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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Într-o încăpere albă de pe marginea lui Sinus Medii stau şase adolescenţi în pielea goală. Trei fete, trei băieţi. Negri, galbeni, cafenii, albi. Se scarpină cu putere, fără oprire. Depresurizarea usucă epiderma, provoacă mâncărimi.
Camera este strâmtă, ca un butoi în care de-abia poţi sta în picioare. Copiii stau faţă în faţă pe bănci, cu pulpele lipite de ale vecinului, cu genunchii atingându-i pe ai celui din faţă. Nu au la ce să se uite şi nu au pe cine să vadă în afară de ei, însă evită contactul vizual. Sunt prea aproape, prea expuşi. Toţi respiră prin câte o mască transparentă. Oxigenul şuieră prin locurile unde nu s-a făcut corect etanşarea. Un manometru este instalat sub geamul de pe ecluza exterioară. S-a oprit la cincisprezece kilopascali. A durat o oră până când presiunea a coborât la acest nivel.
Însă afară e vid.
Lucasinho se apleacă şi se mai uită o dată pe geamul micuţ. Se vede bine ecluza; este chiar în faţă şi drumul până la ea este liber. Soarele apune; umbrele sunt lungi şi groase şi sunt îndreptate spre el. Mai negre decât stratul negru de regolit, ar putea ascunde multe capcane. Temperatura la sol este o sută douăzeci de grade Celsius, îl avertizase avatarul său. Va fi un drum de foc.
Drum de foc, drum de gheaţă.
Şapte kilopascali. Lucasinho se simte umflat, cu pielea întinsă şi murdară. Când manometrul va ajunge la cinci, ecluza se va deschide. Lucasinho îşi doreşte să fie şi avatarul său aici. Jinji i-ar putea regla bătăile nebuneşti ale inimii, i-ar putea potoli zvâcnetul muşchiului din pulpa dreaptă. Surprinde privirea fetei din faţa lui. Este o Asamoah; fratele ei mai mare stă alături de ea. Răsuceşte între degete amuleta adinkra pe care o poartă la gât. Avatarul ei ar fi trebuit s-o avertizeze în privinţa asta. În locul acesta metalul s-ar putea suda de piele. Şi atunci ar purta pe veci cicatricea lăsată de simbolul Gaye Nyame. Îi aruncă un surâs minuscul. Sunt şase adolescenţi frumoşi, în pielea goală, lipiţi unul de altul; dar camera este lipsită de orice vibraţie sexuală. Gândurile tuturor se îndreaptă spre ce se află dincolo de ecluză. Doi Asamoah; o fată Sun; o fată Mackenzie; un băiat Voronţov, foarte speriat şi care a intrat în hiperventilaţie; şi Lucasinho Alves Mao de Ferro Arena de Corta. Lucasinho a avut relaţii cu toţi, mai puţin cu fata Mackenzie. Familiile Corta şi Mackenzie nu au relaţii. Şi nici cu Abena Maanu Asamoah nu a avut nici o relaţie, pentru că perfecţiunea ei îl intimidează pe Lucasinho Corta. Fratele ei, pe de altă parte, o suge ca nimeni altul.
Camera este strâmtă, ca un butoi în care de-abia poţi sta în picioare. Copiii stau faţă în faţă pe bănci, cu pulpele lipite de ale vecinului, cu genunchii atingându-i pe ai celui din faţă. Nu au la ce să se uite şi nu au pe cine să vadă în afară de ei, însă evită contactul vizual. Sunt prea aproape, prea expuşi. Toţi respiră prin câte o mască transparentă. Oxigenul şuieră prin locurile unde nu s-a făcut corect etanşarea. Un manometru este instalat sub geamul de pe ecluza exterioară. S-a oprit la cincisprezece kilopascali. A durat o oră până când presiunea a coborât la acest nivel.
Însă afară e vid.
Lucasinho se apleacă şi se mai uită o dată pe geamul micuţ. Se vede bine ecluza; este chiar în faţă şi drumul până la ea este liber. Soarele apune; umbrele sunt lungi şi groase şi sunt îndreptate spre el. Mai negre decât stratul negru de regolit, ar putea ascunde multe capcane. Temperatura la sol este o sută douăzeci de grade Celsius, îl avertizase avatarul său. Va fi un drum de foc.
Drum de foc, drum de gheaţă.
Şapte kilopascali. Lucasinho se simte umflat, cu pielea întinsă şi murdară. Când manometrul va ajunge la cinci, ecluza se va deschide. Lucasinho îşi doreşte să fie şi avatarul său aici. Jinji i-ar putea regla bătăile nebuneşti ale inimii, i-ar putea potoli zvâcnetul muşchiului din pulpa dreaptă. Surprinde privirea fetei din faţa lui. Este o Asamoah; fratele ei mai mare stă alături de ea. Răsuceşte între degete amuleta adinkra pe care o poartă la gât. Avatarul ei ar fi trebuit s-o avertizeze în privinţa asta. În locul acesta metalul s-ar putea suda de piele. Şi atunci ar purta pe veci cicatricea lăsată de simbolul Gaye Nyame. Îi aruncă un surâs minuscul. Sunt şase adolescenţi frumoşi, în pielea goală, lipiţi unul de altul; dar camera este lipsită de orice vibraţie sexuală. Gândurile tuturor se îndreaptă spre ce se află dincolo de ecluză. Doi Asamoah; o fată Sun; o fată Mackenzie; un băiat Voronţov, foarte speriat şi care a intrat în hiperventilaţie; şi Lucasinho Alves Mao de Ferro Arena de Corta. Lucasinho a avut relaţii cu toţi, mai puţin cu fata Mackenzie. Familiile Corta şi Mackenzie nu au relaţii. Şi nici cu Abena Maanu Asamoah nu a avut nici o relaţie, pentru că perfecţiunea ei îl intimidează pe Lucasinho Corta. Fratele ei, pe de altă parte, o suge ca nimeni altul.
Originally posted on bluchickenninja.com.
So I really liked this book. I really really liked this book. Like I would have given it 6 stars if I could. I didn’t even want to finish it, however I did partly because I had to write this review and partly because I found out that there is an 800 page sequel coming out in September next year (imo that’s far too long a wait but I’m not the publisher).
Luna is partly the story of a young Brazilian girl that comes from nothing, moves to the moon to find a job and creates an organisation that mines helium which basically powers all the lights on Earth. It is also the story of this family/ organisation two generations later and shows the consequences of the young girl’s actions.
Its almost a dystopia in a way, the people on the moon have to pay their four elementals, air, water, carbon and data. However its almost understandable why they need to pay that. Water and oxygen are not found on the moon, it needs to be created or brought from Earth. So even though there are poor on the moon – out of a job because they have been replaced by AI – needing to sell their urine and unable to take a full breath because they are low on oxygen. It makes total sense why that system is in place.
Everyone on the moon is constantly shown the state of their elementals with a chib, a virtual pane in an interactive contact lens. Its almost like a virtual reality thing, it can show adverts and it shows every persons familiar. This is almost like a small virtual assistant. This was done so well, I’ve read books where the ‘altered reality’ is the whole point of the story. In this its just a tool just like the daily elementals is just a thing that comes with living on the moon.
And then we have some fantastically strong female characters. Who have to be strong because they are on the moon. We see how in the beginning there are only organisations on the Moon, no definite rules, just codes of conduct. And with men outnumbering the women it means that women need to look after themselves. So basically what you now have is women who are totally prepared to kick butt while also wearing a dress and Rimmel lipstick. Basically these ladies look like Effie Trinket and fight like Brienne of Tarth.
Then you have this really interesting way that people on the moon view sexuality. It seems that people on the moon have moved beyond the Earth standard, gay or straight, man or woman. Basically its now a spectrum and people sleep with whomever they want. We also have some really interesting gender fluid characters who almost have the exact opposite of Lycanthropy. However the one single problem I had with this book, was a sex scene at almost 50% through. This book is very open about sexuality and that’s good, I just didn’t expect a full out 50 Shades of Grey type scene. But you can totally still enjoy this without reading that bit.
I can’t fully express how much I loved this book. There is a story line through it but it’s really just setting up the next volume. However the book is so fascinating that you really don’t mind its just setting up the next book. Its really just the story of one family with the Moon and all this technology in the background. It was the perfect mix of interesting plot and characters that I came to genuinely care for. In fact I enjoyed it so much I am going to buy a copy of this (and all of Ian McDonalds other books too).
So I really liked this book. I really really liked this book. Like I would have given it 6 stars if I could. I didn’t even want to finish it, however I did partly because I had to write this review and partly because I found out that there is an 800 page sequel coming out in September next year (imo that’s far too long a wait but I’m not the publisher).
Luna is partly the story of a young Brazilian girl that comes from nothing, moves to the moon to find a job and creates an organisation that mines helium which basically powers all the lights on Earth. It is also the story of this family/ organisation two generations later and shows the consequences of the young girl’s actions.
Its almost a dystopia in a way, the people on the moon have to pay their four elementals, air, water, carbon and data. However its almost understandable why they need to pay that. Water and oxygen are not found on the moon, it needs to be created or brought from Earth. So even though there are poor on the moon – out of a job because they have been replaced by AI – needing to sell their urine and unable to take a full breath because they are low on oxygen. It makes total sense why that system is in place.
Everyone on the moon is constantly shown the state of their elementals with a chib, a virtual pane in an interactive contact lens. Its almost like a virtual reality thing, it can show adverts and it shows every persons familiar. This is almost like a small virtual assistant. This was done so well, I’ve read books where the ‘altered reality’ is the whole point of the story. In this its just a tool just like the daily elementals is just a thing that comes with living on the moon.
And then we have some fantastically strong female characters. Who have to be strong because they are on the moon. We see how in the beginning there are only organisations on the Moon, no definite rules, just codes of conduct. And with men outnumbering the women it means that women need to look after themselves. So basically what you now have is women who are totally prepared to kick butt while also wearing a dress and Rimmel lipstick. Basically these ladies look like Effie Trinket and fight like Brienne of Tarth.
Then you have this really interesting way that people on the moon view sexuality. It seems that people on the moon have moved beyond the Earth standard, gay or straight, man or woman. Basically its now a spectrum and people sleep with whomever they want. We also have some really interesting gender fluid characters who almost have the exact opposite of Lycanthropy. However the one single problem I had with this book, was a sex scene at almost 50% through. This book is very open about sexuality and that’s good, I just didn’t expect a full out 50 Shades of Grey type scene. But you can totally still enjoy this without reading that bit.
I can’t fully express how much I loved this book. There is a story line through it but it’s really just setting up the next volume. However the book is so fascinating that you really don’t mind its just setting up the next book. Its really just the story of one family with the Moon and all this technology in the background. It was the perfect mix of interesting plot and characters that I came to genuinely care for. In fact I enjoyed it so much I am going to buy a copy of this (and all of Ian McDonalds other books too).
I generally have a hard time with Ian McDonald and almost quit reading this one a few times, but ultimately got sucked in to the dynasties and soap opera. I wish it had been standalone, but I will suck it up and read the next one (and hope it's the last).
This review also appears on my blog alexreadsboooks
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Set in a future where the moon and her ressources are controlled by the Five Dragons, the five biggest companies on the moon, Luna: New Moon describes what happens when tensions between the Cortas and the Mackenzies rise, a path that can only lead to war.
This book is phenomenal. I could barely stop reading, and to be honest it was over a little too fast, if only because I wanted more.
The story is incredibly rich, and there are so many ideas in it that you might think it gets too much at some point, but it just manages to make the story feel three-dimensional and real. I had to check the character list (which is luckily part of the book) occasionally to keep everyone’s relations straight, but that was mostly when minor characters appeared again after I had been distracted by one of the dazzling main characters.
There were two pairings I found myself rooting for, and neither of them got together, but I couldn’t even get mad (okay maybe I got a little mad at one of them), because the book was just that good.
But one of the best things about Luna: New Moon is the sheer amount of diversity in it! Most of the story line follows members of the Corta family, who are Brazilian. But other members of the Five Dragons originally came to the moon from Ghana and China, and they all brought their languages and traditions with them. People on the moon use words from all kinds of languages. What’s particularly great about this is that the book avoids putting any non-English words in italics.
On top of this interesting mesh of cultures people on the moon don’t care about sexuality at all. “Everyone is on the spectrum somewhere.” and it’s completely normal for anyone to fall in love/have sex/marry anyone. Plus the author introduces two neutral pronouns.
There’s just so much greatness about this world!
It also goes into problems of ressources like air, water, carbon and data, all of which you have to pay for, so tough luck if you run out of money.
Luna: New Moon also features an intriguing twist on werewolves, which I really loved.
Plus the characters and the story itself are so well done. I don’t even think a lot happens in terms of action, but you don’t even realise it until later because there is so much to explore and learn about that you’re occupied with it most of the time.
To summarize, Luna: New Moon is amazing, and I had to order the second book immediately because the Cortas are my favourites and I have to find out what they’re going to do next.
_______
Set in a future where the moon and her ressources are controlled by the Five Dragons, the five biggest companies on the moon, Luna: New Moon describes what happens when tensions between the Cortas and the Mackenzies rise, a path that can only lead to war.
This book is phenomenal. I could barely stop reading, and to be honest it was over a little too fast, if only because I wanted more.
The story is incredibly rich, and there are so many ideas in it that you might think it gets too much at some point, but it just manages to make the story feel three-dimensional and real. I had to check the character list (which is luckily part of the book) occasionally to keep everyone’s relations straight, but that was mostly when minor characters appeared again after I had been distracted by one of the dazzling main characters.
There were two pairings I found myself rooting for, and neither of them got together, but I couldn’t even get mad (okay maybe I got a little mad at one of them), because the book was just that good.
But one of the best things about Luna: New Moon is the sheer amount of diversity in it! Most of the story line follows members of the Corta family, who are Brazilian. But other members of the Five Dragons originally came to the moon from Ghana and China, and they all brought their languages and traditions with them. People on the moon use words from all kinds of languages. What’s particularly great about this is that the book avoids putting any non-English words in italics.
On top of this interesting mesh of cultures people on the moon don’t care about sexuality at all. “Everyone is on the spectrum somewhere.” and it’s completely normal for anyone to fall in love/have sex/marry anyone. Plus the author introduces two neutral pronouns.
There’s just so much greatness about this world!
It also goes into problems of ressources like air, water, carbon and data, all of which you have to pay for, so tough luck if you run out of money.
Luna: New Moon also features an intriguing twist on werewolves, which I really loved.
Plus the characters and the story itself are so well done. I don’t even think a lot happens in terms of action, but you don’t even realise it until later because there is so much to explore and learn about that you’re occupied with it most of the time.
To summarize, Luna: New Moon is amazing, and I had to order the second book immediately because the Cortas are my favourites and I have to find out what they’re going to do next.
3.75
Lucas Corta faro di speranza in un mare di neuroni depressurizzati.
Lucas Corta faro di speranza in un mare di neuroni depressurizzati.
Good story, well thought out world, quality characters... Most importantly, it often reads as a love letter to Gin. Really enjoyed it and looking forward to the other two.
It was really good, but very complicated.
I was between three and four stars for most of it, but the ending made it four.
I was between three and four stars for most of it, but the ending made it four.
Luna: New Moon is an expansive science fiction novel set among the feuding family companies of the future moon settlement. The story focuses on the Cortas, a Brazilian family headed by Adriana Corta, who built an empire based around helium. As Adriana is dying, the family faces conflict from both inside and out.
This book is one of the best depictions of a futuristic feudal society I’ve seen. Combined with its brutal nature, the description “Game of Thrones in space” is what most readily springs to mind. The moon has no criminal law, only contract law. You have to pay for your air and water, and if you can’t pay, you get cut off. The families create marriage alliances and assassinate each other and go to war when those alliances don’t work. The Mackenzie family, the Cortas sworn enemies, are one of the most powerful, thanks partly to an adventurous marriage of one of their sons to the head of the Lunar Development Corporation (the man who functions as king in this feudal metaphor).
The world building is astounding. Besides the harsh, corporate based structure I’ve already mentioned, McDonald puts thought into every other area of society, from mixing of languages, to futuristic technology, to gender and sexuality. The moon settlements have no discernible discrimination based on sexual orientation, and much of the POV cast was bisexual.
And wow, was there a large POV cast. The primary characters are Adriana (who mostly tells flashbacks of how she came to dominate the moon), her five children, her three grandchildren, and a lowly worker of the family who raises thanks to her quick acting and a twist of fate. To McDonalds credit, I had little to no trouble keeping up with who all the characters were, and I rarely had to check the cheat sheet at the front of the book. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how much I care about any of the characters. While self obsession and ruthlessness can make for interesting characters, it grows stale when those two words can describe almost everyone in the book.
Luna: New Moon was also slow moving, up until near the end. At times, some of the sections could feel pointless, such as the entire section describing Ariel’s sex life. When events finally did start to come together near the end, it became apparent that Luna: New Moon was not a complete story. It’s the first half of a duology, and it ends on a cliff hanger. Ultimately, it was mainly set up for a series which I don’t feel compelled to finish.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.
This book is one of the best depictions of a futuristic feudal society I’ve seen. Combined with its brutal nature, the description “Game of Thrones in space” is what most readily springs to mind. The moon has no criminal law, only contract law. You have to pay for your air and water, and if you can’t pay, you get cut off. The families create marriage alliances and assassinate each other and go to war when those alliances don’t work. The Mackenzie family, the Cortas sworn enemies, are one of the most powerful, thanks partly to an adventurous marriage of one of their sons to the head of the Lunar Development Corporation (the man who functions as king in this feudal metaphor).
The world building is astounding. Besides the harsh, corporate based structure I’ve already mentioned, McDonald puts thought into every other area of society, from mixing of languages, to futuristic technology, to gender and sexuality. The moon settlements have no discernible discrimination based on sexual orientation, and much of the POV cast was bisexual.
And wow, was there a large POV cast. The primary characters are Adriana (who mostly tells flashbacks of how she came to dominate the moon), her five children, her three grandchildren, and a lowly worker of the family who raises thanks to her quick acting and a twist of fate. To McDonalds credit, I had little to no trouble keeping up with who all the characters were, and I rarely had to check the cheat sheet at the front of the book. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how much I care about any of the characters. While self obsession and ruthlessness can make for interesting characters, it grows stale when those two words can describe almost everyone in the book.
Luna: New Moon was also slow moving, up until near the end. At times, some of the sections could feel pointless, such as the entire section describing Ariel’s sex life. When events finally did start to come together near the end, it became apparent that Luna: New Moon was not a complete story. It’s the first half of a duology, and it ends on a cliff hanger. Ultimately, it was mainly set up for a series which I don’t feel compelled to finish.
Originally posted on The Illustrated Page.