Moonrise

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.

Rating:
Summary: good job Ben
Review: I recently read Ben Bova's Moonrise. This book was easily one of the best Sci-Fi books I have ever read. He had wonderful characterization and the plot kept you guessing. It had something for everyone. Some murder, some action, and some romance too. All-in-all it was a very good book and I would recommend it to anyone.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic and great!
Review: I thought this book was great! What I like about Mr. Bova's work is that it isn't predictable. In his work, innocent people die, bad guys are not always punished, and so on. Rather than making the book unsatisfying, it makes it more exciting--electric, unpredictable, engaging. Really a wonderful work--I hope the author reads this review, and feels good about making a reader happy. Well done!

Rating:
Summary: sorry, but...very predictable and mundane...
Review: I was expecting great things from my first Ben Bova novel, but I'm afraid the dialog is too corny for me! I'm used to reading Dan Simmons and Ian M. Banks, and I guess I was expecting a little more flair... the plot and ideas are good, but it just didn't cut the mustard for me as a novel. I just didn't find myself believing the characters were for real... as one reviewer put it - made-for-TV. On the plus side, there are quite a few tense moments that are well-crafted. But not enough to sustain the momentum for such a long book... in the end I didn't really care what happened to the characters. In summary: look elsewhere for deep characters and thought-provoking prose...

Rating:
Summary: A Big Disappointment
Review: I was in a mood for some "hard" science fiction when I was in the bookstore the other day. Remembering how much I liked Ben Bova's stuff in the past, I started looking through his newer stuff and settled on "Moonrise." Moon colonies and nanotechnology! What could be better?

Unfortunately, Bova manages to suffocate every ounce of suspense and mystery from these potentially thrilling topics with stilted dialog, boring board-room politics, contrived behaviors, and repetitive narrative.

- The first third of the book switches back and forth between the moon and earth without any obvious literary purpose, and I found this to be terribly annoying and even tedious.

- You know very soon that Greg is a murderer, so nothing he does is surprising. The only shocking aspect is how everyone lets him get away with it. For example,

- Joanna is supposed to be a savvy and disciplined corporate woman who is strong enough to edge her unbalanced son Greg out of the top position at the family aerospace corporation -- but not strong enough to do anything about the seven or eight people he's admitted killing by page 150. Then she practically lets Greg babysit her younger son Doug (the "good" one). You know, the one about whom Greg said, "Abort it!" and "Get rid of that monster you're carrying in your belly!" and so on. Joanna is not a "complex" characterization, just mind-numbingly random.

- Booze and sex are sprinkled throughout awkwardly as if some editor said, "make this PG-13." All female characters are described primarilly by how attractive they are to men. The liquor "still" on the moon is referred to in the same cut-and-paste way every time.

- What I *was* looking for -- the "geek porn" of in-depth discussion of nanotechnology and the science of making a moon base -- was there in only the most stingy quantities, like chocolate syrup on a Weight Watcher's cookie.

- The whole anti-nanomachine movement is presented like the characters in the book: mono-dimensionally, with precious little explanation or discussion of their rationale. They oppose the technology because, well, they're ignorant luddites, what do you expect they would do? This isn't really thought-provoking at all, just shallow politician-bashing and religion -baiting.

Some reviewers found this book hard to put down. I found it hard to continue to the end.

Rating:
Summary: Betrayal and Turmoil on the new Frontier
Review: In Moonrise, Ben Bova writes a good story of what could be on the Moon in the future. While it is somewhat predictable, it's still a good story.

Masterson Corperation is working on exploring and mining the Lunar surface for solar power and other minerals, and it is the dream of Paul Stavenger, retired astronout and designer of one of the compainies most profitable products, the Clippership which makes travel around the world possible in less than an hour by ships which work above the atmosphere in low orbit.

The company is in turmoil as Gregory Masterson the second dies sudenly and under questionable circumstances, and Gregory Masterson the third expects to take his place as President of the company. However, the wife of the late president nominates Paul Stavenger, her lover and fiance to the position, setting forces in motion which could tear the company apart as Gregory the second rages and plots to regain his rightfull place.

The trials and triumpsh of Moonbase, and of Nanotechnology are closly linked. Nanotechnology is opposed by an extremist religious movement which organises protests and terrorism against any who use it, Moonbase becomes the last place where it is safe to use nanites. However, even this is in danger.

Joanna Masterson/Stavenger must walk a tightrope between her son, and doing what is best for him, and her new husband, and protecting him, and later her second son, Doug Stavenger, son of Paul, from the plots of her criminally insane elder son. However, we can see where a mother's love and protection can go too far in trying to protect one who should be locked up.

In the end, it's up to Doug to save his father's legacy and dream of a future on the Moon, even if it kills him.

Rating:
Summary: Betrayal and Turmoil on the new Frontier
Review: In Moonrise, Ben Bova writes a good story of what could be on the Moon in the future. While it is somewhat predictable, it's still a good story.

Masterson Corperation is working on exploring and mining the Lunar surface for solar power and other minerals, and it is the dream of Paul Stavenger, retired astronout and designer of one of the compainies most profitable products, the Clippership which makes travel around the world possible in less than an hour by ships which work above the atmosphere in low orbit.

The company is in turmoil as Gregory Masterson the second dies sudenly and under questionable circumstances, and Gregory Masterson the third expects to take his place as President of the company. However, the wife of the late president nominates Paul Stavenger, her lover and fiance to the position, setting forces in motion which could tear the company apart as Gregory the second rages and plots to regain his rightfull place.

The trials and triumpsh of Moonbase, and of Nanotechnology are closly linked. Nanotechnology is opposed by an extremist religious movement which organises protests and terrorism against any who use it, Moonbase becomes the last place where it is safe to use nanites. However, even this is in danger.

Joanna Masterson/Stavenger must walk a tightrope between her son, and doing what is best for him, and her new husband, and protecting him, and later her second son, Doug Stavenger, son of Paul, from the plots of her criminally insane elder son. However, we can see where a mother's love and protection can go too far in trying to protect one who should be locked up.

In the end, it's up to Doug to save his father's legacy and dream of a future on the Moon, even if it kills him.

Rating:
Summary: Cliche characters and nanotech as window dressing only
Review: Moonrise is a great read in spite of the predictability. Ben Bova is very good at drawing the reader into the story. I wish that "Nanobugs" did exist. They would revolutionize the world. Paul and Doug show great courage in this story ... they have inspired me to take more risks. Here is my favorite quote from this book: "I'd rather wear out than rust out." -- Thus far my favorite SciFi book is still "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

Rating:
Summary: Predictable, but still fun to read!!!
Review: Moonrise is a great read in spite of the predictability. Ben Bova is very good at drawing the reader into the story. I wish that "Nanobugs" did exist. They would revolutionize the world. Paul and Doug show great courage in this story ... they have inspired me to take more risks. Here is my favorite quote from this book: "I'd rather wear out than rust out." -- Thus far my favorite SciFi book is still "Ender's Game" by Orson Scott Card.

Rating:
Summary: A taut, well written space saga.
Review: Moonrise is a gripping novel of space, colonization, and human development. Bova has not only given us a likely scenario for the development of the moon, but he has also provided us with a thoughtful look at a future which seems all too probable if the Moral Majority had their way. Plot and characterization are substantial, as well as the science, and you will find yourself drawn into the Stavenger family saga. I found the story quite compelling-and I already ordered the next!