Moonrise

Rating:
Summary: A nice colonization story
Review: "Moonrise" is my first Ben Bova book and I have to say I will be looking for more of his work. His descriptions of life building an outpost on the moon I believe are quite accurate to what the real explorers may one day encounter. Their attempts to live off the land by extracting materials from the regolith (lunar soil) is how I envision colonization will eventually be done. The only real plot point requiring any substantial "suspension of disbelief" is in the development of virus-sized nanomachines to build things atom by atom.

Rating:
Summary: Tomorrows Headlines!
Review: 100 years ago,we couldn't even fly.50 years ago,any satellite or computer was pure science fiction. Who is to say what tomorrow may bring,or how soon.Wake up People!I own a better computer than NASA had during the Apollo Missions,and it will be old Tech in a year,so who is to say where we will be in another 50 to 100 years; and not just in Technology's books; look to Your Freedoms as well.(Just because you may THINK You're PARANIOD doesn't Mean They're not REALLY After You! This one, and its companion "MOONWAR" are hard to put down;I was reading them when I should have been doing other things!

Rating:
Summary: If you like made-for-TV movies, you'll love this book.
Review: A woman marries two different men, and each sires her a son. Both end up fighting over the future of the family corporation: to save the moonbase, or destroy it. It's a pat set-up, and entirely unconvincing, but once you get to the action on the moon, the story gets as good as it gets. Saving yourself from a solar flare where there's hardly any protection -- a cliched space scene, but well done in this case. This book should have been categorized under juvenile fiction. Bova seemed to have an idea about what action he wanted to have happen, and he forced the characters to make stupid and unlikely decisions, just so he could make the action happen. Once you get over the idea that the characters should be believable, it's an action-packed book, perfect for a made-for-tv movie. But if you want sympathetic characters, get another book. I wish I'd bought it at Amazon, instead of paying full price at my local store. Then I'd have more money to get a book I might really enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Weak characterizations, coupled with mediocre plot.
Review: After reading Icehenge and Moving Mars, Bova's characters are paper thin and unbelievable. The plot pace jerks along from one implausible situation to the next. This book and the sequel, Moonwar are a great disappointment to those of us who like 'realism' in their science fiction.

Rating:
Summary: Grand, Sweeping, Detailed: Bova is the Space Age Mitchner!
Review: Ben Bova hits another homerun for Science Fantasy readers. His grand epic, Moonrise, would do James A. proud in the finely-detailed characterizations of the protagonist as well as the ancillary figures. The book was such a riveting read that I devoured it in two sittings; you really can't put it down! Although I had previously read works by Bova, they had all been of the non-fiction genre . . . all of which were as cleanly written and engaging. I'm looking forward to jumping into the sequel, Moonwar. Do yourself a favor, read Bova's MARS epic as well!

Rating:
Summary: Great Space Opera
Review: Bova does it again with this epic tale. The plot thickens with each chapter and it's hard to guess which direction he'll lead you. The science in this book is not far from becoming reality as humanity's knowledge ever increases. Bova also brings out the moral implications of advanced technology and the social consequences of such technology. If you ever wondered what it takes to survive on the moon and make a habitation there, read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Space Opera
Review: Bova does it again with this epic tale. The plot thickens with each chapter and it's hard to guess which direction he'll lead you. The science in this book is not far from becoming reality as humanity's knowledge ever increases. Bova also brings out the moral implications of advanced technology and the social consequences of such technology. If you ever wondered what it takes to survive on the moon and make a habitation there, read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Yet another Bova book at his best!
Review: I have been reading Ben Bova's works since the early to mid eightys. I have seen Bova tackle many levels of science fiction from near possibility to distant future. Even some are a bit of a flight of fancy such as his Orion Saga. One element remains constant throughout all his books: they are all base on hard core science theory...theory that may soon be reality. Of all his books, I've noticed a re-occurance of a couple of themes that this particular book refines and improves upon. Foremost is Bova's love for writing about Moonbase. This place has been a centerpiece for many of his works. Secondly is the field of nanotech. The first series I remember him introducing this in was the Voyager series. This particular topic has recieved the most improvement out of them all. This book above all others adequately describes what is more than likely to be feasible applications of nanotech. Furthermore, this book also discusses the dangers the world faces should the ultra conservative Luddites gain control. In conlusion, this book deserves no less than 5 stars because Bova once again ties together elements of science and philosophy and wirtes them together in a believeable plot that works on many levels

Rating:
Summary: A very enjoyable read
Review: I read both of the 'Moon' books sequentially and was thoroughly entertained. I believe that religious fundamentalism will be a major threat into the millenium, and the portrayal of the New Morality et al was chillingly real.

Rating:
Summary: Mediocre at best
Review: I read this book because I really liked the premise of it. It would be great to put the idea of a moon base back into the mind of the general public. Unforunately, this book really does read like a TV-movie. I didn't have much sympathy for any of the characters and the villians were cardboard cut-outs as well. I won't be wasting my time with the sequel.