I found this softcover in this Little Free Library in Tyngsboro MA while dropping off some books of my own, and nabbed it for another release copy. It's by the author of The Martian, which I adored, and this book is also great fun - though with a very different focus.

The setting: Artemis, a moon base created primarily by the efforts of the brilliant finance minister of Kenya, who's now in charge of the base. The economy runs on tourism and on mining, with the smelting of aluminum and the creation of on-site glass (and the advantageous side effect of the releasing of oxygen) driving much of the business (and most of the plot). Heroine Jazz is a Saudi-descent young woman who's lived on Artemis since she was six, broke with her devout Muslim father during her wild-child teen years (during which she accidentally destroyed his welding business - another important plot-point), and who has now become a key player in smuggling thanks to a charming Kenyan pen-pal. (The letters between Jazz and Kelvin are delightful, and show how their friendship grew from innocent-children to teens-with-difficult-family-situations to clever and a wee bit criminal businesspeople using their connections and friendship to kick off the smuggling.)

The main plot has to do with an attempt to sabotage the moon's main aluminum-mining company, with Jazz hired to do the job; it's difficult and dangerous, but the payoff would clear her debts (including one to her father) and set her up for life, so of course she goes for it, all the while snarking to the reader about her tendency to make unfortunate life choices {wry grin}. And all this leads to threats from assassins, questions about loyalty, ongoing romantic complications, and some amazing scenes in which welding - and {gulp} economics - form part of a lively, funny, dramatic caper...

I really like Weir's handling of characters here, with irreverent humor as well as really touching emotional ties. Looking forward to his next book!

[There's a TV Tropes page on the book, with some entertaining tidbits.]

I left this book in the Little Free Library near the historic building; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in MA here.]

*** Released for the 2022 What's In A Name challenge. ***

** Released for the 2022 Science Fiction challenge. **