First Published back in 2015 the Novel ‘Luna: New Moon’ is an exciting, fast paced tale of five powerful families fighting for control of the industries that keep humanity’s lunar colony alive. The author Ian McDonald has himself described Luna as ‘Game of Domes’ and ‘Dallas in Space’, I think I’ll call it a space opera.
The plot revolves around the Corta family who control the He3 production on the Moon that powers the fusion reactors back on Earth. Rich and powerful, the Cortas are involved in a large number of rivalries and struggles both between themselves and with the other four families that basically run the Moon.
Although there is technology aplenty this story could just as easily have been set in the Italy of the Borgia’s or among the Frankish Merovingians. In other words it’s a story of human passions and mostly bad ones at that. The technology is basically used as scenery or to facilitate the human interactions rather than driving the story.
I do have one little criticism to mention. In the novel there are a number of individuals who were born on Earth along with many who were born on the Moon itself. Now the Moon born are stuck on the Moon, their bones and muscles are too weak to be capable of surviving Earth’s gravity. Now, that may very well turn out to be true but in ‘Luna: New Moon’ the people from Earth also can never return to Earth after they’ve been on the Moon more than two years.
That is almost certainly not true! In my post back on 15Feb17 I mentioned the medical studies being carried out right now on the Astronaut Scott Kelly who had spent an entire year in zero gravity! While astronaut Kelly did require several days to adjust back to Earth gravity and scientists studying him have found some minor changes in his physiology he is well, healthy and back to living a full life. If returning to Earth after one year in zero ‘g’ is not a problem at all can two years on in Lunar gravity be so debilitating.
Based on Astronaut Kelly’s example, and others, I have no doubt that a person can return to survive returning to Earth after more than two years on the Moon or Mars.
Aside from that minor point I did quite enjoy Luna: New Moon and do recommend it but with a warning. There’s quite a lot of pretty graphic sex in the novel so if you’re the type who doesn’t want to read about ‘dried semen stains’, well you decide for yourself.
One more thing; Luna: New Moon is actually the first part of a two novel story. The second novel, Luna: Wolf Moon is supposed to be published this month. So if you do read Luna: New Moon don’t expect any conclusion, in fact the ending is very much a cliffhanger, and don’t buy Luna: Wolf Moon until you’ve read Luna: New Moon.
Now the big question. If Luna: New Moon reminded me of ‘I Claudius’ as much as anything else, if the science is just scenery then is Luna really a science fiction novel? I’m not the first person to ask this question but I’ve thought a lot about it and I’m planning on a future post, or more likely a series of posts discussing just what is science fiction, what are the GREAT THEMES OF SCIENCE FICTION and where is the crossover between science fiction and other literary genres, Fantasy in particular. It won’t be too long, I’m working on it so keep watching for it.
Awesome post.
That’s the kind of comment I like. Quick and to the point! Thanks!
Bob L
Hello there, I think your blog could possibly be having internet
browser compatibility problems. Whenever I take a look at your blog in Safari, it looks fine but when opening in I.E.,
it has some overlapping issues. I just wanted to give you a quick heads up!
Besides that, wonderful site!
Thanks for the comment. I’ve heard from some people on occasion that Internet Explorer has intermittent problems. Those are the worst kind to try to fix because you can’t be certain if you’ve actually fixed the problem or if it’s just gone away for a while and will come back. Anyway thanks for the heads up!
Bob L
Its like you read my mind! You appear to
know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it
or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog.
A fantastic read. I’ll definitely be back.
Thanks for the comment. It’s actually difficult to come up with a lot of pictures for a book review. Aside from a picture of the author and the books cover what else is there? Anyway I certainly do try to get some interesting pics in my other posts!
Bob L
If you desire to obtain a great deal from this
piece of writing then you have to apply these strategies to your won website.
Thanks for the comment. Hope you come back soon!
Bob L
whoah this weblog is excellent i like studying
your posts. Keep up the great work! You recognize, a lot of individuals are looking
round for this information, you could aid them greatly.
Thanks for the comment. You can help get the word out to others by telling all of your friends!
Bob L
Great article! This is the type of information that should be shared around
the internet. Shame on the search engines for no longer positioning this post higher!
Come on over and discuss with my site . Thank you =)
Thanks for the comment however you don’t say what your site is! I’ve been to minecraft but I don’t think I could discuss my blog there!
Bob L
Hi there! Do you use Twitter? I’d like to follow you if
that would be okay. I’m definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new updates.
Thanks for the comment. Sorry but I’m not on twitter. I’d never be able to restrict myself to 126 characters, in fact I find it difficult to keep some of my posts under 1,000 words! I prefer well thought out, detailed arguments to instant nonsense!
Bob L
Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog.
Is it tough to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out
pretty quick. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do you
have any tips or suggestions? Appreciate it
Thanks for the comment. Setting up your own blog can be very difficult or fairly easy. I went the easy route and used ipage as my host. They supplied me with wordpress and after a couple of days I had my own blog!
Bob L
Greetings from Florida! I’m bored at work so I decided to check out
your site on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the info you present here and can’t wait to take
a look when I get home. I’m shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile ..
I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, superb blog!
Thanks for sharing such a good opinion, article is good, thats why i have read it completely
Thanks for finally writing about >Book Review: Luna, New Moon by Ian McDonald –
Scienceandsf <Loved it!
Hey there I am so happy I found your blog, I really found you by accident, while I was researching on Google
for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say many
thanks for a fantastic post and a all round interesting blog (I also
love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have
time I will be back to read more, Please do keep up the
awesome jo.
After exploring a few of the blog posts on your web site, I truly appreciate your way of blogging.
I saved as a favorite it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Please visit my website too and tell me what you think.
Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all folks you actually realize what you’re talking about!
Bookmarked. Kindly additionally visit my site =). We will have a hyperlink exchange agreement among us
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
Hi just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let
you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly.
I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve
tried it in two different internet browsers and both show
the same results.
Thanks for the comment and the warning!
Bob L
Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site.
It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb usability and visual appearance.
I must say you have done a very good job with this.
Additionally, the blog loads extremely fast for me on Opera.
Outstanding Blog!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
I was wondering if you ever considered changing the structure of your website?
Its very well written; I love what youve got to say.
But maybe you could a little more in the way of content
so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot
of text for only having one or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?
Thanks for the comment. I do always try to have at least 4-5 images but I rarely insert videos. Unless they are very short they just cause problems and take so long to load! Thanks for your opinion however!
Bob L
Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established blog.
Is it very difficult to set up your own blog? I’m not
very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast.
I’m thinking about making my own but I’m not sure where to begin. Do
you have any tips or suggestions? Appreciate it
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
Having read this I believed it was extremely informative.
I appreciate you finding the time and energy to put this informative article together.
I once again find myself personally spending way too much
time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worth it!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody
else know such detailed about my trouble.
You’re wonderful! Thanks!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
Remarkable! Its in fact awesome post, I have got much clear
idea on the topic of from this post.
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
Great work! This is the type of info that should be shared around the
net. Shame on Google for not positioning this submit higher!
Come on over and consult with my site . Thank you =)
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
This is a really good tip particularly to those fresh to the blogosphere.
Short but very precise info… Many thanks for sharing this one.
A must read post!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
Your style is really unique in comparison to other people
I’ve read stuff from. Many thanks for posting when you have the
opportunity, Guess I’ll just book mark this web site.
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
When someone writes an article he/she retains the thought of
a user in his/her brain that how a user can understand it.
Therefore that’s why this article is great. Thanks!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I have joined your rss feed and look forward to
seeking more of your wonderful post. Also, I have shared
your site in my social networks!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
This excellent website truly has all of the info I needed concerning
this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L
Hello would you mind letting me know which webhost you’re working with?
I’ve loaded your blog in 3 completely different web
browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most.
Can you recommend a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price?
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Thanks for the comment and come back soon!
Bob L