Kim Stanley Robinson

IT IS THIRTY YEARS FROM NOW, AND WE HAVE COLONIZED THE MOON. American Fred Fredericks is making his first trip, his purpose to install a communications system for China's Lunar Science Foundation. But hours after his arrival he witnesses a murder and is forced into hiding. It is also the first visit for celebrity travel reporter Ta Shu. He has contacts and influence, but he too will find that the moon can be a perilous place for any traveler. Finally, there is Chan Qi. She is the daughter of the Minister of Finance, and without doubt a person of interest to those in power. She is on the moon for reasons of her own, but when she attempts to return to China, in secret, the events that unfold will change everything - on the moon, and on Earth. RED MOON is a magnificent novel of space exploration and political revolution from New York Times bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson. For more from Kim Stanley Robinson, check out: New York 21402312AuroraShaman

Red Moon

Ben Nathan

Exceptionally mediocre while very very smart. It was typical Robinson in many ways, but really disappointing in others.

Bryan Alexander

Red Moon is a good introductory book if you're new to Kim Stanley Robinson. It draws on many of his ideas, but it is also lighter and more focused than some of his others.

The plot starts off as a crime story, then morphs into political struggle. It takes place later in the 21st century, partly on the titular moon, largely colonized by China, and partly in China itself. We begin by following two characters on their first visit to the Chinese colony: Fred Fredericks, an IT specialist, and Ta Shu, poet and web video star. Soon Fredericks is involved in murder and is on the run, joined by Chan Qi, revolutionary and daughter of a party leader. The plot ratchets up as political instability rises.

Overall, it's a fine mix. We get science fiction, suspense, and politics in one novel, which isn't easy to pull off.

There's much I enjoyed, and much of that involves what's so Kim Stanley Robinson-ish about Red Moon. Chan Qi is a good character, irascible and committed. The political plot unfolds well. I enjoyed Ta Shu's wonderment at the worlds he explores. 

There is a whole series of interesting ideas. The key conceit is China becoming the world's leading power, leaving America behind. This is well developed, without portraying China as evil or utopia. I was struck by the carboncoin (361), a kind of bitcoin that's backed by carbon sequestration and also serves to take down the world financial system. There's also a neutrino telegraph, shooting or using neutrinos as they pass through the moon to send messages.. And KSR is clearly having fun, as when he mentions the Balkanization Assistance Division's Administrative System Society (307; I expect to see people using this in the wild) or nicknaming an AI after a character from Evgeny Zamiatin's classic 
  We
 (if you haven't read it, do so now! Ask me if you need encouragement). Other readers have complained about the book offering too many infodumps, but they worked for me. Robinson is an elegant explainer and has an infectious enthusiasm.

There are also connections to other KSR novels. The revolution breaking out in America that parallels the Chinese story clearly recalls New York 2140 (here's our book club's reading) and echoes the revolutionary politics of Red Mars and 2132.

Red Moon does have some limitations. Fredericks is too blank a character - a decent foil for the more interesting people, but not enough to sustain him. The political bad guys are not well explained, nor are we allowed into their mentality - a typical problem for Robinson.

Some have complained about the ending. Naturally I must raise spoiler shields here: (view spoiler)[the novel concludes with a revolution in mid-step. There's no resolution. Qi's faction is ahead, but the Red Spear is still active. I was hoping for resolution, but was satisfied at the novel's progress. 
 It takes us into a revolution, and that's a lot to cover. (hide spoiler)]

Overall, recommended.

'A masterpiece' - Times 'Any new novel by the great Kim Stanley Robinson is always an event and Red Moon doesn't disappoint' - Independent 'Sci-fi fans will love the detail and the optimism about humanity's future in space' - Wall Street Journal IT IS THIRTY YEARS FROM NOW, AND WE HAVE COLONISED THE MOON. American Fred Fredericks is making his first trip, his purpose to install a communications system for China's Lunar Science Foundation. But hours after his arrival he witnesses a murder and is forced into hiding. It is also the first visit for celebrity travel reporter Ta Shu. He has contacts and influence, but he too will find that the moon can be a perilous place for any traveller. Finally, there is Chan Qi. She is the daughter of the Minister of Finance, and without doubt a person of interest to those in power. She is on the moon for reasons of her own, but when she attempts to return to China in secret, the events that unfold will change everything - on the moon, and on Earth. Red Moon is a magnificent novel of space exploration and political revolution from New York Times bestselling author Kim Stanley Robinson. Novels by Kim Stanley Robinson: Icehenge The Memory of Whiteness A Short, Sharp Shock Antarctica The Years of Rice and Salt Galileo's Dream 2312 Shaman Aurora New York 2140 Red Moon

Red Moon

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