Rating: 
Summary: Caveat Emptor: a minutely detailed catalog of despair
Review: Forget the high-minded "great science" reviews. The story goes, quite literally, nowhere. This is not the return of "hard science" science fiction... it's the birth of hard science nihilism. All human effort not only comes to naught, but is "ironically" self-defeating. The noblest human efforts contain the "seeds" (wink-wink) of destruction. And not just destruction, but the implosion of both earth, humankind, and hope itself. There are no real characters here, only wind-up self-destruct dolls programming to either destroy, screw-up, or surrender in the paralysis of ennui. Why is it that the science journals and others rave about this so much? I doubt that very many who purchase the book on the basis of the rave cover blurbs actually make it more than halfway through.
Rating: 
Summary: Good book some interesting science info
Review: Found the geology knowledge interesting sicne
I'm not that familiar with geology!Book a bit long but still got through the book
since was interested in figuring the whole
moon subject.
Rating: 
Summary: Scary alternative reality - another spellbinder by Baxter
Review: Have you heard the latest? Deep space probes are bringing star dust back to earth so scientists can find out more about the origins of the universe... No, this is not the plot of Stephen Baxter's book "Moonseed" but it is taken from real science news. Baxter's idea of the danger to Earth (and other planets) originating from samples of moon rocks popped into my mind when I heard the above newscast. Let's just hope that Baxter's story will not come true. "Moonseed" is as fact driven as "Voyager" and "Titan" were and makes it hard to put the book down. The characters are built up slowly, then are integrated flawlessly into the storyline. The spiritual context is something new, and this book keeps the technological discussions and explanations at a minimum. The ending promises hope, even though the time slip is tremendous compared to the incredibly slow build-up up to the last couple of chapters.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Science, Uneven Writing
Review: I am an avid fan of "hard" science fiction - stories where accurate, highly detailed science is so integral to the plot that the book would not function without it. Moonseed places well in this category. Baxter is very adept at creating a boogeyman out of cutting-edge scientific theory, and his characters use science and modern technology in a complex, intellectual manner to solve the problem. His choice of a geologist as protagonist was interesting, and it worked; this is the first hard-SF novel I have read where an intimate knowledge of geology provided the key to resolving the plot's main conflicts. Baxter's handling of science reminds me of decorated hard-SF veteran Gregory Benford - and that is high praise. An even better point was Baxter's description of Earth-Moon travel. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever daydreamed of a successor to the Apollo program or of going back in time to plant a moon-boot in the regolith next to Neil Armstrong. I would venture to say that this book is really *about* returning to the moon, and that the Moonseed is merely there to provide an excuse to do so. Regardless, it is a fun vicarious journey. With all the above traits to recommend it, this book should have qualified for five stars. But it didn't. Baxter clearly loves and knows his science, but whenever he strays from it - say, into character development, or the more mundane details of life - his writing suffers. Characters sometimes do things that don't seem consistent with their personalities. Details are dropped or glossed over. For example, a man with badly cracked ribs can barely move in one scene, but only hours later is walking around with little hinderance. Astronauts forget some fairly basic elements of mission planning in a manner that is too obviously a plot device to set up a later scene. And too many characters decide to give up their lives in various suicidal endeavors, with no real development of _why_ the person no longer wishes to live. I don't advise you to avoid this book, because it has some unique good qualities. But limit your expectations.
Rating:
Summary: Great Science, Uneven Writing
Review: I am an avid fan of "hard" science fiction - stories where accurate, highly detailed science is so integral to the plot that the book would not function without it. Moonseed places well in this category. Baxter is very adept at creating a boogeyman out of cutting-edge scientific theory, and his characters use science and modern technology in a complex, intellectual manner to solve the problem. His choice of a geologist as protagonist was interesting, and it worked; this is the first hard-SF novel I have read where an intimate knowledge of geology provided the key to resolving the plot's main conflicts. Baxter's handling of science reminds me of decorated hard-SF veteran Gregory Benford - and that is high praise. An even better point was Baxter's description of Earth-Moon travel. This is a must-read for anyone who has ever daydreamed of a successor to the Apollo program or of going back in time to plant a moon-boot in the regolith next to Neil Armstrong. I would venture to say that this book is really *about* returning to the moon, and that the Moonseed is merely there to provide an excuse to do so. Regardless, it is a fun vicarious journey. With all the above traits to recommend it, this book should have qualified for five stars. But it didn't. Baxter clearly loves and knows his science, but whenever he strays from it - say, into character development, or the more mundane details of life - his writing suffers. Characters sometimes do things that don't seem consistent with their personalities. Details are dropped or glossed over. For example, a man with badly cracked ribs can barely move in one scene, but only hours later is walking around with little hinderance. Astronauts forget some fairly basic elements of mission planning in a manner that is too obviously a plot device to set up a later scene. And too many characters decide to give up their lives in various suicidal endeavors, with no real development of _why_ the person no longer wishes to live. I don't advise you to avoid this book, because it has some unique good qualities. But limit your expectations.
Rating: 
Summary: I couldn't stay awake
Review: I am an avid science fiction reader and I must say that this is one of the most boring books I have ever read. Baxter may know his science, but he has much to learn about fiction. I kept hoping for some action or at least something interesting to happen, but all I got was boredom. This author has disappointed me twice and there will not be a third chance.
Rating:
Summary: Moonseed
Review: I have currently read two of Baxter's books, Ring and Moonseed. Moonseed is currently rated in my top 10 books ever read and I highly recommend it. It tells the story from so many points of view, making it wonderful and it grips you into the story. You feel like you really get a chance to know the characters..
Rating:
Summary: Well below his usual standard
Review: I have read, and loved, Stephen Baxter's Titan and Voyage. Moonseed was for me well below the standard set by his other books, and far from a gripping read. While I am sure the science was accurate (I am not a geologist) I found the plot highly implausable, the characters boring, the story very slow moving, and actually struggled to reach the end, being tempted many times to give it up. All in all, too much science and too little story and people. A disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting twist on the end of the world
Review: I picked this book up when the local Crown Books was going bankrupt and closing their doors. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once the seed started to grow in Scotland, I was hooked. The ending seemed a little abrupt and I'm not sure I can believe that with what happens to the Earth, the Moon would be unaffected. Overall, though, a fun read.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting twist on the end of the world
Review: I picked this book up when the local Crown Books was going bankrupt and closing their doors. It took me a little while to get into the book, but once the seed started to grow in Scotland, I was hooked. The ending seemed a little abrupt and I'm not sure I can believe that with what happens to the Earth, the Moon would be unaffected. Overall, though, a fun read.
| 
