Creepy and bleak, Harstad's story is both psychologically and atmospherically disturbing. Harstad effectively builds tension by moving among the perspectives of adults and teens on the Moon and on Earth readers don't get to know the characters terribly well, which only adds to the book's icy remove. Unfortu nately, their hopes and dreams mean little when inexplicable, terrifying things start happening shortly after their arrival at the long-disused DARLAH 2 base, and the trip turns into a desperate struggle for survival.

French Antoine, Japanese Midori, and Norwegian Mia are the three winners of a globe-spanning lottery, each with his or her own reasons for wanting to travel to the Moon. And whilst the climax is short (under fifty pages), it is terrifying and left me in a state of unrest for several hours. The novel reaches its peak about half way through, when Harstad really begins to push the horror/spooky side of things. A mysterious signal on the Moon prompts humanity to return there in 2019 to address unfinished business, though the true goal of the mission is obscured by a massive publicity stunt: taking three teenagers along with the regular crew. Every book has its moment, and 172 Hours on the Moon is no different. The book was originally published in Norway on Septemby Cappelen Damm, with an English language translation being published by Little, Brown in New York City on July 10, 2012. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Apr 17. Now three ordinary teenagers, the winners of NASAs unprecedented, worldwide lottery, are about to become the first young people in space-and change their lives forever. Norwegian author Harstad makes his YA debut with this chilling combination of science fiction and horror, which won that country's Brage Award when it was first released there in 2008. DARLAH (English title: 172 Hours on the Moon) is a 2008 young adult science fiction / horror novel by Norwegian author Johan Harstad. Its been decades since anyone set foot on the moon.

172 hours on the moon book