Oxygen Farmer

October 1, 2023

Luna Colony, 2077. Millennium Harrison is the only man to have lived on the Moon for decades as its first, and only, oxygen farmer. Just days away from his last job, he stumbles upon a century-old secret that someone will stop at nothing to keep hidden. But this secret comes with a massive cost and may unravel years of global space cooperation to colonize Mars. Time is ticking and humanity's last hope relies on one cantankerous man. This is a space novel that turns the space travel plot on its head. Instead of the utopian idea of humanity racing towards space exploration, Holmes's (Thunder Road) new novel explores a more prosaic, yet realistic, idea of humanity racing to keep itself alive and interacting with space. VERDICT With a fascinating fictional scenario that connects history with the future, Holmes once again tackles conspiracy, subterfuge, and murder, but he takes it out of this world in his latest novel. Readers who enjoy Andy Weir's novels, books like The Manchurian Candidate and 2001: A Space Odyssey, and TV shows such as Babylon 5 will want to put this one on their to-read lists.--Laura Hiatt

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2023
A cantankerous octogenarian astronaut finds himself in over his head when he accidentally stumbles across a deadly secret hidden on the surface of the moon. Twice a week for 35 years, it has been the job of Millennium Edward Harrison--Mil for short--to transport oxygen for Neff Atmospherics to the various settlements around the Luna Colony. A former commander in the U.S. Space Force, not only is Mil something of a legend on the moon, he's also earned a reputation for being bad-tempered and difficult to work with, which makes him the perfect man for such a solitary undertaking. Being an oxygen farmer is largely uneventful work, but all that changes when Mil accidentally stumbles across a highly radiated exclusion zone that doesn't exist on any official documentation. When Mil's discovery leads to the gruesome death of a beloved young astronaut and then a spacecraft explodes mere moments before Mil is meant to board it, he finds himself in the middle of a dangerous conspiracy that goes all the way to the top. Worse still, Mil's own daughter--from whom he's been estranged for years and now a high-ranking official with the Space Force--is adamantly keeping him from the truth. Despite his ornery nature--it feels as if Holmes has taken some inspiration from the likes of Harrison Ford and Robert De Niro for his leading man--Mil is also incredibly endearing. It's the softer moments and chemistry that he shares with the colorful cast of characters--his granddaughter and girlfriend in particular--that stand out as sharp and fast-paced dialogue moves the story forward at breakneck speed. Readers will find themselves rooting for Mil and his companions as they race against time before more lives are lost and irreparable damage is done to the colony they call home. An action-packed thriller perfect for fans of Andy Weir and Jack McDevitt.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2023
Mil Harrison is a legend. Once commander of the space force that pioneered the colony on Luna, he is now a reclusive, grumpy old man who farms oxygen and is happy to be mostly left alone. His daughter on Earth, a successful politician, hasn't spoken to him in years; his granddaughter, Nique, just got assigned to be part of the first mission to Mars. But when Mil stumbles on a bunker that shouldn't exist in the dark side of a crater ridge, and the radiation in it is off the charts, he knows something is very wrong. And soon, the people who know about the bunker are being picked off one by one. This space mystery is a page-turner rooted in its convincing and compelling protagonists and their well-written relationships. Mil is a frustratingly likable antihero with seemingly no sense of self-preservation and a determination to uncover whatever secret the crater holds. Sf fans will enjoy this rich novel full of good world building, mysterious space intrigue, and dry humor.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2024

Millenium Harrison has lived on the Moon for 35 years, farming oxygen for the inhabitants of Luna Colony. When he stumbles upon a hidden facility with a massive radiation leak, he inadvertently brings to light a trail of sabotage and murder. The nefarious activities lead right to the chief administrator of the Space Agency, who happens to be Mil's estranged daughter and has her hands full planning the first international mission to Mars. With the Mars launch looming ever closer, Mil races against the clock to find answers and save the inhabitants of the Moon and Earth. Holmes (Thunder Road) has written a novel of treachery, violence, cover-ups, and other out-of-this-world criminal happenings. Keith Szarabajka's narration adds to this lunar mystery, enhancing the dry humor and wit of persnickety, irascible Mil. While the novel focuses more on storytelling than worldbuilding, Holmes's engaging writing and appealingly grumpy characters make for an engrossing listen. VERDICT A fast-paced, wry SF thriller sure to please diehard sci-fi fans and those new to the genre. Share with readers of Arthur C. Clarke and Andy Weir.--Elyssa Everling

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.