Sex on the Moon

Thad Roberts, a fellow in a prestigious NASA program, had an idea a romantic, albeit crazy, idea. He wanted to give his girlfriend the moon. Literally. Thad convinced his girlfriend and another female accomplice, both NASA fellows, to break into an impenetrable laboratory at NASA past security checkpoints, an electronically locked door with cipher security codes, and camera-lined hallways and help him steal the most precious objects in the world: the moon rocks.
But what does one do with items so valuable that theyre illegal even to own? And was Thad Roberts undeniably gifted, picked for one of the most competitive scientific posts imaginable, a possible astronaut really what he seemed?
SEX ON THE MOON: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History (Doubleday; 7/12) is based meticulous research into thousands of pages of court records, FBI transcripts, NASA documents, and interviews with most of the participants in the crime. Ben Mezrich with his signature high-velocity swagger has reconstructed the madcap story of genius, love, and duplicity, all centered around a heist that reads like a Hollywood thrill ride.

Mezrich, whose The Accidental Billionaires was adapted for The Social Network, is back with another real-life adventure. NASAs Thad Roberts, a romantic, wanted to do something special for his girlfriend give her a piece of the moon; priceless rocks astronauts brought back from the lunar surface. Breaking into NASAs elaborate security system to swipe the rocks is a thrill ride you can image DannyOcean engineering.
New York Post



CaptivatingMezrich enthusiastically re-creates this oddball 2002 moon-rock heist, led by ambitious lunar-obsessed Mormon Thad Roberts and two female accomplices, all of whom were part of a select group of NASA interns and soon-to-be astronauts-in-training.
Kirkus Review



A fascinating story. Like Mezrichs previous books, this one has the readability of popular fiction, with a ripping story and great characters. Another winner from an extremely talented writer.
Booklist, Starred Review



One of the summers most fun reads. Mezrich has uncovered another high-stakes, fascinating true story, this time about a heist involving NASA, moon rocks and intense romance. Mezrich digs through FBI records and interviews to discover the truth behind the crime; part love story, part madcap caper, part astrogeekery.
NPR.org



A promising NASA recruit throws everything away for a girl, illustrating the fascinating consequences when science, ambition, and starry-eyed love collide. Mezrich (The Accidental Billionaires, from which The Social Network was adapted) has perfected his intensely readable brand of nonfiction: talented, often unscrupulous, young people skyrocketing to the top only to tumble back to earth.
Publishers Weekly