The Oxygen Farmer by Colin Holmes is set in the near future, where the Moon has a station with gravity, and a Mars expedition is being prepared in the moon’s orbit. An astronaut, Mil (Millennium) Harrison, nearing 80 is an oxygen farmer, creating oxygen for the habitat, and the Mars mission. On a delivery, his transportation, a “spider truck” breaks down, and after discovering help is many hours away, decides to take a short cut home, to pick up the part he needs. He goes through a part of an “exclusion zone”, where people aren’t supposed to go, although he has no idea why. It’s not historic, like the others. While there, he finds a hidden, underground base, which is radioactive. He scrambles out, and heads home. Of course, he has to report it. Eventually. Being a solitary, crotchety, legend, even he has to follow the rules. He helped write them, after all.
His discovery sets in motion so many events. The long-buried secret on the moon shouldn’t exist. His granddaughter first slated for the Mars mission, is sidetracked to the moon, for helping him do research on it. When he’s sent to Earth for therapy an attempt is made on his life. A second occurs on the moon, in a far more secure environment, with the loss of a shuttle, and all aboard.
It’s a really good read, and while there is tech, it’s not tech heavy. Mil is a surprising choice for the hero, and his family, and girlfriend, a dr.; all the women’s characters are well done. The plot moves quickly. The family dynamics and history are also interesting, adding depth to what could have been a hard science only adventure. While there are a few moments that are predictable, especially if you’ve read a lot of intrigue/spy type books, there’s a lot here that’s interesting, and kept me reading.
The Oxygen Farmer, Colin Holmes, ISBN 9780744306675, Camcat Publishing,
