Six years after the rousing success of his debut novel, The Martian, Andy Weir returns with another exciting take on space life, but this time the civilization is a little closer to home.

Artemis is the first lunar city, yet it’s far from perfect, as the novel’s protagonist Jasmine “Jazz” Bashara discovered. Born and raised on the lunar surface, she has built up a “monopoly” over illegal trade and smuggling into and out of Artemis. Unfortunately for her, this causes significant problems when she accepts a job from a wealthy businessman client, only for that client to end up dead, kicking off an action-packed and suspenseful series of events.

Just like The Martian, Andy Weir’s writing immerses you in the scenes he’s created. It is clear that rather than using “fake” science or technobabble, Weir has put quite a lot of thought into the logistics of running a lunar city, to the extent that the vast majority of the plot seems to progress logically, a rarity in science fiction.

The emphasis on scientific reasonableness most definitely does not bog down the plot. The timeline of events moves lightning-quick, helped along by Jazz’s stubborn and clever nature. Intricate and complex, the plot will quickly suck you in, keeping you guessing until the very end.

So, for fans of The Martian (or any science fiction book, really), I would recommend Artemis as your next read. After all, in another year or so, we might actually have our own settlement on the lunar surface, and it doesn’t hurt to be prepared!

– Mahak M.

Artemis by Andy Weir is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.