Having raced through Andy Weir’s THE MARTIAN and loved it, there had
to be some reason why I just let the follow-up linger on my Kindle for so long.
(It’s been there since not long after publication, getting mouldy, or whatever
it is neglected digital files do.) If I had to guess I would say that the elevator
pitch just isn’t as compulsive. Whereas THE MARTIAN is “man trapped alone on
Mars”, this is “there’s a city on the moon and various stuff happens”. It
doesn’t quite have the nice sleek straight lines.

The straight lines are missing from the actual book as well. If I
had to categorise it, I’d say it was a heist thriller in space. But there’s
more to it than that, stuff about society and family and corruption. That sounds
quite exciting, but the tone of it is throughout quite downbeat. Without a
doubt, it’s an enjoyable read, but harder to get a handle on.

I know that some people found all the scientific stuff in THE
MARTIAN a little wearing. I didn’t, I found it all incredibly accessible. But
if you are of that mindset, then this book isn’t for you. The science is still there,
but feels even more jarring this time around. For an astronaut trying to save
his life, it fitted into the character and the scenario; for a lunar drop-out
(even one who everyone thinks is wasting her potential) it seems a bit strange.

End verdict – good, but not as compulsive as THE MARTIAN.

My debut novel, THE WANNABES – which has been out of print for a little while – is now available for free. A supernatural thriller of beautiful actresses and deadly ambition in London town, it’s well worth your time. You can get your copy here!