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tranquilitycase's review against another edition
2.0
There were some interesting ideas here, but the book felt too cluttered to me. Too many characters to sufficiently develop them, too many organizations to understand their roles in Lunar society, and too much gratuitous sex. I was interested enough to finish the book, but I probably won't read the second book.
rickwren's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
willdr's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. I haven't hit anything as compelling as this book in a while. I devoured this even while recuperating from my second COVID vaccination. Luna: New Moon takes place largely on that closest satellite of ours, which has been transformed into a libertarian paradise. There is no government on the Moon, only contract law. Anything can be negotiated, and not only that - everything is under negotiation, from your first arrival on the moon's surface you're given a chib that tracks your usage of data, food, water and oxygen.
The brutal corpo-colony is ruled by the Five Dragons, five families that control the majority of sources of capital on the moon. Our protag-family, the Cortas, are relatively new to the "throne", but their rise has been disruptive. The comparisons to Game of Thrones are due to the layered political landscape and penchant for brutal violence, and they are apt. There are some gratuitous sex scenes but they help to build the mise-en-scene of a society that has grown up in the shadow of Earth, but grown apart from it as well.
The brutal corpo-colony is ruled by the Five Dragons, five families that control the majority of sources of capital on the moon. Our protag-family, the Cortas, are relatively new to the "throne", but their rise has been disruptive. The comparisons to Game of Thrones are due to the layered political landscape and penchant for brutal violence, and they are apt. There are some gratuitous sex scenes but they help to build the mise-en-scene of a society that has grown up in the shadow of Earth, but grown apart from it as well.
Agency is a comforting fairy story. Life is a series of doors that only open one way. We can never return. This is the world and we must live in it the best we can.McDonald masterfully blends social commentary with a truly breakneck plot that never ceases momentum (unlike Game of Thrones...) but still maintaining narrative cohesion. It's like the best political parts of The Expanse, with a dash of Altered Carbon's sexuality (without the misogynism. The Moon is as open-minded as it is libertarian, with gender-neutral pronouns, fluid sexualities and more). and, yes, Game of Thrones sense of filial duty, manipulation and a colourful cast of characters, this is it.
jordibal's review against another edition
4.0
4,25/5 Grandes ideas, vivos personajes, interesante trama… El estilo es bastante aséptico, eso sí. En cualquier caso, la traducción es impoluta: así da gusto. Pero hoy he decidido dejar que el libro hable por sí mismo:
«Siempre habíamos pensado que el apocalipsis robótico llegaría de la mano de flotas de drones asesinos, mechas de combate del tamaño de bloques de pisos y Terminators de ojos rojos, no de una hilera de cajas de autoservicio en el supermercado de la esquina, de las máquinas expendedoras de billetes de la estación de tren, de la banca en línea, de los taxis sin conductor y de la automatización del triaje en los hospitales. Uno por uno, los robots llegaban y nos sustituían». (Esto es así)
«Aprender portugués. ¿Qué clase de idioma es ese? Hay que hablar como si se tuviera un resfriado permanente. Nada suena como se escribe». (Ojo, que esta perla la suelta una anglo)
«—Soy una roquera.
—Ah, metal. Es lo único que escucha mi equipo: metal.
—No, rock.
—¿Hay diferencia?
—Enorme. Como dice tu hermano, hay que tener oído para eso».
«al parecer, nunca ha tenido pareja, ni siquiera una aventura rápida. Nunca. Jamás. No me extraña ni un poco». (Ergo no es de fiar, como los veganos)
«La capacidad de decisión es un cuento de hadas que aporta consuelo; la vida es una serie de puertas que solo se pueden cruzar en un sentido. Nunca podemos volver». (Ahhhh)
(Me han dicho que soy un tacaño por poner medias estrellas, así que aquí va un cuarto de estrella. Ea.)
«Siempre habíamos pensado que el apocalipsis robótico llegaría de la mano de flotas de drones asesinos, mechas de combate del tamaño de bloques de pisos y Terminators de ojos rojos, no de una hilera de cajas de autoservicio en el supermercado de la esquina, de las máquinas expendedoras de billetes de la estación de tren, de la banca en línea, de los taxis sin conductor y de la automatización del triaje en los hospitales. Uno por uno, los robots llegaban y nos sustituían». (Esto es así)
«Aprender portugués. ¿Qué clase de idioma es ese? Hay que hablar como si se tuviera un resfriado permanente. Nada suena como se escribe». (Ojo, que esta perla la suelta una anglo)
«—Soy una roquera.
—Ah, metal. Es lo único que escucha mi equipo: metal.
—No, rock.
—¿Hay diferencia?
—Enorme. Como dice tu hermano, hay que tener oído para eso».
«al parecer, nunca ha tenido pareja, ni siquiera una aventura rápida. Nunca. Jamás. No me extraña ni un poco». (Ergo no es de fiar, como los veganos)
«La capacidad de decisión es un cuento de hadas que aporta consuelo; la vida es una serie de puertas que solo se pueden cruzar en un sentido. Nunca podemos volver». (Ahhhh)
(Me han dicho que soy un tacaño por poner medias estrellas, así que aquí va un cuarto de estrella. Ea.)
marialy's review against another edition
4.0
Un libro que me sorprendió totalmente. Fuera de lo que generalmente suelo leer, con una historia familiar muy compleja, que nos da un paseo desde el mundo que conocemos al que nos enfrentamos en el libro. Los personajes para mi estuvieron muy bien construidos, realmente sentí la diferencia de personalidades entre ellos. A pesar de que pensé que la descripción de la luna y su modo de vida iba a ser muy pesado resulto ser de lo mas divertido, con un vuelco total a la imaginación. Y pues no falta mencionar la locura sexual que maneja el autor, la luna es la total perdición.
mofoghlu's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Has been compared to the TV show Succession, and there's an element of truth in that.
momotan's review against another edition
3.0
Questo libro mi ha lasciato un poco perplesso.
E' splendido nel descrivere un futuro non molto lontano in cui la Luna è stata colonizzata.
Le modifiche subite dai coloni, l'impossibilità di tornare sulla Terra dopo un determinato periodo passato sul satellite. Il rapporto con la Terra, la società che si viene a formare sulla Luna, composta totalmente da gente qualificata e arrivata lì per svolgere mansioni specifiche, ma la cui esistenza e sopravvivenza dipende dalle bolle di mercato, dalla negoziazione dei contratti, dalla possibilità di pagare per ogni singolo respiro che si fa.
E poi i cinque Dragoni, le Dinastie che controllano le materie prime e l'economia del satellite, tutte debitrici dei rispettivi paesi d'origine e condizioni di partenza.
Un'ambientazione claustrofobica e affascinante.
Peccato che la storia sonnecchi sullo sfondo, intrigata dall'ambientazione e dalla storia della colonizzazione del satellite al punto da rimanere in penombra, srotolandosi molto lentamente.
Un blando tentativo di assassinio qui e là, sepolto sotto giochi di potere corporativi, invidie tra fratelli, punti di vista esterni a nostro beneficio e formazione di un giovane rampollo che sembra la versione sci-fi del protagonista di Belli e Dannati.
Se la storia avesse avuto più peso e non sembrasse solo una scusa per mostrare tutto questo, il libro meriterebbe certamente di più. Così invece cade nella categoria del "ho passato tutto il tempo a creare l'ambientazione, me ne sono innamorato, ora inventiamoci una storia per poter mostrare questa Luna al mondo intero".
E' splendido nel descrivere un futuro non molto lontano in cui la Luna è stata colonizzata.
Le modifiche subite dai coloni, l'impossibilità di tornare sulla Terra dopo un determinato periodo passato sul satellite. Il rapporto con la Terra, la società che si viene a formare sulla Luna, composta totalmente da gente qualificata e arrivata lì per svolgere mansioni specifiche, ma la cui esistenza e sopravvivenza dipende dalle bolle di mercato, dalla negoziazione dei contratti, dalla possibilità di pagare per ogni singolo respiro che si fa.
E poi i cinque Dragoni, le Dinastie che controllano le materie prime e l'economia del satellite, tutte debitrici dei rispettivi paesi d'origine e condizioni di partenza.
Un'ambientazione claustrofobica e affascinante.
Peccato che la storia sonnecchi sullo sfondo, intrigata dall'ambientazione e dalla storia della colonizzazione del satellite al punto da rimanere in penombra, srotolandosi molto lentamente.
Un blando tentativo di assassinio qui e là, sepolto sotto giochi di potere corporativi, invidie tra fratelli, punti di vista esterni a nostro beneficio e formazione di un giovane rampollo che sembra la versione sci-fi del protagonista di Belli e Dannati.
Se la storia avesse avuto più peso e non sembrasse solo una scusa per mostrare tutto questo, il libro meriterebbe certamente di più. Così invece cade nella categoria del "ho passato tutto il tempo a creare l'ambientazione, me ne sono innamorato, ora inventiamoci una storia per poter mostrare questa Luna al mondo intero".
masterofdoom's review against another edition
5.0
This is a cross between the War of the Roses and the Godfather I&II that has a great Game of Thrones flavor, but if Martin uses the same old European setting, McDonald creates a wonderful future moon with a well thought and extremely rich texture; and the last third absolutely rocks. Can't wait to read the next volume.
charles__'s review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of this author. I don't like everything he writes, but some of his books really shine. For example, I thought [b:River of Gods|278280|River of Gods (India 2047, #1)|Ian McDonald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388256017l/278280._SX50_.jpg|2440580] was very good, and [b:Desolation Road|278284|Desolation Road (Desolation Road Universe, #1)|Ian McDonald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1304679563l/278284._SY75_.jpg|2698837] just wasn't. This book is as good as River of Gods, and its structure is similar.
Writing was good: dialog, descriptive and action scenes. Frankly, its top notch for contemporary science fiction. I even thought the pr0n-y scenes were good. The characters in this book posed a problem to me like I had with [b:War and Peace|656|War and Peace|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413215930l/656._SY75_.jpg|4912783]. There are a lot of characters and locations with foreign (typically Portuguese), unpronounceable names. I laughed and sympathized at the Marina Calzaghe character's lament about the difficulty of having to learn Portuguese. The tech-speak was also credible.
Plotting was good, but not excellent. Some reviews criticize the story for being a telenovela set on the moon. What's wrong with that? The multiple POVs that drove the plot threads forward were well done. Although, some members of the Corta family were better executed than others. Frankly, I liked the female characters better than the male. I would have liked one more Anglo-character in addition to Marina.
The world building is the great strength of this book. While this is not exactly hard science fiction, its very firm. I mentally poked at McDonald's Luna, and couldn't find a lot of holes. The largest being, that with an abundance of inexpensive AIs, how underutilized they were? (Why are there human shopkeepers?) In addition, in an energy and material-rich environment, labor should be at a premium? (There is an underutilized population of untermenschen living near the surface considered to be vermin-- not a source of labor.)
A great disappointment to me, was that this story is unfinished. A second, and perhaps a third novel are planned. There might even be 'spin-off' short-stories as the author tries to develop a James S. A. Corey-like franchaise. (The series has been optioned for television.)
I liked this book. Its not perfect, but its very good. It makes me think of a mash-up of [b:Dune|234225|Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)|Frank Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434908555l/234225._SY75_.jpg|3634639] and [b:The Moon is a Harsh Mistress|16690|The Moon is a Harsh Mistress|Robert A. Heinlein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348768309l/16690._SY75_.jpg|1048525] with a dash of cyberpunk. Although, the plotting is not as byzantine and opaque as Dune. There was higher-degree of Edu-tainment with the planetary (lunar) science, and the mechanics of lunar survival than in Harsh Mistress. And finally, the lunar society had definite cyberpunk influences. The flavor of cyberpunk read [a:Bruce Sterling|34429|Bruce Sterling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1379306689p2/34429.jpg]-esque to me.
There are not a lot of science fiction novels out there set on the moon. (Its become an unpopular place since the 1970's.) Besides the above mention Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I can only recall [b:Tongues of the Moon|2271888|Tongues of the Moon|Philip José Farmer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344527660l/2271888._SY75_.jpg|2137739] by [a:Philip José Farmer|10089|Philip José Farmer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234714074p2/10089.jpg], which was great Cold War-era pulp. I'm hoping this story spurs more stories set on the Moon like [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413706054l/18007564._SY75_.jpg|21825181] has done for Mars stories. I'm eager to read the next in McDonald's Luna series: [b:Wolf Moon|28220871|Wolf Moon (Luna, #2)|Ian McDonald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453228634l/28220871._SY75_.jpg|48249512].
Writing was good: dialog, descriptive and action scenes. Frankly, its top notch for contemporary science fiction. I even thought the pr0n-y scenes were good. The characters in this book posed a problem to me like I had with [b:War and Peace|656|War and Peace|Leo Tolstoy|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413215930l/656._SY75_.jpg|4912783]. There are a lot of characters and locations with foreign (typically Portuguese), unpronounceable names. I laughed and sympathized at the Marina Calzaghe character's lament about the difficulty of having to learn Portuguese. The tech-speak was also credible.
Plotting was good, but not excellent. Some reviews criticize the story for being a telenovela set on the moon. What's wrong with that? The multiple POVs that drove the plot threads forward were well done. Although, some members of the Corta family were better executed than others. Frankly, I liked the female characters better than the male. I would have liked one more Anglo-character in addition to Marina.
The world building is the great strength of this book. While this is not exactly hard science fiction, its very firm. I mentally poked at McDonald's Luna, and couldn't find a lot of holes. The largest being, that with an abundance of inexpensive AIs, how underutilized they were? (Why are there human shopkeepers?) In addition, in an energy and material-rich environment, labor should be at a premium? (There is an underutilized population of untermenschen living near the surface considered to be vermin-- not a source of labor.)
A great disappointment to me, was that this story is unfinished. A second, and perhaps a third novel are planned. There might even be 'spin-off' short-stories as the author tries to develop a James S. A. Corey-like franchaise. (The series has been optioned for television.)
I liked this book. Its not perfect, but its very good. It makes me think of a mash-up of [b:Dune|234225|Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)|Frank Herbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1434908555l/234225._SY75_.jpg|3634639] and [b:The Moon is a Harsh Mistress|16690|The Moon is a Harsh Mistress|Robert A. Heinlein|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348768309l/16690._SY75_.jpg|1048525] with a dash of cyberpunk. Although, the plotting is not as byzantine and opaque as Dune. There was higher-degree of Edu-tainment with the planetary (lunar) science, and the mechanics of lunar survival than in Harsh Mistress. And finally, the lunar society had definite cyberpunk influences. The flavor of cyberpunk read [a:Bruce Sterling|34429|Bruce Sterling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1379306689p2/34429.jpg]-esque to me.
There are not a lot of science fiction novels out there set on the moon. (Its become an unpopular place since the 1970's.) Besides the above mention Moon is a Harsh Mistress, I can only recall [b:Tongues of the Moon|2271888|Tongues of the Moon|Philip José Farmer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344527660l/2271888._SY75_.jpg|2137739] by [a:Philip José Farmer|10089|Philip José Farmer|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1234714074p2/10089.jpg], which was great Cold War-era pulp. I'm hoping this story spurs more stories set on the Moon like [b:The Martian|18007564|The Martian|Andy Weir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1413706054l/18007564._SY75_.jpg|21825181] has done for Mars stories. I'm eager to read the next in McDonald's Luna series: [b:Wolf Moon|28220871|Wolf Moon (Luna, #2)|Ian McDonald|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1453228634l/28220871._SY75_.jpg|48249512].
tondola's review against another edition
4.0
It's a 4.5
It was a slow start for me, the many characters had me confused up to the point in which their stories became more interlaced. I did not stand some POVs, but from half book on it was a pleasure to read. I am definitely going to look into the continuation of the series, as I am very curios about how it might evolve!
Weorth reading
It was a slow start for me, the many characters had me confused up to the point in which their stories became more interlaced. I did not stand some POVs, but from half book on it was a pleasure to read. I am definitely going to look into the continuation of the series, as I am very curios about how it might evolve!
Weorth reading