Book Review: The Oxygen Farmer by Colin Holmes

The Oxygen Farmer
by Colin Holmes (Holmes)

This is a new science fiction title by author Colin Holmes, author of the book Thunder Road, his debut novel. I was intrigued by the cover of this book when it arrived at the library, so I decided to give it a chance. The story is set in the future and mainly takes place on the moon where our main character works and lives. Farmer Millenium (Mil) Harrison produces oxygen which is used by anyone living on the moon or just visiting. Most of his life’s work has been to produce and store oxygen to prepare for Earth’s first mission to Mars. Early on in the story, Mil accidentally falls into an area that has restricted access and discovers a hidden facility that had been buried on the moon before Mil ever came there over 35 years ago. When Mil starts asking questions, attempts are made on his life as well as the lives of anyone he has shared this information with. This government conspiracy goes back to the days of the Reagan administration in the United States and it is possible that the Russians are involved too. So who can he trust? Certainly not the head of the Space Agency, who just happens to be his estranged daughter. This is an excellent book which I expect someone to make into a movie. Think of this book as a cross between The X-Files and The Martian with a little bit of Star Wars thrown in for good measure. I highly recommend this book.

 

(If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try The Martian by Andy Weir, the film adapation The Martian starring Matt Damon or the TV series The X-Files by Chris Carter.)

 

( official Colin Holmes web site )

 

Recommended by Kim J.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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