Local Engineer Navigates Lunar Terrain – With a Map – in New Sci-Fi Thriller
ROQUETTES, FRANCE – André David, a 40-year-old engineer based near Toulouse, france, has launched his second science fiction novel, “Luna Incognita,” published by Hachette. What sets this gripping space opera apart isn’t just its intricate plot about a world ship destined for the nearest star, but the remarkably detailed and accurate lunar geography woven into its narrative – a detail achieved by David writing the novel while consulting the official map of the Moon produced by France’s national geographic institute, the IGN.
David, a former officer with 15 years of service in the French army who now works in sea rescue at the CNES site, approached his world-building with a commitment to scientific realism. “I already had the end of the story in mind,” he explained, ”and it took three years to write, with a lot of research work that I carried out without support.” this dedication extended to meticulously mapping the lunar landscape, utilizing the IGN map to ensure the physical constraints and geography of the Moon were accurately represented within his fictional world.
“Luna Incognita” envisions a near-future where humanity has established a presence on both Earth and the Moon, collaborating on the ambitious project of constructing a world ship propelled by an asteroid. The novel explores the societal tensions that arise under such pressure and the technical challenges of interstellar travel. david’s first novel, “The Castaways of the Fermi Institute,” was released in 2022.
“Luna Incognita” is available in bookstores and at the Cité de l’espace, priced at 22 euros. David currently serves as center manager, responsible for maritime affairs at the satellite distress alert reception and distribution center on the CNES site.
