Kevin

I've read most of Holmes' short stories, but this is only my second novel. Though it's always good to be back with my old friends, I'll admit this wasn't one of my favorites.

The story itself is a rather quick burn. Once the perp/s is/are caught, we get a 25-page backstory of barely relevant names and locations. Afterward, we're given just a few pages devoted to wrapping up the case. Most Holmes stories do a better job in the denouement.

Despite the slow ending, I savored the budding friendship between Holmes and Watson. I also enjoyed meeting *RECURRING CHARACTER* and learning more about their backstory.

There is a rare moment in SotF where Holmes' theory backfires and the characters have to laugh off their time wasted. This felt like a heartwarming touch I haven't seen in too many cases. I also appreciated the depictions of Holmes as a stimulation junkie, going so far as to engage in *DANGEROUS ACTIVITY* when bored and staying up for days when on the scent.

As others have commented, the racism and sexism in this story haven't aged well. Let the reader beware.

Recommended for the world-building, but it's not the most thrilling, clever, or well-developed Holmes case I've read. Like Holmes, I found myself craving the excitement of the unfolding story and struggling to pick the book back up when it lapsed.

It's wild to experience what a writer living in Edwardian times — nearly 60 years before space travel — thought going to the moon might one day look like. I give Wells massive props for his imagination in getting his characters to the moon and his rich descriptions of the environment once they arrive.

Chapters 6-10 are exhilarating. When the characters board the sphere, I thought to myself: "I've never watched or read anything like this." I would recommend this section at least if you can't commit to the whole book.

Unfortunately, for me, the story drags on in the later chapters. I thought the narrator's final actions were dishonorable and sort of irredeemable — which is a choice, for sure, but it's not the one I wanted. The appendix section was also a slog to get through.

Elements that took me out of the story were the scientific explanations hand-waved by the narrator. Wells clearly knew a great deal about science, but I got the impression he used the narrator's lack of understanding as a crutch. I also caught myself questioning more than once: would a character in this scenario really be able to recall these details months later? Would they really be able to communicate such discoveries using morse code?

3.5 stars for an INCREDIBLE setup of a story decades ahead of its time, but with what felt like a disappointing follow-through. I still regard the opening act fondly, and I love how Wells gets his characters to the moon quickly and gives them a sandbox to play in. I also thoroughly enjoyed the discoveries made once on the moon — I had no idea what to expect! It was a fun ride, but the last half would probably keep me from reading it again.