A Lunar Murder Mystery Propels Gunpowder Moon

Caden Dechert came to Luna to escape: climate conditions on Earth have brought about peak global temperatures and a breakdown in much of the established social, economic, and political order. North America in particular was hit hard by famine and disease. Even given the many, many ways a person can die on the Moon, it beats conditions back home. If nothing else, there’s a purity of existence and a sense of purpose for Dechert and his team of helium-3 miners, on there on the edge of the Sea of Serenity. z
The world’s major powers are all in competition for lunar resources, but for a time, there seemed to be plenty to go around. The Moon’s workers are far enough away from the centers of global power politics that they’ve been able to establish friendly working relationships centered around the intuitive idea that no one should compromise the safety of anyone else, and that someone in danger is worthy of receiving aid from anyone (of any nation) who is available to render assistance. It’s a way of life taken as rote—until a member of Dechert’s team is killed in what first looks like an accident, but is quickly revealed to have been murder—an almost perfect crime. As in any good mystery, the how and the why are what we’re here for.
China, somewhat less affected by the “Thermal Max” than America, is beginning to make power plays when it comes to lunar mining, so naturally, suspicion falls heavily upon them. But the facts don’t quite add up. How does killing an American advance their goals on the Moon? Who does stand to benefit? Dechert, a combat veteran, is caught between two competing goals: solving the Moon’s first murder, and avoiding doing anything to escalate the growing conflict between China and the U.S. He’s also got to keep the rest of his small crew safe, which might be best accomplished by letting the matter rest. The title comes from an old saw among astronauts that the surface of the moon smells like gunpowder; science can’t quite figure out why, but the metaphor is clear.
This is compelling and complex mystery scenario. Even better that it happens to involve humanity’s future in space.
The book has a number of truly impressive action sequences, including a thrilling climax that transplants everything you’d expect from a major action movie to surface of the Moon. And mystery and global power politics to the side, the gritty, near-future setting is a huge draw. Pedreira goes to great lengths to create a believable vision of coming space-based commercial industry (think The Martian or The Expanse, though set closer to our own present than either of those blockbusters). We’re frequently reminded that the exhilaration of lunar frontier life is matched by the spectre of imminent death, even before war becomes a real threat. Temperature extremes; micro-gravity; even the clingy, cement-like quality of lunar dust are daily threats. Living together on the edge is what allows for such easy cooperation between the miners of various nations. For Dechert in particular, it’s part of the appeal. And that’s what’s truly at risk in his investigation, giving the matter real stakes; nations soon begin pointing fingers over the murder and militarizing their outposts in anticipation of a first strike.
In the future of Gunpowder Moon, people are capable of putting aside petty regional squabbles when appropriately challenged, but it doesn’t take much for us to fall back on old habits.
Gunpowder Moon is available now.