Lunar One

by Daniel T. de Lill

***Gold Award winner of a 2020 Royal Palm Literary Award! Top Published Science Fiction Book of the Year!*** A dystopian adventure about a young woman's quest to unlock the ghastly secrets behind life on her lunar home - a young adult (new adult) science fiction saga for fans of such thrilling epics as The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Giver, or The Maze Runner. Two hundred years after a massive event annihilates all life on Earth, the last of humanity survives on a moon colony called Lunar One. Young Amia undergoes the year-long Stage to live among the different societies, or pagodas, of Lunar One before selecting the one she will join. For Amia, life is simple, her society flawless. During the Stage, Amia's idyllic world begins to unravel as she learns the ghastly truths behind life on Lunar One - a sinister web of danger, betrayal, and mystery that makes the most difficult decision of her life impossible. With enemies lurking around every corner and uncertain whom to trust, can Amia bring down an obsolete and unjust system at the risk of human extinction? October 2020 : "Lunar One is a futuristic science-fiction story set two hundred years after all life on Earth has been wiped out. Humanity now inhabits a moon colony called Lunar One. The protagonist, Amia, starts as a typical, somewhat naive, young girl who believes that her world and lunar society is good. As the story progresses, Amia’s worldview is gradually shattered as she explores a mystery that will call her to bring down the ultimately unjust system. Author, Daniel T. de Lill, has brought a popular, futuristic concept to life with clear world-building foundations, such as a new calendar system that reflects the inciting incident of moving to the moon colony. Lunar One is permeated throughout by a sense of corrosive anxiety and frustration at a corrupt and unjust system. There are many elements of Lunar One’s human society which invite poignant reflection on our own society and hierarchies, making this a fun science-fiction novel with important real-world implications." – Review by the Book Excellence Awards

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2018

About the author

A native of Potter County, PA, Daniel de Lill grew up under the darkest skies on the eastern seaboard. This inspired countless nights of dreaming of new worlds and a desire to understand the nature of our universe. After obtaining degrees in French and Chemistry from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, he went on to earn a master's degree and doctorate in Inorganic Chemistry from The George Washington University in DC. Following an NSF-funded postdoctoral stint at the University of Nevada, Reno, he became a professor at Florida Atlantic University. After seven years of teaching and research, Daniel took a break from academia to pursue dreams of writing and publishing his science fiction and cooking lots of amazing vegan food in his home laboratory, the kitchen. Daniel now teaches chemistry at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He is the author of nearly 30 scientific publications, scores of presentations, and two laboratory manuals. His first fiction novel, Lunar One was published in 2018. For more information, see www.danieldelill.com

Reviews

[Weeden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read

Overall this is an interesting sci-fi concept. However, I was left wanting more. Need a few more books before I'll know if I like this world. Only issue was it took most of the book for me to have trouble putting it down.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fast moving story. But definitely shades of solient green! Anyway would definitely recommend it.

[Christine Kempton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Voracious Readers for an honest review. I enjoyed this book. It is reminiscent of some of the other dystopian YA books that have come out recently - society is forever changed by a major event and then is separated into different areas to continue living and sustain the whole. This book is slightly different as society on earth has completely failed as earth was destroyed and the remainder of humanity moved to the moon and live in under ground pagodas. It's an interesting concept. The book follows Amia on her journey during her "Stage" which is the period after official schooling is complete and before official adulthood begins. Amia goes on her Stage journey against her parents wishes. She learns things about the entire settlement and is disturbed by what she sees. She gets recruited to participate in a resistance movement to try and change things. When Amia returns home and goes for her "Selection Ceremony" - where the youth choose which pagoda they will spend the rest of their lives in, she is devastated as the love of her life ends up choosing a different pagoda. Amia learns that things still aren't as they seem and she has to work out who is telling the truth. The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and although I enjoyed the book I am on the fence as to whether or not I will seek out the next book.

[Chris Baum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a well-executed, engaging read! It reminded me a lot of my 2nd book, Magnificent, which also is a dystopian, George Orwell-esque story. The caste system inserts at the beginning of the chapters was a nice, clever touch too. And even a female protagonist, sci-fi world like mine. I devoured each page like taking bites from a mouth-watering desert my momma made special just for me!

[Amanda Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great beginning to an epic adventure!

Love this new sci-fi author! The story is fresh and intriguing. An interesting take on a post-apocalyptic world with no resources. Can’t wait for more!