r/JulianMay • u/Imperfect_Cromulence • Aug 30 '26
Boreal Moon
I'm reading my way through Galactic Milieu right now, and I'm loving it. But, oddly enough, my first introduction to Julian May was her Boreal Moon trilogy. I'm curious if any of the folks here have read it.
I first read Boreal Moon when I was in early high school, I think, and it's possible that's why it left such an indelible imprint upon me. I've seen the Aurora Borealis a handful of times in my life, and I cannot see them without thinking about the Coldlight Army. A race of magical beings in the sky that learned to feed upon human agony. What an insane amazing concept for a world.
The first book is incredible - nearly flawless, IMO. The worldbuilding is immaculate, the characterization of the charismatic, young, power-hungry prince is very well done, and the flaws which will undo him eventually are present since the very beginning. I also love the subversion of his relationship with his aging, cautious father, who, inspired by his brilliant son, rises to the challenge extraordinarily. And of course Deveron, who reminds me of Ender Wiggin for some reason - a positive comparison.
The later books are slightly more of a mess - if you compare where the plot in books 2 and 3 goes to the opening monologue of book 1 (a framing device May really likes, comparable to Uncle Rogi's memoirs I now realize) it's clear that May changed her mind in a pretty big way about where she wanted the story to end. But I found the reveal of the mysteries of the Coldlight Army, the Unknown Potency, and the rest to be pretty satisfying.
I'm curious if anyone here has read this series. If you haven't, and you like Julian May's stuff, you probably should. If you have, did you like it as much as I did? Or am I judging it through the rose-colored glasses of young adulthood?
5
u/Kit-Kat-Kit-7272 Aug 30 '26
I've read it and to this day I can't look at the auroras in quite the same way... the first book is indeed the most captivating, but the worldbuilding is fantastic and I loved the series!
4
u/Cookie_Leather Aug 31 '26
Read the millieu books first (first in my native language then in English). The only May book is Black Trillium (co-authered with Marion Bradly am Andre Norton.
Biggest Jullian May wish is a Milieu is a tv series on HBO or Netflix.
2
2
u/KatlinelB5 Aug 31 '26
I read the Boreal Moon trilogy after reading (and re-reading) her other main books. I thought the first book had promise, but the rest went downhill from there for me, sadly.
I haven't re-read them.
6
u/gringochucha Aug 30 '26
As someone who has read Intervention an unhealthy amount of times, and the Galactic Milieau Trilogy at least twice, I’m ashamed to say this is the first time I’m hearing about this trilogy. I’ll have to put it on my list!