El último trabajo del señor Luna
El último trabajo del señor Luna is a children's and young adult novel written by the Barcelona journalist and author César Mallorquí. The work was first published in 1997 by the Edebé publishing label. Such was its success among critics and readers that it subsequently received six other printings. Despite addressing a topic that could be scandalous for young people, the book is presented as a bridge to more mature titles.
Throughout its conception, youth literature has been a common thread between children's books and volumes that cover more complex topics. This is the case of El último trabajo del señor Luna, a novel that won several awards, such as the Young Protagonist Award (1997) and the White Raven (1998).
Synopsis of El último trabajo del señor Luna
Chronology of a search
Although he is not a bad man, Mr. Moon is a murderer hired. Among his many works, the last one is tries to locate and execute a woman from Bolivia, who has stolen from the Bolivian mafia. Flor Huánuco commits the audacity of hijacking a small plane loaded with cocaine, whose value is 100 million. The supposed original destination of the product was Colombia, but the cargo ends up in Madrid, Spain.
In direct retaliation against the thief, Don Aurelio Coronado, the head of the organization, murders the Bolivian woman's husband. This man worked for the boss, but refused to include the drugs in his inventory. As a result of that incident, Flor Huánuco directly seeks revenge against the head of the mafia. That's when the gangster sends Luna in search of the woman.
The scapegoat
The matter becomes much more complicated as the story progresses. This because of The lady in question is one of the domestic workers of a family home, specifically, the residence of Pablo Souza. The difficulties arise because this boy is gifted.
Due to its condition, Souza studies at a school with an area for geniuses known as the Republic of the Wise., which is also attended by Gabriel, Laura and Patricia, his best friend, the girl who is in love with him and the girl he likes, respectively.
Soon, a ruse is developed to implicate Pablo in the cocaine theft.. However, the boy, thanks to his remarkable intelligence, avoids falling into the trap and reaches an agreement with Flor. Together, Both characters prevent the Spanish mafia from inaugurating its activities. It is important to note that when Aurelio Coronado hires Mr. Luna to murder the woman, he does not mention to the mercenary what her crime was.
An unexpected alliance
When Mr. Luna meets the Bolivian woman, he empathizes with her, its cause and all the suffering it has gone through. Since then, Luna, Pablo and Flor form a strong alliance.
Their first activity as a group is to explode a sugar company, which, in reality, was a facade for one of the Coronado cocaine factories. To carry out their plan without being discovered, the group pretends to be dead. However, they are discovered, and the situation worsens.
The criminal organization kidnaps Flor and her daughter, Samara. Shortly after, Pablo and his friend Gabriel notify the police, who go into action and hunt down each of the members of Aurelio Coronado's cell. For her part, the Bolivian woman emerges successfully from the conflict, as do Mr. Luna, Pablo and all those who helped them.
Main themes of El último trabajo del señor Luna
Being a novel with a high social and political content, César Mallorquí covers current topics. Among these, the problems that develop in the lives of Latin American immigrants stand out, the extensive power that mafias possess and the poor management of the government, which seems to favor only those who benefit them: the powerful—such as elite families and the corrupt spheres of certain parties.
Main characters
Pablo Souza
He is an outstanding 16-year-old young man, with a very high IQ. and an extensive understanding of mathematics and the logical side of life. At his young age, he is a brave boy, and he must use that courage to face the obstacles to which he will be exposed throughout the novel.
Huanuco Flower
Flor is a strong woman, with evident Latin features. He is presented as a character who does not hesitate to avenge the death of a loved one., in addition to being a mother who fights for a better future for her daughter.
Mr Moon
Mr. Moon He appears to be an unscrupulous man.. However, as the book progresses it is possible to see how this character dares to exhibit his true heart.
Secondary characters
Gabriel
Like Pablo, Gabriel is a gifted boy, but, unlike his friend, He has a talent for the humanities and poetry.
Laura
She is one of the students of the Republic of the Wise, as well as a skilled computer scientist. Laura is in love with Pablo, but is unable to tell him., because of his shyness.
Patricia
She is the most beautiful girl in school. All the students have feelings for Patricia, including Pablo. However, The girl has a relationship with a dangerous schoolboy.
Samara
She is Flor's teenage daughter. She is 17 years old, and she is a beautiful amateur dancer.
Victor
He is a brilliant and methodical young man, who use your calculating mind to achieve your goals. This character is very important for the outcome of the novel.
Aurelio Coronado
In this drug dealer Bolivian, with great determination and thirst for revenge.
Coronado Tacho
He is the son of the boss of the Bolivian mafia. He maintains an unrealistic perception that he is a very smart man, but he is nothing more than a bad person.
About the Author
Cesar Majorcan
César Mallorquí del Corral was born in 1953, in Barcelona, Spain. His father was José Mallorquí, the writer responsible for The coyote. This relationship led to César's life being immersed in literature from an early age. He published his first story at the age of 15., and, at 17, he was already collaborating in the old magazine La Codorniz. Later, he also participated as a scriptwriter for Cadena SER.
In his early adulthood, He studied Journalism at the Faculty of Communication Sciences, located at the Complutense University of Madrid., the city in which the author has lived since 1954. César Mallorquí served in the military until 1981, the year in which he decided to dedicate himself to the world of advertising. There he worked as a creative for ten years. In 1991 he directed the Advertising Creativity Course of the IADE of the Alfonso X el Sabio University.
At the same time, He worked as a scriptwriter for various media. That period also helped César Mallorquí to resume his literary career, opting for fantasy and science fiction, with references such as Ray Bradbury, Jorge Luis Borges, Cordwainer Smith, Alfred Bester, Fredric Brown and Clifford Simak.
Other books by César Mallorquí
- The iron rod (1993);
- The circle of Jericho (1995);
- The stamp collector (1996);
- The Eihwaz Brotherhood (1998);
- La cruz de El Dorado (1999);
- The dark master (1999);
- Cathedral (2000);
- El hombre de arena (2001);
- Shiva's tears (2002);
- The gate of Agartha (2003);
- The company of flies (2004);
- The Inca stone (2005);
- The lost traveler (2005);
- The Dax Mansion (2005);
- The secret calligraphy (2007);
- Cain's game (2008);
- The game of heretics (2010);
- Leonis (2011);
- La isla de Bowen (2012);
- The parasite strategy (2012);
- thirteen monkeys (2015);
- The fabulous adventures of Professor Fury and Mr. Crystal (2015);
- The Cathedral (2017);
- Instruction manual for the end of the world (2019);
- Zulu Time (2019);
- The Scarlet Circle (2020);
- The mystery of Artifact C (2021);
- This is not a writing manual (but it looks like it) (2021);
- Held by Khan (2021);
- The mind reader (2021);
- The Purple Mask (2022);
- The riddle of another world (2022);
- The prodigious visitor (2023);
- The end of the ages (2023)
College of Secret Powers Series
- cat number thirteen (2023);
- The magic spell (2023)