Friday 5 June 2009

Moon Base One by Hugh Walters

Review #4 looking back at the old and largely forgotten science-fiction series Chris Godfrey of UNEXA.After being the first man to set foot on the moon in Operation Columbus, Chris returned to the moon in Moon Base One (pub 1960). This was frankly a dull adventure compared to the earlier tension-packed stories.

Chris Godfrey and Serge Smyslov's co-operative behaviour in the previous book has convinced the world to set up a united world space program called UNEXA, with all the key roles being taken by Brits. Sadly international co-operation isn't as much fun as international tension and worse, the British led space program had explored all the interesting possibilities for moon based stories involving those blasted to bits domes near Pico.

This time Chris commands a mission to the moon to find a cure for the radiation sickness briefly mentioned two books back. Apparently, children are now getting very ill. His new found friend Serge goes with him as does American Morrison Kant. A new addition to the team is Tony Hale, from Dudley, a freckle-faced kid who is dying from radiation poisoning. Scientists reckon that the months of rigorous training followed by blasting him off into space and taking him to the source of the radiation might cure him. And it does!

There's not much more to say about this story as by now the moon had been pretty much over-explored. Afterwards Chris wisely decided it was time to go boldly elsewhere.

Next week the space adventure hots up when Chris starts to explore the solar system.

1 comment:

David Cranmer said...

You've certainly piqued my interest in this series. And that's great old cover art.