Product Description

Talented, imaginative, and self-confident, Matthias Ronay has never known any life but that on the moon, and he clashes with his brilliant politician father, Albin Ronay, in an attempt to change his future. Reprint. NYT.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1571606 in Books
• Published on: 1994-07-01
• Released on: 1994-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Amazon.com Review
It's not that Matt Ronay, the protagonist of this novel, is weightless; it's just that he lives on the Moon, and he has the ability to flow gracefully through the low gravity. There's a figurative weightless to the story as well, that of Ronay's life and decisions he faces growing up as an adolescent in lunar society. Ronay, a brilliant youth, takes a trip to distant city, acts in theater and dreams of flight to far-off worlds. His father, a leader in lunar politics, doesn't always understand, though he may have had some of the same yearnings as his son. This imaginative novel won the 1994 Philip K. Dick Award.

From Publishers Weekly
A young man's coming-of-age story set on the Moon at the end of the 21st century.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
As the son of one of the Moon's leading politicians, teenager Matt Ronay bridles at his father's expectations, setting his heart instead on the vastness of deep space and bracing himself for an inevitable confrontation that could make or break his future. The author of The Dragon Waiting captures the flavor of youthful rebellion in his portrayal of the cycle of generations. Suitable for both YA and adult sf collections.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Realized its power years after the last page
I read this book when I was too young to fully understand the complexity of the main character's decision about his future. When I started to go through the same sorts of choices, I found myself haunted by the book, even though I had finished it years ago. The most powerful scene for me is the mother's farewell. Even at the time it made me cry; now it is one of those scenes I use as an example to myself of what good writing really is. Thank you John M. Ford for a very moving experience!

Great book
I just read this book recently and loved it. I'm amazed people haven't been collaring me and saying "Have you read Growing Up Weightless yet? It's fantastic!" It's the sort of book that ought to have a cult following.

It isn't really a coming of age book, it's more complicated than that. A lot goes on around the edges, and much that you think is important, isn't. This book is best read, in my opinion, in one or two sittings where you are really paying attention, and taking five minutes to process and then turning around and rereading to see what bits you missed the first time isn't out of place, and is well-rewarded.

More of Ford's good work
This book is out of print, but still available if you know where to look. John M. Ford's award winning "Growing Up Weightless" is a familiar theme for him: coming-of-age during a period of change in society. His version of Lunar society owes some debts to previous stories including Heinlein's 'The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress,' but has developed in ways that may surprise you.

As usual, his story is multi-layered, and requires an intelligent reader to decipher the hints and allusions that Ford places throughout the text. Those who want active, clearly described plots should look elsewhere - but those who prefer not to be condescended to and enjoy puzzling out a story would enjoy this novel.

Ford never descends to the device of having characters explain something to each other that they would obviously already know, i.e. "As you know, George, a light bulb is a luminescent device powered by electricity that creates light in dark areas." For science fiction in particular, I find this very refreshing.

Finally, Ford's teenagers are active, thinking kids with dreams and desires. If they are very bright, they also seem very real to me.

It's worth finding a copy of this book. Better still, it would be worth bringing back into print.