Rating: 
Summary: Realistic, hard-hitting speculation about future conflict.
Review: This is a very fine novel by Clarke even if some of the science is now out-of-date. The novel is set several centuries in the future. There are essentially two "nations" remaining, Earth (which includes the Moon) and the Triplanetary Federation, which encompasses Mars, Venus, and some of the outer satellites of Jupiter and Saturn. The issue is that in this novel Earth controls most of the solar system's supply of heavy metals e.g. titanium, high-grade iron ore, etc. Therein lies the conflict.
After several centuries of peace, the possibility of war once again looms. Clarke creates the atmosphere for this masterfully.The story is told from the perspective of an intelligence agent sent from Earth on a counterintelligence mission on the Moon. The storyline does not move at a breakneck pace by any means. Rather, the story moves in a leisurely fashion that gives the reader a fascinating look at what a Moon colony might one day be like. Despite this, the book moves to a climactic ending that is startling and absorbing. This book is an excellent read. This is a book that might have been made into a movie. Clarke is one of the giants of science fiction. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent short work
Review: This short work is still one of Clarke's best. The battle scene at the very end of the book between The Acheron spaceship and the moon base, which has developed a strange, molten-metal beam weapon which works in a vacuum, is extremely unusual and very well done, I thought. Clarke's discussion of the political issues between Earth and her colonies, The Confederation, that eventually lead to the climactic battle scene, are also well done. If you liked this book, you might also try Robert Heinlein's books, "Between Planets," and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," which also deal with the issue of the Moon or other planets attempting to rid themselves of the colonial hegemony of mother Earth.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent short work
Review: This short work is still one of Clarke's best. The battle scene at the very end of the book between The Acheron spaceship and the moon base, which has developed a strange, molten-metal beam weapon which works in a vacuum, is extremely unusual and very well done, I thought. Clarke's discussion of the political issues between Earth and her colonies, The Confederation, that eventually lead to the climactic battle scene, are also well done. If you liked this book, you might also try Robert Heinlein's books, "Between Planets," and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress," which also deal with the issue of the Moon or other planets attempting to rid themselves of the colonial hegemony of mother Earth.
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