Crater

“I like working on the scrapes, sir”, he said. “I know, Crater, but it’s a ruse. Do you understand what that is?” “A trick or a deception,” Crater replied. He felt like he’d just lost a battle in a war he didn’t know he was fighting. “Precisely,” the Colonel said. “So what do you say? Besides doing me a great favor, it might be just the adventure for a young man.”

Book: Crater by Homer Hickman, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2012

Genre: Science Fiction

Target Audience: Boys 14-17

Subjects: War, patriotism, friendship, integrity

Summary: A young boy, quite intelligent and talented but also quite content with his simple job as a miner is asked to leave his ordinary life and go on a mission for his boss. This mission will take him all the way across his home: the moon. The last few who’ve tried have been killed but the Colonel thinks Crater can succeed where others have failed. On top of staying alive and completing his mission though, Crater also has to look out for the Colonel’s granddaughter, making sure she stays alive as well. One problem with that idea is that she has no intention of allowing anyone but herself to take care of her. Crater’s only assistants are a blob of highly intelligent cells that is basically an illegal being and a friend who is more worried about himself than Crater or integrity. And the enemy who has killed the last few sent on this mission has no intention of letting Crater survive either.

Notes: Set in the future, on the moon, this story contains a few references to God or prayer – primarily as a cultural recognition. The miners have a prayer they recite as a daily custom and Crater prays last rites over a dead person. There’s a hint that maybe a few aspects of Christianity are a part of the culture, but that’s as far as the author takes it. When he’s in trouble, Crater doesn’t have an ultimate being to turn to. When he has a difficult decision to make he doesn’t have a book of ultimate authority to search for answers in. The characters hope and confidence is in themselves rather than an ultimate being. SPOILER ALERT: At the end of the story the character basically looks around and says that he’s going to join in something he doesn’t believe is right just because the others from his home are.
This appears to be the first in a new series: Helium-3 novels. The author has a note at the end discussing his views on Helium-3 and his predictions for it’s usage in America’s future.

Recommendation Scale: 1/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

I received this book for free from booksneeze in exchange for my honest review.