Red Moon (novel)
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature, Science fiction |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Kim Stanley Robinson |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Red Moon is a science fiction novel published in 2018 by the American writer Kim Stanley Robinson. The story unfolds in both China and on the lunar surface, delving into the political and technological conflicts anticipated in a near-future setting on the Moon. The book garnered a range of responses from national critics.
Plot
Set in the year 2047, the narrative follows Fred Fredericks, who is dispatched to the Moon to deliver a device for quantum communication. During the transfer, an assassination attempt occurs, leading to Fredericks being charged with murder despite having no recollection of the incident. With assistance from a journalist, he escapes back to Earth alongside Qi, a dissident leader who is expecting a child. Chinese officials chase them, apprehensive that Qi might spearhead an uprising among workers and migrants against the Chinese Communist Party. After successfully avoiding capture, they return to the lunar surface where they encounter a prosperous Chinese businessperson working on an autonomous colony and independent settlers establishing a city beyond governmental jurisdiction. When missile attacks are launched by a faction within China's leadership targeting their location, they receive early alerts and retreat to an isolated lunar refuge. It is there that Qi gives birth as widespread rebellion ignites across Beijing.
Reception
As reported by Literary Hub, Red Moon attracted more critical than favorable reviews overall. Jason Sheehan from NPR critiqued the novel's extensive focus on detailed exposition and frequent detours into topics like environmental issues, political themes, and orbital science, describing this approach as "no way to tell a story". In contrast, Chris Beckett writing for The Guardian commended the portrayal of the relationship between Fredericks and Qi, calling it "a delightful and touching" alliance between unlikely companions. The Times pointed out "large dense passages of explanatory dialogue" and moments where the plot meanders but ultimately recognized that the book "confirms its author's status as a sci-fi master".