Luna: Wolf Moon

Starred review from January 30, 2017
In this powerful sequel to Luna: New Moon, the Dragons, five great industrial families of the lunar colony, fight viciously to increase their power. At the end of the first volume of the series McDonald has referred to as “Dallas in space,” House Corta was brought down by legal skullduggery and violent attacks. This sequel chronicles the fallout from House Corta’s demise as the other Dragons squabble over the remains and hunt the few Cortas still alive. Meanwhile, Earth’s powerful spacefaring nations maneuver in the background. The plot follows a half-dozen surviving Cortas: young Robson, who once survived a three-kilometer fall during a race through the city’s support structure; Lucas, the presumed heir, who must make a near-fatal trip down Earth’s gravity well; and Lucasinho, long deemed a worthless sex addict, who saves a young cousin through an act of great bravery. Although this middle volume in a trilogy does not end so much as pause, it is still compelling throughout. Each of McDonald’s viewpoint characters is made human in fascinating and occasionally disturbing detail, and the solar system of the 22nd century is wonderfully delineated. Fans of the first volume will love this one and eagerly look forward to the next.

February 15, 2017

After the downfall of the Corta family at the end of Luna: New Moon, the balance of power on the moon is in flux. While the Mackenzies engineered the defeat of their rivals in order to take over the lucrative helium trade, internal rivalries keep them in chaos. The other powerful families will seek to take advantage of the power vacuum, but don't count the Cortas out just yet. Lucas Corta attempts a return to Earth to recruit allies there, while the younger generation, including Robson and Lucasinho, struggle to survive without being used as pawns. VERDICT This novel should probably not be attempted without reading the first book, as McDonald has established a complex political climate. The power blocks--the Aussie Mackenzies, Brazilian Cortas, or Chinese Suns--have kept certain aspects of their Earth roots, and readers will encounter a variety of foreign language slang, which is aided by the included glossary.--MM

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