June 28
Moon Hoax by Paul Gillebaard. Dream Access Books.
Honestly, Paul Gillebaard, having written his first novel, deserves something more than a Pulitzer Prize for writing this book. For space addicts like me, this is the type of book we would like to read. From the moment I started reading it, I read it slowly, often going through the same para twice. It is gripping, exciting and thrilling. Last night --June 27--I finished reading it, and felt sorry because the book had come to an end. But, when I closed it, I said to myself that soon I will start reading it once again. I will never get bored of it. Believe me.
And, I thank Mr Unnikrishnan in California for arranging to obtain a copy of this precious book for me, and that too with the author's autograph. I hope to meet him sometime.
Apparently, the inspiration for writing such a beautiful novel has come from the US-USSR space race in the 60.s Nasa's Apollo missions to the moon had a more of a political content than a scientific element. The aim was beat the former Soviets. But, look at the scenario today--both the nations, once hostile towards each other, have teamed up in the journey towards the stars. In Moon Hoax the Russian mission control linked up with the American when the top secret SpaceQuest flight took off with an American, Peter who was once with the CIA, and an old Russian astronaut,Viktor, to the moon. Their highly classified mission: to establish that the Americans had in walked on the moon and the statements being made by the Chinese in the UN was completely false.
The book infact can be read at four levels. These are:-
(1) The moon race between the US and China.
(2) The technology behind the flight to the moon in the SpaceQuest rocket and Galileo spacecraft by Peter and Viktor to discredit the Chinese statements.
(3) The love affair between Anya and Peter.
(4) A son deciding to sacrifice his life for his father in order to restore the latter's credibility in the face of Chinese allegations in the UN that the Americans never landed on the moon. Infact Peter should be a role model for all sons!
Hats off to Paul for studying the geo political aspects of space missions before writing the book. Just as the US and Russia have joined hands post Cold War in various space exploration programmes---Russia indeed has made quite a contribution to Nasa's highly successful Curiosity mission to the Red Planet---it is China which finally rescued Peter after the latter completed his challenging task of photographing various US landing zones on the moon, especially the area where his dad touched down 40 years ago. He risked his life to prove that the Chinese were making absolutely false statements about the American manned lunar programme.
But, at the end, the book concludes on a note of irony----thanks to the Chinese Peter was able to get back home and above all to his Anya and his yet-to-be-born baby. When the Chinese knew that the Americans had launched a mission to the moon to reprogramme their laser, they launched a flight with two taikonauts to ensure that the Americans do not succeed! Interestingly, their spacecraft was the Shenzhou 10. In real life, the Chinese had launched the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft a fortnight ago with three taikonauts--two men and woman which has just returned. I got to read the book at the appropriate time.
There is not a single dull moment in this book. No incident is stretched to a point which taxes the patience of the reader. The suspense builds up beautifully making the reader want to know what is going to happen next. Let me repeat,it is hard to keep down the book. Astronauts like Ed Gibson and moonwalker, Charlie Duke have provided advice and guidance for this book project
A word about the title of the book--Moon Hoax. The Chinese tried to prove that the US statements about 12 humans landing on the moon between July 1969 and December 1972 was a hoax. And at the end, the Americans successfully proved that what the Chinese were saying was a hoax. So Moon Hoax!
In my opinion the book is only a partial sci--fi. The reason? The placing of the laser on the moon to destroy satellites and spacecraft perhaps can one day become a reality. Any nation wanting to be a space super power can be inspired from Moon Hoax!!! After all China has an anti-satellite weapon.
The book is an excellent material for a film and Paul must now seriously think about this. I am sure the movie will be an international box office hit what with the current space race among different nations.
One more thing--this book should be easily available at all bookstores. I am now eagerly waiting for Space Hoax by Paul and this time I want to buy it at a local bookshop!
Once again thank you Mr Unnikrishnan.
