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Moon-Sitting
The Moon fell into the Ocean and the Waves wept.Infinity was once home to a thriving civilisation. That is, before the Moon arrived. The enormous, spherical structure brought with it death and destruction, wiping out most of the population with a series of earthquakes and tsunamis. Since then the Moon has sat silently on the southern edge of Infinity’s mass continent. Lucky Marsh is one of three moon-sitters charged with monitoring the Moon, acting as a living alarm system for Infinity’s last city. They must watch, but never that’s the golden rule of moon-sitting. However, for the ever-curious Lucky, that rule has become increasingly difficult to abide.Her nightmares compel her to do more. Her feet betray her while she sleeps.
- GenresScience Fiction
130 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2019
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
EM Harding
2 books21 followersEM Harding hails from Wales! They write science fiction and urban fantasy stories, which they very much enjoy turning into jigsaw puzzles (it's a nasty habit). Their first novella, 'Moon-Sitting', was published on November 12th, 2019. And their second book child, 'Labours of Stone' made it into the world during the mess that was 2021. You should read them, they're apparently pretty good.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 28, 2020
An original and well-paced character driven sci-fi with a difference…
E.M. Harding writes with a style that initially holds it’s cards close to the chest allowing readers imaginations to be fed an original world that views it’s moon as somewhat of an enigmatic danger. Since it’s arrival to the planet of ‘Infinity’ which brought much destruction, people are assigned to watch this threat. Main character ‘Lucky Marsh’ happens to be one of three Moon Sitters and her curiosity fuelled by nightmarish visions drives the story to unfold while answering the many questions that surround this dangerous lunar force. With a beginning that carries mystique, answers come soon enough.
I’ll happily admit I was caught entirely off guard with this book. It doesn’t take long until the twists and revelations light the path this story takes the reader on. The characters and how they interact with the world to find answers is just one of the many strengths along with original world building and originality as a whole – I haven’t read a science fiction book quite like this one.
The revelations and twists eventually form into an issue of morality and choice that ‘Lucky’ must face as well as a matter of time while readers discover her past and present which run in tandem throughout the book. Novella’s and shorter books deserve just as much credit especially when they are as good as this one. It’s different, readable and enjoyable.
E.M. Harding writes with a style that initially holds it’s cards close to the chest allowing readers imaginations to be fed an original world that views it’s moon as somewhat of an enigmatic danger. Since it’s arrival to the planet of ‘Infinity’ which brought much destruction, people are assigned to watch this threat. Main character ‘Lucky Marsh’ happens to be one of three Moon Sitters and her curiosity fuelled by nightmarish visions drives the story to unfold while answering the many questions that surround this dangerous lunar force. With a beginning that carries mystique, answers come soon enough.
I’ll happily admit I was caught entirely off guard with this book. It doesn’t take long until the twists and revelations light the path this story takes the reader on. The characters and how they interact with the world to find answers is just one of the many strengths along with original world building and originality as a whole – I haven’t read a science fiction book quite like this one.
The revelations and twists eventually form into an issue of morality and choice that ‘Lucky’ must face as well as a matter of time while readers discover her past and present which run in tandem throughout the book. Novella’s and shorter books deserve just as much credit especially when they are as good as this one. It’s different, readable and enjoyable.
October 31, 2019
Ok so first things first, I NEED MORE FROM THIS WORLD ASAP!!
This is a novella so it is relatively short, but oh boy does it pack a punch!
There’s so much character development and world building in here that I became so engrossed in the story and the characters I just couldn’t put it down. The plot itself was so unique to anything that I’ve ever read before.
Read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
This is a novella so it is relatively short, but oh boy does it pack a punch!
There’s so much character development and world building in here that I became so engrossed in the story and the characters I just couldn’t put it down. The plot itself was so unique to anything that I’ve ever read before.
Read my full review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...
October 3, 2020
This is a smartly written novella full of intriguing twists and turns and an insight into the complicated path of self-discovery.
October 23, 2019
* The author reached out to me and provided an ARC for Moon-Sitting in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't affect my review.*
The Moon fell into the Ocean and the Waves wept. Their tears swept the lands clean and left the World feeling painfully empty. And so, to fill the aching void, the World gave birth to us, the people of Infinity. The World smiled and danced around the Stars with joy.
Things I liked about Moon-Sitting:
*Short, but action-packed* - The book is just 76 pages (for the formatting my ebook reader has) and it still managed to squeeze in and explore political, familial, and existential issues.
BLOG: Pam Who Cried Books || Twitter || Instagram
*The idea of babysitting the moon* - The concept was unique! Imagine babysitting the Moon which crashed on the world you live in and now sits quietly at its edge. Your world hires three Moon-Sitters to always be on the lookout for abnormal lunar activities.
*Dual timelines* - The book is in the POV of our main girl Lucky who has always been enchanted by the Moon. In one timeline, Lucky explores the world of Moon-Sitting in the present. In another, Lucky starts to slowly recover her childhood memories - both the bane and key to her existence.
I honestly think that this book had the potential to be a full-length book in order to better lay out the facts, establish a finer pace, and flesh out the characters and the world of Infinity and Urion.
Moon-Sitting is scheduled to be released on November 12! Check out the book if you're looking for a fast-paced and easy-to-digest science fiction title. :)
The Moon fell into the Ocean and the Waves wept. Their tears swept the lands clean and left the World feeling painfully empty. And so, to fill the aching void, the World gave birth to us, the people of Infinity. The World smiled and danced around the Stars with joy.
Things I liked about Moon-Sitting:
*Short, but action-packed* - The book is just 76 pages (for the formatting my ebook reader has) and it still managed to squeeze in and explore political, familial, and existential issues.
BLOG: Pam Who Cried Books || Twitter || Instagram
*The idea of babysitting the moon* - The concept was unique! Imagine babysitting the Moon which crashed on the world you live in and now sits quietly at its edge. Your world hires three Moon-Sitters to always be on the lookout for abnormal lunar activities.
*Dual timelines* - The book is in the POV of our main girl Lucky who has always been enchanted by the Moon. In one timeline, Lucky explores the world of Moon-Sitting in the present. In another, Lucky starts to slowly recover her childhood memories - both the bane and key to her existence.
I honestly think that this book had the potential to be a full-length book in order to better lay out the facts, establish a finer pace, and flesh out the characters and the world of Infinity and Urion.
Moon-Sitting is scheduled to be released on November 12! Check out the book if you're looking for a fast-paced and easy-to-digest science fiction title. :)
May 16, 2020
Evidently, I didn't read the blurb closely enough. I swear I did, but for some reason the image I had going into Moon-Sitting was that it was going to be a magical realism thing in which someone in something very like the real world was babysitting our actual moon for some reason.
This is not the case, although I may now have to write it (with credit to EM Harding for the idea, of course!). Moon-Sitting's world is an odd one: when a big, moonlike thing exactly ten miles in diameter suddenly crashed into the planet of Infinity, billions lost their lives. Thirty or so years later, Lucky is one of three moon-sitters, people charged with making sure that the big ol' cataclysmic ball of death doesn't do anything else nefarious.
I breezed through Moon-Sitting in a single (moon)sitting, finishing it in a little under an hour. As such, I probably haven't done full service to it and ought to read it again to clear up some details in my mind - there are some lingering questions of the 'I don't think I can make sense of why this would be the case' variety (a couple of etymological ones, actually, which in most works I would probably be willing to disregard under suspension of disbelief but Harding does pay some attention to the subject so I feel justified in wondering about the details), answers to which I could well have missed in a hasty read - but I enjoyed my time with it and felt compelled to keep going.
Well-written overall, and a lot of interesting conflict is packed into Moon-Sitting's short length.
This is not the case, although I may now have to write it (with credit to EM Harding for the idea, of course!). Moon-Sitting's world is an odd one: when a big, moonlike thing exactly ten miles in diameter suddenly crashed into the planet of Infinity, billions lost their lives. Thirty or so years later, Lucky is one of three moon-sitters, people charged with making sure that the big ol' cataclysmic ball of death doesn't do anything else nefarious.
I breezed through Moon-Sitting in a single (moon)sitting, finishing it in a little under an hour. As such, I probably haven't done full service to it and ought to read it again to clear up some details in my mind - there are some lingering questions of the 'I don't think I can make sense of why this would be the case' variety (a couple of etymological ones, actually, which in most works I would probably be willing to disregard under suspension of disbelief but Harding does pay some attention to the subject so I feel justified in wondering about the details), answers to which I could well have missed in a hasty read - but I enjoyed my time with it and felt compelled to keep going.
Well-written overall, and a lot of interesting conflict is packed into Moon-Sitting's short length.
July 12, 2022
Imagine a Dr Who special, just minus the doctor. This book had me guessing right until the end! Our story follows Lucky, a moon-sitter, whose job, alongside other crew, appears to be watching the moon for reasons that aren’t quite clear. Quickly, a great deal of the things in this story just don’t add up; it’s obvious something isn’t right. Moving into a dual past-present narrative, slowly the truth is unveiled to the reader, and gosh, isn’t it dark!
Moon-sitting combines a really well-structured and super satisfying sci-fi plot with a complex character tale. The writing style is very easy to follow, but it never felt overly light or dull. This was outside my normal sci-fi reading, as I’ve mostly been sticking to the classics, but Moon-sitting showed me a different side to sci-fi. A great one for readers who love a sci-fi mystery!
Moon-sitting combines a really well-structured and super satisfying sci-fi plot with a complex character tale. The writing style is very easy to follow, but it never felt overly light or dull. This was outside my normal sci-fi reading, as I’ve mostly been sticking to the classics, but Moon-sitting showed me a different side to sci-fi. A great one for readers who love a sci-fi mystery!
March 18, 2020
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What a perfectly delightful story! Harding, don’t ever change your style. I felt all the feelings, was able to overlook the few typos (that’s huge). And I look forward to reading more.
Who should read this? Everyone who just wants to read a good book. Easy read that left me smiling out loud.
What a perfectly delightful story! Harding, don’t ever change your style. I felt all the feelings, was able to overlook the few typos (that’s huge). And I look forward to reading more.
Who should read this? Everyone who just wants to read a good book. Easy read that left me smiling out loud.
November 15, 2019
Surprising and very engaging Hopepunk novella which I really enjoyed
Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
June 14, 2022
This was a really interesting and engaging sci-fi novella with a unique concept, that packs a lot into its small page count.
Harding's world-building is excellent, especially for a novella. We get a really good sense of Lucky and her world. I also enjoyed the structure of this story, with us following Lucky's life as an adult moon-sitter and as a child. The way the story unfolds before us is really clever (it's hard to say anything else without getting into spoiler territory.)
Overall, if you want a quick but fascinating sci-fi read, I highly recommend!
Harding's world-building is excellent, especially for a novella. We get a really good sense of Lucky and her world. I also enjoyed the structure of this story, with us following Lucky's life as an adult moon-sitter and as a child. The way the story unfolds before us is really clever (it's hard to say anything else without getting into spoiler territory.)
Overall, if you want a quick but fascinating sci-fi read, I highly recommend!
October 12, 2019
Solid pacing, engaging twists, and personal discovery. A quick and fun read for sci fi or fantasy fans who enjoy philosophical decisions and a little mystery. Four and a half Stars
I received an advance review copy of Moon Sitting from the author, but am not being compensated for reading or reviewing, and all opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book. The pacing felt solid to me. The plot moved quickly, but not rushing past before I cared about the characters or understood the world they lived in. Similarly, the twists were engaging without feeling heavy handed the way they might have in a longer story.
The setting is kept simple and descriptors run light compared to some books I’ve read in this genre. Avid readers of Hard Sci Fi might be disappointed in the limited explanations of technologies at play, but I found the world building adequate to the task. There’s just enough to get a sense of the world, while allowing the reader’s imagination to fill in most of the detail. I found it in keeping with the slightly mysterious tone and enjoyed constructing the characters for myself, revising them as more information was revealed.
The limited information trickling in from Lucky’s perspective kept me guessing what the characters’ true motivations were throughout the story, and kept me feeling engaged and in tune with the main character. The side characters are not particularly deep or explored and exist more as plot devices and extra hands in scenes, but they fit well enough in the personal discovery of the main character and her mostly solitary life.
There were things I would have changed, naturally. The end scene confused me and struck me as extraneous. I felt the previous scene had already concluded the story as much as it could be concluded. There were scenes that remain unclear, I can’t be sure if they were real or hallucinations. And there were motivations and concepts that were introduced but unexplored. Why did Uncle Doc say Lucky was different? What was the change of plan? How did it affect things in the end?
But these are personal preferences and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book. It reads well, and while I’d like to know more about what happened and will happen, Moon Sitting fits nicely in the novella category and feels natural in its shorter length.
I would recommend this book for sci fi and fantasy fans who like filling in some details themselves and enjoy mystery in their books.
I received an advance review copy of Moon Sitting from the author, but am not being compensated for reading or reviewing, and all opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book. The pacing felt solid to me. The plot moved quickly, but not rushing past before I cared about the characters or understood the world they lived in. Similarly, the twists were engaging without feeling heavy handed the way they might have in a longer story.
The setting is kept simple and descriptors run light compared to some books I’ve read in this genre. Avid readers of Hard Sci Fi might be disappointed in the limited explanations of technologies at play, but I found the world building adequate to the task. There’s just enough to get a sense of the world, while allowing the reader’s imagination to fill in most of the detail. I found it in keeping with the slightly mysterious tone and enjoyed constructing the characters for myself, revising them as more information was revealed.
The limited information trickling in from Lucky’s perspective kept me guessing what the characters’ true motivations were throughout the story, and kept me feeling engaged and in tune with the main character. The side characters are not particularly deep or explored and exist more as plot devices and extra hands in scenes, but they fit well enough in the personal discovery of the main character and her mostly solitary life.
There were things I would have changed, naturally. The end scene confused me and struck me as extraneous. I felt the previous scene had already concluded the story as much as it could be concluded. There were scenes that remain unclear, I can’t be sure if they were real or hallucinations. And there were motivations and concepts that were introduced but unexplored. Why did Uncle Doc say Lucky was different? What was the change of plan? How did it affect things in the end?
But these are personal preferences and didn’t affect my overall enjoyment of the book. It reads well, and while I’d like to know more about what happened and will happen, Moon Sitting fits nicely in the novella category and feels natural in its shorter length.
I would recommend this book for sci fi and fantasy fans who like filling in some details themselves and enjoy mystery in their books.
August 16, 2020
A story that will first enchant you, pull you into it’s realm of magic, then once your heart is open to anything, the beauty of human nature and compassion - along with the dark side of what hearts can be - will fill you with joy, wonder, and a tinge of sadness as you follow the journey of a girl who is unlike others....yet very much the same in many ways.
The words of the author will flow through your mind, uninterrupted, never leaving your mind a moment to rest while still managing to easy up the pace at times. It’s almost like your mind takes a break during little flashbacks while still processing all the crucial components of the story you learn, yet never feeling overwhelmed. There is so much magic to the writing that it keeps you on the edge, yet still experiencing the calm beauty of all the events the characters will take you through.
Every time you’ll think you know what’s going on, you’ll be in for a surprise after a few pages. There is not a single word in this book that is a filler. Every sentence that is written is a crucial part of understanding the story, the characters and the development of events. It’s an immensly complex topic disguised in lovely simplicity so you’ll never feel overwhelmed by information, only by emotions.
I felt like the entire book was a metaphorical reflection upon the many “shades” of humanity, with thought provoking ideas that you can’t ignore.
This is a story you deserve to read. Give your heart the privilidge to absorb its beauty. It’s a story that, without a doubt, came from the author’s heart and it will settle right into yours.
The words of the author will flow through your mind, uninterrupted, never leaving your mind a moment to rest while still managing to easy up the pace at times. It’s almost like your mind takes a break during little flashbacks while still processing all the crucial components of the story you learn, yet never feeling overwhelmed. There is so much magic to the writing that it keeps you on the edge, yet still experiencing the calm beauty of all the events the characters will take you through.
Every time you’ll think you know what’s going on, you’ll be in for a surprise after a few pages. There is not a single word in this book that is a filler. Every sentence that is written is a crucial part of understanding the story, the characters and the development of events. It’s an immensly complex topic disguised in lovely simplicity so you’ll never feel overwhelmed by information, only by emotions.
I felt like the entire book was a metaphorical reflection upon the many “shades” of humanity, with thought provoking ideas that you can’t ignore.
This is a story you deserve to read. Give your heart the privilidge to absorb its beauty. It’s a story that, without a doubt, came from the author’s heart and it will settle right into yours.
June 25, 2020
Fast-paced and well-executed. This sci-fi novella had me intrigued by the synopsis alone. The story is creative, original, and surprising. Considering its length, this story had a lot more twists, turns, and revelations than I expected. With the smaller sections and frequent breaks, this novella makes for an easy no-pressure read for busy on-the-go individuals with limited time. The combination of present-tense narrative and past-tense flashbacks make it fun and easy to uncover bits and pieces of the history in short, almost episodic, scenes that don't cram in too many details at once. While this style of story-telling helps avoid long, tedious info-dumps and keeps the story moving quickly, I do wish there had been a bit more time taken to build on some of the events, history, and emotions that took place, and at times I felt like the story was a bit rushed. The ending also seemed to leave a lot of open-ended questions that I wish had been tied up just a little more tightly, but perhaps that was meant to leave room for a sequel. Overall, this story was quick, inventive, and enjoyable.
November 6, 2019
I was given an ecopy of this book in exchange for review.
This books packs a whole lot of punch for being a novella. And the hardest part about reviewing it is that a large portion of what I would discuss happens post a very major reveal that totally changes the way Lucky thinks about herself. Suffice to say, said very spoilery bit felt properly gigantic and made the whole story feel bigger.
I loved the interactions between characters, although I would have liked a bit more between the three moon-sitters themselves. I got the gist of what their personalities were supposed to be, but having an extra scene or two to show the camaraderie would have made it that more potent when all the reveals were... well, revealed. There were some fairly emotional moments that I really appreciated. And a plot twist or two (even beyond the major reveal) that I wasn't expecting.
Suffice to say this book is very heavy sci-fi and wouldn't be a good fit for beginners to the genre. But it's a nice addition for those who love weird technology and unfamiliar worlds.
This books packs a whole lot of punch for being a novella. And the hardest part about reviewing it is that a large portion of what I would discuss happens post a very major reveal that totally changes the way Lucky thinks about herself. Suffice to say, said very spoilery bit felt properly gigantic and made the whole story feel bigger.
I loved the interactions between characters, although I would have liked a bit more between the three moon-sitters themselves. I got the gist of what their personalities were supposed to be, but having an extra scene or two to show the camaraderie would have made it that more potent when all the reveals were... well, revealed. There were some fairly emotional moments that I really appreciated. And a plot twist or two (even beyond the major reveal) that I wasn't expecting.
Suffice to say this book is very heavy sci-fi and wouldn't be a good fit for beginners to the genre. But it's a nice addition for those who love weird technology and unfamiliar worlds.
June 4, 2020
It's funny because I couldn't remember how I stumbled upon this book (after I read it I remembered I saw the cover on Twitter and it looked interesting. Anything moon really,ha)
I had a lot of fun reading this. The story was interesting and just rich. I wasn't sure how Emma would be able to fit such a complex story within 100 pages, but she did it! It didn't feel rushed or lacking.
And I'm totally geeking out about how the characters look. I had to look up what "scute" were and when I found out, I was like...oooooh.
I had a lot of fun reading this. The story was interesting and just rich. I wasn't sure how Emma would be able to fit such a complex story within 100 pages, but she did it! It didn't feel rushed or lacking.
And I'm totally geeking out about how the characters look. I had to look up what "scute" were and when I found out, I was like...oooooh.
May 4, 2020
Thoroughly enjoyed this quick and clean novella. It was an excellent first step for me to take into reading sci-fi, and I can't wait for more of Emma's captivating writing to be released to us.
I fell in love with the characters and the pace was so excellent I felt like I was following the story in real-time.
I fell in love with the characters and the pace was so excellent I felt like I was following the story in real-time.
December 8, 2020
An enticingly mysterious tale, with lots of twists, turns and big revelations, lots of strong characters to spend time with too.
October 12, 2019
(Review based on a beta-reader copy of the story)
TL;DR: In this twisty, turny, often darkly humorous tale, one woman must force opposing parties----to the negotiating table. Too bad they’re more interested in ! The ending is too abrupt and open for my personal taste, but my frustration at that only emphasized how much I enjoyed the story leading up to it. Sphere x Red Dwarf.
---Minor Spoilers Ahead!---
Lucky has a dream job that nobody else wants: she’s a Moon-sitter, one of three scientist observers tasked with keeping an eye on the Moon. It needs it, too, because when Lucky was a little girl, it fell out of the sky onto the continent of Infinity, wiping out most of the Infinitians in the aftermath. In the decades since, the people have rebuilt what they could of their civilization, but no one trusts the Moon, just…sitting there. Most people wouldn’t go anywhere near the Moon, either, but Lucky’s not like most Infinitians. Granted, most Infinitians aren’t having dreams about the Moon calling them.
Ms. Harding’s voice shines from the opening sentences, a children’s verse euphemizing the cataclysmic event, followed by Lucky’s assessment of it. I was invested in Lucky’s journey of discovery from the first page, and I relished her sardonic, dark humor as her world unravels a little more with each reveal. Lucky’s journey has a feeling of satiric inevitability to it, which I found charming and highly enjoyable. The world becomes more imperiled with every action she takes. Friends become rivals, rivals become friends—in some cases, both for the same people. The supporting and often antagonistic cast are excellent foils, too; in particular, I loved the banter between Lucky and her old mentor, Marcus. But Lucky takes it all in stride, simultaneously insisting on bringing a measure of sanity and truth to the escalating situation, even as she reels and rants about how ridiculous that situation is. Lucky has a self-awareness, a detached sarcasm, that had me chuckling and smiling despite the grimness of each development.
In fact, I was so invested in Lucky’s story that I was distressed by its sudden ending. (I’ll acknowledge again here that I read a beta version, as this issue may have since been mitigated.) Without going into spoilers, Lucky’s final act will almost certainly provoke even greater consequences than the Moon’s original plummet, but the reader is left to fret over the final outcome. The epilogue is more of a flashback, which left me itching to write my own fanfiction ending just to get satisfaction and closure. So, if you need a story to resolve, be warned: bring a pen and paper! But if you like the open ending in the style of the Lady or the Tiger, then you’ll love this.
In either case, I highly recommend Moon Sitting as a post-apocalyptic lark, sure to please fans of Grant Naylor and Douglas Adams.
TL;DR: In this twisty, turny, often darkly humorous tale, one woman must force opposing parties----to the negotiating table. Too bad they’re more interested in ! The ending is too abrupt and open for my personal taste, but my frustration at that only emphasized how much I enjoyed the story leading up to it. Sphere x Red Dwarf.
---Minor Spoilers Ahead!---
Lucky has a dream job that nobody else wants: she’s a Moon-sitter, one of three scientist observers tasked with keeping an eye on the Moon. It needs it, too, because when Lucky was a little girl, it fell out of the sky onto the continent of Infinity, wiping out most of the Infinitians in the aftermath. In the decades since, the people have rebuilt what they could of their civilization, but no one trusts the Moon, just…sitting there. Most people wouldn’t go anywhere near the Moon, either, but Lucky’s not like most Infinitians. Granted, most Infinitians aren’t having dreams about the Moon calling them.
Ms. Harding’s voice shines from the opening sentences, a children’s verse euphemizing the cataclysmic event, followed by Lucky’s assessment of it. I was invested in Lucky’s journey of discovery from the first page, and I relished her sardonic, dark humor as her world unravels a little more with each reveal. Lucky’s journey has a feeling of satiric inevitability to it, which I found charming and highly enjoyable. The world becomes more imperiled with every action she takes. Friends become rivals, rivals become friends—in some cases, both for the same people. The supporting and often antagonistic cast are excellent foils, too; in particular, I loved the banter between Lucky and her old mentor, Marcus. But Lucky takes it all in stride, simultaneously insisting on bringing a measure of sanity and truth to the escalating situation, even as she reels and rants about how ridiculous that situation is. Lucky has a self-awareness, a detached sarcasm, that had me chuckling and smiling despite the grimness of each development.
In fact, I was so invested in Lucky’s story that I was distressed by its sudden ending. (I’ll acknowledge again here that I read a beta version, as this issue may have since been mitigated.) Without going into spoilers, Lucky’s final act will almost certainly provoke even greater consequences than the Moon’s original plummet, but the reader is left to fret over the final outcome. The epilogue is more of a flashback, which left me itching to write my own fanfiction ending just to get satisfaction and closure. So, if you need a story to resolve, be warned: bring a pen and paper! But if you like the open ending in the style of the Lady or the Tiger, then you’ll love this.
In either case, I highly recommend Moon Sitting as a post-apocalyptic lark, sure to please fans of Grant Naylor and Douglas Adams.
September 4, 2022
This is a beautiful, surprising science fiction novella that has nothing to do with humans baby sitting the moon (as I thought from the title!)
The alien world is accessible while being delightfully different from our world. I imagined the people to be descended from reptiles or dinosaur like creatures, and I loved that.
The dual timeline of Lucky’s past and present was extremely well done, and is a plot structure that I particularly like.
The characters are well done and I liked their different personalities.
What I loved best was the theme of the book, and the different moral dilemmas it posited. It makes the book layered and thoughtful, and something I’ll think about long after I’ve finished reading.
The alien world is accessible while being delightfully different from our world. I imagined the people to be descended from reptiles or dinosaur like creatures, and I loved that.
The dual timeline of Lucky’s past and present was extremely well done, and is a plot structure that I particularly like.
The characters are well done and I liked their different personalities.
What I loved best was the theme of the book, and the different moral dilemmas it posited. It makes the book layered and thoughtful, and something I’ll think about long after I’ve finished reading.
October 11, 2020
A friend sent me a copy for letting her borrow Clementine by Cherrie Priest; she thought I would enjoy this as a quick read. She runs a blog and heard of the author/novella that way.
Ms. Harding does a great job of handling a 17 year, multi-planet time/space frame really up to the last few pages. I understand endings are rough, but this one just felt off after the tone/movement of the rest of the novella. Not the worst, but because of the quality of the rest it really felt off.
I recommend for a fast read for any sci-fi lover.
Ms. Harding does a great job of handling a 17 year, multi-planet time/space frame really up to the last few pages. I understand endings are rough, but this one just felt off after the tone/movement of the rest of the novella. Not the worst, but because of the quality of the rest it really felt off.
I recommend for a fast read for any sci-fi lover.
July 5, 2021
A very cute novella (with a cover that I just want to stroke because it's so soft!) The pacing at the end was slightly off to me- but the worldbuilding was sublime, and there was so much packed into just over 100 pages of story.
August 11, 2021
I loved this book. It's easy to read, the characters are realistic, diverse, and exciting. Everything is so well-crafted and the world-building is so much fun.
November 23, 2022
Really enjoyed!
Read in one sitting, I literally did not want to put this book down.
Amazing characters and world building. I was shocked by many of the twists and was genuinely sad when I finished reading.
Another amazing book that i read from this author!
Read in one sitting, I literally did not want to put this book down.
Amazing characters and world building. I was shocked by many of the twists and was genuinely sad when I finished reading.
Another amazing book that i read from this author!
January 12, 2023
Atmospheric and fascinating sci-fi novella that focuses on Lucky, one of three "moon-sitters" whose job is to keep an eye on a mysterious spherical object that crashed into their planet and nearly wiped out all life. It should be a fairly mundane assignment as the "moon" has been inert for a long time, but Lucky finds her dreams becoming increasingly disturbed and then the sleepwalking starts. I really appreciated the structure of moving backward and forward in time as we (and Lucky) gradually learn more about her past and the purpose behind the strange sphere. Thought-provoking ethical questions are raised that encourage you to put yourself in Lucky's place and wonder what decisions you would make. The central mystery reveal and plot twists are engaging and very well done. Great find for lovers of sci-fi with a lot of (for lack of better word) humanity at its heart.
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