@@hadesdarklord That's a little harsh. Knowing this fact isn't crucial to enjoying or understanding the story. If anything, Daniel not knowing this proves he read the book with an open mind and didn't research a bunch of other reviews and spoilers before putting his thoughts together. That can be helpful for making sure your opinion is unique and not externally influenced, so kudos to him.
Yes, that it is a constant danger. Too large, too empty, too dark, too cold, too lifeless, too mysterious. Space isn't for life, and we're always reminded of that with every little detail in the story. So many things must be done to avoid space. People are afraid of space and they respect it. The Belters formed a culture that embodies that philosophy: don't fuck with space.
The Expanse series is one of the best written scifi series ever written. They knock it out of the park technically, conceptually, and in pure entertainment value. The series is paced so well that every book brings something totally new and yet feels familiar.
When will I have time to read The Expanse, Malazan and The Wheel of time? im 27 years old, im supposed to be working, but who cares? My TBR is long and full of terrors, but im very excited
Great review, one note. -James SA Corey is actually two people (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) Edit: also, the next book introduces two of the most badass women in sci-fi!
I haven't watched the show but I also just finished that book and I loved it. Also I dont think he has a pessimistic attitude so much as a realistic one, based on human history thus far
Agree the wide scope of humanity is super realistic if you look at our history. Individuals are good but you can't stop civilization and governments from moving our species in dark directions.
>I dont think he has a pessimistic attitude so much as a realistic one Heh, that's what pessimists always say :) It's a book of its time is how I'd put it. Much less optimistic than the books I grew up reading, but it was a more optimistic time.
I wonder if it seems pessimistic because alot of sci-fi wants to see humanity evolving outside of itself. This series seems to come from the perspective of humanity in all it's ugliest pieces draping itself across the system.
@@DonyFurrer-donytop5 well there's 2 ways it could really go for humanity. We can be the same planet consuming, money rules all society as portrayed here. Or we can grow beyond our need for being a selfish species, truly help our planet and let discovery be our planets prime concern, and go the way of a star trek style society.
I kinda saw the Special Girl as part of the noir nod..."This dame walks in..." I didn't really attach that aspect to the sci-fi, oddly enough. The interesting flip on "girl is the key," was cool. Didn't exactly save the world. Lol.
Hey Dan, great review and I'm excited for you to be reading one of my favorite series. You should def rewatch season 1 now and maybe read a book then watch the show up to that point back to back and see how they compare. It's a great show with a few differences but pretty faithful. Just FYI if you do try to watch the show up to the source material it doesn't go 1 season 1 book, here's the breakdown: Leviathan Wakes: All of season 1, season 2 ep 1-5. Calibans war: Season 2 ep 6 - 13, season 3 episode 1 - 6. Abbadon's Gate: Season 3 ep 7 - 13. Cibola Burn: All of Season 4
I'm happy that Daniel enjoyed this book, and can't wait to see his reaction as he reads more of the series. I have a huge to-read list, and as a result I rarely read books a second time. But I read the Expanse books 1-7 twice, and will read book 8 again just before 9 is available. It's so freakin' good. Daniel complained a little about the lack of character growth. Keep in mind that the characters are adults, so they aren't necessarily going to grow the way a coming-of-age character might. The growth in these novels is more about the "found family" and the ever-shifting political situation on the scale of an entire solar system. Each book builds upon the last, in a believable and sometimes horrifying way.
I love the worldbuilding in the series so far and planned to read more of the books. There's something unique in the series that hasn't been done a lot in other sci-fi media and particularly how the writers takes in consideration of how the universe works around the characters and how it affects them. Say like gravity that affects the Belters' physical appearance and whatnot. I haven't seen or read any sci-fi book that actually does that. Though, I do really want to hear your thoughts on some of the Halo books. Maybe Fall of Reach or even the Forerunner Saga (Cryptum, Primordium and Silentium). As always, loved the review.
I am such a huge fan of this series, both in book and TV form. I watched the show first and then saw some interviews with the cast where they were gushing over the books and knew I had to dive in. And dive I did, I read all of the main series books and the short stories in about two months. Now I am eagerly anticipating the last book. I know this will be something that I reread many times. Thanks for the review!
'Surprised you didn't mention: James S. A. Corey is two authors. One of which is Daniel Abraham. The other was an aid for George Martin. And spoiler: it does continue to improve as the series progresses
Great to see, The Expanse is my favorite sci-fi book series. It's relatively-realstic speculation about the future of society scratches the most wonderful itch for me.
This is such a great series of books! Despite being sci-fi rather than fantasy, it's definitely one of the only series that scratches that Song of Ice and Fire itch for me from a character and plot standpoint; yet also being a quicker and easier read overall. The first book in the series is by FAR the weakest in the series also; it just gets better and better and more epic in scope. You've honestly seen nothing yet! :D Edit: Time for a re-read!
Travis Mattson hard disagree on that. Book 1 is my favorite, I like a lot of the others but this one just had the original magic that the others sometimes struggled with.
SMouse Booth yes most fans like Cibola Burn the least, myself included. It has some great stuff in it but is also a let down in other regards. It also feels insignificant to the main plot until certain plot threads from it re-emerge in books 7-8
As you progress through reading the novels in the series, don't overlook the novellas that provide some additional backstory and context. After reading the first book, you might think Amos is a one-dimensional character -- later novels expand his character quite a lot and "The Churn" is a novella the explains why Amos is... well, Amos. For me, he's one of the most interesting characters in the book. It's a really quite a contrast to many books you might read, where's there's obviously one obvious protagonist in the story. You might initially think that James Holden is that character in these novels, but in many respects, he's not the most interesting character. Even the other characters representing other "factions" are not so obviously "good guy" or "bad guy" -- they all have their motivations, perhaps with varying degrees of flexible morality that you might think as pushing them into a "villain" role. I am so anxiously awaiting the final book in this series. The story only becomes larger in scope, truly an epic scale story. And the unexpected bonus of this all is that the video adaptation is actually quite good, too! It gets off to a slow start because of all the world building that needs to be done to set the stage, but it's also some of the best science fiction on TV that's ever been done, too. How fortunate for us all.
So glad you've started this series, it blew every other scifi out of the water. Perfect blend of character drama and science that passively teaches you about the physics of our universe. Once you experience it other science fiction doesn't quite hold up as well.
Hey Daniel - the trope you complained about was almost a requirement, given the authors decided to weave a classic noir detective story into the first book. Some people love that choice (I do), and some not so much.
While I really enjoyed Leviathan Wakes, it’s definitely the weakest of the series. If memory serves, the noir mystery bit is dropped going forward and the politics and alien stuff is more prominent. There are more POVs and the story becomes even bigger. So good. Also, the tv show is excellent.
Keep reading! The series will take you places you will love. The tv series is an excellent adaptation and well worth the time once you get through the books.
A friend who recommended me the series also described it as being in the line of ASOIAF but in space and said the writers had actually worked with GRRM, like he was their mentor or something. I watched the first season of the show and it was enjoyable but as you said, it was somewhat predictable, I still need to read the novels to see what's next though. Good to see you liked it and can't wait to see what you think of the next books.
After watching a bunch of Daniel’s unboxings and tier lists lately I almost forgot that he is also a super intelligence and well spoke dude! Really good review, especially considering I just finished the book today!
Ahh, my sweet summer child. You are not prepared. The initial plan was 12 books. They did outlines for each book and removed 3 of the books to avoid stagnant stories. Watch some of their youtube videos from these guys. Its truly amazing. The first book is completed half way through the 2nd season. They are shooting season 5 (book 5) now. There are 8 books out now with the 9th (and final) coming out this year and a number of novellas. The show is incredible and the book writers are producers/writers on the show. The author's specifically use different genres for each book. The first was a noir mystery, the second a political thriller, the 4th a western, etc.
Love the book series and the show. In book one some characters seem like a bit of a shell only; not much personality. I blame only getting two characters POVs. But more characters will be added (inc. two great females in book 2) and more POVs. You will get to know more about the crew, especially when their POVs come up in later books. Well worth your time.
I read this entire series last summer/fall and it was incredible! I had never ventured into space operas before and I was blown away by the scope and ambition of the series. I do seriously recommend the audiobooks, they have a full cast and I loved all of the voice actors! I switched between formats and found myself missing the voices
Love your book reviews and this one is no exception. My last few trips to the bookstore and Amazon are all of your doing! Damn you for spotlighting and reviewing such great sci-fi/fantasy books. Keep up the awesome reviews! Thoroughly enjoy your channel and reviews. Thanks.
Really glad this review went up, I have been on the fence about picking this up for awhile and once I get caught up on other series I plan to give it a try!
I watched the first season before I noticed this was a book series. As soon as I was aware there were books, I picked them up on Audible and have listened (so far) to the first two books. I agree that the pacing in places is slow, but the stakes and conflict grow in scale which kept me tuning in to the audiobooks with fervor. So far, like you, I am highly impressed with the writing and the story... man, the story! As soon as you think things are finally going to be resolved, BAM! James S. A. Corey (a team of two authors) come in and snatch your dreams with even more intrigue. Great review! I think you hit the nail on the head as far as someone who's never read science fiction before might react toward these books. ☮
YAH so excited you got around to reading this. Favorite sci-fi currently running. I think you can benefit from watching the show then reading the book (even though book 1 finishes half way into season 2). Can't wait to see what you think as you read on.
First time commenting...I think. Ok never been so excited for one of your reviews before (love the expense series). You gave fair points and criticisms. One of the reasons I think you'll like this series is bc I'm pretty sure you like believable real friend relationships (Locke & Jean). This series is that. The characterization gets deep and the relationships get real. Can't wait for the next one!
A very challenging review, met with vigor and grace. I agree whole heartedly, and had i not already read the book i would be doing so now. Thanks again for all your hard work great job!
Happy to see you reading this series! I only started reading the books because I worked on the show and I loved it. Plus the writers are both fantastic guys who are really passionate about the story they created! Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the whole series, it's amazing! (and the TV show is as well when you get back to that!)
Wait until Caliban’s War (2). That and Nemesis Games (5) are just amazing. Here comes Avasarala and all her foul-mouthed glory. I started with the show and switched to the books waiting for season 4. Both are brilliant.
One of my favourite Sci-fi series, as I love both the book and the TV show, and would definitely recommend continuing with the rest of the series. The last book should hopefully be out this year, so plenty time to catch up, unless you decide to tackle the novellas that pad out the back stories for characters and events of the series too.
Love your content and I am mostly a Science fiction reader now an indepth review of a science fiction book, it only gets better. Keep up the great work.
Yay! This book is definitely on my 2020 TBR although given your comments about it's scope and epicness, I'm going to move it to the to read after I finish WoT list.
I can't wait to see your reactions to later books in the series. I am eagerly awaiting the final book to come out this year(?). Love the series, love your channel, can't wait fot more scifi coverage!
This series had consistently been one of my favorites. Each book ups the ante and somehow manages to top the last one. The character development is beautiful and it has some of the best action sequences I’ve ever read. Can’t wait for the rest of your reactions!
There's actually two authors, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, and they split the characters between them. I think they carefully balance a cautious optimism with an understanding that people often react poorly to crisis initially This is a great series, I just started the last book, looking forward to your views on the rest of the series.
To be honest I have not watched the show, mostly because I read the books instead. This a series of similar complexity to the Nights Dawn trillogy by Peter F Hamilton and The Gap series by Stephen R Donaldson. If you enjoyed either of those books, you will like this series and vice versa.
James Lewis The show is one of the very few adaptations that captures the books perfectly...just the best SF that’s been brought to the tv screen.Definitely worth a watch,you won’t be disappointed,in some respects at some points the show is even better than the books,though that’s not too surprising as the authors were totally involved in the production and writing of the show
If you liked this one get excited because the best is yet to come! I feel like the expanse fandom doesn’t have much of a consensus on what the best book is, but I haven’t seen someone list Leviathan Wakes as their favorite.
Fantastic series! Both books and the tv show. Edit: interesting thing I read on wiki was that the series is written by 2 authors, Corey is a joint pen name for both.
You can tell, in parts, that the book started out as a tabletop RPG, which they originally shopped around to be a video game adaptation. That didn’t pan out, so they sold it as a novel. Side note: the actress who plays Avasarala also does some VO work in the Destiny games.
Okay, fine, I’ll finally read this. I’ve had it in my possession for a while now and I’ve kept putting it off for some reason but I’ll either get to it after The Lies of Locke Lamora or I’ll make it my new nightstand book.
I'm really happy to see you start this series, and it's a great review. It's true it's a great series for Fantasy fans. One of the two writers behind the pseudonym (Daniel Abraham) is an accomplished Fantasy writer. Ty is more the sci-fi fan (he did work with GRRM, but it was mostly IT) and the one behind the world building. Leviathan Wakes is pretty much their EOTW (and like it a bit open ended originally. The publisher decided to sign them for the series after its success), so if you think this is epic or somewhat predictable.. wait and see. LW is sprawling, but the scope is still small. The "scaling up" is done really well, and they're not afraid to scale down for a story, if necessary. The series blends many sub-genres, and in fact each book touches mainly on a different one, while remaining at its core classic space opera throughout. Book 1 was a detective Noir, thus the "girl" trope (not my favourite either, no more than the zombies I must say). That's a strength and occasionally a weakness of the series as a whole: there may be books for which you relate less to the sub-genre blended in, or some of tropes may or not work for you. That's also a main reason why, despite a constance in quality through the series, many of the books divide the readership.. someone's favourite will also be someone's "weakest book", because he/she doesn't like politics so much, or Westerns, or Haunted House stories. In any case.. the end of the series should be right up your alley: the writers call the last three books "their epic Fantasy which isn't a LOTR-type story". The crew takes time to develop, you see them mostly through Holden's eyes in the early books and he's not a character who pries a lot into his mates's "secret gardens" - so while he develops a lot the others appear not to, not as much, but this approach REALLY pays off mid-series. The later series arcs are awesome. Speaking of which, as a fan of the books first and a big fan of the TV show second, I warmly recommend you not to return to the TV show until you've read all the way to the fifth book. It won't get into the specifics, but there are some later books spoilers happening much earlier in the show, and beyond that fact you will simply appreciate the work on the adaption much better after reading the fifth book. It's entirely possible to enjoy the show first, or to read the books afterward, but now that you've started, read all the way to Nemesis Games first. It was incidentally the last book published when the TV show started, so as readers it's how we experienced it back then. The adaptation is brilliant, because the two writers are fully on the team and they understand really well that drama and novels work differently.). Have fun with the other books. It's a really well planned out series, over which they really kept control (in a Brandon Sanderson kind of way). They briefly outlined it for 12 books, but saw a potential slog with stories 7-8-9 and just excised them.
It is very epic in scope, but I think the way the first book introduces us to this world, er universe, is really well done. This is a system spanning epic, but it starts with a small group of characters in book 1. That manageable starting cast is a great choice by the authors.
While it was indeed epic i found it more of a casual read. More of an introduction to important people in the story. You basically get to know them. I liked that.
The TV, book, and audiobook are all FANTASTIC! Dune is my all-time favorite sci-fi epic, The Expanse climbs the same ladder, just on a lower rung. Highly recommended!
The show is actually such a blast to watch. I’ve only listened to the first book so far because of time constraints but man the authors build a solid as shit world, and that’s something the show did really well too! I need to get on to the next books. I can’t wait for you to tackle them too!
Yeah a friend of mine recommended LWakes to me and a friend because we both liked Firefly. My friend found it too dense and I wait for every release. So there you go. I get the complaints. I get not giving it your strongest recommendation. It all definitely gets better especially with the addition of a couple of characters in the second book one of which is so important they added a bunch of her in the TV series before she appears in the book.
This was the first sci-fi book I read (although, I technically listened to it) and my god, I fell in love with it. I've always loved sci fi and space opera movies, this was a real surprise and I'm currently thrilled by listening to Caliban's War too
I read it and loved soooo much of it. The politics and the HOW the humans go about in space and and then it did one thing (that I won’t state here) that turned me off the whole thing straight away. Didn’t go in for book two. And now your comment section is telling me it is actually two people. Two!
It is interesting that your take was to be a little cautious because of the genre and a bit of predictability in the plot. I wonder if you would have the same criticism in recommending Eye of the World as a first read in the epic fantasy genre. I think many of your criticisms-- apply there as well. . . . and that you aren't wrong.
I've read the first three so far and I found the first one to be the weakest! P.S. To any UK people out here, the bookstore Forbidden Planet in London has the entire series signed by both authors at the same price as it would be non-signed at any other store! :)
This is basically going to be my into to sci fi. After the Black Prism, this is up next for me. Was always super excited to read this when I learned what it was about!
8:00 "she's gonna be the key and it's going to be tied into how this catastophy is avoided" -- But she wasn't. She was a macguffin used to direct the plot and give certain characters a motivation.
I have read the entire series to date and am satisfied with the use of characters and tropes in the series, it is constantly giving me scenes that go exactly as i wanted them to and then surprising me with things i never thought of. 8/10 (the tv series actually does many of these scenes better than the book i would say they are both great neither better than the other however the character "Samantha" from Tyco is an important character and im sad that they cut her from the tv show)
As someone who has read & reviewed all 8 published books, I can say yes it continues to be excellent. And I actually feel it's quite an accessible book that tends to appeal to most readers.
I've not read the books yet as I dont want to spoil the series. That said- The Expanse show is likely the best science-fiction drama we've had on TV in a very long time. I put it up there with Babylon 5 in story telling with the added benefits of modern effects and a much deeper bench of acting talent to draw on, even for small parts, than the genre had on tv in the 90's.
The show is wonderful! I don't wanna request you watch it, I know how busy you are already making all this content, but I definitely reccomend it. The creative team is passionate as hell and it's my favorite show currently on the air (even improving on the novels in some areas) If you wanna read the books before watching the show, here's a quick breakdown of equivalent plot chunks so you don't spoil yourself: The show introduces two very important book 2 characters during the events of book 1, so you're probably safer reading books 1 and 2 before starting the show, and then you can safely watch up until Season 3 Episode 6. Book 3 is covered in the show between Season 3 Episodes 7 - 13. Season 4 covers book 4, but it spoils a major plot turn from book 5 as well, which is my favorite of the novels, so you're better off reading books 4 & 5 before watching season 4. Thanks for reading/reviewing the series, it's one of my all time favorites! The world building process took place over more than a decade, and it pays off immensely as you progress through the books and learn about its many nuances and wonders. The authors are good friends with George RR Martin as well. Happy reading!
My thunder was taken by most of the previous posters so... all I have to ad is that the audiobooks are amazing. Jefferson Mays’ portrayal of each character is Oscar quality imo. He is a master story teller.
I'm so happy you read this! I'm currently reading the third book, and I'm also watching the show. I'm doing me, booboo. And yes, the girl is important in the first book but it gets way better. Gotta wait for that twist, honey! Just keep reading and you'll see what I mean. It's good. Also, Avasarala is my soulmate. She is the best badass female character ever written. Ever. I want her to adopt me and be my mom.
Funny, I did the same. Watched the first few episodes then noped out and bought Leviathan Wakes. Several years later I've just finished a reread that ended when I binged Leviathan Falls on the day it released and am now scraping RUclips for content because I can't wait a full week for each new episode of the show to drop
I watched the show up to season 3 before I started the books and I think my enjoyment of both was never hampered. I still love them both. The Canterbury explosion still gives me chills listening to the audiobook.
Also I would LOVE to know your thoughts on the book 5 happenings. Dang. That one snuck up on me and I was texting “OMG” to my bf at 3am on a work night.
And Julie is “key” early on but all subsequent books really veer from focusing on her. In the long game she is almost just a coincidence, a consequence of the social and political climate and her family’s and her own bad decisions. The story gets so much bigger!
Expanse is definitely one of my favourite tv series in recent memory and the book series is a great read even after watching (I liked doing it that way because I think the casting is so perfect for the main characters). Deeply human (with all it's flaws and failings) it is beautiful for the moments it captures. I'm currently on book 8 and having been so invested with the characters I'm actually going through some emotional/mental anguish as this (no spoilers) part of the grand story is told, something that I've never had from a book series before (let alone a sci-fi series). Can't recommend it enough!
Johnny come lately again. Having watched the series twice and will again when 6 comes out has quite an effect on reading "Leviathan Wakes" which I just started a few days ago; lots of differences and a fore knowledge of what the story is all about. For me this is not a problem as I have always been able to separate the two. Obviously the book is more detailed covering things the series had to leave out or change the order. The physical description of the characters is different from the people in the movie but that is easily over looked. I can not comment too much as I am shy of being half way. I prefer visually the series version so far; and that is the problem with viewing first then reading though it doesn't take away from the book in the long term. What I like most about the book is the authors' writing style (styles) as it flows so naturally.
The thing with the Expanse series, is that it is so EPIC that I find it hard to remember the events and which book they happened in. Just so much stuff happens that its hard to think 'oh yeah book one is where Eros happens' because so much happens in book one that isn't Eros, and in later books Eros is a blip that everything that was a smaller deal I have trouble thinking about.
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Are we officially including sci-fi epics into the channel? If so, I'm friggin' stoked 🚀👽🤖
Same 💯
Seriously, this channel was good to beginning with but it just gets better
^ This
Me too! I hope he covers Poor Man's Fight!
Hopefully.
Daniel: Leviathan Wakes is a big story
Expanse Authors: Hold my beer
I love it how the scope scales up, Every. Damn. Book.
you meant hold my genetically engineered algae whiskey
Matt Valuk I think I have to read it some time soon
Book 8: that’s cute
@@taikajorma7276 It's one of my favorite book series and I can't recommend it enough.
I heard you saying author and would just like to point out that S.A. Corey is actually two authors collaborating, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck.
This. Daniel. Do you homework.
@@hadesdarklord That's a little harsh. Knowing this fact isn't crucial to enjoying or understanding the story. If anything, Daniel not knowing this proves he read the book with an open mind and didn't research a bunch of other reviews and spoilers before putting his thoughts together. That can be helpful for making sure your opinion is unique and not externally influenced, so kudos to him.
@@syndetonation yeah. But he cant read daniel Ahraham's other work if he dont know who sa Corey is
This is exactly what I came to the comments to say. Haha
I came to let him know this as well but figured someone had beat me to it! I love this series so much.
What I love about this series is that the main character is space itself and how terrifying it is.
And amazing.
Yes, that it is a constant danger. Too large, too empty, too dark, too cold, too lifeless, too mysterious. Space isn't for life, and we're always reminded of that with every little detail in the story. So many things must be done to avoid space. People are afraid of space and they respect it. The Belters formed a culture that embodies that philosophy: don't fuck with space.
👁👄👁 im scared
Omg, i never relised that but it makes so much sense!!!!
The Expanse series is one of the best written scifi series ever written. They knock it out of the park technically, conceptually, and in pure entertainment value.
The series is paced so well that every book brings something totally new and yet feels familiar.
The Expanse rules and I’m only five books into it. The layers that keep being peeled back is truly epic.
Halfway through book seven, and still loving it so much! It's fantastic
Book 8 is so damn good. Haven’t finished Leviathan Falls but so far Book 8 is my favorite.
@@DongusMcBongusreally? I was so worried the latter three wouldn’t hold up to the first 6. I gotta get cracking on those.
Me: Wow, this book sounds really cool, I should go read it.
*Daniel casually says spoiler warning mid-sentence*
*Fastest spacebar pause in the west*
RIGHT. lmao I almost crashed my car 😅😂
What if u r in the midst of writing a comment and he quickly says, “spoiler alert.” that does things to the blood pressure
When will I have time to read The Expanse, Malazan and The Wheel of time? im 27 years old, im supposed to be working, but who cares? My TBR is long and full of terrors, but im very excited
Great review, one note.
-James SA Corey is actually two people (Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck)
Edit: also, the next book introduces two of the most badass women in sci-fi!
Avasarala and Bobbie are some of my all-time favourite characters in sci-fi period.
Damn I forgot that the book didn't have Chrisjen POV until book 2.
@@i_dont_know_who_i_am69 well, if you watched the show that's understandable, that introduces her way earlier
Yea but the TV show destroyed them. That’s my biggest beef with the show.
Bobbie is the best.
Great to see some novels from different genres on the channel.
Keep it up, Daniel!
I haven't watched the show but I also just finished that book and I loved it. Also I dont think he has a pessimistic attitude so much as a realistic one, based on human history thus far
Agree the wide scope of humanity is super realistic if you look at our history. Individuals are good but you can't stop civilization and governments from moving our species in dark directions.
please watch the show.
>I dont think he has a pessimistic attitude so much as a realistic one
Heh, that's what pessimists always say :)
It's a book of its time is how I'd put it. Much less optimistic than the books I grew up reading, but it was a more optimistic time.
I wonder if it seems pessimistic because alot of sci-fi wants to see humanity evolving outside of itself. This series seems to come from the perspective of humanity in all it's ugliest pieces draping itself across the system.
@@DonyFurrer-donytop5 well there's 2 ways it could really go for humanity. We can be the same planet consuming, money rules all society as portrayed here. Or we can grow beyond our need for being a selfish species, truly help our planet and let discovery be our planets prime concern, and go the way of a star trek style society.
I kinda saw the Special Girl as part of the noir nod..."This dame walks in..." I didn't really attach that aspect to the sci-fi, oddly enough. The interesting flip on "girl is the key," was cool. Didn't exactly save the world. Lol.
The audiobook narrator also does a fantastic job, one of the few that enhances the story to me.
I agree! It is really cool to have a voice for "Jimmy" and it is super fitting
I'm reading it 1st but love audio books so definitely get round to listening to the series once I've read it fully
True, the audiobook narrator is outstanding.
Hey Dan, great review and I'm excited for you to be reading one of my favorite series. You should def rewatch season 1 now and maybe read a book then watch the show up to that point back to back and see how they compare. It's a great show with a few differences but pretty faithful.
Just FYI if you do try to watch the show up to the source material it doesn't go 1 season 1 book, here's the breakdown:
Leviathan Wakes: All of season 1, season 2 ep 1-5.
Calibans war: Season 2 ep 6 - 13, season 3 episode 1 - 6.
Abbadon's Gate: Season 3 ep 7 - 13.
Cibola Burn: All of Season 4
This is a series that seemed very interesting to me, think I'm gonna find a copy in the library and go from there.
Like he said buckle up. It's great and it feeds all of my sci-fi cravings
I'm happy that Daniel enjoyed this book, and can't wait to see his reaction as he reads more of the series. I have a huge to-read list, and as a result I rarely read books a second time. But I read the Expanse books 1-7 twice, and will read book 8 again just before 9 is available. It's so freakin' good. Daniel complained a little about the lack of character growth. Keep in mind that the characters are adults, so they aren't necessarily going to grow the way a coming-of-age character might. The growth in these novels is more about the "found family" and the ever-shifting political situation on the scale of an entire solar system. Each book builds upon the last, in a believable and sometimes horrifying way.
I love the worldbuilding in the series so far and planned to read more of the books. There's something unique in the series that hasn't been done a lot in other sci-fi media and particularly how the writers takes in consideration of how the universe works around the characters and how it affects them. Say like gravity that affects the Belters' physical appearance and whatnot. I haven't seen or read any sci-fi book that actually does that.
Though, I do really want to hear your thoughts on some of the Halo books. Maybe Fall of Reach or even the Forerunner Saga (Cryptum, Primordium and Silentium). As always, loved the review.
It gets better! Lots of cool characters and storylines to come for you my friends!
James S. A. Corey is the pen name used by collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck
I am such a huge fan of this series, both in book and TV form. I watched the show first and then saw some interviews with the cast where they were gushing over the books and knew I had to dive in. And dive I did, I read all of the main series books and the short stories in about two months. Now I am eagerly anticipating the last book. I know this will be something that I reread many times. Thanks for the review!
'Surprised you didn't mention: James S. A. Corey is two authors. One of which is Daniel Abraham. The other was an aid for George Martin.
And spoiler: it does continue to improve as the series progresses
Ty Franck I believe is the other author.
Roland Deschain You are correct. And he has saved Martins beard from being cut by a fan 😆
Great to see, The Expanse is my favorite sci-fi book series. It's relatively-realstic speculation about the future of society scratches the most wonderful itch for me.
This is such a great series of books! Despite being sci-fi rather than fantasy, it's definitely one of the only series that scratches that Song of Ice and Fire itch for me from a character and plot standpoint; yet also being a quicker and easier read overall. The first book in the series is by FAR the weakest in the series also; it just gets better and better and more epic in scope. You've honestly seen nothing yet! :D
Edit: Time for a re-read!
Travis Mattson hard disagree on that. Book 1 is my favorite, I like a lot of the others but this one just had the original magic that the others sometimes struggled with.
From what iv seen other people say Cibola Burn is a lot more divisive among fans to the point were id say around half would rate it as their lowest
SMouse Booth yes most fans like Cibola Burn the least, myself included. It has some great stuff in it but is also a let down in other regards. It also feels insignificant to the main plot until certain plot threads from it re-emerge in books 7-8
As you progress through reading the novels in the series, don't overlook the novellas that provide some additional backstory and context. After reading the first book, you might think Amos is a one-dimensional character -- later novels expand his character quite a lot and "The Churn" is a novella the explains why Amos is... well, Amos. For me, he's one of the most interesting characters in the book.
It's a really quite a contrast to many books you might read, where's there's obviously one obvious protagonist in the story. You might initially think that James Holden is that character in these novels, but in many respects, he's not the most interesting character. Even the other characters representing other "factions" are not so obviously "good guy" or "bad guy" -- they all have their motivations, perhaps with varying degrees of flexible morality that you might think as pushing them into a "villain" role.
I am so anxiously awaiting the final book in this series. The story only becomes larger in scope, truly an epic scale story. And the unexpected bonus of this all is that the video adaptation is actually quite good, too! It gets off to a slow start because of all the world building that needs to be done to set the stage, but it's also some of the best science fiction on TV that's ever been done, too. How fortunate for us all.
So glad you've started this series, it blew every other scifi out of the water. Perfect blend of character drama and science that passively teaches you about the physics of our universe. Once you experience it other science fiction doesn't quite hold up as well.
Hey Daniel - the trope you complained about was almost a requirement, given the authors decided to weave a classic noir detective story into the first book. Some people love that choice (I do), and some not so much.
Everyone should -try- these books. They might not be for everyone, but give it a try. You might be surprised.
Me, I loved it. I loved it A LOT
While I really enjoyed Leviathan Wakes, it’s definitely the weakest of the series. If memory serves, the noir mystery bit is dropped going forward and the politics and alien stuff is more prominent. There are more POVs and the story becomes even bigger. So good. Also, the tv show is excellent.
The Expanse is special since it manages to make books and show complement each other in a great way.
Keep reading! The series will take you places you will love. The tv series is an excellent adaptation and well worth the time once you get through the books.
A friend who recommended me the series also described it as being in the line of ASOIAF but in space and said the writers had actually worked with GRRM, like he was their mentor or something. I watched the first season of the show and it was enjoyable but as you said, it was somewhat predictable, I still need to read the novels to see what's next though. Good to see you liked it and can't wait to see what you think of the next books.
Jael Moran I think Ty Frank was actually George’s assistant at one point
There's 8 books currently published, with the 9th dropping later this year, plus some short stories. Definitely an epic series.
I love The Expanse. Especially Ep 4 and 5 of Season 2. That was very poetic television.
After watching a bunch of Daniel’s unboxings and tier lists lately I almost forgot that he is also a super intelligence and well spoke dude! Really good review, especially considering I just finished the book today!
Fantastic review as always. I think you’ll enjoy the rest of the series. Plenty of twists and turns to come!
Ahh, my sweet summer child. You are not prepared.
The initial plan was 12 books. They did outlines for each book and removed 3 of the books to avoid stagnant stories. Watch some of their youtube videos from these guys. Its truly amazing. The first book is completed half way through the 2nd season. They are shooting season 5 (book 5) now. There are 8 books out now with the 9th (and final) coming out this year and a number of novellas. The show is incredible and the book writers are producers/writers on the show.
The author's specifically use different genres for each book. The first was a noir mystery, the second a political thriller, the 4th a western, etc.
Love the book series and the show.
In book one some characters seem like a bit of a shell only; not much personality. I blame only getting two characters POVs.
But more characters will be added (inc. two great females in book 2) and more POVs. You will get to know more about the crew, especially when their POVs come up in later books.
Well worth your time.
Yes I love this series. It's an expansive series so buckle up. I also love the show! they did an excellent job with it.
I read this entire series last summer/fall and it was incredible! I had never ventured into space operas before and I was blown away by the scope and ambition of the series. I do seriously recommend the audiobooks, they have a full cast and I loved all of the voice actors! I switched between formats and found myself missing the voices
Thank you so much for this review. This review sold me on the book, and I just finished it. Thank you for your great reviews!
Love your book reviews and this one is no exception. My last few trips to the bookstore and Amazon are all of your doing! Damn you for spotlighting and reviewing such great sci-fi/fantasy books. Keep up the awesome reviews! Thoroughly enjoy your channel and reviews. Thanks.
Really glad this review went up, I have been on the fence about picking this up for awhile and once I get caught up on other series I plan to give it a try!
I watched the first season before I noticed this was a book series. As soon as I was aware there were books, I picked them up on Audible and have listened (so far) to the first two books. I agree that the pacing in places is slow, but the stakes and conflict grow in scale which kept me tuning in to the audiobooks with fervor. So far, like you, I am highly impressed with the writing and the story... man, the story! As soon as you think things are finally going to be resolved, BAM! James S. A. Corey (a team of two authors) come in and snatch your dreams with even more intrigue. Great review! I think you hit the nail on the head as far as someone who's never read science fiction before might react toward these books. ☮
YAH so excited you got around to reading this. Favorite sci-fi currently running. I think you can benefit from watching the show then reading the book (even though book 1 finishes half way into season 2). Can't wait to see what you think as you read on.
First time commenting...I think. Ok never been so excited for one of your reviews before (love the expense series). You gave fair points and criticisms. One of the reasons I think you'll like this series is bc I'm pretty sure you like believable real friend relationships (Locke & Jean). This series is that. The characterization gets deep and the relationships get real. Can't wait for the next one!
Super love that you finally reviewed Leviathan Wakes. Can't wait to see your opinions on this series and then also the Dresden Files.
Daniel: This is truly epic!
Me: *Laughs in Caliban’s War*
Me: Laughs in Nemesis games and Babylon's Ashes.
@@th3lonef0x4 It's been a while since I wrote the comment... Nowadays It'd be like
Me: *laughs in Tiamat's Wrath*
God I loved that book!!
@@Mikus011 I'm really looking forward to reading book eight however, I need to read book seven first.
@@th3lonef0x4 Books 7 and 8 were both incredible, but Tiamat's Wrath might be my favorite out of the whole series.
@@kingofhearts642 For me book 6 is my favourite and 8 is in close second.
A very challenging review, met with vigor and grace. I agree whole heartedly, and had i not already read the book i would be doing so now. Thanks again for all your hard work great job!
It´s actually 2 authors writing under a synonym, thought you might find that interesting
It's ACTUALLY 2 authors writing under a pseudonym, thought you might find that humorous
Pseudonym*
Also George RR Martins assistant
I hope it's a nice word they are under like a tree or foliage and not a rock or boulder.
Antonym
Hey congrats on your RUclips medal! 100k!!! Fantasy community are mainstream now!
So fracking happy you reviewed this love your reviews keep it up
Happy to see you reading this series! I only started reading the books because I worked on the show and I loved it. Plus the writers are both fantastic guys who are really passionate about the story they created!
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the whole series, it's amazing! (and the TV show is as well when you get back to that!)
Loved hearing your thoughts on this one. I started the audiobook a while back and love the TV show. May need to push it up in my Need-2-Read!
Wait until Caliban’s War (2). That and Nemesis Games (5) are just amazing. Here comes Avasarala and all her foul-mouthed glory.
I started with the show and switched to the books waiting for season 4. Both are brilliant.
One of my favourite Sci-fi series, as I love both the book and the TV show, and would definitely recommend continuing with the rest of the series. The last book should hopefully be out this year, so plenty time to catch up, unless you decide to tackle the novellas that pad out the back stories for characters and events of the series too.
Love your content and I am mostly a Science fiction reader now an indepth review of a science fiction book, it only gets better.
Keep up the great work.
I love these books. The show is actually pretty good too. Excited and sad for the Final book this year.
Finally, I've been waiting for you to review this series for years. Go read the books and watch the show, it's all amazing
Yay! This book is definitely on my 2020 TBR although given your comments about it's scope and epicness, I'm going to move it to the to read after I finish WoT list.
I can't wait to see your reactions to later books in the series. I am eagerly awaiting the final book to come out this year(?). Love the series, love your channel, can't wait fot more scifi coverage!
This series had consistently been one of my favorites. Each book ups the ante and somehow manages to top the last one. The character development is beautiful and it has some of the best action sequences I’ve ever read. Can’t wait for the rest of your reactions!
There's actually two authors, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, and they split the characters between them. I think they carefully balance a cautious optimism with an understanding that people often react poorly to crisis initially
This is a great series, I just started the last book, looking forward to your views on the rest of the series.
To be honest I have not watched the show, mostly because I read the books instead. This a series of similar complexity to the Nights Dawn trillogy by Peter F Hamilton and The Gap series by Stephen R Donaldson. If you enjoyed either of those books, you will like this series and vice versa.
The show is amazing. Its on Amazon and if you loved the books you will love the show.
Watch the show. It's one of the best adaptations I've seen. They did it justice, even with parts that were necessary to skip.
James Lewis The show is one of the very few adaptations that captures the books perfectly...just the best SF that’s been brought to the tv screen.Definitely worth a watch,you won’t be disappointed,in some respects at some points the show is even better than the books,though that’s not too surprising as the authors were totally involved in the production and writing of the show
If you liked this one get excited because the best is yet to come! I feel like the expanse fandom doesn’t have much of a consensus on what the best book is, but I haven’t seen someone list Leviathan Wakes as their favorite.
I am also reading this series! I'm currently 4 books in, and have just been flying through them.
Fantastic series! Both books and the tv show.
Edit: interesting thing I read on wiki was that the series is written by 2 authors, Corey is a joint pen name for both.
You can tell, in parts, that the book started out as a tabletop RPG, which they originally shopped around to be a video game adaptation. That didn’t pan out, so they sold it as a novel. Side note: the actress who plays Avasarala also does some VO work in the Destiny games.
Okay, fine, I’ll finally read this. I’ve had it in my possession for a while now and I’ve kept putting it off for some reason but I’ll either get to it after The Lies of Locke Lamora or I’ll make it my new nightstand book.
As I expand into this Sci-Fi, this series is on the top of my list.
I'm really happy to see you start this series, and it's a great review. It's true it's a great series for Fantasy fans. One of the two writers behind the pseudonym (Daniel Abraham) is an accomplished Fantasy writer. Ty is more the sci-fi fan (he did work with GRRM, but it was mostly IT) and the one behind the world building.
Leviathan Wakes is pretty much their EOTW (and like it a bit open ended originally. The publisher decided to sign them for the series after its success), so if you think this is epic or somewhat predictable.. wait and see. LW is sprawling, but the scope is still small. The "scaling up" is done really well, and they're not afraid to scale down for a story, if necessary.
The series blends many sub-genres, and in fact each book touches mainly on a different one, while remaining at its core classic space opera throughout. Book 1 was a detective Noir, thus the "girl" trope (not my favourite either, no more than the zombies I must say). That's a strength and occasionally a weakness of the series as a whole: there may be books for which you relate less to the sub-genre blended in, or some of tropes may or not work for you. That's also a main reason why, despite a constance in quality through the series, many of the books divide the readership.. someone's favourite will also be someone's "weakest book", because he/she doesn't like politics so much, or Westerns, or Haunted House stories. In any case.. the end of the series should be right up your alley: the writers call the last three books "their epic Fantasy which isn't a LOTR-type story".
The crew takes time to develop, you see them mostly through Holden's eyes in the early books and he's not a character who pries a lot into his mates's "secret gardens" - so while he develops a lot the others appear not to, not as much, but this approach REALLY pays off mid-series. The later series arcs are awesome. Speaking of which, as a fan of the books first and a big fan of the TV show second, I warmly recommend you not to return to the TV show until you've read all the way to the fifth book. It won't get into the specifics, but there are some later books spoilers happening much earlier in the show, and beyond that fact you will simply appreciate the work on the adaption much better after reading the fifth book. It's entirely possible to enjoy the show first, or to read the books afterward, but now that you've started, read all the way to Nemesis Games first. It was incidentally the last book published when the TV show started, so as readers it's how we experienced it back then. The adaptation is brilliant, because the two writers are fully on the team and they understand really well that drama and novels work differently.).
Have fun with the other books. It's a really well planned out series, over which they really kept control (in a Brandon Sanderson kind of way). They briefly outlined it for 12 books, but saw a potential slog with stories 7-8-9 and just excised them.
I LOVE this series, so happy to see you discuss it.
It's really accessible, I think most people would get into. Plus, the audiobook is a fantastic wash to go!
It is very epic in scope, but I think the way the first book introduces us to this world, er universe, is really well done. This is a system spanning epic, but it starts with a small group of characters in book 1. That manageable starting cast is a great choice by the authors.
While it was indeed epic i found it more of a casual read. More of an introduction to important people in the story. You basically get to know them. I liked that.
The TV, book, and audiobook are all FANTASTIC! Dune is my all-time favorite sci-fi epic, The Expanse climbs the same ladder, just on a lower rung. Highly recommended!
My brother. Welcome to The Expanse series. I can't wait until you get to book 4 and we have diametrically opposed opinions on it.
Love both book and show, especially the diversity of characters and the technical “hard” challenges like actually dealing with gravity!
Hands down favorite series.the epic ness just keeps getting better.
The show is actually such a blast to watch. I’ve only listened to the first book so far because of time constraints but man the authors build a solid as shit world, and that’s something the show did really well too! I need to get on to the next books. I can’t wait for you to tackle them too!
Yeah a friend of mine recommended LWakes to me and a friend because we both liked Firefly. My friend found it too dense and I wait for every release. So there you go. I get the complaints. I get not giving it your strongest recommendation. It all definitely gets better especially with the addition of a couple of characters in the second book one of which is so important they added a bunch of her in the TV series before she appears in the book.
This was the first sci-fi book I read (although, I technically listened to it) and my god, I fell in love with it. I've always loved sci fi and space opera movies, this was a real surprise and I'm currently thrilled by listening to Caliban's War too
I read it and loved soooo much of it. The politics and the HOW the humans go about in space and and then it did one thing (that I won’t state here) that turned me off the whole thing straight away. Didn’t go in for book two.
And now your comment section is telling me it is actually two people. Two!
I read this title as "Leviathan Wanks." pls forgive my brain, it broken
Supreme Leader Smeagol my mind is now damaged.
That would be a great read
It is interesting that your take was to be a little cautious because of the genre and a bit of predictability in the plot. I wonder if you would have the same criticism in recommending Eye of the World as a first read in the epic fantasy genre. I think many of your criticisms-- apply there as well. . . . and that you aren't wrong.
I've read the first three so far and I found the first one to be the weakest!
P.S. To any UK people out here, the bookstore Forbidden Planet in London has the entire series signed by both authors at the same price as it would be non-signed at any other store! :)
This is basically going to be my into to sci fi. After the Black Prism, this is up next for me.
Was always super excited to read this when I learned what it was about!
8:00 "she's gonna be the key and it's going to be tied into how this catastophy is avoided" -- But she wasn't. She was a macguffin used to direct the plot and give certain characters a motivation.
I have read the entire series to date and am satisfied with the use of characters and tropes in the series, it is constantly giving me scenes that go exactly as i wanted them to and then surprising me with things i never thought of. 8/10
(the tv series actually does many of these scenes better than the book i would say they are both great neither better than the other however the character "Samantha" from Tyco is an important character and im sad that they cut her from the tv show)
As someone who has read & reviewed all 8 published books, I can say yes it continues to be excellent. And I actually feel it's quite an accessible book that tends to appeal to most readers.
I've not read the books yet as I dont want to spoil the series. That said- The Expanse show is likely the best science-fiction drama we've had on TV in a very long time. I put it up there with Babylon 5 in story telling with the added benefits of modern effects and a much deeper bench of acting talent to draw on, even for small parts, than the genre had on tv in the 90's.
What dimensions are that book? Is that standard or is it an advanced read copy (hardback size)?
The show is wonderful! I don't wanna request you watch it, I know how busy you are already making all this content, but I definitely reccomend it. The creative team is passionate as hell and it's my favorite show currently on the air (even improving on the novels in some areas)
If you wanna read the books before watching the show, here's a quick breakdown of equivalent plot chunks so you don't spoil yourself:
The show introduces two very important book 2 characters during the events of book 1, so you're probably safer reading books 1 and 2 before starting the show, and then you can safely watch up until Season 3 Episode 6.
Book 3 is covered in the show between Season 3 Episodes 7 - 13.
Season 4 covers book 4, but it spoils a major plot turn from book 5 as well, which is my favorite of the novels, so you're better off reading books 4 & 5 before watching season 4.
Thanks for reading/reviewing the series, it's one of my all time favorites! The world building process took place over more than a decade, and it pays off immensely as you progress through the books and learn about its many nuances and wonders. The authors are good friends with George RR Martin as well. Happy reading!
My thunder was taken by most of the previous posters so... all I have to ad is that the audiobooks are amazing. Jefferson Mays’ portrayal of each character is Oscar quality imo. He is a master story teller.
Read The Butcher of Anderson Station before Caliban's War
I'm so happy you read this! I'm currently reading the third book, and I'm also watching the show. I'm doing me, booboo. And yes, the girl is important in the first book but it gets way better. Gotta wait for that twist, honey! Just keep reading and you'll see what I mean. It's good. Also, Avasarala is my soulmate. She is the best badass female character ever written. Ever. I want her to adopt me and be my mom.
Hey Daniel, does your GoodReads reflect what you're currently reading? Keep up the great work!
Funny, I did the same. Watched the first few episodes then noped out and bought Leviathan Wakes. Several years later I've just finished a reread that ended when I binged Leviathan Falls on the day it released and am now scraping RUclips for content because I can't wait a full week for each new episode of the show to drop
I watched the show up to season 3 before I started the books and I think my enjoyment of both was never hampered. I still love them both. The Canterbury explosion still gives me chills listening to the audiobook.
Also I would LOVE to know your thoughts on the book 5 happenings. Dang. That one snuck up on me and I was texting “OMG” to my bf at 3am on a work night.
And Julie is “key” early on but all subsequent books really veer from focusing on her. In the long game she is almost just a coincidence, a consequence of the social and political climate and her family’s and her own bad decisions. The story gets so much bigger!
I really enjoyed it as well. I felt very interested the whole time. Great review!
Expanse is definitely one of my favourite tv series in recent memory and the book series is a great read even after watching (I liked doing it that way because I think the casting is so perfect for the main characters). Deeply human (with all it's flaws and failings) it is beautiful for the moments it captures. I'm currently on book 8 and having been so invested with the characters I'm actually going through some emotional/mental anguish as this (no spoilers) part of the grand story is told, something that I've never had from a book series before (let alone a sci-fi series). Can't recommend it enough!
Johnny come lately again. Having watched the series twice and will again when 6 comes out has quite an effect on reading "Leviathan Wakes" which I just started a few days ago; lots of differences and a fore knowledge of what the story is all about. For me this is not a problem as I have always been able to separate the two. Obviously the book is more detailed covering things the series had to leave out or change the order. The physical description of the characters is different from the people in the movie but that is easily over looked. I can not comment too much as I am shy of being half way. I prefer visually the series version so far; and that is the problem with viewing first then reading though it doesn't take away from the book in the long term. What I like most about the book is the authors' writing style (styles) as it flows so naturally.
The thing with the Expanse series, is that it is so EPIC that I find it hard to remember the events and which book they happened in. Just so much stuff happens that its hard to think 'oh yeah book one is where Eros happens' because so much happens in book one that isn't Eros, and in later books Eros is a blip that everything that was a smaller deal I have trouble thinking about.