Vandals of the Void

Vandals of the Void is a young adult science fiction novel by American writer Jack Vance, published in 1953.

Vandals involves the adventures of teenager Dick Murdock, who travels from his home on Venus to work with this father at an observatory on the Moon.

He is invited to spend his summer holidays with his father Paul, who was recently promoted Chief Astronomer at an observatory on the Moon.

While shuttling down to the observatory they fly over the ruins of a former United Nations Security Station missile base, long abandoned as war is no longer a problem on Earth.

When later questioned by the UN crew, Sam claims he has met native moon people who live underground in tunnels.

Dick and Sende, revealed to be a UN operative, are picked up by the newly forming Space Navy as they attempt to intercept the pirate fleet.

A running battle ensues, and the tide is turned by the arrival of a much larger Navy cruiser, fresh from the shipyards.

Given Vance was already fairly well known at the time as a short story author, it is surprising that the novel seems to have seen little coverage in the press when it was published.

[1] James Reasoner reviewed it in 2013 as part of a "lost novels of..." collection, concluding that "I would have absolutely loved this book when I was twelve years old.