One of the novellas in The Year’s Top Hard Science Fiction Stories tells the story of a billionaire who buys a trip to the moon to investigate mysterious lights flashing from the lunar surface.
These flashes, known as transient lunar phenomena (TLP), are a subject of real-world scientific debate, with their causes still shrouded in mystery.
The novella, Lemuria 7 Is Missing by Allen M. Steele, also incorporates references to NASA’s Artemis moon program, the Space Launch System, and commercial space stations.
“The science in it is well-done, and it’s relevant to today because there’s a conspiracy theory going on,” Kaster notes. “And aren’t there conspiracy theories all over the place these days?”
The Human Touch in Modern Sci-Fi
Despite the advanced technology depicted today, enthusiasts agree that it’s not the science that elevates these stories above those written during the “Golden Age” of the mid-20th century.
What truly sets modern sci-fi apart is the uniquely human art of storytelling, which continues to evolve alongside our technological innovations.
