The Martian Diaries: Vol. 2 Lake On The Moon

by H.E. Wilburson

Winner of 5 awards in the 2020 Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Awards, (Audio Drama category) and Bronze Medallist in The Readers Choice 2020 Awards (Science Fiction category) The War Of The Worlds Continues! A New Martian Menace Invades Earth in Volume Two of The Martian Diaries.

What lies hidden inside the Martian Red Weed and what is the secret of the lake on the moon? When the first Martian cylinder crash lands in England, Ogilvy the astronomer barely survives the deadly heat ray from the attack by aliens. He then accidentally stumbles upon the truth about the Red Weed and sends vital evidence to scientists in France on board HMS Thunder Child, but the ship is attacked by a Martian tripod.

Years later in 1919, in the aftermath of World War 1 and Spanish influenza, a sinister plague emerges on Earth from the long forgotten Red Weed, and it threatens all life on our planet with global extinction.

Ogilvy suggests a daring and risky plan to combat the devastating alien menace, involving alternate history timelines. He persuades other original War Of The Worlds characters to participate, but how on earth can they locate the secret weapon hidden by the Martians at the lake on the moon?

Don't miss this compelling continuation of the H.G. Wells Mars novel in the gripping second volume of The Martian Diaries science fiction series, featuring the original characters and a bespoke musical score. Awarded 5 stars by Readers Favorite.

Ebook version available.

Genres: Science Fiction

Audiobook

About the author

I am delighted and honoured that my work has been recognised by various awards for both books and audiobook versions featuring my own original music and sound effects. Here are some of them:

The Eric Hoffer Book Award 2025, Category Finalist (Ebook) - The Martian Diaries, vol. 1 - The Day Of The Martians.

Bronze Medallist Readers Favorite International Book Awards 2024, Fiction Audiobook category - The Martian Diaries, vol. 1 - The Day Of The Martians.

The Martian Diaries vol.2 Lake On The Moon audiobook was voted into 3rd place in the TCK Publishing 2020 Readers Choice Awards - Science Fiction category.

The audiobook versions of the above titles were entered into the Los Angeles Science Fiction Film Festival Awards 2020 and jointly won five awards.

All three audiobooks were awarded 5 stars by Readers Favorite Reviews. Of book 1 'The Day Of The Martians' the reviewer said, “This was more than an audio book. This was, in many ways, a wonderfully executed tribute to H.G. Wells.”

Of book 2, 'Lake On The Moon' the reviewer said, “The storyline is mesmerizing, and Mr. Wilburson has done a magnificent job of melding his story with the original War Of The Worlds.”

The reviewer of book 3 Gateway To Mars said, "The soundtrack composed by H.E. Wilburson deserves special praise, as it created an atmospheric background that fed my imagination alongside Paul's awesome narration. I highly recommend this flawless production to sci-fi, action-thriller, time travel, and adventure fans."



You can request review copies of books 1-3 here:

https://books.martiandiaries.com/revi...


And now for some of my bio...

Although I have been composing music all my life I only started writing about 2013. I have always enjoyed 'The War Of The Worlds' by H.G. Wells and in 2015 decided to continue the story myself as there seemed to be questions left unanswered. That is why I created my sequel to Wells' science fiction classic and I have added my own music and sound effects to the audiobook recordings to add atmosphere and mood.

Book 2 of the series, 'Lake On The Moon', links even more closely to the story of H.G. Wells' original characters. It was a bronze medallist in the 2020 Readers Choice Awards - science fiction category.

The third book in the trilogy, 'Gateway To Mars', continues the story in 1945 on Earth, and the 2130s on the moon and Mars, and brings the original H.G. Wells tale full circle.

There is also a companion book to volume 1 - a set of diary entries from 1913 by Ogilvy, the Astronomer Royal, which fills in some of the story from his perspective. The ebook is exclusive to my email subscribers but it will be incorporated into print versions of volume one. You van join my email newsletter here:https://subscribepage.io/martian-diar...

Apart from 'The Martian Diaries' trilogy I have adapted 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan. It was my first project combining text with music, and will be released in the future. I also have several hundred pieces of music, and unpublished stories and poetry.

I find much inspiration by getting off the beaten track and into the great outdoors, and am in my element exploring remote locations around coastal and mountain regions, but most especially in Wales. 

Find out more and hear sample chapters of the audiobooks on my website here: https://www.martiandiaries.com

If you follow me on BookBub they'll notify you whenever one of my books goes on sale. They'll also tell you about deals on similar books. Click here https://www.bookbub.com/profile/h-e-w...

Come and say hello to me on X (Twitter) https://twitter.com/martiandiaries @martiandiaries

Go here linktr.ee/martiandiaries to find me and my work in other places.

Reviews

[Adrian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of e-book September 2022
I think this is the second time I have read this e-book as opposed to listening to the audiobook, but I don't appear to have logged it, oh well, I shall this time.
An excellent continuation story that I have read in preparation for the release of H.E.'s third book in this excellent trilogy. A great story that I really enjoyed as it continues the exploits of George the journalist and Ogilvy the astronomer and scientist

Review of audiobook July 2019
Ok, before I finish this "book" I have to state that I received an early review copy of this audiobook from H.E. for an honest and unbiased review.

Secondly I have to apologise to H.E. as I had intended to listen to this earlier, unfortunately ill health (sunstroke and then kidney stones) have delayed me, poor excuse I know, sorry H.E.

Full Review to follow this evening 😊

Ok, where do I start with this review, hmm. Well anyone who knows me, will know that I am a big fan of 50s "B Movies" and anyone who has looked closely at my "library" will know I am a big fan of both "golden age" SF and classic books, like The Time Machine, The Mysterious Island and of course The War of the Worlds, this is the second in a trilogy of sequels written (and played as in musically) by H.E. WIlburson to the wonderful WotW.
Now I mentioned played, and this benefits so much from being an audiobook, as H.E has written and plays his own music to accompany the books he has written, and in that respect it is more a sequel to Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds.
I have to say that H.E, has an uncanny knack of writing like H.G Wells, and has continued the story in exactly the same Late Victorian/ Early Edwardian style that it is seamless. He has also managed to doff his cap at H.G Wells with a number of tributes that will be recognised by those very familiar to WotW, and Wells' writing
His accompaniment to the fantastic narration by Harry Preston brings so much to his own writing , that the whole thing is far more than the sum of the parts. H.E. has created a perfect marriage of a fantastic tale, so in the style of H.G. Wells it is unbelievable , allied to a cross between a musical soundtrack and background atmospheric, again reminiscent of Jeff Wayne and Justin Hayward.
I am in awe, I finished the audiobook an emotional wreck, especially after the prologue narrated by Terry Thompson, and cannot wait for episode three, "Gateway to Mars"

I have to say this will certainly be my "book of July" and is now a very serious contender for my "Book of the Year". If you have ever liked Wells or Jeff Wayne's musical version, you will love this.

Thanks H.E., absolutely marvellous.

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little green men are back, and they're hella mad.

So the Martians are back and this time, they aren't falling for the old bacteria in the water/air trick. They'll sterilise the planet first. Look, I know this series won all these fancy schmancy awards, but frankly, I expected more. Book 1 was pretty good; this one was a dog's breakfast in my opinion. The plot seemed to meander and in the end, didn't really lead anywhere. Time travel seemed an unnecessary accessory to this weak story.

I hated it. Well, most of it. 2.5 stars.

[Gabriel Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are Your Dreams Your Own?

This review does contain spoilers.

When I listened to The Day of the Martians (The Martian Diaries #1) I didn't really know what I was in for. Considering it was my first audiobook, I'm sure you understand why. Then we have to take in the fact this is a sequel to the great classic The War of the Worlds. I mean, come on, that's a mighty challenge to even attempt. Turned out, I loved The Day of the Martians. So, I couldn't wait for the second part, Lake On The Moon ( The Martian Diaries #2).

H.E. Wilburson has risen to the challenge yet again, to bring us another great story. The narration is spot on, breathing new life into the famous characters. The music and sounds are amazing.

With the Martian comet retreating, humans turned on each other for The Great War and failed to notice the deadly bacteria which defeated the Martians, and the red weed, mutating, creating a new challenge for Ogilvy and George. When HMS Thunderchild was sunk by the tripods, five important jars went down with it. Jars important to the discovery of how to defeat the mutating red weed that was rapidly spreading.

George thinks the Martians are hold up on the moon due to the discovery of what he believes is a lake. Ogilvy dismisses his find as an impossibility. George is devastated when he discovers his wife, Laura, has been killed in an accident. He later finds out she may have been suffering from Spanish Influenza, or was it to do with the bacteria from the red weed?

Ogilvy reveals an unbelievable secret to George and the Major about how he had twice ingested the red weed and made contact with former versions of himself and George. He goes on to explain about a time-loop that goes back to when Mars was as blue as the earth. That the Martians had previously tried to invade the earth on three occasions and a fourth was imminent unless they could change events. The only way was to locate a vacuum jar that went down with the Thunderchild and could have washed ashore anywhere. Could Ogilvy be trusted or was he being manipulated by the alien Ogilvy's? George decides not to trust him and creates a further problem which infuriates Ogilvy.
On their return to Canvey Island in search of a missing jar, George accidentally locates two jars among the decor in a local pub. They have one last chance to make contact, but all seems lost when George eats the red weed and fails to learn any new information, leaving George and Ogilvy's niece, Elizabeth, petitioning the government to put men on the moon to investigate: they fail to take notice.

This is a clever and complex story that continues in the tradition of the original. Thank you, H.E. Wilburson, for bringing it back to life.

[Joe Pranaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author H.E. Wilburson brings us the closing chapter to his War of the Worlds sequel with Lake on the Moon. As the book opens it's during the original Martian Invasion in 1906 and Ogilvy has been in the hospital since the fall of the first Martian cylinder. The hospital is overrun with the Red Weed and Ogilvy decides to take a bite of it. The Red Weed nearly kills him but it also sends his mind into it too. There he meets 3 other Ogilvys and a George and he learns that it is because of the Ogilvys that the Martians invaded. Then we flash forward to the end of World War 1 and the Spanish influenza that swept across the planet in 1918 and we come to find out that the shadow weapon that the Martians created has been pointing at Earth from one of the Luna craters making it look like a lake. This is a great sequel to the War of the Worlds and I highly recommend it to all science fiction fans.

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even better than The Day of the Martians, this chapter introduces an insidious new Martian threat, as well as a really great explanation of the Red Weed. The author’s imaginative continuation of Wells original never ceases to amaze me.
George is back helping Ogilvy, and some important questions are answers, as well as lots of new ones being posed. In a very timely storyline, a new plague seems to be unleashed upon the world. Time travel is also brought up in an interesting way.
I really enjoyed this audiobook and I can’t wait for the next installment to find out what wonders Wilburson will think up next.

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot of this, the second book in The Martian Diaries series concentrates on the strange vegetation that suddenly appeared on Earth after the Martians invaded. The mysterious plant know as the red weed that began crawling its way across the land, covering everything in its path with its alien fronds. The red had has always terrified and fascinated me in equal measures and it's those parts of Jeff Wayne's iconic musical version of H G Wells terrifying story that freak me out every time I listen to the double cd. I think his composition is seriously creepy and is a perfect blend of sinister menace and the beauty of nature.


In this story, our hero Ogilvy has his first encounter with the red weed whilst he is incapacitated in the hospital after the incident with the martian heat day on Horsall Common when the first cylinder arrived on Earth. The author's descriptions of this encounter were spine chilling and absolutely bloody terrifying, the stuff of nightmares, well, mine anyway. During this encounter, Ogilvy has a very strange experience and accidentally learns the truth about the red weed but the vital information that he sends to scientists in France is lost at sea along with the wreckage of HMS Thunderchild.


Years later, the world is struggling to recover in the aftermath of the first world war and Spanish influenza when people suddenly start dying from something that becomes known as Marseria a illness that Ogilvy informs his horrified old friend George the journalist is caused by the red weed that had suddenly reappeared in London. Ogilvy and George once again find themselves in a race against time to save the world, this time not from monstrous tripods but from a deadly pandemic. This storyline was scarily realistic and relatable when you take into consideration what the world has been dealing with over the past year.


Meanwhile after the events of the previous book, George is convinced that the martians are now in the moon and have somehow created a glowing green lake on the surface. Ogilvy, who I can't say was very likeable at times as this story unfolded, initially refused to believe what George was trying to tell him. But, eventually he had to admit that what George was telling him was true and that the lake was definitely there. What the significance of the lake? What are the Martians planning to do next? The moon is closer to Earth than Mars so it wouldn't take the Martians so long to mount a new attack. Are they wiping as much of mankind out as they can before returning to win the war? Does the future of Earth belong to mankind or the Martians?


This story isn't as action packed as the previous book, the story is more science based but don't panic because that doesn't mean there is no action whatsoever. There is the sinking of HMS Thunderchild, some seriously intense dreams and of course the tripods and Martians make a appearance. It's a captivating, character driven sci-fi story with a added dash of horror that I thought was a very enjoyable, entertaining, enthralling read and I can't wait to find out how the story is going to end in book 3.

[Derek Beaugarde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lake on the Moon by H E Wilburson is a fitting sequel to Day of the Martians in the Martian Diaries trilogy. It also continues the saga of narrator George, Professor Ogilvy and the Major's quest to finally attempt to defeat the Martians, first written about by H G Wells in The War of the Worlds, the first true science fiction novel. The author manages to stay true to the ethos of the H G Wells classic and the reader picks up the story in 1919, just after the end of the War to End All Wars and in the middle of the Spanish Flu pandemic. But, George and Ogilvy discover a new threat from the Martians, a deadly virus, worse than Spanish Flu, which threatens to wipe out all life on Earth and present a new world for the invading Martians. One thing in the book that I sometimes found difficult to keep a grasp on, was a concept the author introduced that sort of messed with the reader's head both psychologically and philosophically. Were the main characters in a dream state, virtual reality or alternate universe at times in the story and I am unsure whether this second book fully answered that question? Looking forward to Book 3.

[Lucas W Mayberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy, Scary & Thought Provoking Sci Fi - It’s been six years since the second Martian invasion and in the aftermath of the First World War too, humanity is beginning to get back to normal. But then there is the Spanish Influenza killing off millions of people around the world. But is it just a normal case of pandemic flu? Could the original introduction of the Red Weed into our environment have more serious implications for humanity that we could not foresee or have not fathomed yet? George and Oglivy race against time to find a cure for the dangerous Marsieria but nothing short of space and time travel will save humanity now. Which may just be out of our reach. And what exactly are the Martians building on the moon? This is a welcome return to HG Wells vision of The War Of The Worlds. It is a cleverly written Sci Fi with some truly grim and thought provoking moments. But there is dash of humour to be found as well with some brilliant bonkers dialogue such as this line - “A cup of tea opened a cylinder from another planet?” This made me laugh out loud and I especially appreciated it as I was drinking a cup of tea at the time of reading it. At least I will be sorted if we get invaded by Martians. I look forward to reading volume 3 especially with the rather dire cliffhanger at the end of this book.

[David Lambert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really cool continuation of H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the author does a great job of taking the original story and adding to it in a new and exciting way. The blend of classic characters with new twists like the "Red Weed" plague and time travel kept me guessing.

The story is a race against time as the heroes try to stop a new Martian threat. It's full of suspense and a lot of smart ideas. I really liked how it picks up after the first book and shows what happened to the world in 1919. The mystery of the secret weapon on the moon and the new villain add a lot of tension. If you're a fan of the original, this book is a must-read. It feels like a genuine part of the story, not just a simple follow-up. It's a gripping science fiction adventure that I couldn't put down.

[Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Martian Diaries, Vol. 2, "Lake on the Moon" by H. E. Wilburson continues nicely on his first volume reimagining H. G. Wells' "War of the Worlds".

This sequel offers a goodly share of frightening scenes where towering Martian tripods terrorize earthlings, who are no match for the invaders and their heat ray and other technological weapons.

Wilburson's imagination has provided us with other chilling possibilities -- the horrible "Red Weed" deployed by the Martians to swallow vast areas of land, including inhabitants, and the devastating "Marseria" virus-like invader that, becoming embedded in Earth's water supply and plantlife, food for humans, contaminates the bloodstreams of earthlings. Marseria, if left unchecked, will lead to the destruction of humankind as it transforms into Martian creatures.

I must say the plot of this second book seemed quite a bit more complicated and convoluted than the previous novel. But a rollicking sci-fi read. Recommended.

[odedo1 Audio book worm. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truth or lie.





What an incredible imagination the author H. E. Wilburson shows in this one.
I truly can’t guess what’s real , the author truly twisted my brain that I’m really clueless, and it was done perfectly.
The only thing which bothered me is the introduction of religion into the story ( for me religion have no place in science fiction because more blood was spilled in the name of christianity then anything else and now it’s the muslim time for doing the same all believe that they are in the right ).
Putting all this aside , the author have wrote such an amazing story which makes me wish for the third book with all my heart, it’s truly a mystery and pure joy wrapped into a Science Fiction trilogy.


Narration by Harry Preston and Terry Thompson with excellent sound effects and beautiful music.


Without a doubt,
got my full recommendations !!!




Oded Ostfeld.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a fun sequel to Volume 1. I think you’d get the most out of this Volume 2 by experiencing Volume 1 first. You might even consider going back to H. G. Wells’s War of the Worlds classic as well.

The timeline does jump a bit, here and there. There were a few times where I was little confused about where I was in the timeline. Ogilvy seems to shift from moment to moment when his story line is interrupted by George. However, this story does veer into time travel, so perhaps that is on purpose. I expect the forthcoming Volume 3 will clear some of this up.

I was fascinated (and sometimes amused) by the Red Weed. I know it’s supposed to be horrific, and it is at times, but there were also times that the Red Weed gave me a little giggle. If you eat the Red Weed, you may well have a metaphysical experience – and you may even die! Or meet your other self on an ancient Mars landscape… or chat with an Irish God. So, yes, there were a few moments where I compared the Red Weed to some illegal recreational drug.

Still, there’s some uniqueness to this story, a bit of a mystery. I love where the story is going concerning the anatomy and reproduction of the Martians. Hive mind! Budding! Perhaps even some hybrids in the making! That’s all very exciting stuff and I honestly don’t see how our heroes, George and Ogilvy, will be able to save humanity. Hence, a need for Volume 3!

The story does have a weak spot. It’s the same weak spot from Volume 1, and even from Wells’s original classic – the ladies! Where are they? What are they doing? Ooo! Making tea? Cleaning house? Gardening? Having romantic intentions? Sobbing and fainting? Yep. That’s what they’re doing in this story. Sigh… It’s a fight for humanity! I’m sure that at least a quarter of the ladies will be doing something more productive. Occasionally the ladies get to talk in this story, but I forget what they said. I think it had something to do with tea being served in the library.

All told, I want to know how things turn out for humanity and the Martians, so I’ll check out Volume 3 once it’s available in audio format. 4/5 stars.

The Narration: Terry Thompson & Harry Preston did a fine, fine job with this narration and the sound effects. With Volume 1, the sound effects needed some fine tuning but with Volume 2, everything was well done. The sound effects and music never drowned out the narration, and they were well timed to add to the story rather than detract. The music was well selected – no random heavy metal guitar music this time! All the characters had distinct voices and regional accents. The ladies did sound feminine, albeit both had deep voices for women. There were no tech issues with the recording. 5/5 stars.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own.

[Veronica Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1919, and the Martian drama continues with Author Wilburson's second volume in The Martian Diaries Trilogy. The menacing tripods have vanished, but a new hazard surfaces; the proliferation of a mysterious Red Weed that threatens to infiltrate and wipe out life as we know it, changing the course of human destiny. Astronomer Ogilvy and his trusted friend George are on a mission to obliterate the weed from the planet, but will their heroic efforts be effective?

Time travel, alternate realities and an evolution conundrum gives the reader/listener plenty to ponder as this SciFi saga unfolds. The story is skillfully narrated, complemented with sound effects and a custom musical score that takes you back in time, allowing the listener to delightfully experience the story events with the characters.

Author Wilburson's trilogy is a enthralling companion to H.G. Wells War of the Worlds. The Lake on the Moon is an audiobook treat, highly recommended!

[BooksandBacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a free advanced copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Like the first volume it's the eBook version.

Well I must say the story gets better and better. In volume two the Martians have vanished but a strange red weed suddenly appeared on Earth after the Martians invaded. The story jumps a bit back and forth and that's because the author has introduced a very exciting element to the story and that is.... Time Travel!! .

I'm a huge fan of Time Travel so I was very excited when I found out. At the end there's a bonus chapter explaining what happened to Ogilvy and George when they were "In the Zone".

Looking forward to volume 3 which includes visiting the Moon & Mars!!!!

[Corine · Rating 5 out of 5]

George has seemingly scrapped Ogilvy’s plans of gaining life-saving information from the Red Weed, but he has a compensating thought, worthy of worldwide effort. The epilogue, however, brings up a terrifying twist…

[John Decarteret · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic listen. The narration, backing tracks, and sound effects bring this to life like nothing else I have heard before. A great follow on from the first, and the story is that of a modern-day classic .


Ane easy 5*****stars

[Sleepy Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying the first story of this trilogy ‘The Day of the Martians’, I was looking forward to this second book, and it did not disappoint. If you don’t know, this series of books is a continuation of H.G. Well’s ‘The War of the Worlds’ story. So, it already has a great universe to build on. This book picks up after the last story left off, and deepens the lore. This second book was much longer than the first entry, which was nice, because it had a chance to flush out the story a lot more.

This book had some great action scenes; some were really intense (a particularly intense one I liked involved Ogilvy and the Red Weed in chapter 4). It was really interesting to learn about the true properties of the Red Weed. I don’t want to give too much away, but there’s an element of this story that has to do with time, and I thought that was fascinating. It took this story to another level. There were more heartfelt moments in this installment as well.

You certainly want to get through the first book before this installment. But if you enjoyed that one, you will likely love this one. This is an excellent sequel that surpasses the first book. I feel like there are stories that I can read and enjoy, and then there are books that I find immersive, and get lost in. This was the latter. This book pulled me into its universe, and had me invested in the characters, trying to figure out what was going on, and caring what was going to happen. Now I need to see what happens in part three. It’s a definite recommendation for sci-fi fans.

Also, I recommend getting the audiobook version of this. The narrator is fantastic, and both the music and sound effects are excellent, and it draws you into the story. The audiobook creates an amazing experience, and I was extremely impressed by it.

[Ava Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Martian Diaries: Vol 2. The Lake on the Moon is a retro sci-fi adventure filled with invading
Martians and their red weed. It’s a successful step back in time, when the moon, mars, and
Martians were all the rage and we all wondered what lay beyond our reach in the dark skies
above.
The author does a great job building an old-time feel to the tale, and maintains a consistent tone
and voice throughout. It’s a strong accomplishment, given our current environment and modern
writing styles, to paint a story with such a traditional brush. It certainly makes the story unique
and memorable, and I found the style one of its greatest strengths.
The story is good, but suffers at times from a slower pace. Perhaps that’s the style sneaking
through, however I think the lead character – and thus the plot, meander through the middle
section of the story. This, combined with some confusing dream sequences, put an awkward
turn to several points in the journey. However, things pick up in the last third, and the book
finishes strong (recognizing that there is more to come from this series). It was fun, and the
author’s development of the red weed had some very interesting moments.
Overall, it’s 4 stars from me. If you like science fiction, and retro stories, this is for you. It will
make a wonderful, and unique, addition to your bookshelf.

[Torn MacAlester · Rating 4 out of 5]

Humanity loses their fear of the Martians and turns their weapons on each other to fight the Great War (World War I). In the aftermath of the war and the midst of the Spanish flu pandemic, new threats from the Martians are discovered, creating a chilling situation at the beginning of the 1920’s in H.E. Wilburson’s second installment of the Martian Diaries, Lake on the Moon.

Very quickly, concern breaks out with another outbreak of the red weed that quickly succumbs to the Earth bacteria that destroy the Martians in H.G. Wells’ original War of the Worlds. But the Martians have laid another trap during the outbreak. A Martian version of bacteria, called Marseria has been contaminating all of Earth’s fresh water and hence every creature on Earth. This all occurs in the shadow of the discovery of a green lake on the surface of the Moon.

I liked how this plot developed, building upon the story elements presented in the first Martian Diaries. This story seems more like a bridge instead of a complete narrative, leaving the reader to be satisfied in the next installment. I also think it lacks the ability to be a standalone novel. However, that is hard to say since I read the last one, so everything has an air of familiarity. As part of the larger series, it definitely makes me want to read the next one.

I rate The Martian Diaries Vol 2: Lake on the Moon 4 stars. But it continues to add to the overall Martian Diaries, which is still a 5 star series. I recommend Volume 2 to anyone that has started the Martian Diaries. And I highly recommend the Martian Diaries.

[William Turmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

H.E Wilburson’s The Martian Diaries: Vol. 2 Lake On The Moon is an interesting and entertaining read.

In his description of this book, Wilburson mentions his effort to stay true to the writing style of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds. He does this well in word use and overall storytelling structure. The story is presented in a series of small, independent chapters, much like Wells’ original, which was serialized and published in monthly magazines. Individually, these little chapters each have something good to offer, but, because they are somewhat disconnected from one another, the story can sometimes be a bit confusing, leaving the reader to fill in the missing parts. Some readers may find this enjoyable; I found it distracting. Finally, the plot is not one that stands well on its own; instead, this book seems mainly to be a bridge between the first and third volumes of the series.

As a side note, Wilburson uses different forms of a phrase that refers to a million-to-one chance. In the original story, Wells used it only once, but Wilburson uses it at least four times. I suspect Jeff Wayne’s song was on his mind while he was writing. I found the use of this phrase to be quite pleasing.

[Matt Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Martian Diaries: Vol. 2 Lake On The Moon
By H.E. Wilburson @martiandiaries
This volume still has the flavor of the Wells original, but here Wilburson starts to make make this tale his own. Building on the story he gives a plotline to the main
character's wife, different because females weren't really included in the Wells book. Branching out into new subplots and daring new directions, the book is more sophisticated and more satisfying at the same time while maintaining the Wells feel.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is very good! I did really enjoy it. A great style of writing, completely in keeping with the period & a super follow on series to the original War of the Worlds story. This is another well written, interesting sci fi adventure & I do strongly recommend! Well worth a read! I am also really looking forward to the next part of this exciting experience!!

[Iseult Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this series by H E Wilburson, and I think I might love this book even more than the first.

The author takes the inspiration from The War of the Worlds and develops it in such imaginative new ways. I loved Ogilvy’s development in this book, as well as the revelations about the Red Weed. It’s so interesting and opens up lots of new questions about the Martians.

There’s some sadness in this story, which I found emotional. I love how the author has fleshed out the characters and the conflicts and dilemmas they face.

Overall, a great science fiction book that’s as fun to read as to listen to.

[NephriteON · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following review was published in the online newspaper The Orkney News. Link here. https://theorkneynews.scot/2020/03/16...

The Martian Diaries Volume 2: Lake On The Moon by H.E. Wilburson

Informational Note: Much as with the first book in the series, I am reviewing this audiobook as I was directly asked by the author to give the book an honest and genuine review which I fully intend to do.

Hello once again my readers! This time we return to the early 20th century and to the adventures contained within the Martian Diaries series by H.E. Wilburson. How will the story as depicted in Day of the Martians continue and expand? What is next in store for our writer narrator friend and Ogilvy the astronomer? Why don’t I jump straight to it?

The plot is as follows: The year is 1919. While the world is recovering from World War One and the infamous outbreak of Spanish Influenza a new alien menace begins to grow from the long forgotten Martian Red Weed. The Writer will make a potentially nightmarish discovery. A lake…a green lake on the surface of the moon. What could it possibly mean? And are the two connected? And if so…how? On top of that Ogilvy will make a lot of ‘discoveries’ but what could he, The Writer and certain other allies do to counter the new Martian plan?

Once again H.E. Wilburson has succeeded rather well. His new story, born from both his original sequel and Wells’s famous masterwork is a spooky and intimidating tale. A certain scene near the very beginning of the piece caused me to shudder as I tried to imagine the scene in question. I won’t deny I would not be surprised to find the red weed in my nightmares in the near future.

His writing stays consistent in tone with both The War Of The Worlds and The Day Of The Martians. It seems very true to the period of the Edwardian era fiction which it tries and succeeds to emulate. I can easily believe that this story could follow on from its predecessors and appreciate the fact that at points it feels prepared to go darker than Wilburson’s previous effort. I must also comment that Lake On The Moon’s longer length at just under four and three quarter hours allows it to flesh out its narrative in ways that grip the listener. If any reader of mine enjoyed The Day Of The Martians I can safely say that Lake On The Moon will keep them engaged.

The narration is once again performed with the duo of Harry Preston and Terry Thompson. Preston narrates the main piece and does excellently as all the various characters. He manages well to differentiate the voices for the various characters in the piece. My favourite voice is distinctly the Richard Burton inspired Journalist voice with a second favourite being the relatively minor character who fulfils the part of an isolated old man at roughly the halfway point of the audio drama. Thompson fulfils narration duties of the prologue and epilogue. The dramatic narration is done well as with the previous instalment and I feel it suits the Wellsian storyline well.

As with the previous audio drama in the series, Lake On The Moon contains a sizeable amount of music – performed by H.E. Wilburson himself – and sound effects. The music and sound effects are both very engagingly done and are clearly inspired by the famous Jeff Wayne version. They managed to make it very easy to lose myself in the story. Just what was going to happen to everyone? What unexpected events were soon to arrive? And how were they going to resolve this most recent Martian plan? Unlike The Day Of The Martians however I feel that in this part of the trilogy the balance between the story, music and sound effects is successfully managed. The music is still consistent throughout the release but the volume levels feel better to listen to. It is also much easier to hear the narration in this release. As such my main critique that I had of the original release in The Martian Diaries has been successfully dealt with in the intervening time frame between the releases of Volume 1 and Volume 2.

I can’t promise that a reader who is not a fan of The War Of The Worlds or of The Martian Diaries would be gripped by Lake On The Moon but in conclusion I can safely say that I found it a very entertaining continuation. Hopefully between both my reviews for both parts (so far) of the planned trilogy I can persuade some of my readers to try the series. It may not be to everyone’s taste but I certainly recommend giving this series a try.

Now…what will my next review be? Perhaps I should keep it a surprise for now?

Sayonara!

Nephrite

[fred jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story that keeps the spirit of the classic novel but moves it forward. Some of the concepts are a little difficult to follow initially but I got there in the end. The book allows for a lot of development of the original characters and follows on from Vol 1, but with some flashbacks and backstory. The narration is enhanced with sound effects and music and the narrator works very well in bringing things to life for the listener. I received a complimentary copy from Storyorigin and am leaving a voluntary honest review.

[Lea Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lake on the Moon: The Martian Diaries Vol. 2
Author H.E. Wilburson
Narrators: Terry Thompson and Harry Preston
Listening Time 4 hours 42 min.


I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this honest review.

I always like to preface any reviews I give with this information.

I am a 68 year old female who has been an avid reader since I was around 10 or 11 years old.
I read mainly for entertainment purposes although I do a lot of research in areas of personal interest.
I have a great interest in many things. Ancient History and Archeology are at the top of a very long list.

This is a review of the Audiobook version.


Do you ever think of, or realize a sense of timing in what you read or listen to? This weekend the Perseid Meteor Shower is active and I found it deliciously chilling when I was listening to this wonderful audiobook to think of how initially, the characters in this series thought at the beginning what they saw were meteors, but then turned out to be something as frightening and malevolent that was very capable of thought and action.

Having listened to "The Martian Diaries" I could not wait to listen to this continuation of the story.

There is more to this book than meets the eye, or in my case, the ear; and indeed I listened to it twice and still do not grasp all the nuances of this story line.

The book is written in such a way that I'm not certain if there are multiple time lines happening simultaneously, as well as being privy to the thoughts and dreams,(nightmares) of our protagonist and another main character.

There seems to be some sense of what I would call multiple temporal time paradoxes that I still am trying to figure out and believe me, I am intrigued.

Once again this book has the atmosphere of having a sense of the early 20th Century. Events that take place as well as the invasion of the Martians, are World War 1, and the horrible flu pandemic that killed millions of people. I truly love the way the author wove these real facts into a Science Fiction novel, and gave me a different perspective on the flu epidemic.

Also that sense of a more innocent and genteel way of life is evident here as well and since we live in a world where that is not a possibility because of our technology; I found myself enjoying this aspect of the book.

Throughout this book there is a steady progression of suspense and also a sense of inescapable dread and doom as Professor Ogilvy and our protagonist George realize that there is something Martian in the drinking water.

There are areas in this book that were very heartwarming and heartbreaking and brought me to tears several times.

Author H.E. Wilburson has once again crafted a wonderful story. As I said in an earlier review of "The Martian Diaries" it takes guts to continue a story line that began over 100 years ago, by someone I consider to be a giant of Science Fiction writing. H. G. Wells, "The War of the Worlds" is in my opinion one of the classic stories of alien invasion ever to have been written.

I can hardly wait until the next book is finished! I still want more!

Narrators Terry Thompson and Harry Preston did such a wonderful unveiling of this story that I was caught up in it again from the first sentence. The voice acting and the accents used seemed to be very authentic. I would listen to them again and again.

I think anyone from the age of 12 and above would enjoy this book/audiobook.
There are some concepts that might be a little complex to grasp, but expanding the mind is a good thing.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Building Towards a Gripping Conclusion!

I love the bravery of this series, the sheer bravado of taking on this all-time sci-fi classic and taking the story beyond the bounds of the original, and doing so in a style that Mr Wells himself would likely approve of! Wilburson has captured the pacing and style of Wells and used it to project his story forwards, and this one certainly moves it on to significantly new ground making this part very much Wilburson's own.

However, not only did WIlburson take on the daunting task of progressing this wonderful old tale he chose to back it up with original music and sound effects. Given what has also gone before this is a brave statement from an exciting author. When you add all this to the narration style which is very sympathetic to the time period and the style of writing you have a winning combination.

I do think it's fair to say that in this second instalment, which is longer than the first, there is a slower pace and so the music and sound is less impactful than in the first episode. What this instalment does achieve very strongly though is to construct the story and atmosphere methodically taking it a long way beyond the ideas in the original book.

I admire the author very much for what he has produced so far, I don't envy him the task he faces now though. This one has taken the story on a long way and I am imagining a quite spectacular conclusion to this journey! Good luck Mr Wilburson!

Full disclosure: This review is based on a pre-release copy that the author very kindly provided me with. It is also worth mentioning that I have now bought myself the official copy to complete my collection because I enjoyed it so much!

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

“There is no future except the past”, a profound statement that rings true while listening to this book.

Ogilvy, the astronomer, wakes up in the hospital, covered in bandages after escaping a terrible Martian blast. His friend, Stent, the Astronomy Royal, was killed by the explosion. He vowed while lying recovering in hospital, that he would learn as much as possible about the Martians so that earth could finally be rid of them.

This extraordinary audiobook, narrated by Terry Thompson and Harry Preston gives an insight into WW1, the Spanish flu pandemic with the added more deadly threat from Martian Red Dust.

I sat spellbound while listening to this and wondered how H.E Wilburson had managed to create such a prize of literature, as I’ve always been convinced nobody could ever out-rank the original War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells, but he has succeeded in giving us this astonishing follow-up in first, The Martian Diaries, Volume 1 and now Lake on the Moon.

This might sound quite sad, but I can never get enough of these audiobooks. I start with the Original, War of the Worlds and then The Martian Diaries Part 1 and now, I have the epic Volume 2, Lake on the Moon. There is nothing I love more than walking along a beach with my headphones on, listening to these mind-blowing creations time and time again.

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the audiobook to review.

[Melanie Roussel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt some trepidation on starting Lake on the Moon. I had enjoyed The Day of the Martians (the first novel of The Martian Diaries series) so much. And I was worried it was my excitement that someone had stepped up to carry on Wells great novel.

Thankfully, I shouldn’t have been worried at all!

H.E. Wilburson has come on leaps and bounds with his storytelling. There were many truly gripping moments, and some moments of true terror with the Red Weed! He’s continued to remain faithful to the characters and tone of Wells but has taken the story into whole new avenues.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’ll just say that I really enjoy the central conceit in the story around Ogilvy and the Red Weed. It also sets up the next audiobook very well and I honestly can’t wait to find out what happens!

The small issues I’d had with the audio from the previous story have been totally cleared up and it’s a beautiful and professional recording.

This is a fabulous story and for any War of the World fans, an absolute must listen!

Disclosure: H.E. Wilburson was kind enough to give me a pre-release copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of the audiobook version of this from H.E. Wilburson after finishing and reviewing the 1st book.

Just like the 1st one I loved this! The music and sounds were so immersive and fit the tone of the piece really well. The narrator was just as good as the 1st and really encapsulated the characters he was portraying.

There was a lot of detail throughout the story that I think if I listened to it again I would pick up on new things I hadn’t the first time around. I particularly enjoyed the character development of Ogilvy and the chapters that followed his perception. The storyline around the red weed was very interesting and I look forward to hearing more about it in the next one. The only extra thing I would have loved would have been a chapter focusing on Laura’s perspective but I did enjoy the parts with Elizabeth.

I look forward to listening to the 3rd story in the trilogy.

Side note: If I could I would have given this a 4.5 just because I enjoyed the first one a little more overall but this one did have some excellent moments!