Description
Ever had a bad day? Try having one on the moon…
‘Fascinating’ Tim Peake, Sunday Times bestselling author of Ask an Astronaut
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WELCOME TO ARTEMIS. The first city on the moon.
Population 2,000. Mostly tourists. Some criminals.
Jazz Bashara is one of the criminals. She lives in a poor area of Artemis and subsidises her work as a porter with smuggling contraband onto the moon. But it’s not enough.
So when she’s offered the chance to make a lot of money she jumps at it. But though planning a crime in 1/6th gravity may be more fun, it’s a lot more dangerous…
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What everyone’s saying about this smart, high concept thriller:
‘A smart, fun, fast-paced adventure that you won’t be able to put down’ Ernest Cline, bestselling author of Ready Player One
‘What a page turner!’ Milda on Goodreads, 5 stars
‘Fast paced, high octane and highly entertaining’ Chrys on Netgalley, 5 stars
‘Artemis does for the moon what The Martian did for Mars’ Guardian
‘A first rate thriller, this had me hooked from beginning to end’ Robert on Netgalley, 5 stars
‘An absolute must read’ Lauren on Goodreads, 5 stars
‘A clever and action-fuelled story’ Culturefly
‘For those who loved The Martian, you won’t be disappointed’ Liz on Netgalley, 5 stars
Bob Pickett –
Artemis is Andy Weir’s 2nd novel, following the hugely successful The Martian (one of the most enjoyable and unusual pieces of Science Fiction I have read in a long time). For Artemis, we swap Mars for The Moon. Artemis is a small city of a few thousand, amongst which is 17 year old Jazz. Jazz is a porter, who tops her income with a little judicious smuggling. She aspires to higher things (and a very specific level of wealth), which leads her to taking her EVA exam… an exam that leads to the story getting off to an exciting start.
One of her “clients” has a very big deal in mind, and for that he needs someone who isn’t afraid to bend the law… and has had EVA training…
Andy Weir uses the same basic format as The Martin (likeable main character, varied skill set, adaptable and resourceful). Weir was a scientist, and he scatters his scientific knowledge throughout the story (and sets up Jazz as far more intelligent and resourceful than her lowly position suggests). He also keeps Artemis ticking over at a brisk rate, introducing a core cast of characters at a rapid rate without overburdening the reader.
Artemis is, if I’m honest, a throwback to the sort of light Sci-Fi I’d devour as a kid. It isn’t trying to be deep and meaningful, it tells an enjoyable tale with a strong base in real science, that carries you along and gets you on Jazz’s side.
Does the caper come off? Does Jazz achieve her very specific sum of money? And why does she want it? All is revealed, in a fun, if essentially lightweight story. But there is a place for this kind of Sci-Fi (there was a reason this form of the genre was so popular; not all Sci-Fi needs to be ‘worthy’ and ‘meaningful’) and if Andy Weir wishes to revive it, I’m happy to be carried along in 1/6th gravity.