The Moon and the Sun

For the film based on the novel, see The Moon and the Sun (film).
The Moon and the Sun
Author Vonda McIntyre
Genre Historical fiction
Publisher Pocket Books
Publication date
 1997
Pages 421
ISBN ISBN 0-671-56765-9
OCLC 36649155

The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre was published in 1997. The book combines two major genres: science fiction and historical romance (also known as alternate history). It won the Intergalactic Award for Best Novel in 1997 and has recently been chosen to be adapted into a film. The book also won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1997, beating out A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin. The novel was inspired by the short story (written in the form of a faux-encyclopedia article) "The Natural History and Extinction of the People of the Sea", also by McIntyre, which was illustrated by fellow author Ursula K. Le Guin.[1]

Plot summary

Set in 17th century France at the court of the Sun King, King Louis XIV, the young, colony-raised, naive Mademoiselle Marie-Josèphe de la Croix is the lady-in-waiting to King Louis XIV's niece. Her brother, Father Yves de la Croix - a natural philosopher and explorer - has recently returned from a mission commissioned by the king: to bring back the endangered sea monster whose flesh is rumoured to give the consumer immortality. Father Yves brings back two specimens: one, a dead male sea monster covered in sawdust and ice; the other, a live female sea monster placed in the Apollo fountain in the Palace of Versailles. Acting as her brother's assistant, sketching the dead sea monster's dissection, and caring for the live specimen, Marie-Josèphe soon realizes the creature is not a sea monster, but a sea woman. Thus, Marie-Josèphe tries to convince the others at court, including her brother, that the sea woman is intelligent and hopefully free her. Unfortunately, only Marie-Josèphe can understand the sea woman (now called Sherzad) and her musical way of talking. As a result, the court - especially the men - ignore her. They bleed her for hysteria, the Pope openly shows outrage over the impropriety of her composing a cantata, and several court men harass her on the King's hunt. At the same time, her slave Odelette (really called Haleed) struggles to gain her freedom. Only, the stoic Count Lucien believes Marie-Josèphe about the sea woman, calmly taking the sea woman and Marie-Josèphe's scientific endeavors in stride. In order to save her own life, Sherzad, the sea monster, offers the king the location of a sunken treasure ship in return for her freedom. But despite the discovery of Spanish gold found from the wreck, the king intends to keep Sherzad and eat her, the lure of immortality being too strong. Marie-Josèphe and Count Lucien - who she has fallen in love with - plot secretly to release Sherzad, defying the pope, their king, and her brother. Their attempt fails, but Yves - finally realizing the Sherzad's conscientiousness and its repercussions on his actions - aid them in finally releasing Sherzad. In the end, Marie-Josèphe and Count Lucien are exiled, but Sherzad, who had declared vengeance on all humanity, showers them with forgotten sunken treasures in gratitude.

Main character profiles

Themes

Awards and recognitions

Film adaptation

Cosmos Filmed Entertainment, in association with Bliss Media and Lightstream Pictures, will produce a film version of The Moon and the Sun in partnership with Kylin Network. Bill Mechanic of Pandemonium Films, James Pang (Painted Skin 2), Wei Han of Bliss Media and Paul Currie are also producing. The movie will starr Pierce Brosnan as King Louis XIV; Chinese movie star, Fan Bingbing, as the mermaid; Kaya Scodelario as Marie-Joséphe; and William Hurt as Pere de Chaise (a character created for the movie). Filming will take place in Melbourne, Australia in April 2014, with two weeks of filming also planned in Versailles, France. Mechanic wrote the screenplay with the help of Barry Berman, James Schamus, Ellen Harrington and Ron Bass. Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer) is set to direct. The $40 million budget was co-financed by U.S. and Chinese sources. The film will be released by Universal's Focus Features in the U.S., while international sales will be handled by Good Universe.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "The Natural History & Extinction of the People of the Sea". BookView Cafe. Retrieved 12/1/13. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ Allbery, Russ. "Review: The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre". Retrieved 12/1/13. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ↑ Sova, Cathy. "The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. Mcintyre". The Romance Reader. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  4. ↑ Asaro, Catherine. "The SF Site Featured Review: The Moon and the Sun". web. SF Site Reviews. Retrieved 2013-10-31.
  5. ↑ "The Locus Index of SciFi Awards: Seiun Nominees List". Locus Magazine. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  6. ↑ Groves, Don. "Australia attracts The Moon & the Sun". if.com.au. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  7. ↑ Frater, Patrick. "Mechanic's 'Moon' Finally Set to Shoot in Melbourne with Chinese Finance, star". VARIETY. Retrieved 11/11/13. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

External links