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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Oh, wow, this was so very good. I've always loved Ian McDonald's books, the energy, the (whisper it) synergy of culture and language and social mores. This is all of those, plus some extra. What a truly wonderful book.
Before starting this book, I had it in my head that it was YA (I think I got it mixed in with his Planesrunner series?) - that got questioned when I saw "shibari" in the glossary (although the word doesn't appear in the text) and the unrestrained sex. This is definitely a world where you can bring your "your mistress, and your boy-friend and your wife".
Well... except for the violence. This is a violent novel.
...And the scheming. This is a political twisty novel.
Five "Dragons", the beginnings of dynasties, there to tame and create the Moon. Lawless save for what they agree through contract.
This was a great read. Felt much more thoughtful towards gender in some ways to [b:Too Like the Lightning|26114545|Too Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota, #1)|Ada Palmer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443106959s/26114545.jpg|46061374] (which I read immediately before this and was more squarely more about gender) as sexuality is far more open and free and boys are open about dresses and make-up.
Only problem is it does end very squarely for the sequel.
Well... except for the violence. This is a violent novel.
...And the scheming. This is a political twisty novel.
Five "Dragons", the beginnings of dynasties, there to tame and create the Moon. Lawless save for what they agree through contract.
This was a great read. Felt much more thoughtful towards gender in some ways to [b:Too Like the Lightning|26114545|Too Like the Lightning (Terra Ignota, #1)|Ada Palmer|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443106959s/26114545.jpg|46061374] (which I read immediately before this and was more squarely more about gender) as sexuality is far more open and free and boys are open about dresses and make-up.
Only problem is it does end very squarely for the sequel.
This just didn't work for me - I thought the world building was done well and I love the premise of this book but it practice it didn't work. If you are a big fan of science fiction I think it is still worth a try.
What a great book. Well written, fantastic setting, great ideas, wonderful characters: who could ask for more? Well, I do. Sequels please, immediately!
Good story. One star deducted for way too many typos.
While I was reading I thought this would be a good TV show. Specifically I want Starz to call Jonathan Steinberg and Robert Levine and let them make this show. Get the gang back together.
Luna: New Moon is a political drama about dynastic families competing mining operations on the moon. There is a huge cast of characters, which the author thankfully lists at the beginning of the novel (after a few pages I had to make myself a family tree from that list, but probably not everyone needs the same level of visual learning techniques that I do). The author rotates point of views frequently, off the top of my head there are at least 10 point of views. This was a tad frustrating at first, but I quickly got into the flow of things, and I think that this helped keep things moving and develop the characters distinctly. These are written in third person but every once in a while are broken up by first person narration from Adriana Corta, the matriarch of the Corta family, detailing how she started the family mining company from nothing.
I loved reading all the ways that the characters navigate all the conflicting things in their lives: their families, their family expectations, love, death, their desires that conflicted with the family business, and the ways that the other Dragons were waiting to sabotage them. The focus of this novel in mostly on the Corta family, and consequently all of my favorite characters are Cortas and I hate the Mackenzies, but in that way where I want to see what they will do next.
Luna: New Moon kept me interested and took me through a wide variety of emotions, and I am excited to get to the sequel.
Luna: New Moon is a political drama about dynastic families competing mining operations on the moon. There is a huge cast of characters, which the author thankfully lists at the beginning of the novel (after a few pages I had to make myself a family tree from that list, but probably not everyone needs the same level of visual learning techniques that I do). The author rotates point of views frequently, off the top of my head there are at least 10 point of views. This was a tad frustrating at first, but I quickly got into the flow of things, and I think that this helped keep things moving and develop the characters distinctly. These are written in third person but every once in a while are broken up by first person narration from Adriana Corta, the matriarch of the Corta family, detailing how she started the family mining company from nothing.
I loved reading all the ways that the characters navigate all the conflicting things in their lives: their families, their family expectations, love, death, their desires that conflicted with the family business, and the ways that the other Dragons were waiting to sabotage them. The focus of this novel in mostly on the Corta family, and consequently all of my favorite characters are Cortas and I hate the Mackenzies, but in that way where I want to see what they will do next.
Luna: New Moon kept me interested and took me through a wide variety of emotions, and I am excited to get to the sequel.
My first book of 2016 and already a strong contender for my favourite of the year. The story sets us up with the moon controlled by five families (The Five Dragons): MacKenzie Metals (an old Australian family determined to keep their bloodline pure and control of natural resources at any cost), Tiayang (A Chinese group with wide ambitions), AKA (A Ghanian group who control more of the day-to-day aspects), VTO (a mysterious Russian corporation) and Corta Helios (a new Brazillian group and our main focus). This follows the rivalry and politics of life on this syndicated Moon.
Within this we have a great mystery, fabulous world-building and amazing character work. Every aspect (even the explicit sex scenes) are carefully crafted and add to his creation. In fact the only criticism I can think of is that it is so crowd-pleasing it is not quite revolutionary, like it is perfectly designed to be the next big HBO series. But that feels like a churlish critique of something made so magnificently.
Within this we have a great mystery, fabulous world-building and amazing character work. Every aspect (even the explicit sex scenes) are carefully crafted and add to his creation. In fact the only criticism I can think of is that it is so crowd-pleasing it is not quite revolutionary, like it is perfectly designed to be the next big HBO series. But that feels like a churlish critique of something made so magnificently.
3.5 Star. Decent. A bit boring, but with a suspenseful ending.
The Moon, or Luna, is initially colonized by corporations with the intention of selling energy resources to Earth. As a result, Luna is an oligarchy society controlled by the Five Dragons. Although, each corporation has its own niches for the most part, they do compete against each other in a lot of other areas. The main competition, it seems, is between the MacKenzies and the Helio Corta. We read this series mostly from the Cortas’ points of view.
While the political intrigues are somewhat interesting, I find it really difficult to care about the 1% of the 1%ers of the Lunarian elites. Most of the characters are the typical stock rich guys who care only about money, pleasure, sex and beating the shit out of their hated rival/frenemies. As a result, there are only very few characters that truly shine in this book. Moreover, I just don’t find the political maneuvering if the oligarchs to be interesting. As for the main mystery of the book, by process of elimination you can sort of guess who’s the villain(s).
What most interested me is the social institutions. First rule, there’s no law, only contracts. Wanna get married? Get a nikah contract (FYI, nikah is marriage in Indonesian). Wanna get a divorce? Get some lawyers (and potential fighters) to fight for you at the Court of Clavius, where all disputes are settled. In fact, you can even negotiate for your judges too! Wanna have children? You can contract with Madrinhas, who will carry you child in their wombs till delivery and then act as the child’s wet nurse and semi-mother figure. Everything is based on contracts. Everything has to be paid, even your breath needs to be paid.
Some of the technologies depicted are also interesting. The ballistic capsule that’s launched from point to point is the most interesting to me. There are also the usual advanced technologies in medicine, engineering, communication and transportation. Not in weapons, though, because bullets can cause depressurization on Luna. I don’t, for some reason, enjoy reading a lot of the descriptions on the technologies.
The final chapter, though. Damn, that’s pretty intense! Pretty worth it to slog through the book to get that conclusion.
Overall, this a decent book. Interesting social experiments. Cool gadgets and technologies. Rather forgettable and unlikeable characters. Suspenseful ending.
The Moon, or Luna, is initially colonized by corporations with the intention of selling energy resources to Earth. As a result, Luna is an oligarchy society controlled by the Five Dragons. Although, each corporation has its own niches for the most part, they do compete against each other in a lot of other areas. The main competition, it seems, is between the MacKenzies and the Helio Corta. We read this series mostly from the Cortas’ points of view.
While the political intrigues are somewhat interesting, I find it really difficult to care about the 1% of the 1%ers of the Lunarian elites. Most of the characters are the typical stock rich guys who care only about money, pleasure, sex and beating the shit out of their hated rival/frenemies. As a result, there are only very few characters that truly shine in this book. Moreover, I just don’t find the political maneuvering if the oligarchs to be interesting. As for the main mystery of the book, by process of elimination you can sort of guess who’s the villain(s).
What most interested me is the social institutions. First rule, there’s no law, only contracts. Wanna get married? Get a nikah contract (FYI, nikah is marriage in Indonesian). Wanna get a divorce? Get some lawyers (and potential fighters) to fight for you at the Court of Clavius, where all disputes are settled. In fact, you can even negotiate for your judges too! Wanna have children? You can contract with Madrinhas, who will carry you child in their wombs till delivery and then act as the child’s wet nurse and semi-mother figure. Everything is based on contracts. Everything has to be paid, even your breath needs to be paid.
Some of the technologies depicted are also interesting. The ballistic capsule that’s launched from point to point is the most interesting to me. There are also the usual advanced technologies in medicine, engineering, communication and transportation. Not in weapons, though, because bullets can cause depressurization on Luna. I don’t, for some reason, enjoy reading a lot of the descriptions on the technologies.
The final chapter, though. Damn, that’s pretty intense! Pretty worth it to slog through the book to get that conclusion.
Overall, this a decent book. Interesting social experiments. Cool gadgets and technologies. Rather forgettable and unlikeable characters. Suspenseful ending.
