/lit/ - Literature

>>21481954
Leviathan Wakes, The Expanse #1 - James S.A. Corey [Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck] (2011)

I tried reading this in 2011, but I wasn't interested enough at the time after reading a few chapters. Four years later I began watching the TV series and watched all of it as it aired. I've also read many of Abraham's other books during that time. Now that it's roughly a year later after both the tv and book series have ended, I thought that I'd try again. The book has now joined the evergrowing list of critically acclaimed and/or highly popular series that it seems I didn't give enough chance. This is the first time I've finished the first book of a series after finishing its tv series. Surprisingly, I wasn't bothered at all by knowing everything that would happen. I almost always go to the source material first for tv series, but not movies. I'm interested to see how that goes as I read more.

This is a space opera series in which both authors empathetically say that it isn't hard SF. For the most part it tends towards a relatively conservative realism of what human society may be like a few centuries from now in terms of technological and social progress, as compared to most science fiction I've seen. For the first few books everything stays within the solar system. The authors have stated that they wanted this series to be about when humans first began exploring beyond the solar system. The only thing that bothers me is the populations of the planets and moons, 30 billion for Earth, 9 billion for Mars, and other absurd numbers elsewhere. The reasons for these numbers are given later in the tv series, which I assume are the same in the book, and are highly unsatisfactory.

The story alternates between two viewpoints, even when they're literally feet apart from each other. One is a self-righteous idealist with a savior complex on a merchant vessel who finds himself pushed into stellar events. The other is a cynical and nihilistic detective who becomes obsessed with a case that becomes his sole reason for living. The cast of characters are quite enjoyable and there aren't any that I disliked, as I think they're well-written and developed. In terms of plot it means the former is escaping from a series of disasters while trying to save the solar system and the latter is pursuing an obsession.

It's difficult for me to compare the first book and the first and second seasons six/seven years out, so I'll just say that they have their own strengths and weaknesses. I don't mind the changes the TV series made of what I've read so far. The characters in the book feel better, particularly in terms of their humanity and emotionality. There's also considerably more worldbuilding details and the inner monologue. I may come to like the book series more by the end. I'm highly motivated to enjoy this series. I very much want to like it despite it not quite being what I ideally want, but it's both close and rare enough though that it suffices.

Rating: 4.5/5

>>21510242
Caliban's War, The Expanse #2 - James S.A. Corey (Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck)

I've seen complaints that the second book is too much of the same. There's a lot of structural similarity and although the content itself differs that may not be enough. I don't mind that much about between book repetition, but I do have concerns about within-in book repetition. Despite these similarities this one has more silly moments, which isn't what I prefer in this context, but they don't affect much. The plot is unknown forces trying to provoke a war between Earth and Mars, protomolecule mishaps, subterfuge, investigation, and political metaphors. This series isn't so much about the plot for me, which could deliver far more on what one might presume it to eventually be about, as it is about the characters and how they make it through the various situations they find themselves in.

As for the viewpoints, I hope you didn't mind Miller because they have all similarities with him. Particularly in that they're traumatized, obsessed, and prone to recklessness bordering on self-destructiveness. James Holden retains his savior complex and sense of moral superiority that leads to the occasional narcissistic and paranoid moments. Chrisjen Avasarala is the UN deputy undersecretary who treats everything as a political game. Roberta (Bobbie) Draper is a traumatized Martian marine seeking revenge and has an especially imposing stature. Praxidike Meng is a botanist who is divorced from his wife and arguably reality, whose only goal is to find his missing four year old daughter. He's one of my least liked characters in the series, book and show. I like the female cast of characters considerably more overall. In the TV series anyway, though it seems that it'll be the same here.

My primary complaint this time is the chronology. There are seemingly conflicting statements about how much time has passed since the first book. That may be because of how unclear the durations of their space travels often are. This is one of my most common complaints, though in most cases I let it slide by without much notice. I also felt that child prostitution, which is only mentioned, was an inordinate focus. The first thought of almost every character seems to go in that direction when thinking of children, especially the aforementioned missing daughter. The population dynamics are so dumb that I try to entirely ignore them. None of this does much to damper my enjoyment, though in the context of a book that I liked less they would.

The differences from the show so far aren't of any major consequence that I can remember. Bobbie is different, mostly in her sexual effect on men and how they respond to her, which more than flirts with fetishization. There was one point where I was surprised because it didn't happen in the TV series, but it turned out not to matter that much, which was disappointing. Overall, I still rather enjoy it.

Rating: 4/5

>>21522985
Abaddon's Gate, The Expanse #3 - James S.A. Corey (Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck)

This is the book where the divergence of the TV series became noticeable in major ways for me. One prevalent difference is that the tv series has considerably more drama between characters and organizations. The plot revolves about the differing reactions to a protomolecule artifact that teases far greater expanses will be explored in the future and hints at what happened in the deep past.

James Holden is the only reoccurring viewpoint character thus far. The other viewpoints are contained to their single book. By comparison the TV series introduced several of the characters much earlier and continued following them. I think that's the better approach. It may be more realistic that once a character fulfills their role in relation to main character they fade away from the narrative, but that doesn't make it the better choice. I didn't notice it as much in TV series, but for the viewpoint characters of the books, they're all obsessive and reckless bordering on being self-destructive. I have to wonder if there will be one who isn't. I'm uncertain whether that's just my perspective.

For Holden, if the first book is the exaltation, and the second the rebuke, then this is the humbling. He's no longer the Choosing One, he's now the Chosen One, that's how he sees it anyway and he detests that. The problem with being Chosen is that rather limits your personal freedom and what one can do with their life. That's not at all what Holden wants since he now thinks he's free to do anything. Holden tries to escape what he believes to be his destiny, but but he's forced to confront it, which makes its resolution all the more amusing to me.

Carlos c de Baca, "Bull", the head of security for the Behemoth, isn't introduced into the tv series until what would be book 5. Bull is ok, but I like the tv version of Camina Drummer more, which is who fills most of his book role, though she hasn't been introduced in the books yet. I suppose it's because since so many characters are introduced so much earlier in the TV series that they have to displace the original roles to keep their storylines going.

Melba, and her quickly revealed actual identity, may be most baffling character in the both the book and tv series to me. It's not that I dislike the character so much as it baffles me by how often and with such intensity that she changes and how others react to that. I feel like she's more to make a thematic statement about what the series is about rather and then a fully developed character.

Annushka "Anna" Volvodov, a Methodist pastor, is better in the book. Too much was changed for the worse about her, especially the shift from outsider to insider status. She's also basically a different character as well.

Although this is worse than the previous books, it's not so much that I'd only call it decent. Hopefully the downward trend doesn't continue.

Rating: 3.5/5

>>21694576
Cibola Burn, The Expanse #4 - James S.A. Corey (2014)

The are four viewpoint characters this time. Basia, the father of a named character from a previous book, who can't bear to lose anything else. Elvi a biologist who is oblivious in conversations and has a lot of pent up sexual frustration, which is one of her defining traits, though it was removed in the TV series. Havelock is the former partner of Miller and a decent guy who finds himself in bad situations. He was the only one of the three new POVs that I liked. Then there's Holden, who continues to hold a high opinion of himself with thoughts such as "It was less fun being the chosen one and prophet when were violent and capricious and their spokesman was insane and powerless." His savior complex remains possibly his most notable characteristic.

After finishing I became ambivalent about the viewpoints. They allow for perspectives from several locations and from a variety of characters, but this viewpoint roulette hasn't worked out that well for me overall. I'd prefer it to be more consistent. Although this is ostensibly Holden's story he's always only one of the various perspectives, and his viewpoint seems to lessen with each book. I wonder what the intention is for that. Elvi is the first character to have more chapters than Holden and I wouldn't be surprised if that became the norm for the rest of the series. That wouldn't be problem to me as long as the other viewpoints were engaging.

This book is about colonialism gone wrong in the Illus Lithium Rush of 2355. That may not be the exact date, but it would coincide with what's listed as the end year of the California Gold Rush. It could probably be classified as a survival book because it's really just a series of crises one after another, in both interpersonal and environmental terms. I suppose that's also how the previous books are, but I felt differently about it this time. What I want from this series is a space opera with exploration rather than a planetary survival adventure. I don't care all that much about the protomolecule or any possible aliens. Maybe a lot of people do though.

What disappointed me most is how disconnected I felt it to be. I didn't feel that way while watching the TV series, which reminds me of how much more critical I tend to be with books compared to other media, maybe because I expect less. It's still a fun enough ride, and it has mostly followed my level of enjoyment from the show. All of this may seem harsh, but that's only because I wanted it to be something that I very much liked, but that may have been an unreasonable expectation. Maybe the next two books that cover the rest of the TV series will be better.

Rating: 3.5/5

>>21704462
Nemesis Games, The Expanse #5 - James S.A. Corey (2015)

This was definitely better than the third or fourth books, and may even be right ahead of or just behind the second in terms of my enjoyment. Others reasonably consider the best of the series thus far. The POVs this time are the crew of the Rocinante, who finally each have their own perspective. Holden is tied for the least chapters of the four. He's avoiding trying to understand himself as an individual, rather than as someone defined those who he's with. He has problems with boundaries, which is why he shares everything, but he's also been becoming increasingly Miller-like, which can't possibly be worrisome for his longevity. Alex tries to come to terms with his past, which may be a midlife crisis, and to accept himself for who he is. Amos returns to his past to verify whether a life was amicably resolved, and if not, to ensure a summary resolution for all involved. Naomi faces the past she sacrificed so much to break away from and may have to sacrifice even more get away from again. I liked Naomi's the least because I feel like there's something off about both how the book and TV series characterize her. I don't quite know what it is though.

As compared to the previous book, which was plot focused, this one is much more character focused. Everyone must face the consequences of their past. Although it is about each individual character it's also about who they are together and realizing that when they're together they compensate for the dysfunctions of each other. They're not functionally whole when they're apart. These struggles are also represented at an interplanetary level. The reactions to new discoveries bring multigenerational grievances to the fore and the costs may be beyond imagining. A reckoning for oppression is at hand, but do the oppressed seek liberation or annihilation?

The relative shallowness and ambiguity of anything in the background of The Expanse is definitely one of its greatest weaknesses for me, but I think it's mostly covered up well and keeps the reader distracted from it. None of it holds up well under scrutiny, which is disappointing, but as I've written more than a few times, when possible it may be better to turn a blind eye to some flaws for the sake of own's enjoyment. Even so, this weakness is what holds me back from rating this series any higher than I already have.

As the middle book in the series with four behind it and four yet to come, I've started to consider its overall trajectory. It may never be what I want it to be, but that's alright. As long as what it is, is enjoyable enough, that's all that really matters. The previous book was a misstep, though its footing was regained with this one. The next book covers the rest of what I know, and may be similarly enjoyable, though considering the shortened final season it could well also have a considerable amount that I don't know.

Rating: 4/5

>>21717855
Babylon's Ashes, The Expanse #6 - James S.A. Corey (2016)

There are nineteen character perspectives this time. Nine of them only have a single chapter and seven have four or less. This does mean that several previous POVs make brief returns, which is certainly another change. The remaining three have more. Holden has the most chapters again, but just barely at a fifth of them with eleven chapters. Reality has caught up with Holden's idealism and it's difficult to be who he was, but he tries, as his core savior complex remains intact. Michio Pa, who has ten chapters, and is a returning character who was in the TV series in name only as her character and Bull's were folded into Drummer. It was strange reading her being basically the same but a different person and surely it was the same for those who read the books first instead. I still liked her anyway, as she plays an interesting role. Filip has a lot to think about after the events of the previous book in his seven chapters, though really all of those involved seem to be taking it better than I would expect, but maybe their actions were of such enormity that it was beyond comprehension aside from being considered in abstract terms and so they can't feel it at all.

The overall structure of the book was comparable to the TV series, but otherwise had less similarity than I thought it would, especially in terms of emotional impact. There's an argument in here that apparently I may have no longer any have defense against, or maybe it's due to a confluence of real world events. That argument being that either we universally make common cause and collectively try to save ourselves from own self-inflicted impending demise or we resign ourselves to savagery, madness, and desolation. The(ir) first step of which would be to stop the war to lessen starvation. That being said, it's all well and good Space Opera. I was surprised that some background information was provided about the OPA, despite it being mostly being that they're as confused as anyone else about who they are overall. It's too bad it wasn't provided several books earlier and with other general background information to go along with it.

I've mostly tried avoiding spoilers, so I don't know, but I'm expecting a considerable time skip for the ending trilogy. It's been roughly ten years in-universe since the destruction of the Canterbury, the start of the series. Skipping ahead few decades seems about right. Maybe that was part of the reluctance for continuing the TV series, though it will be continued through a graphic novel series. I'm feeling a considerable amount of nervous excitement about how it'll go because based on what I've seen it's been a contentious matter, though a lot of endings are. I'm also expecting it'll be a different experience than what's come before, or at least that's what I'm hoping for. I'll find out for myself sometime next month.

Rating: 4/5

>>21787018
Persepolis Rising, The Expanse #7 - James S.A. Corey (2017)

Persepolis Rising is the first book of The Expanse's third act and the first that I've read that wasn't covered by the TV series. I'm quite impressed by it and tentatively like it more than the first book. So, for those wondering whether they can skip the first six books and start at the seventh because they've watched the TV series and don't want to read through them, I say that you can. I wouldn't advise it, but that's only because I almost never would for anything with a continuous story. Someone who did so would still know the the most important parts of the plot and the characters are mostly as they were. If it's a choice between starting here or not reading at all, you should start here.

The narrative begins with a considerable time skip, which is mostly to allow for the events of the previous book to take their course. This makes the crew of the Rocinante much older, but they don't act all that different aside from the occasional complaint that they're getting too old for this. Multiple centenarians are mentioned and one has a role in the story. There's a line about how they all take anti-aging drugs and life expectancy is much higher, so I just accepted it. There's also the question of what happened for everyone during this time, and a few things are mentioned, but surely not enough for those whom it'd bother. I decided not to dwell on it.

These are eleven viewpoints, four of which are primary. This is the first time I've enjoyed all the primary viewpoints when there's been more than two of them. James Holden has the fourth most chapters, which is his lowest ordinal position thus far. A character tells him, "You don't get to make the universe be what you want just by saying it" and he admits to himself that "something terrible is happening, and I don't know how not to be in the middle of it", so he's the same as ever. Bobbie Draper returns and is the only character aside from Holden to be a primary viewpoint twice. She's much the same as well. Camina Drummer isn't as enjoyable as her TV counterpart, but she's close enough. Santiago Jilie Singh, the captor, has the most interesting role. It's been a long time since I've read a character so pitiable in their naïve idealism that crumbles into cruelty. He's a tragic character in a way.

As for the story, the prologue is more meaningful if The Vital Abyss has been read. It's incredible how much progress the breakaway group has made, but I'm willing to believe. They have the protomolecule, artifacts, an absence of research ethics, a highly focused society, and a potential God Emperor. Once again it's to be war. Most of the viewpoints are those of the captives and the captor. I was surprised by how well it worked for me. Even if the next two books don't go over that well, this was a highly enjoyable way to start off again. This alone has made it worth reading the first six for me.

Rating: 4.5/5

>>21804518
Tiamat's Wrath, The Expanse #8 - James S.A. Corey (2019)

A few years have passed since the previous book. There's a lot that happens very quickly. I wonder how much that was for dramatic effect and commentary versus the need to advance the plot sufficiently to set up for the final book. Either way it still worked out well enough. There's a considerable amount of speculation and some empirical testing about those the entities which wiped others out, but that's not what I'd prefer the focus to be about. The significance of The Expanse short fiction story which I liked the least, Strange Dogs, is explained here. I assume its full meaning will be detailed in the final book, rather than being mostly for an event which may be more impactful for those who haven't read it. More and more this reminds me of a memorable line near the ending of Dan Simmon's novel, The Fall of Hyperion, involving a statement from an unknown existence. That's probably wrong, but it amuses me to think of it that way. There's also a travelling aid that reminded me of similar from Endymion and I wondered if it'd function the same way.

Naomi has the most chapters again for a second time. They're better than when she was a primary viewpoint in Nemesis Game. Most of them are passive, as she wants a diplomatic solution, though are are also some interesting developments later on. Elvi from Cibola Burn returns, and she's considerably improved, and goes on neat science adventures. Teresa seems to be mostly to provide an insider perspective on the enemy. Maybe she'll a serve greater purpose in the final book, because I wasn't impressed by her role here. James is relegated to the prologue, interlude, and epilogue. This continuing trend of lesser importance doesn't bode well him in the final. Alex and Bobbie believe that violent resistance is preferable to diplomatic and influence operations. None of them stood out to me, but they were overall all enjoyable enough. There were a few times where I felt the characters were doing stuff solely for plot reasons.

Only the final book remains for me to read. Considering how much the plot was advanced here, how much was settled, and generally how much change occurred, it's not that clear to me what exactly the final book will entail. Obviously it's about the ultimate antagonists, though I don't know how it's all going to be resolved. Endings are difficult to successfully pull off, and I've seen, without being spoiled, that that were various disappointments in several ways. Fortunately for me, all those concerns haven't affected my personal enjoyment. All in all, this has gone better than expected. My previously stated worries have mostly turned out to be misplaced. Even though I didn't get what I most wanted from this series, what I've gotten instead has been entirely enjoyable anyway, so I don't see any reason to complain. Even if the last book is the worst it won't affect my overall enjoyment much.

Rating: 4/5

>>21811321
Leviathan Falls, The Expanse #9 - James S.A. Corey (2021)

Thus the series ended and my turmoil began. Usually I write about a book the day after reading it and I don't have any trouble doing so. Unfortunatey, this was a disappointing finale, though it's not anywhere near the worst conclusion I've experienced. This is a decent book, but it's a bad The Expanse book. Neither the plot nor the characters met my expectations, especially in terms of their consistency. It's the sort of development where I question whether there were extensive deviations or if I didn't ever understand the series for what it was. What bothers me the most is its reliance on Things Just Happen, which I didn't feel was the case in the previous books, regardless of whether it was.

A lot of cool stuff happened that I enjoyed and various ideas were played with that I thought were neat. The ones that I liked the most reminded me of Greg Egan's Luminous and the one that I despised and seemed to have direct references was Arthur C. Clarke's (antagonist's plans spoiler) <spoiler>Childhood's End</spoiler>. The problem was that I felt they were in the wrong series. Ideally for me, the protomolecule would've been only a plot device for allowing human expansion and played no further role than accomplishg that. I'd also have been fine with it going the opposite way to where it explored its ideas completely. This middle path wasn't satisfying and lacked commitment. The epilogue provided an answer to a question, but nothing else.

There were a lot of character viewpoints again, but I'm only interested in writing about two of them. Aliana Tanaka is a first time viewpoint though returning character. She's a mess, both as a person and a character. She's not the character I like the least, but I think she's possibly the least properly realized character in that she read like a plot-driven caricature. Holden regained his position of having the most chapters. The conclusion to his story is entirely in character and follows from the first book, but that's not how I wanted it to go. The worst offender though is what was done with Winston. I was entirely satisfied with how his story went in the previous book. What happened with him in this book was a travesty and I can't be convinced otherwise.

Whose story is The Expanse? After consulting a spreadsheet image someone made of all the viewpoint characters (43 by a maximal definition) and their chapters I went a bit further and calculated that Holden is 24% of the total chapters. I don't think the word count is substantially different than that, but I didn't check. Does having a quarter of the chapters and being the only viewpoint character to be in every book suffice? Yeah, it does for me, which I find to be somewhat surprising. Overall, I'm very pleased by this book series and I'm glad that I read it.

Rating: 3/5

Memory's Legion, The Expanse - James S.A. Corey (2022)
A collection of The Expanse short fiction.

Drive (2012)
Drive takes place during and before Solomon Epstein's successful test of the eponymous drive, though one would think he that he would've taken more safety precautions than almost literally none. The before part is mostly about his love life, which is fine in that it provides more of an existence to one of the most influential characters in the series, but it's just ok.
Ok

The Butcher of Anderson Station (2011)
This nonlinear story takes place before, during, and after the titular event. It's about half a character study of Fred Johnson and half a demonstration of the lengths that governments will go to protect corporate interests, which are too often one and the same. Unfortunately labor relations are even worse than they are now in various ways. Lives are cheap and plentiful and interstellar commerce is lucrative.
Enjoyable

Gods of Risk (2012)
The viewpoint for this story is Bobbie's sixteen year old nephew. He's highly proficient in chemistry and has fallen into making drugs for a local dealer. He does so because it's something that's his own, outside of the oppressive expectations that his parents have. He fantasizes about saving the girl the dealer is often with. She's a perpetually strung-out junkie with a heart of, well, cardiac muscle, but he's infatuated with her all the same.
Enjoyable

The Churn (2014)
A young tough in Baltimore does what he has to do to survive and comes into the employment of a crime boss. He does what he's told, but life doesn't quite go as planned for anyone involved.
Enjoyable

The Vital Abyss (2015)
Paolo Cortazar, a protomolecule researcher, recounts his life history. The desperation to achieve one's dreams can lead to some very dark places, especially when circumstances only allow for a choice between which kind of being dead inside one prefers.
Enjoyable

Strange Dogs (2017)
An unintentional immigrant family on Laconia, a newly settled planet, is taking it day by day to see what happens. Their ten year old daughter only knows this new world. She comes across some strange dogs who have quite the abilities that come in handy for fixing her mistakes and those of others. It could be considered a horror story, but as the author's note, there are other perspectives as well.
Meh

Auberon (2019)
The planet Auberon has a new governor, filled with idealism, that meets the reality of corruption and fallibility. This is also the third part of Erich's story, starting in the Churn, continuing in Nemesis Games, and concluding here. There are a few references to other The Expanse works.
Ok

The Sins of Our Fathers (2022)
The conclusion to Filip's story and an example of what life is like after the events of Leviathan Falls on one of the undeveloped planets. A few hundred people try to maintain civilization, but monsters are everywhere.
Ok