Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.
Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.
Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.
…
Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond—but the stars are still out of our reach.
Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for—and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why.
Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything.
Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations—and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe.
Easily my favorite space opera series and the first book hooked this Earther. The detail and world building are outstanding and the characters and their adventures are addictive.
I'm going to skim the first six books so I can re-read Persepolis Rising and then finally read Tiamat's Wrath to prep for the last book coming out at the end of this year.
Easily my favorite space opera series and the first book hooked this Earther. The detail and world building are outstanding and the characters and their adventures are addictive.
I'm going to skim the first six books so I can re-read Persepolis Rising and then finally read Tiamat's Wrath to prep for the last book coming out at the end of this year.
I love the show so much that I wanted to visit its source. It did not disappoint. However, tv show adaption is so good, so true to the book’s tone, pacing, imagery, and characterizations that I actually don’t feel the need to read the whole series. I normally don’t read sci-fi/adventure and that’s probably why I’m not attached. For instance, the fast-paced writing style I associate with action novels kind of bored me after a while, yet I still couldn’t put it down. I looked forward to the next objective Holden and Miller had, even though I knew exactly what was going to happen as I’ve already have rewatched the show four times!
In any case, the book proves why it needed a tv adaption, and I think it’s even better than the book. Depending on how the tv series end, I may pick up the books again, but for …
I love the show so much that I wanted to visit its source. It did not disappoint. However, tv show adaption is so good, so true to the book’s tone, pacing, imagery, and characterizations that I actually don’t feel the need to read the whole series. I normally don’t read sci-fi/adventure and that’s probably why I’m not attached. For instance, the fast-paced writing style I associate with action novels kind of bored me after a while, yet I still couldn’t put it down. I looked forward to the next objective Holden and Miller had, even though I knew exactly what was going to happen as I’ve already have rewatched the show four times!
In any case, the book proves why it needed a tv adaption, and I think it’s even better than the book. Depending on how the tv series end, I may pick up the books again, but for now, I’m happy with just watching the show. But if you do love reading sci-fi, I cannot stress how much you need to read this series! And if you love good tv, even if you don’t watch sci-fi often or it isn’t you’re favorite genre, you must watch The Expanse! It has all the elements of a great sci-fi opera, yet the performances, world building, visuals, and most of all plot have a wide appeal to audiences that want an immersive entertainment experience. The Expanse may be the best sci-fi/action show running.
Um, here's a thought, but don't read it unless you've already read the book, okay:
I feel kinda horrible to say it, but I was kinda glad when Miller got killed off. Not that I wasn't sad; he was one of my favorite characters, and I really loved how he developed over the course of the novel. It's just like this: if I'm going to stick around for a what, nine-book series, I want to see that the authors aren't afraid of change. Too many books I've read are afraid to let anything happen because they want their readers to keep loving the characters they first saw. (The Oz series is predominantly on my mind; every book solved the conflict with yet another magic object to the point where one of the later plots--and in my opinion one of the more interesting ones--has an evil magician steal all their magic …
Um, here's a thought, but don't read it unless you've already read the book, okay:
I feel kinda horrible to say it, but I was kinda glad when Miller got killed off. Not that I wasn't sad; he was one of my favorite characters, and I really loved how he developed over the course of the novel. It's just like this: if I'm going to stick around for a what, nine-book series, I want to see that the authors aren't afraid of change. Too many books I've read are afraid to let anything happen because they want their readers to keep loving the characters they first saw. (The Oz series is predominantly on my mind; every book solved the conflict with yet another magic object to the point where one of the later plots--and in my opinion one of the more interesting ones--has an evil magician steal all their magic stuff, so they have to work without. I mean, seriously: how can you keep a story interesting when one character has a belt that lets them do literally anything?)
Anyway, by killing Miller, the authors have convinced me that they're going to do what's right to make an interesting story, even if it hurts the reader's feelings a bit. And that's all right. In fact, I much prefer that to static characters. I don't want a bunch of novels with practically identical plots. (I'm talking to you, Sherlock Holmes and Hardy Boys.)
And to those who have read further into the series (preferably until Cibola Burn):
Yes, I realize Miller came back. My point stands; he definitely was extremely changed and arguably not even the original person at all.
ok yeah the hype lived up, there's probably not much else to say after ten years but god damn is the pacing, the writing, everything just so solid with this book. excited to continue the series
ok yeah the hype lived up, there's probably not much else to say after ten years but god damn is the pacing, the writing, everything just so solid with this book. excited to continue the series
I enjoyed this book. It had a fun mix of space ship fights mixed with some classic tension from humanity. It even mixed in noire and vomit zombies. I am starting to get back into reading and this was a fun page turner that got me back into some one of my favorite genres.
Death without warning was preferable, as it removed all fear.
It will be difficult to review the book without comparing it to the Syfy/Amazon series, but the reason I'm reading it is because of the TV show so regardless of how I try to view them separately they (season one and Leviathan Wakes) are so similar that they both suffered the same flaws or challenges.
It's the problem with politics. Your enemies are often your allies. And vice versa.
Miller is a stereotypical cop that has gone through a divorce, witnessed his glory days come and go and is now a joke among the force. I failed to understand (in the beginning) why Miller was so fixated with Juliette Mao and why he kept postponing the conclusion of her case so he could pursue another Julie-related task (find her, find those who wrong her, enacted vengeance). His obsession reeked …
Death without warning was preferable, as it removed all fear.
It will be difficult to review the book without comparing it to the Syfy/Amazon series, but the reason I'm reading it is because of the TV show so regardless of how I try to view them separately they (season one and Leviathan Wakes) are so similar that they both suffered the same flaws or challenges.
It's the problem with politics. Your enemies are often your allies. And vice versa.
Miller is a stereotypical cop that has gone through a divorce, witnessed his glory days come and go and is now a joke among the force. I failed to understand (in the beginning) why Miller was so fixated with Juliette Mao and why he kept postponing the conclusion of her case so he could pursue another Julie-related task (find her, find those who wrong her, enacted vengeance). His obsession reeked of a stalker as opposed someone who was diligent and focused.
On the other end of the spectrum is Holden who came across as someone who made poor decisions that impacted his crew and lacked the awareness to understand his flaws. His conversations with Miller were monosyllabic, which made them both seem simple and flat. The story had a wonderful world, interesting drama developing and our two lead characters are having one word conversations.
The above describes my problem with the TV show and book. However, with the benefit of internal monologues the book avoided the nosedive the TV show took.
He was vaguely aware that he was weeping. It didn't mean anything.
The events that each character faced, the horrors they witnessed, and their different ways of dealing with them showed a drastic divide in how they each operated their morale compass. The conversations between Miller and Holden were still basic, but there was subtext and something existed in the spaces of a "good?" "yeah" conversation.
Suddenly words, however few, had weight and importance.
Holden is righteous, Miller is a renegade. Holden believes in justice and Miller realizes not all situations will see justice so vengeance is necessary.
Unfortunately I dislike Miller in both instances (TV and book), but Leviathan Wakes Miller is redeemed...it just took nearly two thirds of the book for this to become obvious. The events on Eros were a defining moment in each characters path and the outcome of that challenged how they each saw their counterpart.
"You might be the best person I know. But you're totally uncompromising on what you think is right, and that's what you have about Miller."
"I do?"
"Yes," she said. "He's totally uncompromising too, but he has different ideas on how things work."
Holden realized that Miller would shoot without question and Miller understood Holdens morality. The fallout of Eros and then followed by the confrontation with Dresden on the secret science Thoth Station only further showed this division. The crew of the Rocinate sided with Holden but understood the reasons for why the two were different long before Holden did.
Building humanity's greatest empire is like building the world's largest anthill. Insignificant.
When the story has only two POV characters and you dislike them both it's easy to overlook the rest of the book. Holden and Miller aside Leviathan Wakes was excellent. Having the memory of the TV show allowed me to jump in to the world very quickly. Ships, locations, gear and the wonderful execution of the TV show seemed like very honest replication of the source material. Understanding the political struggles to come I took time to pay attention to details and be cognizant that Fred Johnson, OPA, Earth and Mars will set the groundwork for the larger scope of a story to come.
Okuduğum en iyi bilimkurgu romanlarından birisiydi. Yazarın küçük oyunları, kurgu yetisi, anlatı gücü... Harika! Dizi ile birlikte düşününce anlatının tökezlediği bir iki yer fark edebiliyorum ama dizide oralar düzeltilmemiş olsaydı hiç takılmazdım.
J’ai eu le temps de regarder les trois premières saisons de The Expanse avant de commencer à lire les romans dont la série a été adaptée. Pourtant, les premiers tomes m’attendent sur mon Kindle depuis que j’ai terminé la première saison. J’ai enfin pris la peine de me plonger dans le premier volume, intitulé Leviathan Wakes.
Il faut d’abord préciser que James S.A. Corey est un pseudonyme : derrière ce nom de plume se cachent en réalité deux auteurs, Daniel Abraham et Ty Franck, qui ont entrepris ensemble l’écriture de cette grande saga de science-fiction baptisée The Expanse.
L’action se déroule dans un futur plus ou moins proche : suffisamment proche pour que l’environnement nous soit familier, avec la Terre, Mars, la ceinture d’astéroïdes, bref notre système solaire ; mais suffisamment éloigné dans le futur pour que la science-fiction soit bien présente : l’humanité a colonisé le système solaire et …
J’ai eu le temps de regarder les trois premières saisons de The Expanse avant de commencer à lire les romans dont la série a été adaptée. Pourtant, les premiers tomes m’attendent sur mon Kindle depuis que j’ai terminé la première saison. J’ai enfin pris la peine de me plonger dans le premier volume, intitulé Leviathan Wakes.
Il faut d’abord préciser que James S.A. Corey est un pseudonyme : derrière ce nom de plume se cachent en réalité deux auteurs, Daniel Abraham et Ty Franck, qui ont entrepris ensemble l’écriture de cette grande saga de science-fiction baptisée The Expanse.
L’action se déroule dans un futur plus ou moins proche : suffisamment proche pour que l’environnement nous soit familier, avec la Terre, Mars, la ceinture d’astéroïdes, bref notre système solaire ; mais suffisamment éloigné dans le futur pour que la science-fiction soit bien présente : l’humanité a colonisé le système solaire et est désormais plus ou moins divisée en trois blocs à la fois concurrents et interdépendants : la Terre, a priori dotée d’un gouvernement mondial sous l’égide des Nations Unies ; Mars, une république qui dispose d’une technologie plus avancée que celle de sa planète soeur-mère ; et la ceinture d’astéroïdes, sorte de colonies dépendants de la Terre mais dont les habitants méprisés par les Terriens aimeraient prendre leur indépendance.
C’est dans ce contexte que nous faisons la connaissance de deux personnages très différents :
- James Holden est l’officier en second et l’un des rares rescapés de l’équipage de son vaisseau-mineur de glace abattu par une mystérieuse navette furtive après avoir tenté de porter secours au Scopuli, un autre navire en détresse
- Joe Miller est un détective sur l’astéroïde Ceres, dont l’une des affaires dont il est en charge est de retrouver Julie Mao, fille d’un puissant homme d’affaires terrien, qui s’est engagée pour l’indépendance de la ceinture d’astéroïdes
Les chapitres alternent les points de vue des deux personnages et si les deux récits sont d’abord indépendants, on se rend vite compte qu’ils sont liés et que Holden et Miller sont destinés à se rencontre à un moment ou un autre. Cela finit évidemment par arriver, et c’est là que le livre devient passionnant, d’autant que les auteurs ont la bonne idée de ne pas attendre les derniers chapitres pour en arriver là.
Le récit lui-même est intelligent, captivant à suivre, avec des enjeux forts. On ne s’ennuie pas du début à la fin, grâce à des chapitres courts et un sens du rythme évident. On peut parfois se demander si cela n’a pas été écrit dans l’optique d’être adapté sur le petit ou le grand écran, mais c’est suffisamment efficace pour que je ne n’en fasse pas un défaut impardonnable.
Ce premier volume est en tout cas riche de promesses pour la suite de la saga, je ne vais clairement pas tarder à me lancer dans le deuxième tome.
Truly fantastic book, I enjoyed it thoroughly. One of the best pieces of sci-fi I've read in years. I spent many late nights on this story. I bought it because I liked the series, and I'm SO glad I did!
Truly fantastic book, I enjoyed it thoroughly. One of the best pieces of sci-fi I've read in years. I spent many late nights on this story. I bought it because I liked the series, and I'm SO glad I did!
A lot of things worked for me with this book: the conflict, the setting (space opera!) and most of the characters.
While Holden was as interesting as white bread, his good-guy personality was likeable, but not all that great in terms of character development.
Miller stole the spotlight of best character and one that drew me in. His character development and progression throughout the story was so visceral, I found myself rooting for him throughout the journey.
The rest of the crew were fine, though could use more fleshing out (I'm assuming that's what the other books are for).
The pacing was pretty fast, and rarely felt stagnant.
Gosh, I feel so whip lashed. Love this book to death.
Leviathan Wakes actually made me feel emotions.
A lot of things worked for me with this book: the conflict, the setting (space opera!) and most of the characters.
While Holden was as interesting as white bread, his good-guy personality was likeable, but not all that great in terms of character development.
Miller stole the spotlight of best character and one that drew me in. His character development and progression throughout the story was so visceral, I found myself rooting for him throughout the journey.
The rest of the crew were fine, though could use more fleshing out (I'm assuming that's what the other books are for).
The pacing was pretty fast, and rarely felt stagnant.
Gosh, I feel so whip lashed. Love this book to death.
I've seen The Expanse season 1 and 2, and reading this book was like rewatching the directors cut of the show. It was a great read, even at 540+ pages, and interesting to see what was changed for the show. For instance the UN leaders are central in the show but barely register in the book. Miller's obsession with Julie is more consistenstly portraited in the book, and more random in the show.
I've seen The Expanse season 1 and 2, and reading this book was like rewatching the directors cut of the show. It was a great read, even at 540+ pages, and interesting to see what was changed for the show. For instance the UN leaders are central in the show but barely register in the book. Miller's obsession with Julie is more consistenstly portraited in the book, and more random in the show.
I'm angry because the prologue tricked me into thinking this book was going to have a female protagonist, but actually that was the only part of the book from her POV, she was fridged in order to provide motivation for one of the dude protagonists
at some point I said "this book loses a star if Julie ends up murdered" and yep and then I was like "if Holden ends up with Naomi this book loses another star"
so here we are
tbh I just feel really bad for Julie because she starts the book stuffed in a locker, spends the entire book as Miller's imaginary friend (so female and nurturing and compassionate and understanding!) and then ends up stuck with him FOR EVER in weird ass alien goo mind meld situation
it had some interesting ideas in it but it's such a super generic space opera, with so much …
I'm angry because the prologue tricked me into thinking this book was going to have a female protagonist, but actually that was the only part of the book from her POV, she was fridged in order to provide motivation for one of the dude protagonists
at some point I said "this book loses a star if Julie ends up murdered" and yep and then I was like "if Holden ends up with Naomi this book loses another star"
so here we are
tbh I just feel really bad for Julie because she starts the book stuffed in a locker, spends the entire book as Miller's imaginary friend (so female and nurturing and compassionate and understanding!) and then ends up stuck with him FOR EVER in weird ass alien goo mind meld situation
it had some interesting ideas in it but it's such a super generic space opera, with so much DUDES SHOOTING THINGS and NEEDLESS VIOLENCE and DUDES HAVING A FEELING BETTER SHOOT THINGS and like every character making a needless sexual comment about Naomi honestly it was super tiresome and masculinity is boring
I was kind of split about Leviathan Wakes. I think it is one of the few cases wjere I like the TV adaptation better then the book. I really like the main plot of this story, but for Leviathan Wakes compared to the first 1-and-a-bit season of The Expanse the TV show, the latter seems so much more elegant and well done. The writing here is a bit ham-fisted, the characters are two-dimensional and the narration is a bit clumsy. The script writers of the TV show have made a lot of good calls when it comes to altering the story to trade gore for suspense, and they did absolutely right in introducing Chrisjen Avasarala much earlier in the story - the character gallery in the book is too narrow, and the story line too linear, it feels a bit claustrophobic.
This is not to say I dislike the book. …
I was kind of split about Leviathan Wakes. I think it is one of the few cases wjere I like the TV adaptation better then the book. I really like the main plot of this story, but for Leviathan Wakes compared to the first 1-and-a-bit season of The Expanse the TV show, the latter seems so much more elegant and well done. The writing here is a bit ham-fisted, the characters are two-dimensional and the narration is a bit clumsy. The script writers of the TV show have made a lot of good calls when it comes to altering the story to trade gore for suspense, and they did absolutely right in introducing Chrisjen Avasarala much earlier in the story - the character gallery in the book is too narrow, and the story line too linear, it feels a bit claustrophobic.
This is not to say I dislike the book. It's just a great story written by unseasoned writers (Caliban's War, the next in the series, is already much better). And on the upside, the prose has a good flow to it. It is an easy and fast read and, despite all my criticisms above, often hard to put down. No, it's not a bad book at all, it's just that the TV series has shown how brilliant it could have been, and it isn't, not quite.
Finally! I don't know why it took me so long to finish this book because it is brilliant. I've already seen the first two seasons of the show and I'm a huge fan of it. Naturally, I was curious enough to check out the material it is based on, and I wasn't disappointed. This book covers Holden & Miller's perpectives of what happens in the first two seasons. I'm very curious to find out what the next book will be like.
(I do actually: I read to much at work to read a lot at home).
Finally! I don't know why it took me so long to finish this book because it is brilliant. I've already seen the first two seasons of the show and I'm a huge fan of it. Naturally, I was curious enough to check out the material it is based on, and I wasn't disappointed. This book covers Holden & Miller's perpectives of what happens in the first two seasons. I'm very curious to find out what the next book will be like.
(I do actually: I read to much at work to read a lot at home).
