The Moon is a frequent guest in science fiction, appearing in numerous films, TV series, books, and anime. The editors of Universe Space Tech have selected 12 of the most interesting ones that are worth paying attention to.
Films
Woman in the Moon
- Directed by: Fritz Lang
- Release date: 1929
- IMDb: 7,9/10
Although the film Woman in the Moon is many years old, it is still interesting. It was directed by Fritz Lang and consulted by Hermann Oberth, the founder of rocket science. Even the young Wernher von Braun, future head of NASA’s lunar program, worked on the film!
The film predicted many details of real flights: from the launch complex to the multistage rocket. Its creators even invented the countdown before launch!
2001: A Space Odyssey
- Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
- Release date: 1968
- IMDb: 8,3/10
Stanley Kubrick’s cult film has become the gold standard of science fiction. It impresses with its visual effects and continues to inspire filmmakers and space entrepreneurs. Its complex plot still provokes discussion.
Apollo 13
- Directed by: Ron Howard
- Release date: 1995
- IMDb: 7,7/10
The incredible story of the Apollo 13 flight is full of dramatic moments. The film Apollo 13 truthfully recreates the events of those days. The filming is impressive for its technical accuracy: copies of spacecraft, scenes in zero gravity, filmed in real conditions. The star-studded cast and masterful direction make this film one of the best about space.
Moon 2112
- Directed by: Duncan Jones
- Release date: 2009
- IMDb: 7,8/10
A futuristic drama about a miner on the Moon. The film raises important questions and makes you think, despite its modest budget. Sam Rockwell brilliantly plays two roles at once.
First Man
- Directed by: Damien Chazelle
- Release date: 2018
- IMDb: 7,3/10
The film First Man tells the story of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the Moon. Director Damien Chazelle portrays him as a personality, based on a biographical book.
The film is technically flawless: flights, rocket launches, and the Apollo 11 landing are recreated very realistically. The viewer feels what it’s like to be in a cramped spaceship in hostile space.
TV series
For All Mankind
- Release date: 2018 – present
- IMDb: 8,1/10
The series For All Mankind presents an alternate history in which the space race between the US and the USSR did not end but, on the contrary, intensified. By the 1970s, permanent bases had already been established on the Moon. The series skillfully combines real historical figures and fictional events, as well as showcasing space technologies that have not been implemented in our world.
Each season covers a new decade: the first two are about exploring the Moon, then Mars. Where will humanity go next?
Moonlight Mile
- Release date: 2007
- MyAnimeList: 7,2/10
The anime series tells the story of an alternate world where space exploration is actively underway. Helium-3 is discovered on the Moon, and intrigue unfolds around its extraction. Meanwhile, the US and China enter into a space conflict.
Space Brothers
- Release date: 2012
- MyAnimeList: 8,5/10
The anime series Space Brothers tells the story of two brothers who dream of becoming astronauts. The events take place in the near future, when humanity has just begun to explore the Moon. The series realistically depicts the work of space agencies and real space technology.
Planetes
- Release date: 2003
- MyAnimeList: 8,3/10
The anime series Planetes tells the story of space garbage collectors in 2075. Humanity has already colonized the Moon and Mars, and the heroes clean up debris from Earth’s orbit. Eventually, the action moves to the Moon, where preparations are underway for a flight to Jupiter.
Books
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
- Author: Robert A. Heinlein
- Goodreads: 4,2/5
The classic 1966 novel The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress describes a revolution on the Moon in 2075. Colonists, who live in poverty due to the greed of Earth corporations, rise against Earth. The uprising is led by a computer with its own consciousness. The rebels even bomb the Earth with moon rocks!
Artemis
- Author: Andy Weir
- Goodreads: 3,7/5
In this novel, published in 2017, the events take place in the 2080s. The Moon has been colonized for several decades, with thousands of people living there and actively mining minerals. A young woman who grew up in the city of Artemis constantly finds herself in various unpleasant situations. Soon, she realizes that what initially seemed like a large-scale but ordinary scam is turning into a real interplanetary intrigue that threatens the very existence of Artemis.
Luna: New Moon
- Author: Ian McDonald
- Goodreads: 3,8/5
In the same year, 2017, the novel Luna: New Moon was published. The events in it take place 100 years after the colonization of our satellite. It is home to one and a half million people who are already significantly different from Earthlings, not only culturally but also biologically.
However, the connection with Earth has not been completely severed. The Moon is tied to Earth by economic and political intrigues. At the same time, the inhabitants of our satellite are far from being united; on the contrary, they are divided into separate factions and groups based on family and economic principles.
