After Earth becomes uninhabitable, twelve-year-old Henry Meadows and his family join humanity’s first colony on the hostile moon Perm, where they struggle to survive amid toxic air, alien life, and the mysterious absence of Henry’s mother, a scientist who arrived centuries earlier due to time dilation. The story explores themes of environmental responsibility, the ethics of colonization, and the tension between human ambition and the rights of other life forms, all through a blend of hard science fiction, family dynamics, and philosophical reflection.

Reader Review Summary

Set in a distant future after the destruction of Earth, the novel follows twelve-year-old Henry Meadows and his family as they travel to Perm, a primordial moon in a far-off solar system, to join humanity's first and only colony. The story alternates between Henry's perspective as he, his father, and siblings adapt to the harsh, toxic environment of Perm, and the earlier experiences of his mother, Mildred, a scientist who arrived years before due to advanced propulsion technology. The colony faces numerous challenges: the atmosphere is unbreathable, the ecosystem is both fascinating and dangerous, and the process of terraforming has mysteriously stalled. Mildred's scientific work and her conflict with the colony's leader, Noah, are central to the plot, as is the family's search for answers about her fate and the warnings she left behind. The narrative explores themes of environmental impact, colonization, and the ethical dilemmas of survival, with elements of time paradoxes, advanced technology, and the struggle to coexist with Perm's alien life forms.

Readers praised the book's detailed and imaginative worldbuilding, particularly the depiction of Perm's alien environment, its unique flora and fauna, and the scientific plausibility of the setting. The alternating perspectives between Henry and his mother Mildred were highlighted as effective in gradually revealing the backstory and deepening the emotional stakes. Many found the use of a child's viewpoint to be engaging, providing both a sense of wonder and a means to explore complex issues through a fresh lens. The philosophical and ethical questions raised—such as humanity's right to alter new worlds, the consequences of environmental exploitation, and the persistence of social hierarchies—were frequently cited as thought-provoking. The inclusion of scientific reports, glossaries, and maps was also appreciated for aiding immersion and understanding.

Some readers expressed difficulty with the book's complexity, citing confusion over the scientific terminology, time paradoxes, and the relationships between characters, especially in the early chapters. The child characters, particularly Henry, were sometimes perceived as too mature or not convincingly childlike in their behavior and dialogue. A few found the pacing uneven, with stretches of slow or dense exposition, and some felt the ending was abrupt or required a significant suspension of disbelief. There were also comments that the scientific and technical aspects could be overwhelming or insufficiently explained within the narrative, despite the presence of a glossary.

The book has received a generally positive reception, with an average rating of 4.17 out of 5 from 59 reader ratings and 33 full reviews. It is categorized as science fiction and is scheduled for publication in March 2025 by Klett-Cotta. The narrative structure includes both present action and retrospective accounts, and the story is noted for its focus on family dynamics, societal critique, and the intersection of technology and morality. The novel is considered accessible to both genre newcomers and experienced science fiction readers, though some background in scientific concepts may enhance comprehension.