Review of H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna

[Chiwelite O]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna" by Bob Freeman.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna by Bob Freeman is a science fiction that is centered around the science, mode of operation, and crew of spaceships. The H2LiftShip is described with finesse; the reader easily obtains a vivid picture of the spacecraft. Throughout the story, we are immersed in the activities of three spaceships: The LunaCola, The Bina'sBeans, and The BlackHornet. The world created by Bob is filled with different genetically engineered species that all co-exist in Mars, Earth, the Moon, and the Asteroid colonies. The reader is immersed in the lives of the crew members of all the ships, which are made up of different genetically engineered species, with different backgrounds and very different personalities.

The spaceships are on different paths, however, the lives of the crews of the three ships are intertwined. The captains of the three ships used to be family. At some point, the head of the family(Mykolas) was abandoned. He is now seeking revenge. Does Mykolas get his revenge? Bob takes us on a journey that would surprise even the most attentive of readers.

For science fiction books to be successful, it requires a lot of description. Bob does not fail to deliver in this aspect. The spacecraft, planets, cosmos, and characters are described with a lot of finesse. This helps the reader to have a clear image of the world being portrayed in this book. Bob's narrative technique was superb. It felt as if I was practically in their world as I read this book. The author made good use of dialogue in this book. The conversations between the characters felt original and genuine even though they occurred between genetically engineered species. The characters are well developed, and the relationships between them are believable. Despite the need for the use of technical language, Bob used very simple diction that makes it easy to understand and enjoy.

I found some negative aspects as well. Bob fails to create enough conflict and tension in this book. There is no narrative hold at the beginning of the story to effectively engage the interest of the reader. The resolution of the story is disappointing. For instance, we are not told what happened to the characters after Mykolas lost the wager. Finally, I found some grammatical errors in this book.

I rate H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna 3 out of 4 stars. I did not rate it higher because the author failed to engage the reader throughout the book. Some readers may get bored as they read the book. I did not rate it lower because this is still an enjoyable read. I recommend this book to lovers of science fiction. People who love reading books on science would find this book interesting.

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H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna
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[Unosthetic]

I wonder how it feels like riding the H2LiftShips or any of the three other ships. Reading your review made me want to read to book as well. Thanks for a wonderful review!

[NetMassimo]

Despite the flaws you pointed out, this seems like a novel that can be interesting in many ways with great fantasy in telling about space travel and species produced by genetic engineering. Thank you for your great review!

[Rebecca De Figueiredo]

The reviewer mentions not enough tension or conflict, but I wonder if that’s necessary. Book one, Beyond Luna, seems like an immersive and stand-alone book. The cover is intriguing as is the plot.

[SophiaNd]

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Bob Freeman's *H2LiftShips - Beyond Luna* delivers a richly imaginative science fiction saga, intricately detailing the operations of advanced spacecraft and their diverse, genetically engineered crews as their intertwined lives orbit a central quest for revenge that promises to surprise even the most astute readers.

[Jennifer Wilson 95]

Bob Freeman writes his book with a dry, sarcastic wit. When you merge the sarcasm with sci-fi and sci-fi tech you have a uniquely written story. The tech part of the book seems to be explained in a plain matter that most can understand, but it is the intertwining of the ship's crew that create the plot for this book. This is Book 1 out of 4. Perhaps, the disappointing ending is resolved in Book 2?

[Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis]

Nice review! I usually do not read Sci-fi novels unless they are exceptionally good. This one doesn't seem to be that, so I will skip this one.

[Hawau Bello]

Beyond Luna; what I like most about it is the scientific imagery scenes. Try to engage the readers next time throughout the scene, if not most readers gets bored along the way. Keep it up!

[Shan Mohammad]

I’m a regular sci-fi reader, but Beyond Luna offered something refreshingly different from the usual space battles and alien invasions. Instead, it dives deep into what the future of space exploration might actually look like—with realistic technology, believable politics, and characters who feel like real people rather than larger-than-life heroes.

What I Really Liked:

Grounded science: The author clearly did their research. The use of H2-liftships, the lunar economy, and space logistics were presented in a way that felt both educational and believable. If you're into hard sci-fi, this book definitely delivers.

Complex characters: These aren’t your typical sci-fi action heroes. The characters have their own motives, flaws, and moral gray areas, which made the story more interesting and human.

Rich world-building: The universe of Beyond Luna feels alive and well thought out. I could easily picture the lunar colonies, orbital stations, and the slow but steady expansion of humanity into space.


What Could Have Been Better:

A slow start: The beginning leans heavily into technical detail, which might feel a bit dense for readers looking for fast-paced action. But it does set the foundation for a very realistic setting.

More emotional depth: While the plot and the tech are strong, a bit more emotional development in some of the characters would have helped create a deeper connection.


Final Thoughts:

Beyond Luna isn’t just a sci-fi story—it’s a look into a future that feels genuinely possible. It’s smart, grounded, and refreshingly practical in its approach to space exploration. If you enjoy science-driven stories with political, ethical, and economic depth, I highly recommend giving this book a shot. It’s not flashy, but it’s powerful in a quiet, thoughtful way.

— Shan Mohammad

[MacKenzie Blanchard]

I love reading sci-fi and fantasy books with a lot of lore building in them. Maybe the resolution continues into book two and is more fleshed out there?

[Stephanie Gail Stephen]

Thank you for your thoughtful review! As someone who enjoys richly described sci-fi worlds, I was excited by your mention of the detailed portrayals of the ship and characters. I'm still eager to read it. Your insights have given me a clear understanding of what to expect. I do love a good sci-fi book.

[rusyalana]

The book sounds interesting presenting us a tech manual for a possible future that is filled with various space opera adventures with humans and genetically engineered creatures. Congratulations on becoming BOTD!

[Limpho Mojakisane]

Thanks for the detailed review. I like that the book explores three different ships and how their crews are connected. The idea of genetically engineered species across Mars and other colonies sounds creative. It’s good to know the descriptions and dialogue are strong, though it’s a bit disappointing that the ending felt unresolved. Still sounds like a good pick for sci-fi fans.

[Sophia Simiyu]

Hmmm, you really did read and understand this book so well. Thanks for the precise descriptive review. Atleast by having it that way, some interests for the book are piqued.

[Bertha Jackson]

The generic engineering aspect and the connection between the three spaceships sound interesting. Thank you for your review.