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Moon Base
Felix Larsen had been sent to Luna Station One to investigate "something odd on the Moon." There was no proof, not even a concrete basis for suspicion, yet there was a feeling so wrong about the place that Security had hinted of traitors.
On the first day at the sealed station beneath the Moon's crust, Felix had become violently ill. He awoke from a drugged sleep with no memory of the intervening time lapse. Now he had to be doubly careful because his secret might be out, and somewhere in the station — or somewhere out there on the alien Moon itself — an unknown intelligence was waiting for the critical moment.
On the first day at the sealed station beneath the Moon's crust, Felix had become violently ill. He awoke from a drugged sleep with no memory of the intervening time lapse. Now he had to be doubly careful because his secret might be out, and somewhere in the station — or somewhere out there on the alien Moon itself — an unknown intelligence was waiting for the critical moment.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
191 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1964
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
382 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 25, 2022
Unfortunately the story wasn't able the grab my attention and even though I finished it earlier today I don't remember hardly anything from it
April 22, 2025
Its not terrible. It has that 60s flavor that can sometimes taste yucky now in 2025. The author does not quite pull off the "secret agent/mystery" sense of the novel - which is how it seems meandering and dull for awhile. I mean, for a large portion of the novel nothing really happens, but the main character sure is intense about it. The ending has the 60s idealism and maybe that is OK.
Overall the concept is: manipulating "luck" (choices), but its not altogether smoothy done. Just do not think too hard on it and the novel will be entertaining enough.
For science fiction fans who read everything.
Overall the concept is: manipulating "luck" (choices), but its not altogether smoothy done. Just do not think too hard on it and the novel will be entertaining enough.
For science fiction fans who read everything.
December 12, 2022
Ba-su-ra.
March 6, 2025
vintage schlock that serves as a neat little time capsule of the world it was created in. cold war spy politics and lofty scientific ideals that illustrate a hope in progressive technological development as something that will one day save us from the progressive technological development that promised to destroy the people of the 1960s. it all feels so quaint in 2025 when silicon valley proves time and again that technology is a product first and foremost and an oppressor second. no space brain that infects us with a permanent +20 luck boost will save us from endless ai and ozempic ads
obviously much more fun when read as a historical document than entertainment. as far as narrative quality goes it's claptrap, the twist is kinda dumb, the story is 80 percent set up and none of the characters are interesting cuz it's old hollywood man's man and buxom dames types. it's not vintage dime store sci fi if the first woman the main character meets doesn't immediately wanna jump his bones ! also the cover art is cool, retro sci fi aesthetics are are delicious and this cover has us eating good, also the well worn mass paperback pages have such a delightful fragrance after 60 years it's the smell of age and change
obviously much more fun when read as a historical document than entertainment. as far as narrative quality goes it's claptrap, the twist is kinda dumb, the story is 80 percent set up and none of the characters are interesting cuz it's old hollywood man's man and buxom dames types. it's not vintage dime store sci fi if the first woman the main character meets doesn't immediately wanna jump his bones ! also the cover art is cool, retro sci fi aesthetics are are delicious and this cover has us eating good, also the well worn mass paperback pages have such a delightful fragrance after 60 years it's the smell of age and change
June 5, 2018
Felix Larsen gets the job to go to the moon. An artificial creature with the power to influence chance. This explains everything.
May 24, 2024
Such a strange but interesting page turner.
August 13, 2024
“Moon Base” by E. C. Tubb (1964)
Overall Rating 7/10 – Fly me to the Moon!
Plot
Something is wrong on Moonbase and our protagonist, Felix Larson, is sent in, undercover, to find out what is going on. With friction between the military and the civilians, with paranoid fear of enemy infiltration and attack, and with strange experiments being undertaken, can Felix find out what is really going on?
Writing Style
Easy, flowing sentences. The occasional loss of fluidity. Very modern style. Quite easy to watch the film unfold in your head as you read the words.
Point of View/Voice
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
My first impression was a strange but wonderful realisation and experience. Having selected the book to read, I knew it was written in 1964 and I sat down expecting to have to adjust my brain to “1964 prose”. Quite amazingly, the style of writing was virtually that of today without any sense of being written in yesteryear. I can only assume that the author was very forward for his time – what an unexpected treat. In fact, notwithstanding technology has advanced massively in the last 60 years, there was little sense, within the descriptive environment, that this book had been written in the past. Quite marvellous really.
The story itself wasn’t too bad. It was fairly thin in plot but the concept and “fat” of the tale was very good. I did struggle to keep focus on occasions though. It seemed that, sometimes, the author would “jump” or skitter” within his writing and it was sometimes not as fluid as others. I had to stop and re-read a number of times to “get back on track”.
This is the first book I have read written by E. C. Tubb (Edwin Charles Tubb) and I was delighted to learn that he had written a great many more. I have added him to my (imaginary) list of “favourite authors” and hope to now enjoy many more of his stories.
Bravo Mr Tubb!
Overall Rating 7/10 – Fly me to the Moon!
Plot
Something is wrong on Moonbase and our protagonist, Felix Larson, is sent in, undercover, to find out what is going on. With friction between the military and the civilians, with paranoid fear of enemy infiltration and attack, and with strange experiments being undertaken, can Felix find out what is really going on?
Writing Style
Easy, flowing sentences. The occasional loss of fluidity. Very modern style. Quite easy to watch the film unfold in your head as you read the words.
Point of View/Voice
Written in the 3rd Person / Past Tense (standard convention)
Critique
My first impression was a strange but wonderful realisation and experience. Having selected the book to read, I knew it was written in 1964 and I sat down expecting to have to adjust my brain to “1964 prose”. Quite amazingly, the style of writing was virtually that of today without any sense of being written in yesteryear. I can only assume that the author was very forward for his time – what an unexpected treat. In fact, notwithstanding technology has advanced massively in the last 60 years, there was little sense, within the descriptive environment, that this book had been written in the past. Quite marvellous really.
The story itself wasn’t too bad. It was fairly thin in plot but the concept and “fat” of the tale was very good. I did struggle to keep focus on occasions though. It seemed that, sometimes, the author would “jump” or skitter” within his writing and it was sometimes not as fluid as others. I had to stop and re-read a number of times to “get back on track”.
This is the first book I have read written by E. C. Tubb (Edwin Charles Tubb) and I was delighted to learn that he had written a great many more. I have added him to my (imaginary) list of “favourite authors” and hope to now enjoy many more of his stories.
Bravo Mr Tubb!
December 18, 2016
Dated, simple, cheesy...but...pretty much what I was expecting....though, I'll admit, the ending did have one twist I didn't expect.
I just bought a stack of old used science fiction paperbacks for some light entertainment.
I figure I'll sprinkle them in as I read through the nearly 3,000 pages of the Philip K Dick collection I just started.....for a little variety.
I just bought a stack of old used science fiction paperbacks for some light entertainment.
I figure I'll sprinkle them in as I read through the nearly 3,000 pages of the Philip K Dick collection I just started.....for a little variety.
October 18, 2016
Somewhat old-fashioned British science fiction, with a cold war era feel to it. However, this does have some surprising twists towards the end.
May 9, 2024
Campy writing with nice cover art.
May 25, 2015
1985 grade B+
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews