Luke Durling
1/7/2020
Never before has a book series driven me to read a 500+ page book in one sitting before. In the age of the Internet, I will wholeheartedly read a book from James S. A. Corey’s The Expanse novels from cover to cover in 24 hours without the slightest regrets. The only limitation being my mortal body aching in protest,
If the previous statements did not instantly show you how much I adore this series of books, let me just say that I HAVE FORGONE FOOD SO I CAN READ THESE BOOKS. Anyone who knows me knows what a testament that is.
The Expanse is something that comes along very rarely in each generation. It is all at once a science-fiction, horror, mystery, political drama and epic odyssey . It is the sci-fi Tolkien of our time. In fact, The Expanse is such a fitting title. Corey ( the collective pen name of Danial Abraham and Ty Franick, frequent editors and collaborators with George R. R. Martin.) manages to create a world , nay galaxy, that seems incredibly vast, yet incredibly concise and brutally realistic. Following the exploits of captain James Holden, the crew of his ship the Rocinante, and the governments/corporations of a colonized solar system along with countless other recurring characters. This series begins with a bang and never stops. After an incident of interstellar terrorism, Holden finds himself intertwined into a galaxy-wide conspiracy involving a mysterious biological weapon that threatens to change the course of humanity in more ways than one
Be warned: The Expanse is not for the faint of heart. It showcases the most brutal and twisted aspects of humanity, while showcasing the true horrors they can release upon the universe. However, that just may be the series’ greatest strength. I have never experienced novels that exemplify the tremendous duality of the human spirit before. The Expanse shows us what can be achieved with new frontiers and horizons, snd what happens when we push too far. In The Expanse, humanity offers a greater peril than what the universe bestows upon it.
Full disclosure: I am only on Cibpla Burn, the fourth of eight books. However, I can’t see myself putting them down anytime soon. I am endorsing them without even having completed the entire series. That’s how good these books are. Plus, I don’t see the tone changing anytime soon. Sure, the story might evolve and grow from entry to entry, but the tension and intrigue remain throughout. Trust me, if you like the breathtaking opening that is Leviathan Wakes, you’ll be more than hooked for anything the future might bring for The Expanse. In my opinion, it’s the hottest modern series out there . No other series has made me this excited, and I want to share that excitement with the world. Now, you’d please excuse me, I have some reading to do.
Side note: PLEASE READ THE BOOKS BEFORE YOU WATCH THE AMAZON SERIES! The Amazon Prime series has no bearing on this review at all! Yes, it exists. Yes, I’ve unwittingly seen clips. No, the few scraps that I’ve seen do not look as good as the books. No, I do not recommend it. Yes, I avoid it like the plague. Books are better. READ THEM!
Calm and Cultured 