Mitch Silver

I was riveted during the prologue, but the author almost lost me completely on pages 7 and 8; anyone inclined to read this book should skip those pages. Nothing of consequence happens, and you'll be left with a mental image you'll never be able to unsee.

So given all that love and nausea happening before page 10, I was unsure of what the rest of the book was going to bring. Fortunately, the story evened out for the better. I went back to being lost in what is a fabulously decadent 'what if' fantasy of old school East vs. West. There are a lot of names dropped in this tale: Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, the Kennedys, even Ian Flemming. It was pure, escapist fun.

Unfortunately, Silver didn't quite stick the landing. He created an intensely intricate plot, but didn't give himself (or the publisher didn't give him) the pages to fully realise it. The result is a somewhat rushed and muddy climax that falls a little flat for lack of, and I can't believe I'm saying this, drama. I love what he wanted to do with it, but given more time and attention it could have been a breath-taking scene and that scene deserved the extra time and attention. Instead, it ended up being not much more than someone yelling "Fire" in a theatre. Finally, the last half dozen lines in the book should have been deleted. They were ridiculous, and of all the unrealistic things that happen in this book, they are by far, the most implausible.

This author is not without talent; I was enthralled for 75% of this book and it was, in spite of its shortcomings, a fun and entertaining read.… (altro)

Following China’s announcement of its plan to land men on the moon and plant its flag beside the American flag on the Sea of Tranquility, a former filmmaker dies in what is purported to be an accident.

While going through his father’s things, Gary Stephens, a filmmaker himself, finds several reels identical to the televised 20 July 1969 Apollo 11 lunar landing. If there was no lunar landing in 1969, what will happen when the Chinese astronauts arrive at the Sea of Tranquility and find there is no American flag there? The world will know the widely-publicized Apollo 11 mission was nothing but a fake . . . and the Chinese will claim the moon for China.

A panicked NASA hastily puts together a “Dark Side” lunar mission to beat China to the moon and place a weathered American flag on the Sea of Tranquility where the Chinese astronauts expect to find it, thus keeping the Chinese from discovering and revealing the hoax of the Apollo 11 lunar landing.

Will the plan work? And who are the people trying to jeopardize the secret mission and its daring crew?

If, like many readers, you’ve ignored all those nonsensical conspiracy theory books that maintain “we never went to the moon” because you feel it’s a slap in the face to the thousands of folks who worked the missions, paid the price, and ventured beyond our planet, the author acknowledges that, despite the story he’s penned, he [like this reviewer] is certain Neil Armstrong actually made that “one small step, one giant leap.”

So, why read this book? For one thing, the writing is good. Really good. And the prospect of exploring the idea of what might have happened had Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins not actually gone to the moon is rather intriguing. Why deceive everyone? And what would happen if someone revealed that stunning duplicity?

The characters in this science fiction narrative are realistic; the plot, while bouncing around between past and present, has some unexpected twists and spins out a fantastic science fiction tale that’s great fun. Readers looking for a quick read will enjoy the fabricated narrative filled with international intrigue, spies . . . and a trip to the moon.… (altro)