Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyed it
Review: I like fantasy and really enjoyed reading this book. Easy to read and engrossing.
Rating:
Summary: Good, But Wanting
Review: I liked this book; it's quite entertaining and the writing is smoothly accomplished and palatable. Easy going down. The book has an engrossing plot, a well-realized and fascinating back drop and a great love interest for the heroine. Then why did this book irritate me so much, and so often? The heroine herself, Marie-Josephe. She is the most annoying person. The author paints her in broad strokes as the most PERFECT woman to have ever existed... moral, virtuous, understanding ALL THE TIME, smart, brilliantly musical and artistic, talented in calculas and physics and biology, and, of course, breath-takingly beautiful. I seriously wanted to scream some violent and demeaning words at her. She has no flaws, is always right, and comes out smelling of roses at the end, married to the perfect guy. An author can do nothing worse to a character than to make him or her a paragon of virtue and ability and intelligence. A perfect main character who's too good to be true is a serious flaw And yes, women have been riding side-saddle at a gallop for a long time.... in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show, all the female trick-riders rode side-saddle, as it was a family show. But that other reviewer, otherwise, was totally right. Marie-Josephe is a perfectly horrid character.
Rating: 
Summary: How did this win a Nebula?
Review: I purchased this novel almost entirely on the strength of it winning the 1997 Nebula Award. Now I find myself asking: "How on Earth was it even nominated, let alone win?" The Moon and the Sun is not a science fiction novel. True, it is a fantasy novel, but ultimately it's more an historical romance. Moreover, it's set in a period I don't really care much for - 17th century France. That said, it is not a bad novel by any means. The period has clearly been very well researched, and many of the historical characters are very convincing. The heroine of the story, however, does seem a little over the top. She apparently is a gifted composer, artist, mathematican/scientist and horseperson (have you ever tried riding side saddle at a gallop) all rolled into one. Oh, and of course, she was a stunning beauty too. Overall, The Moon and the Sun is quite a good read, and will appeal to those who like historical fantasy with a strong emphasis on romance, and where everyone lives happily after.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointment
Review: I really like this writer's science fiction, and I'm a history buff, so I looked forward to this. I was disappointed. It wasn't the lack of research in court detail. One could tell a good tale without getting it right, for most people don't know those details any more. What disappointed me was the juvenile characterizations: everyone Christian was stupid, venal and EVIAL, and the Modern Determinists were just so perfect. Especially the young lady, who displayed all the perfections of romance novel heroines. The biggest problem, though, was the reduction of fascinating people into cardboard cutouts to support the Politically Correct modern attitudes. If you want to read a fascinating book about that period, get Nancy Mitford's THE SUN KING. You won't even miss the sea monster.
Rating:
Summary: Awesom!!
Review: I really liked this book, it was off beat and slightly scary but very thought provoking. Not something to read for laughs but it had a happy ending. I loved the characters & the many complex layers of stories within sroties. It might not appeal to some people but it was a good (if serious) read. If you get it, i hope you like it!
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic and Enthralling!
Review: I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy this book when I picked it up, but friends of mine had given it rave reviews. I generally don't like historical fiction since it usually gets bogged down in the details, but I was hooked by this book on the first page. Ms. McIntyre writes smoothly and enchantingly, using details to enhance the story instead of showing how much research she did - and she really knows her period. The characters are interesting and well-defined, with varying motivations and flaws. All in all, I found this to be an enchanting book. I would definitely recommend it to readers of speculative and historical fiction. _The_Moon_and_the_Sun_ definitely deserves the awards it won, and Ms. McIntyre's skill in her craft is quite impressive. And, most importantly, this book is a great read!
Rating:
Summary: Highly overrated
Review: I'm surprised so many people liked this book. It was okish but it certainly didn't deserve that award.
Rating:
Summary: McIntyre's best yet
Review: I've been a fan of McIntyre since DREAMSNAKE many years ago and have read everything she's written (well, I haven't missed anything I know of). I assumed I would like MOON but I was really blown away by it. I read it a long time ago now but I guess I still want to sign on here and be counted as another of its fans. I'm far too old to be caught out believing what I read, but I was never much good at French history and as far as I'm concerned now Louis XIV had a sea-monster at his court. I've never had a lot of use for standard mermaids, but Sherzad, yes, I believe in her, and in Marie-Josephe's passionate response to her . . . and while I know not every book is going to be loved by all its readers I am distressed at the remark some other reader has made about MJ riding sidesaddle at the gallop--many women for many generations did everything sidesaddle that men did astride--presumably except ride into battle. My (English) husband had a great-aunt who fox-hunted sidesaddle into her seventies, and this was not wildly uncommon. There's even a bit of a resurgence of sidesaddle riding now.
Rating:
Summary: A captivating alternate historical novel.
Review: If you are interested in the pomp and circumstance of French royalty mixed with science and a sea monster, then this is the book for you. I found it to be very readable with not only well defined characters, but also giving one a feel for the historical period. And, the reader even easily identifies with the sea monster's distress of captivity. The pace moves along nicely and almost makes me wish I could have witnessed such an event. I would highly recommend this book. Thanks Vonda for this fine piece of work. :)
Rating:
Summary: Excellent blend of history, speculation and personal drama
Review: In The Moon and the Sun, Vonda McIntyre has created a wonderfully accessable, well written and thoroughly researched novel that should be enjoyed by mainstream readers as well as her loyal fans from the science fiction genre. Well-known in her more familiar domain for hard science fiction indicating a strong understanding of the social implications of the alternate settings she creates, Vonda adopts a highly scrutinized setting, the court of 17th century Louis XIV's court for this story. To this she adds the perspective of a person of mixed privilege, a young woman entangled by circumstance in King Louis's court intrigue, but also enthralled with the knowledge that the study of natural philosophy offers. Her studies, along with the King of France's desire to bring all things in the world under his control leads her to befriend a "sea monster", captured by her brother for his own studies and the greater glory of his king. This "sea monster" proves to have a soul, a people, and a life of her own and pulls a vortex of events and circumstances around itself that prove to be more interesting than all of the power plays and intrigues of 17th century France at the height of her influence. This is a tale of coming of age, of great happenings, hope and grandeur juxtaposed with personal loss, unimaginable arrogance, and terrible tragedy. I've passed my copy to my Mother and told all of my friends to buy it for themselves or ask for it for Christmas! If you like this one, go back and find Dreamsnake, Exile in Waiting. If you are also an SF fan, find Superluminal and the Transition Series. Vonda always offers a great read.
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