters and storyline, would not recommend.
181 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2019
What if first contact happened on the moon? I don't remember reading a book where first contact happens on the moon which is what makes this book so interesting and somewhat eerie. I got this one for free for an honest review. I highly recommend this one. He is great author.
187 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2020
Really fun story about an alien parasite which is takes over spacemen. Can't think of anything I didn't like. It is a short read, about 3-4 hours. I liked it well enough to buy the other two books in the series.
Profile Image for Melanie Underwood.
243 reviews5 followers
May 11, 2019
Another brilliant novel by Tony Harmsworth. I read it cover to cover without a break - impossible to put down!
14 reviews
August 9, 2019
Moonscape

Where is the sequel? This is a really interesting book which could definitely carry a second or even third read. Thanks Tony!!
391 reviews
September 29, 2019
Realistically-written and with well-developed characters, this initial story involving astronaut Mark Nobel bodes well for the planned series by the author.
90 reviews
October 15, 2019
Good original story about a parasitic life form being inadvertently discovered on the moon.
114 reviews3 followers
October 19, 2019
retro tale of 1st contact /near earth .reminds me of 70's style classsic scifi,with a modern believable science.would make a great film.well done that man.
494 reviews4 followers
June 20, 2020
I originally got this book for my husband but he raved so much about it I had to read it too. A great Sci-fi adventure that hooks you right from the start.
46 reviews
November 4, 2020
Fast and easy reading.

Fast and easy reading. Have book 2 and will definitely look forward to see if this one matches the first, which was kind of like an Alien movie.
323 reviews5 followers
March 5, 2023
Very entertaining

Couldn't read a more clever story. Really loved the twist at the end. Could any do this really happen? MAYBE!
Profile Image for Graham.
211 reviews3 followers
February 6, 2024
Eight scientists on the Moon when they encounter an entity that can possess them through skin contact alone.
Very short read and the first in a series.
Profile Image for Terry and dog.
1,012 reviews36 followers
March 13, 2024
A very easy to follow and get in to space horror. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.
1,840 reviews16 followers
May 14, 2025
A creature on the moon hitches a ride on lunar rover and tales over astronauts bodies
3 reviews
June 3, 2025
This is an excellent book and went a direction I wasn’t expecting at all. And can we talk about how well done the audiobook is? One of the best I’ve listened to.
Profile Image for Read Ng.
1,364 reviews26 followers
December 23, 2022
This was a Kindle ebook edition. I am not sure how I came across this book. I think it may have been an author freebie.

Not a very long story. Mostly stuck to the hard science, but chose to ignore some of the detailing I enjoy. Very light on the horror portion. It really is a bit of the original PG version movie The Thing from Another World, but set on the moon and very much toned down. I found this book only okay. It could have used more drama and action. There was not any suspense build up as the entity captured its victims.

This book does have an all too simple conclusion and can be read as stand alone. It does have a jumping off point for the sequel. For a series, I don't find the writing style / storyline compelling enough for me. I did not get enough character buildup for our hero. (Oh, and unprotected sex by anyone in space or on the moon, subject to intense cosmic radiation, is extremely questionable. I get it, you needed an excuse to not continue that character into the next book, so it was a convenient exit, but I did do an eye roll.) I will be passing on continuing with this series. But this book may just be the escape you are looking for, so give it a chance.

Have a GoodReads.
Profile Image for Ken Goudsward.
Author 42 books21 followers
August 12, 2019
The story starts out a little slow, as there is a strong focus on technical details. That's ok, just remember that this is HARD sci-fi, and the author is trying to ensure that the story is air-tight. And being air-tight is actually a big factor in this storyline. Before too long, things start to get more interesting, and the soory grows into a rather enjoyable read. Some truly amazing concepts are just barely beginning to crack open by the end of the story. I hope these will be explored further in subsequent books.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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