alealme's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tuftymctavish's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
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
5.0
I’d read a few of these stories at earlier points in my reading of the entire saga, and I’d seen several of them appear on my tellybox in the TV show, but there were some we didn’t get to see that were a huge and delightful surprise when I happened upon them here.
This is such a neat way to revisit non-headline characters and fill in a whole lot of back story, or even insert other perspectives you didn’t know you wanted. I very much enjoyed wrapping up the story arcs of some of these lesser known characters.
This is such a neat way to revisit non-headline characters and fill in a whole lot of back story, or even insert other perspectives you didn’t know you wanted. I very much enjoyed wrapping up the story arcs of some of these lesser known characters.
chaifanatic18's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
tense
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? No
4.5
mojoshivers's review
3.0
I've decided I'm not a short story reader. There are too many things that can go wrong to make me dislike a short story, too many possible weak links in the chain. Whereas with a novel, especially those in a series, I can coast on the good will that beloved characters can engender--when you have random characters in almost novellas in a series that I really only read for the core four characters, it can lead to a situation where I may become bored to tears.
Granted, it wasn't every story. In fact, I think there were only two stories that I just couldn't push myself to be interested in. But when those stories are about sixty pages each, I had a hard time finishing.
With normal novels, I give myself fifty pages to get engaged into the story before abandoning ship. With this collection I always had the hope the next story would be better, which in most cases it was. But had this been a normal novel and one of those sixty page stories had been four chapters in an otherwise engaging novel, I may have jumped off. I was that disinterested in the words before my eyes.
I think I've learned my lesson. If I'm to read a short story collection again, I need to know that there's not a rotten apple in the bunch. Expanse or no expanse--I just can't handle dull and uninspired storytelling at any level.
Granted, it wasn't every story. In fact, I think there were only two stories that I just couldn't push myself to be interested in. But when those stories are about sixty pages each, I had a hard time finishing.
With normal novels, I give myself fifty pages to get engaged into the story before abandoning ship. With this collection I always had the hope the next story would be better, which in most cases it was. But had this been a normal novel and one of those sixty page stories had been four chapters in an otherwise engaging novel, I may have jumped off. I was that disinterested in the words before my eyes.
I think I've learned my lesson. If I'm to read a short story collection again, I need to know that there's not a rotten apple in the bunch. Expanse or no expanse--I just can't handle dull and uninspired storytelling at any level.
daethule's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The first time I read the series, I read these short stories in chronological order as they happened in universe. I think I would recommend reading all the books first and then going back and reading the short stories after, instead.
ghostscissoring's review
4.5
really enjoyed these stories and the opportunity to dip back into the world of the expanse - the final story especially felt like a perfect summation of the series and how it views humans. all our messy, tender, horrible, joyful, stupid, gorgeous intricacies, how complicated each person is, and how community has to be something that we all work for, together.
sfwordsofwonder's review against another edition
4.0
Check out my full series, spoiler-free, video review HERE.
Collection of short stories that fit between the books. Some great, some are just okay. My favorites are; The Churn, Drive, Butcher of Anderson Station, The Sins of Our Fathers.
Collection of short stories that fit between the books. Some great, some are just okay. My favorites are; The Churn, Drive, Butcher of Anderson Station, The Sins of Our Fathers.
james_apogee's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
meyerlemonsketches's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
toastzilla's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0