Review: Luna: New Moon (Luna, #1) by Ian McDonald

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.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5 Stars)

Additional Information

Goodreads

Publication Date: 14 July 2016
Publisher: Gollancz
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 416
Genre: Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781473202245

Summary:

The new novel from a multi-award-winning writer: a corporate SF thriller and the deepest evocation yet of the terrors and rigours of life on the moon.

Luna is a gripping thriller about five corporate families caught in a bitter battle for supremacy in the harsh environment of the moon. It’s very easy to die on the moon, but with its vast mineral wealth it’s also easy to make your fortune.

Following the fortunes of a handful of disparate characters, from one of the lowliest workers on the moon to the heads of one of the most powerful families, Luna provides a vast mosaic of life on this airless and terrifying new home for humanity.

This is SF that will be perfect for fans of Kim Stanley Robinson and Ken Macleod alike.

(Source: Goodreads.com)