Arthur C. Clarke – A Fall of Moondust
A good old-fashioned disaster story, set on the moon. A moon rover carrying a group of well-heeled tourists across the Sea of Thirst gets swallowed into a sinkhole. The passengers are unable to radio for help–the regolith (moon soil) blocks their transmissions. They have few provisions, since they were on a short trip. Worse, the heat buildup inside the vehicle, plus a limited oxygen supply, means that help needs to arrive fast. Fortunately, the passengers include a world-famous retired astronaut who was trying to take a low-key trip, among other people with unexpected talents. Some clever scientists back at the base and on Earth are also able to suss out what happened to the missing vehicle, and are able to finagle a dramatic rescue.
The plot is formulaic and the characters are cheesy. But the setting is remarkable, the science is enjoyable—though I don’t think the bits about the moon’s surface hold up very well—and it’s a lot of fun. Not as substantial as Clarke’s usual fare, but if you’re in the mood for something light, one could do worse.
Inertia Wins! 