Holden's an idiot, but he's not stupid. If he realizes he's being watched, he'll start broadcasting pictures of all our Ganymede sources or something. Do not underestimate his capacity to fuck things up.

Like in Leviathan Wakes it will be difficult to separate this review from the Syfy/Amazon series but I will do my best.

Caliban's War benefited from additional characters and providing perspective on events happening elsewhere. The scope of conflict and political posturing required more than a Miller or Holden view and the additional voices resulted in an excellent read.

The TV show tried to handle the introduction of Drax and Avasarala and Bobby but it felt incomplete and didn't do their characters justice. The source material was excellently crafted and these new characters resulted in the best chapters in the book.

Avasarala is noted as being a 'bitch' (as per Soren) and she was all bark and yelling, she thrived on high pressure scenarios and when there was a crisis she could only use her words. I disliked her in the TV show but she won me over in text, which is true for the rest of the newcomers.

"So I'd like to find this little girl before someone uses her up, and she disappears. I'd like to do that for her," Amos said. His voice caught for a moment, and he clear it with a loud cough. "For her dad."

In the TV show the friendship that Amos and Drax developed was charming but I didn't appreciate how deep it went. It was adorable that Amos said "he was the best friend I had" but I felt that what lead to that comment missed some weight. Like most areas of the TV show I didn't like the book has done a wonderful job filling in the gaps, and with Amos and Drax, explaining their friendship.

"Point of clarification," Alex said, raising his hand. "We have an apocalypse comin'? Was that a thing we knew about?"
"Venus," Avasarala said.
"Oh. That apocalypse." Alex said, lower his hand. "Right."

The action started and didn't let up. Leviathan Wakes had a slow build and then concluded with a frantic finish, but Caliban's War took off like a shot and didn't ease up. The breathes between action sequences were necessary but it wasn't all guns blasting and vomit zombies.

Reputation never has very much to do with reality.

The book also did an excellent job damaging relationships and then trying to patch them together. There were moments between characters where they talked about their lives, their issues and concerns. Problems are discussed aloud and the team works with what's been presented. In some ways the character development in Caliban's War is the real gem and it is supported but excellent action and some terrifying bad guys.

No one on the screen is who they are when you breathe their air.

I'm committed to reading the series and right now it's a pleasure because the books are so enjoyable!

"Cap," Amos said with a grin. "Anything that kills me has already killed everyone else. I was born to be the last man standing. You can count on it".