A review by righteousridel
Abaddon's Gate by James S.A. Corey
3.0
Serious Funny Business?
I've had a complex relationship with The Expanse series, disliking its TV series and yet giving it a second chance via the novels. Abaddon's Gate has a lot of what I like about the series: the action is excellent, and it has a decent mystery (though not a police procedural) that adds a thrill to the times when the guns aren't firing. Holden is the glue that keeps the series anchored, and while he's an enjoyable presence, I'm also happy that his flaws are called out in-universe.
And yet... none of these books have been stand-out hits for me.
Abaddon's Gate is just serious enough to give the universe a sense of gravitas. But it never fully commits to either being serious business or a fun, easy read for the evening. The series is filled with high stakes (the fate of human civilization) and plenty of treacherous moments. I get a sense of loss, and the scope of what's going on doesn't allow me to turn off my brain, but the moment the going gets tough, we hit a patch of comic relief. Nowhere is this more obvious than the recurring joke about how Amos is a cold-blooded murderer but at least he's on our side.
Humor is fine, but the series is already short of dramatic tension. It's been a long time since Shed's demise, and nothing since then has made me worry for our heroes in the slightest. The antagonists in this series rarely appear on-screen, and if they do appear, are impotent. A constant stream of new POV characters allows us to stay emotionally uninvolved. When all these elements come together, I'm left with a novel that was entertaining, but forgettable.
Recommended with reservations.
Not including Avasarala in this novel was a mistake. That single-handedly drops it another star.
I suspect a major problem is that new POV characters in each novel means that I never develop long-term feelings for any character and their support group. We lose both Sam and Bull in this novel, and the former hits harder because we know about her from the previous novel, even though Bull is a main character! And despite how bloody the 3rd Behemoth mutiny (ha) ends up being, way too many main characters live through those firefights. Offing red-shirts and a single one-novel-and-done main character does not build tension, sorry James Corey.
Also Mao's heel-face turn was thoroughly unconvincing, and yet obviously telegraphed ever since Anna sat down to speak with her in a glorified meat locker. It was great that there was an antagonist plotline finally, but then we water it down and ultimately have her repenting for her sins! :eyeroll:
That and ultimately all the big twists just feel like the author dragging the story forward. The gate leading to interstellar space travel is... sure, I guess it's a big deal. But does it really hit me emotionally? As a reader, I don't care that this fake universe has FTL now. It's just another way to tell a story. What about the tension that should occur between Mars, Earth and the OPA? Didn't tens of thousands die in peer naval combat just last year? Yet only Holden is hated by Mars marines and everyone is friendly and constantly cooperating with each other on-screen during the events of the Slow Zone.
There's just something missing here.
I've had a complex relationship with The Expanse series, disliking its TV series and yet giving it a second chance via the novels. Abaddon's Gate has a lot of what I like about the series: the action is excellent, and it has a decent mystery (though not a police procedural) that adds a thrill to the times when the guns aren't firing. Holden is the glue that keeps the series anchored, and while he's an enjoyable presence, I'm also happy that his flaws are called out in-universe.
And yet... none of these books have been stand-out hits for me.
Abaddon's Gate is just serious enough to give the universe a sense of gravitas. But it never fully commits to either being serious business or a fun, easy read for the evening. The series is filled with high stakes (the fate of human civilization) and plenty of treacherous moments. I get a sense of loss, and the scope of what's going on doesn't allow me to turn off my brain, but the moment the going gets tough, we hit a patch of comic relief. Nowhere is this more obvious than the recurring joke about how Amos is a cold-blooded murderer but at least he's on our side.
Humor is fine, but the series is already short of dramatic tension. It's been a long time since Shed's demise, and nothing since then has made me worry for our heroes in the slightest. The antagonists in this series rarely appear on-screen, and if they do appear, are impotent. A constant stream of new POV characters allows us to stay emotionally uninvolved. When all these elements come together, I'm left with a novel that was entertaining, but forgettable.
Recommended with reservations.
Spoiler
The following is in spoiler tags, and I say so since some Goodreads clients may not respect it. You've been warned:Not including Avasarala in this novel was a mistake. That single-handedly drops it another star.
I suspect a major problem is that new POV characters in each novel means that I never develop long-term feelings for any character and their support group. We lose both Sam and Bull in this novel, and the former hits harder because we know about her from the previous novel, even though Bull is a main character! And despite how bloody the 3rd Behemoth mutiny (ha) ends up being, way too many main characters live through those firefights. Offing red-shirts and a single one-novel-and-done main character does not build tension, sorry James Corey.
Also Mao's heel-face turn was thoroughly unconvincing, and yet obviously telegraphed ever since Anna sat down to speak with her in a glorified meat locker. It was great that there was an antagonist plotline finally, but then we water it down and ultimately have her repenting for her sins! :eyeroll:
That and ultimately all the big twists just feel like the author dragging the story forward. The gate leading to interstellar space travel is... sure, I guess it's a big deal. But does it really hit me emotionally? As a reader, I don't care that this fake universe has FTL now. It's just another way to tell a story. What about the tension that should occur between Mars, Earth and the OPA? Didn't tens of thousands die in peer naval combat just last year? Yet only Holden is hated by Mars marines and everyone is friendly and constantly cooperating with each other on-screen during the events of the Slow Zone.
There's just something missing here.