feoh's review against another edition
5.0
It's not every day you find a franchise that's so good that it excels both in book form and on the big screen. The Expanse is just such a franchise.
In most cases, the common trope you hear is that you should ALWAYS read the book first. And for most things that's true. The TV/movie versions are necessarily boiled down to a skeleton of the rich stew you get in written form. But in this case, I maintain you can experience either first and not lose out at all.
If as I did you watch the TV show first, the writing is so good it will propel you along through the book at warp speed, and you'll appreciate all the extra detail and story that can be told in this medium.
Because nobody writes science fiction and in particular space battles like James S. A. Corey - nobody!
In particular, the battle in this book between Bobbie Draper (Who has in my view earned her place as one of the most Stupendous Female Bad-asses of Science Fiction) and the proto-molecule monster is truly epic and worth the price of admission unto itself :)
I'm forcing myself to go read something else so as not to chew through the entire series too quickly. I love it so much it deserves savoring like fine whiskey. I can't gush enough about how good this is. The characters have such depth and exhibit so much beautifully quirky HUMANITY which is super refreshing to see and rather rare IMO in science fiction.
I'm done ranting now. Go read this series post haste :)
In most cases, the common trope you hear is that you should ALWAYS read the book first. And for most things that's true. The TV/movie versions are necessarily boiled down to a skeleton of the rich stew you get in written form. But in this case, I maintain you can experience either first and not lose out at all.
If as I did you watch the TV show first, the writing is so good it will propel you along through the book at warp speed, and you'll appreciate all the extra detail and story that can be told in this medium.
Because nobody writes science fiction and in particular space battles like James S. A. Corey - nobody!
In particular, the battle in this book between Bobbie Draper (Who has in my view earned her place as one of the most Stupendous Female Bad-asses of Science Fiction) and the proto-molecule monster is truly epic and worth the price of admission unto itself :)
I'm forcing myself to go read something else so as not to chew through the entire series too quickly. I love it so much it deserves savoring like fine whiskey. I can't gush enough about how good this is. The characters have such depth and exhibit so much beautifully quirky HUMANITY which is super refreshing to see and rather rare IMO in science fiction.
I'm done ranting now. Go read this series post haste :)
kaylakrystek's review against another edition
adventurous
4.5
Avarasala and a closer look at the UN, Martian, and Belter politics really elevated this book over book one.
lovelycass's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
frasersimons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
iidrag's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
evandaniel's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
alana_rr's review against another edition
5.0
"He'd read accounts of extravehicular euphoria, but the experience was unlike anything he'd imagined. He was the eye of God, drinking the light of infinite stars, and he was a speck of dust on a speck of dust, clipped by his mag boots to the body of a ship unthinkably more powerful than himself, and unimportant to the face of the abyss."
I liked this book SO much more than Leviathan Wakes. The fact that it spent most of its time in character development and it still kept me engaged throughout says it all.
In this book we are introduced to another great set of characters - Bobbie, Avasarala and Prax - and follow their POVs. Three completely different people who lived completely different lives and who are incredibly fun to follow.
If you ever looked up the TV series you've probably heard they made adjustments to fit what the series was trying to do. Notably, the stuff that happens inside the Agatha King and in Io is expanded and plays out differently. I don't prefer one over the other because I think both felt right for their respective mediums.
I want to start Abaddon's Gate AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
I liked this book SO much more than Leviathan Wakes. The fact that it spent most of its time in character development and it still kept me engaged throughout says it all.
In this book we are introduced to another great set of characters - Bobbie, Avasarala and Prax - and follow their POVs. Three completely different people who lived completely different lives and who are incredibly fun to follow.
If you ever looked up the TV series you've probably heard they made adjustments to fit what the series was trying to do. Notably, the stuff that happens inside the Agatha King and in Io is expanded and plays out differently. I don't prefer one over the other because I think both felt right for their respective mediums.
I want to start Abaddon's Gate AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!
sefausto's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
kodermike's review against another edition
4.0
When I reviewed Leviathan Wakes, I mentioned that I sat on that book for too long and was kicking myself for it. This time, I didn't make that mistake, and now I have to live with the repercussions - waiting another year for the third volume.
Readers of Leviathan Wakes will be able to step into the pages of this book without pause. The writing duo that makes up James S.A. Corey took an approach I have to respect - there's no backstory, no summation of the previous novel, not even an awkward chapter of "well, you remember when we did this thing just happened a day ago for us but was up to a year ago for the reader?" It also means that the 600+ pages of this book are written with the intent of making this story move forward.
Book two begins with the tensions between Mars and Earth still high. On the breadbasket and nursery of the outer Solar System, Ganymede, the tensions is broken with an attack by a creature that is very reminiscent of Eros. Is this a sign that the protovirus has spread out from Venus, or is this another example of greed gone wrong?
While Leviathan Wakes was well balanced between Holden and Miller, this second book is more wholly Holden's story. There are four other characters with POV time, but Holden is a solid 30% of the book, and like before, he doesn't always know when to keep his mouth shut - which is probably why we like him. He's the cocky know it all who's too busy trying to do the right thing to notice when he's totally messing it all up. Our new cast members, besides the always lovable band of rogues that is the crew of the Rocinante, include a Martian gunnery sergeant, an Earther politician, and a botanist from Ganymede, Pax.
Which, sadly, is why I reluctantly did not give this a full five stars. The story of Caliban's War begins and centers around the disappearance of Pax's daughter, Mei, which as far as plot devices go is a great one. I know as a father I wouldn't let a little thing like interplanetary hostilities or marauding alien viruses get in my way if one of my girl's was kidnapped. What bothered me, as readers of Leviathan Wakes will understand, is that this is the second time in a row we've used the missing daughter gambit to justify our adventure. I have nothing but respect for the collective brains that made this book, I just wish that they had done something a little different this time. Yes, without getting spoilerly, the plot device works, probably even better than it did it in the first book. It makes sense of what we learn and it fits - its just too bad we've done this before.
Is there fighting? Of course!
Are there starships on fire off the shoulders of Orion? Sort of, if by Orion you mean Jupiter.
Is it space opera? You bet. Spaceships whiz and the fate of worlds - and humanity - can be seen in the balance. If that's your thing, then there's no good excuse for why you aren't reading the Expanse series with me.
Readers of Leviathan Wakes will be able to step into the pages of this book without pause. The writing duo that makes up James S.A. Corey took an approach I have to respect - there's no backstory, no summation of the previous novel, not even an awkward chapter of "well, you remember when we did this thing just happened a day ago for us but was up to a year ago for the reader?" It also means that the 600+ pages of this book are written with the intent of making this story move forward.
Book two begins with the tensions between Mars and Earth still high. On the breadbasket and nursery of the outer Solar System, Ganymede, the tensions is broken with an attack by a creature that is very reminiscent of Eros. Is this a sign that the protovirus has spread out from Venus, or is this another example of greed gone wrong?
While Leviathan Wakes was well balanced between Holden and Miller, this second book is more wholly Holden's story. There are four other characters with POV time, but Holden is a solid 30% of the book, and like before, he doesn't always know when to keep his mouth shut - which is probably why we like him. He's the cocky know it all who's too busy trying to do the right thing to notice when he's totally messing it all up. Our new cast members, besides the always lovable band of rogues that is the crew of the Rocinante, include a Martian gunnery sergeant, an Earther politician, and a botanist from Ganymede, Pax.
Which, sadly, is why I reluctantly did not give this a full five stars. The story of Caliban's War begins and centers around the disappearance of Pax's daughter, Mei, which as far as plot devices go is a great one. I know as a father I wouldn't let a little thing like interplanetary hostilities or marauding alien viruses get in my way if one of my girl's was kidnapped. What bothered me, as readers of Leviathan Wakes will understand, is that this is the second time in a row we've used the missing daughter gambit to justify our adventure. I have nothing but respect for the collective brains that made this book, I just wish that they had done something a little different this time. Yes, without getting spoilerly, the plot device works, probably even better than it did it in the first book. It makes sense of what we learn and it fits - its just too bad we've done this before.
Is there fighting? Of course!
Are there starships on fire off the shoulders of Orion? Sort of, if by Orion you mean Jupiter.
Is it space opera? You bet. Spaceships whiz and the fate of worlds - and humanity - can be seen in the balance. If that's your thing, then there's no good excuse for why you aren't reading the Expanse series with me.
charlesrevello's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0