'New Moon' by Ian McDonald is a gripping thriller set on the moon about 60-100 years after its colonization. It revolves around the power struggles between five influential family corporations known as Dragons, each originating from different corners of Earth. The story delves into a society that operates under a plutocracy without a welfare state, where everything is determined by negotiation and contracts. The narrative explores the complexities of a lawless lunar society, the commoditization of essential resources like air and water, and the dynamics of power and control among the ruling families.

The plot follows the Corta family as they navigate the treacherous lunar politics while their matriarch is dying, leading to a sequence of events that set the stage for a longer series. expertly blends elements of world-building, political intrigue, and character development, offering a plausible and immersive depiction of a near-future dystopian society on the moon. McDonald's writing style is praised for its lush prose, vivid imagery, and the intricate detailing of the lunar society and customs, making the fictional world feel almost tangible and thought-provoking.

Characters:

The cast is extensive, though many characters remain superficial, primarily serving to illustrate the larger family and societal conflicts.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is vivid and engaging, providing detailed descriptions that enhance the world but can also feel overwhelming and repetitive at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative follows the power struggles of dynastic families on the moon, primarily the Corta family, in a detailed portrayal of a competitive capitalist society.

Setting:

The setting is a vividly imagined moon society characterized by its brutal economic and social structures, reflecting deep cultural diversity.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, featuring a gripping start and strong finish, but bogged down by slower and less engaging middle sections.

In a white room on the edge of the Sinus Medii sit six naked teenagers. Three girls, three boys. Their skins are black, yellow, brown, white. They scratch at their skins constantly, intently. Depressu...

Notes:

The story is set on a colonized Moon, where five powerful families, referred to as the 'Five Dragons,' compete for control over resources.

The main family, the Cortas, rose from poverty in Brazil to create a Helium-3 empire on the Moon.

The narrative is filled with politics, intrigue, and complex family dynamics, similar to 'Game of Thrones' but in a sci-fi setting.

The novel has a large, diverse cast of characters, and many readers noted that keeping track of them can be challenging.

There's a notable absence of traditional law on the Moon, with almost all disputes handled through contract law.

The portrayal of women in the novel received mixed reviews; some felt they were reduced to stereotypes of mothers or sex objects.

The world-building is praised, showcasing a dystopian society with clear class divides and the stark realities of life on the Moon.

Sexuality is fluid in the Moon's society, with many characters described as bisexual and explicit content included throughout the book.

The protagonist, Adriana Corta, reflects on her and her family's past through flashbacks, revealing the history and struggles they faced.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, making it the first part of a duology, which some readers found frustrating.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include graphic violence, explicit sexual content, and themes of betrayal and death.

Has Romance?

The book features a medium level of romance, with relationships intertwining among the complex interactions of its characters.

From The Publisher:

In Ian McDonald's Luna: New Moon, the scions of a falling house must navigate a world of corporate warfare to maintain their family's status in the Moon's vicious political atmosphere.

The Moon wants to kill you.

Maybe it will kill you when the per diem for your allotted food, water, and air runs out, just before you hit paydirt. Maybe it will kill you when you are trapped between the reigning corporations-the Five Dragons-in a foolish gamble against a futuristic feudal society. On the Moon, you must fight for every inch you want to gain. And that is just what Adriana Corta did.

As the leader of the Moon's newest "dragon," Adriana has wrested control of the Moon's Helium-3 industry from the Mackenzie Metal corporation and fought to earn her family's new status. Now, in the twilight of her life, Adriana finds her corporation-Corta Helio-confronted by the many enemies she made during her meteoric rise. If the Corta family is to survive, Adriana's five children must defend their mother's empire from her many enemies... and each other.

Luna

1. Luna: New Moon

2. Luna: Wolf Moon

3. Luna: Moon Rising

Ratings (4)

Loved It (3)
Liked It (1)

Reader Stats (10):

Read It (5)
Want To Read (5)

1 comment(s)

Cargide

Loved It

3 months

Este libro lo he visto mencionar varias veces como el Juego de Tronos de la ciencia ficción, y la verdad es que no van tan desencaminados. Es una historia de guerras políticas entre casas, solo que la guerra es en una Luna colonizada y las casas son distintas dinastías de empresas, cada una dedicada a una producción en concreto.

Ya aviso, no te van a caer bien casi ninguno de los personajes (menos Luna), pero todo lo que hacen y lo que conlleva está trazado de forma totalmente lógica.

No esperes una boda roja aquí, porque en toda la Luna solo viven un millón y medio de personas, pero tienen hueco para incluir géneros nuevos, duelos de gladiadores, hombres lobo luneros y muchas más cosas que difícilmente habrás visto antes.

What can you read after
New Moon?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

IAN MCDONALD was born in 1960 in Manchester, England, to an Irish mother and a Scottish father. He moved with his family to Northern Ireland in 1965. He has won the Locus Award, the British Science Fiction Association Award, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. He now lives in Belfast.

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New Moon

Ian McDonald

Book 1 in the series:Luna