The Moon is a Harsh Mistress is a novel written by Robert A. Heinlein. Released in 1966, it tells of a libertarian revolt on the Moon.
Characters[]
- Manuel "Mannie" Garcia O'Kelly-Davis - a cynical computer technician
- Mike - an extremely powerful computer
- Wyoming "Wyoh" Knott-Davis - a political agitator
- Stuart Rene "Stu" LaJoie-Davis - an Earth-born aristrocrat
- Hazel Meade - a 12-year-old girl
- Mimi "Mum" Davis - Manuel's second wife
- Greg "Grandpaw" Davis - the Davis family's "second ranking husband"
rest to be added
Publisher's summary[]
It is the year 2076, and the Moon is a penal colony for the rebellious and the unwanted of Earth. The exiles have created a libertarian society in order to survive in their harsh and unforgiving environment, their motto being "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch". Looming over them is the Luna Authority, the heavy-handed Earth administration, who trades life necessities to the "Loonies" in exchange for grain shipments to the starving populations of Earth.
As the situation steadily deteriorates the inhabitants of Luna come to realize that they have little choice but to revolt against Luna Authority in order to save themselves from resource exhaustion and a subsequent environmental apocalypse.
A small band of dissidents emerges to lead the revolution. This consists of a one-armed computer jock, a radical young woman, a past-his-prime academic, and a nearly omnipotent computer named Mike. These people ignite the fires of revolution, despite the near certainty of failure.
Author's continuity[]
- Hazel Meade first appeared in The Rolling Stones and later appears in The Number of the Beast and The Cat Who Walks Through Walls.
See also[]
| Title | Author | Release date | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebel Moon | Vox Day and Bruce Bethke | 1996 | A novel with a similar plot and vaguely similar political leanings |
| Red Moon | Kim Stanley Robinson | 2018 | A novel with a vaguely similar plot |