The Polity Collective, which benignly rules numerous star systems, has come up against a chilling opponent. The crablike Prador are bloodthirst... read full description
reviews
Aug 29, 2011
Lars J.
rated it: 
I picked this up out of curiosity after seen Neal Asher on the local SF book store. What I was after was a straight forward space opera; I thought anything more than that would be a bonus. And yes, that's what I got.
Several other reviewers has complained that this book might not be as good as Neal Asher is supposed to be. And having read it, I think I can see that: there is capacity here, there's good pacing, and interesting characters. However, there's also a shallowness in the sto More...
Several other reviewers has complained that this book might not be as good as Neal Asher is supposed to be. And having read it, I think I can see that: there is capacity here, there's good pacing, and interesting characters. However, there's also a shallowness in the sto More...
Nov 04, 2010
Zare
rated it: 
Prador Moon is sort of a prequel (same like Shadow of Scorpion by the same author) to the Ian Cormac series.[return][return]Novel starts with Prador battleships attacking Polity Avalon space station under disguise of diplomatic mission. Soon entire border worlds are under attack by ruthless invaders and Polity s AI s begin to plan how to deal with the new threat they know that Prador hold advantage in certain areas of weapons technology and are also aware that invaders must not be a
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Oct 03, 2010
Flint
rated it: 
The basic premise of the book is that monstrous aliens have invaded human occupied stystems killing and eating anything in their path, and now humans must find a way to hold them off. The story was entertaining, albeit not too original. Asher gives the reader two main points of view with a few others scattered along the way including the aliens. Some of the tech is interesting, but considering the length of the book nothing is really expanded on, much like the two main characters who are only
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May 14, 2011
Nick
rated it:
Prador Moon is the first Neal Asher novel i've yet read and although it was certainly a rollicking action fest that hit all the marks; man-eating crabs, check, insanely powerful weapons, check, kick-ass but dark military protagonist, check, hilariously awesome ending, check... It didn't hit the right notes for me and i'm at a loss to explain why. It did seem somewhat rushed, somewhat distanced from the action, whereas most of my favorite space-opera (Reynolds, Moon, Banks...) tend to be very clo
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Jan 18, 2012
Lauren
rated it:
Chronologically, Prador Moon is the first in Neal Asher’s collection of novels about a post-human space-faring society known as the Polity. It’s the 7th of a series of books set in this universe though, so it functions as a prequel. For me however, it served as an introduction to Asher’s work, so I basically read it as a stand-alone.
The Polity is mostly composed of humans but is ruled by AIs. Although it’s a space-faring society, they’ve only ever encountered two alien species. One i More...
The Polity is mostly composed of humans but is ruled by AIs. Although it’s a space-faring society, they’ve only ever encountered two alien species. One i More...
Nov 04, 2011
Allan
rated it:
Set in Neal Asher's, Polity universe, this is a tale of first contact with an alien species. Unfortunately, the Prador Third Kingdom is a society of highly-intelligent and aggressive amphibious crustaceans for whom conflict, cannibalism and assassination are the norm.
The Prador, deeming humanity as an inferior and weaker race, embark on an interstellar war intent on the conquest and slavery of the human race and the destruction their Polity and its AIs. As an added bonus, human flash More...
The Prador, deeming humanity as an inferior and weaker race, embark on an interstellar war intent on the conquest and slavery of the human race and the destruction their Polity and its AIs. As an added bonus, human flash More...
Jun 11, 2009
Woodge
rated it:
Neal Asher's brand of SF is not for the squeamish. Prador Moon is set within his Polity universe. The Polity is the collective group of worlds which is run by AI and policed by Earth Central Security agents. Unlike the first Polity novel, Gridlinked (which I've read), this one does not feature ECS agent Ian Cormac. Prador Moon is a standalone novel which details the first contact with emissaries of the Prador Second Kingdom. The alien race known as the Prador are huge crab-like beasts who gi
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Sep 03, 2009
Mya
rated it: 
After having read Neal Asher's "Cowl" it felt so good to dig into fun, uncomplicated science fiction with daring battles, a dastardly villianous alien race, kick-ass weapons and starships, a larger-than-life hero and a plucky female heroine. "Prador Moon" is a short novel based in Asher's Polity Universe , which depicts the first contact between the humans and the crab-like Prador species, who swiftly find out that humans are tasty.
While the ending comes a little More...
While the ending comes a little More...
Jun 02, 2011
Derrick
rated it:
Not nearly long enough for me. I was hoping for a bit "larger" view of the start of the war. However, this one snapshot filled all my secret needs for ultra-violent'ness. And with HUGE crablike aliens who eat us and eachother, man, just what the Dr. ordered.
Very typical Asher, with lots of action, techno dumps and detailed descriptions of horrific things. Not a good book to start the Polity series, but a good fun read part way through.
Very typical Asher, with lots of action, techno dumps and detailed descriptions of horrific things. Not a good book to start the Polity series, but a good fun read part way through.
Apr 26, 2011
Ron
rated it:
My first foray into Asher's Polity series of novels. Great beginning, but then got a little heavy on the tech side with a bit of techno-babble and info dumps here and there. But not bad at all. The novel was a lot of fun with near non-stop action. The story has great villians with the Prador. I liked it a lot for a hard SF edged military scifi romp.
I am going to have to read more of Asher's Polity novels.
I am going to have to read more of Asher's Polity novels.
May 19, 2011
Dirk
rated it:
I’m surpised Neal Asher isn’t better known in America. All of his Polity Universe books that I’ve read I’ve enjoyed quite a bit. This one is set early in the timeline of his future history and concerns the first contact between the Polity and the nasty alien Prador. The Prador are classic science fiction space alien monsters. Lots of violence and action in this one. I dug it.
Aug 14, 2010
Chrys
rated it:
Asher manages some deft world building, and a tense and exciting action packed SF novel. The Polity series reminds me of the Culture - not quite as masterful, but engaging none the less. The kind of book I'd really like to see made into a film.
Aug 04, 2011
JParsons1974
rated it:
Get it from the library. This is a quick read 222 pages. The story is well written for a space opera yet not ground breaking. It's self contained so no waiting for the book to be written . I 'll think I'll read more of this guys works.
Dec 07, 2010
David
rated it:
Interesting setup, I wish Neal Asher would have explained the runcible concept a bit more... But I guess that this book is only a small part in the Polity series, so maybe it's just that I have to read the other books ;)
Jan 31, 2011
Alastair
rated it:
An easy read but still an enjoyable SciFi romp, could have been longer, left me wanting more.
I found the eBook from Amazon contained a number of spelling mistakes and occasionally the odd paragraph formatting.
I found the eBook from Amazon contained a number of spelling mistakes and occasionally the odd paragraph formatting.
May 31, 2009
Mark
rated it:
Excellent little book providing backstory around the start of the Prador war. Short, fast paced and tightly written, its a great read for those immersed in Asher's universe.
Dec 27, 2008
Robert
rated it:
Unadulterated shlock. Gigantic crab-like, intelligent, space-going creatures with a taste for human flesh. You hope they don't phone home. Go for it, Peter!
Dec 31, 2008
Joshua
rated it:
Good book, good story, a few British-specific terms that take some getting used to, but otherwise a top-notch fast paced sci-fi book.
Aug 04, 2011
A very enjoyable read. Short and none too complex, but a good page-turner with plenty of action and some nice ideas
Jun 28, 2011
Emmanuel
rated it:
Nice prequel providing background to Prador war. Shorter than others in the series, but still good with hints at future technologies and plots.
Aug 21, 2011
Kip
rated it:
Good hardcore scifi. Moving on to the second Polity novel, _Shadow of the Scorpion_.
Nov 28, 2011
Ed
rated it:
This is seriously like the book version of a Flash Gordon serial from the 30's. I mean this in the best possible way. Lantern jawed good guys vs. evil crab monsters. And what a lot of fun it was. This novel was a rollicking good time, no existential angst, no symbolism, no moral relativism, just good, old fashioned pro-colonialist space opera goodness. Don't expect this book to have any impact on your worldview or to challenge any of your values. Just expect it to entertain you and you will not
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May 23, 2011
Mark
rated it: 
Jesus, what schlock. What a hack. Barely a story line: pretty much just aliens eat humans for no reason other than that's what they do. Things just happen in the book. Admittedly, Neal Asher can put words together and they still makes sense, but that's about all he can do. Feels like he just churned out some crap to sell. Thankfully, it was a quick read, but what a waste of time.
Oct 01, 2010
Simkine
rated it:
Almost a short story in size, this novel is really more of a supplement to Asher's Polity series. It recounts a pivotal point in the Human/Prador war which for anyone who has read his previous books, already knows the outcome. At the same time, it's not really a book you can read without at least reading the first few Agent Cormac books at a minimum to build sufficient back story.
Nov 05, 2011
Tom
rated it:
A short sweet SF book which adds some colour to the Prador War books in the Polity setting and also works just fine as a standalone book.
It's at a system/spaceship level, and yet does have an impressive bit of ultra huge scale space operatics at the end.
A good twisty human scale book mixed with some of the nastiest aliens around and a satisfying BANG at the end.
It's at a system/spaceship level, and yet does have an impressive bit of ultra huge scale space operatics at the end.
A good twisty human scale book mixed with some of the nastiest aliens around and a satisfying BANG at the end.
May 02, 2009
John
rated it:
Wasn't really that impressed. I've seen Asher's work referenced several times around other books, so I decided to check him out. Maybe the hype was too much but really not overwhelmed.
The story was interesting but too short, leaving a ton of things out that woulda made it better, IMO.
The story was interesting but too short, leaving a ton of things out that woulda made it better, IMO.
Jun 16, 2010
Tommy
rated it:
Cracking read! Just the right size - the way books used to be. I think Peter Dunn was mentioning this recently - 150 pages jammed with ideas, action and a great plot. James McKee - you need to read this guy.
Jan 08, 2008
Jeremy Lassen gave this to me at WisCon 2007. Though I started reading it on the trip home I didn't finish it; I was too scattered and excited by the prospect of so many new things to read.
Apr 04, 2011
Marne
rated it:
Prador Moon was a bit too violent and gory for my tastes but I like the way that Asher depicts AI and aliens. I'll probably keep reading his books just for those aspects.
