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The Moon and the Sun

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For the film based on the novel, see The Moon and the Sun (film). For the OMD song of the same name, see Universal (Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark album).
The Moon and the Sun
AuthorVonda McIntyre
GenreHistorical fiction
PublisherPocket Books
Publication date
1997
Pages421
ISBN0-671-56765-9
OCLC36649155

The Moon and the Sun is a novel by American writer Vonda N. McIntyre, published in 1997. The book combines two major genres: science fiction (specifically the alternate history subgenre) and historical romance. It 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, naïve 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 Sherzad's sentience 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

  • Marie-Josèphe de la Croix - Lady-in-waiting to King Louis XIV's niece and the younger sister of Father Yves de la Croix. She is an amateur composer and lover of mathematics who was Convent-raised and, at first, naïve. As assistant to her brother in his scientific endeavors (mainly as a sketcher of specimens), she also shares her brother's interests in natural philosophy. She befriends the sea monster, later called Sherzad, and being the only one able to understand the sea monster, becomes her translator.
  • Father Yves de la Croix - Marie-Josèphe's older brother. A Jesuit priest and King Louis's natural philosopher, he recently returned from an expedition commissioned by the King to find the legendary sea monster – the possible key to immortality. He is stuck between his religious obligations, his scientific endeavors, and his own pride. Yves is later revealed to be a bastard son of King Louis.
  • Count Lucien de Chretien - A dwarf who is an open Atheist and King's Louis’ most trusted advisor. The epitome of etiquette, he is Marie-Josèphe's love interest. He is stuck between his kindling feelings for Marie-Josèphe and his duty to his beloved King.
  • Sherzad (the sea creature/sea woman) - One of the last sea monsters in the world, she is captured by Father Yves de la Croix and caged in the Apollo fountain in the Versailles for King Louis XIV. Her flesh is rumored to make the eater immortal. Her saliva is able to heal wounds, though this fact is not realized by the other characters. She has two tails, tangled hair, and a gargoyle face, as well as an enchanting voice, the music of which is her way of communicating. However, she can only communicate with Marie-Josèphe. She later vows vengeance on all humanity.[2]

Awards and recognitions

Film adaptation

Main article: The King's Daughter (upcoming film)

A film adaptation was first planned in 1999 by producer Michael London. London brought the project to Jim Henson Pictures, who said he was drawn to "the weird juxtaposition (of) a completely imagined creature in this very specific historical world." The film was set to be directed by Christopher Renshaw, which would've been his feature film debut, and written by Laura Harrington with McIntyre's involvement. Stephanie Allain and Kristine Belson would executive producer from Jim Henson Pictures.[6] Film producer Bill Mechanic later joined production and brought the film to Walt Disney Pictures after signing a five-year deal with the company in December 2001. Mechanic planned for the film to start pre-production in early 2002, with Natalie Portman to star and James Schamus to revise the script, with Gregory Hoblit to possibly direct. Following Sony breaking from the joint venture of Jim Henson Pictures in 1999, the film would be produced by The Jim Henson Company instead.[7]

In August 2013, it was announced that Sean McNamara would direct the film, and that casting included Pierce Brosnan as King Louis XIV, Fan Bingbing as the mermaid, and Bill Nighy as Pere de Chaise, a character created for the movie. Nighy pulled out of the film due to a scheduling conflict and was replaced by William Hurt weeks before filming.[8] The film began production on April 23, 2014 at Victoria, Australia along with Docklands Studios Melbourne. Additional filming also took place in Versailles, France. Mechanic had also revised the script with Barry Berman and Ronald Bass. Chinese film company Kylin Films invested $20.5 million into the movie, making it China's biggest financial contribution to a non-studio film produced outside China.[9]

Paramount Pictures acquired US distribution rights and set the movie for wide release on April 10, 2015, with international sales being handled by Good Universe.[10][11][12] However, three weeks before the film's release, the film was pulled from its schedule. A source close to the film claimed that the film needed more time to complete the special effects work.[13]

References

  1. ^ "The Natural History & Extinction of the People of the Sea". BookView Cafe. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  2. ^ Allbery, Russ. "Review: The Moon and the Sun by Vonda N. McIntyre". Retrieved December 1, 2013.
  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. Archived from the original on 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2013-11-26.
  6. ^ Torres, Vanessa (June 7, 1999). "Henson Pics visits the 'Sun'". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  7. ^ Harris, Cathy Dunkley,Dana; Harris, Cathy Dunkley, Dana (2001-12-11). "Mouse calls a Mechanic". Variety. Retrieved December 18, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Quinn, Karl (2014-05-09). "William Hurt shoots for the Moon (and the Sun)". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
  9. ^ Sandy George2014-05-29T15:57:00+01:00. "China's Kylin ploughs $20.5m into Brosnan film". Screen. Retrieved December 18, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ Groves, Don. "Australia attracts The Moon & the Sun". if.com.au. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
  11. ^ Frater, Patrick. "Mechanic's 'Moon' Finally Set to Shoot in Melbourne with Chinese Finance, star". VARIETY. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  12. ^ Kilday, Gregg (August 15, 2014). "Paramount Sets Release for Pierce Brosnan's 'The Moon and the Sun'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  13. ^ "Paramount Takes Pierce Brosnan's 'The Moon and the Sun' Off Release Schedule". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
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