Thin Edge by Randall Garrett

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(3 User reviews) 749

By Karen Choi Posted on Apr 1, 2026

In Category - Sea Exploration

Authors: Garrett, Randall, 1927-1987 Published By : Garrett, Randall, 1927-1987

Book Language: English

Hey, I just finished this wild little book from 1965 called 'Thin Edge' by Randall Garrett. You know I love those old-school sci-fi mysteries, and this one is a total blast from the past. It's about a tough-guy space investigator, David "Lucky" Starr, who gets sent to a mining colony on the Moon. The job sounds simple: figure out why the miners are suddenly getting sick with a weird, crippling disease. But nothing on the Moon is simple. The local big shots don't want him there, the miners are scared, and every clue he finds seems to point in a different direction. Is it sabotage? A strange lunar plague? Or something even weirder? Garrett throws in corporate secrets, a race against time, and that classic 'man vs. the unknown' tension. It's a fast, fun puzzle-box of a story that feels like a noir detective novel, just set on the Moon. If you're in the mood for a clever, page-turning mystery with a cool retro sci-fi vibe, this is your next read.

File: Thin Edge by Randall Garrett

Let's set the scene: it's the future, and humanity has a bustling colony on the Moon, mostly focused on mining. David "Lucky" Starr, an agent for the Council of Science (think a futuristic FBI for weird stuff), gets a distress call. Miners at the Tycho Crater base are falling victim to "The Withering," a disease that slowly paralyzes them. The company running the mine is losing money and patience, the medical staff is stumped, and panic is starting to bubble up. Starr's mission is to go in, find the cause, and stop it before the whole colony collapses.

The Story

Starr arrives on the Moon and immediately hits walls. The company director is hostile and obstructive, more worried about profits and bad press than his sick workers. The evidence is confusing—it doesn't act like a normal disease or poison. Starr has to use his wits, a bit of futuristic tech, and good old-fashioned deduction to interview scared miners, examine the crime scene (which is a whole mine), and piece together a pattern. The tension builds as more people get sick, and Starr realizes the culprit might be closer than anyone thinks. The solution is a satisfying blend of science and logic, a hallmark of Garrett's style.

Why You Should Read It

I love this book because it's so focused. It's not trying to save the galaxy; it's trying to solve one very specific, creepy problem in a claustrophobic setting. Starr is a great classic hero—smart, principled, and persistent. The mystery is genuinely puzzling, and Garrett plays fair with the clues. You get the fun of trying to figure it out alongside the hero. It also captures that great 1960s optimism about space colonization, but grounds it in a very human problem of greed, fear, and responsibility. It's a reminder that even on the Moon, people are still people, for better or worse.

Final Verdict

Thin Edge is perfect for anyone who misses the feel of golden-age sci-fi, where a smart idea and a tight plot were the main attractions. If you enjoy mystery novels and don't mind a lunar backdrop, you'll have a great time. It's also a fantastic, quick read for someone wanting a break from giant, doorstopper fantasy series. Think of it as a well-crafted episode of a classic sci-fi TV show—compact, clever, and hugely entertaining.