The Halley Traveler

Entertaining Science Fiction

Mollman is a great writer. His books are always entertaining and enjoyable. I loved the world building in this book. The future world with colonies on Mars, Luna, and the fate of Earth, is so rich and realistic. The science fiction elements are absorbing and believable. I particularly loved the snippets that start each chapter. It’s such a fun way to give information about Mars and the world. This is the kind of world building that I really enjoy. It’s seamless. You feel you can sink into a living, breathing world that existed before the book began and continues on after. Chris and Cornelius are great characters and I immediately was interested in their way of life. There’s a real western in space quality to their way of life. At times I was reminded of Firefly, especially with the Halley Traveler needing constant repairs, and the young woman with amazing knowledge about spaceship engines. The main conflict of two young men trying to stay honest in a world where there are few legal options was well done. The climax of the book was tense and emotional. There were a couple of surprising tonal shifts that I felt jarred with the rest of the book. One went into very dark territory, the other was information I could have done without. Overall, an enjoyable and satisfying read.Mollman is a great writer. His books are always entertaining and enjoyable.