Title: Red Moon.
Series: No.
Writer(s): Kim Stanley Robinson.
Publisher: Orbit.
Format: Parperback – Advance Review Copy.
Release Date: October 23rd 2018.
Pages: 446.
Genre(s): Science-Fiction.
ISBN13: 9780316262378.
My Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆.
Many readers will recognize in Kim Stanley Robinson the writer known for thought-provoking science fiction stories, especially for his award-winning Mars trilogy. How he is known to enlighten readers through hard science while having a wonderful grasp on character development is not uncalled for, and rare are the times his books do not spark an interest within the community. After all, everyone has to wonder what new story the man has to tell with each release. In his latest novel, Red Moon, he explores a near-future highlighting the rise of China as a powerhouse in colonization, and this time, the leader in development as the Moon becomes an extension of mankind’s home, while the United States struggles to find a grip on this opportunity.
The story follows American quantum computer technician Fred Fredericks as he’s called onto the Moon to deliver to Chinese governor Chang Yazu a quantum-enabled communication device. Arriving for the first time in his life on this new habitable planetary satellite, he finds himself dumbfounded by the experience until his first encounter with the governor that rapidly turns into a disaster as they both fall unconscious upon shaking hands. Seconds after awakening, he realizes he’s being accused of murder and that being on the run is the only solution left in his situation. This is where he runs into a young pregnant woman who coincidentally is also on the run for being in a condition that is forbidden according to the law on the Moon. While they both struggle together to avoid the law, countless other characters are weaved into the narrative to highlight the political conflict that reigns in this story.
I came into this story thinking that maybe the murder mystery will be the driving force for Kim Stanley Robinson’s latest novel, but instead ran into a different surprise. The narrative is split into multiple story arcs which some might say are also different point of views. From the planetary chase for Fredericks and Qi to the insights offered by an artificial intelligence, the story lingers too long with both those protagonists as they hint and avoid at a potential relationship while tackling incredibly varied topics, sometimes a little too boring, regarding their personal situations or the history of the world in which they grew in. Far too often have I found myself thinking this was going to end up being a story focused on a romance set on the Moon with a plot twist regarding the politics at play, as well as a metaphor of that relationship and the climate in which they live in, but I was wrong. This is a novel with ambitious ideas and it simply struggled to convey it without sacrificing character development.
What Kim Stanley Robinson does wonderfully is extrapolate our current politico-economic climate, especially that of the United States and of China in order to portray a totally plausible future where the Moon serves as a rescue boat to growth, but also the possibility of what the author calls the Chinese Dream. There’s no denying that he does a skillful job at tackling the subject by bringing up some of our most modern technologies and creations, such as cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, but the execution makes it difficult to indulge in these subjects without feeling like you’re reading a history book with a lot of dots having a hard time being connected from one another by the author. I think the most detrimental element was also the inclusion of a lot of Chinese concepts within the narrative, such as Feng shui, that not only made it near-impossible to follow at times, but incredibly unmemorable even if it was thoroughly researched and cleverly integrated.
While still a solid new novel but Kim Stanley Robinson, Red Moon struggles in its ability to be captivating and drags too much in its cat and mouse game to be able to deliver its ideas with the gravitas he wished to convey them.
Thank you to Hachette Book Group Canada for sending me a copy for review!
Roars and Echoes 
Sounds like a great premise… but maybe reached a little too high to follow though with?
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Indeed! Of course, if anyone goes into this book looking to be inspired by great ideas, and nothing more, then they won’t be disappointed in Kim Stanley Robinson. 😀
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I have to admit that the premise for this sounds seriously intriguing. But having read your thoughts on the book overall, it seems it can’t execute this one well enough. Having not read the Mars books, I think I will first check those out, before tackling this one. It’s something that happens often when expectations for a writer’s next novel are high, something they just don’t quite deliver. Still three stars isn’t bad I guess. Great post as always 😊
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I believe it would be best to check out his original critically-acclaimed series first just to have a better idea of what the author is all about. But if you ever suddenly wonder what mankind would be like if they were to expand occupation on the Moon and all the political and economic conflicts that could come with it, this story would give you loads of ideas! 🙂 Thanks for reading as always, sir! I appreciate it a lot. 😀
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Such a great review!
I was quite intrigued by this. Sci-fi murder mystery and all sounded pretty good.
I don’t think it will be what i expected it to be though, so thanks for all the details 🙂 I’m not really big on books that are all about ideas while the characters are never get a main role.
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Thank you so much, Norrie. It definitely doesn’t give you exactly what you’d think it would give you. So much of the book felt like it was just two characters running away and hiding, then taking the time to talk about something big, and then rince and repeat. 😮
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I’ve only read “Shaman” and it was excellent, but I can imagine him struggling with the issues you describe… perhaps, when the time comes for a crime story in space, I will finally read the pre-Foundation Asimov books I’ve bought long ago 🙂
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Having read that wonderful trilogy by Asimov, I have feared since then to read anything Foundation-related as so many fans claim that they might taint your experience of his trilogy hahaha Did you ever plan on reading anything else by Kim Stanley Robinson after Shaman? 😮
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I thought about reading 2312 one day, I’ve read good thing about that one 🙂
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Fantastic review as usual, Lashaan. I have never read this author but have received a copy of Red Moon which sounds so good and I really appreciate your review of it because it makes me very curious about what I’ll think of it and if we’ll have similar thoughts on it.
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Thank you, sir. I look forward to finding out what you’ll think of it then! Rare are the times when we even read the same thing too hahah Will not miss the opportunity to see your take on it. 🙂
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After my read of Red Mars, I knew that Robinson was not an author for me. Every review since then about any of his books just convinces me more and more of that.
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I’ve learned that the hard way hahah I still want to give Red Mars a try just to be sure that Red Moon has a similar style as that classic, but I’m definitely not in a hurry anymore and will probably not reading Red Mars anytime soon either heheh
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Best of luck to you with Red Mars. Nothing but horrible characters everywhere 😦
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I’m sorry this one didn’t live up to it’s potential. Great review, though!
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Thank you, Stephanie! Wish it had though, it sounded so magnificent! 😮
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Too bad this one did not held its promises. But yes when I read your summary I thought that it was an extrapolation of what is happening on earth with the rise of China which is now a leading nation.
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Yep! It’s a strong point for this novel. The author does a wonderful job in giving a realistic picture of what the world could be like if China started expanding on the Moon alongside the States, while the States however struggled to be as powerful as China. Thanks for reading, Sophie!! Truly appreciate it. 😀
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I’ve read and reviewed 2312, and Robinson there also had difficulties with character development – it seems to me that this is not his main concern, and that a plot is only a means to present his scientific ideas and social commentary… Full of great ideas, but not such great a storyteller 😉
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Yes, I agree – after reading Shaman – it’s a problem that a few S/F author has, more often that fantasy writers… more interesting in their visions of the future than their characters…
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Yep. Just saw your review of 2312. It really did feel like he want a way to make his ideas accessible for an audience that doesn’t actively look into finding out things related to planetary occupation/civilization development.
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Shame the execution was off – the premise sounds excellent. It sounds as if it could have done with a better editor!
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Yep. A missed opportunity to dish out something that could have been even better than what it turned out to be. Then again, if ideas > characters/plot structure, then this might turn out to be quite fine for you. 😉
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Maybe not a book for me but once again…. I fully enjoyed your review. 😉
Maybe this is why they want to build a Space Force… 🤔😂
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Hahahah I appreciate that you took the time to read it though, Nina! Hmmm could indeed be! 😮 😛
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I was curious to read your review about this book and it actually sounds quite intriguing haha! 😂 I guess it’s quite hard to introduce political concepts while keeping a good story between the characters…! Great review! 😁
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Hahahaah! You wanted to see how much bashing would go on for this one huh? 😛 It really just had its priorities elsewhere, and anyone who wants to read this should know what they’re in for, otherwise they risk being disappointed. Or at least, they risk taking a whole year to finish it hahah Thanks for reading, Carooo! 😛
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Hahaha yes, I was actually excpecting something much worse 😝
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Eeek… feng shui? hahaha, brilliant.
I do like the sound of the current politico-economic thread making an appearance, alas as I am hopless with scifis and whilst I really like space, I am never really intrigued by stories set in space, Mars or whatever… I mean, massive kudos for authors for being so imaginative but maybe I hold myself back from reading space fiction because I want to know what it would really be like?! Interesting… and great review! 🙂
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I swear, I don’t even remember any of the Chinese terms used throughout the story today, and I can assure you that I didn’t even understand half of them while reading either. It does have a wonderful exploration of politics/economics in a world where living on Moon is now possible though. How it builds it up is totally plausible, and that’s the only redeeming factor of the book for me hahah Thanks for reading, Liz! 😀
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Shame that this was boring at times and that the ambitious ideas sometimes meant character development was sacrificed. I do like the sound of some of the ideas- but it’s a pity about the execution. Great review!
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Yep. I think the premise/ideas are what anyone should look forward to in this novel in particular. Otherwise, some disappointment is bound to happen. 😮 Thanks! 😀
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That you mention the word “drags” makes me not want to bother with this. May I recommend you pick up a book by George Pelicanos if you don’t like drags.
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I appreciate the rec’! I do have a bunch of your own rec’s that I need to get around to, and oddly enough, they are books that I don’t own, while I own sooooo many unread books… Gotta fix that!
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