The entire Expanse book series
I just finished the final book in the Expanse series – Leviathan Falls – and now I am kind of sad. Not because it was bad, but because it was superb and now it’s all over. I know that Memory’s Legion is coming out on the 15th March, but that is a collection of published stories and not anything new.
Ten years ago, I read Leviathan Wakes (that was my review when I younger and more exciteable) and was blown away by it. I wrote reviews from the first few Expanse books just to get others into it. Now that the whole arc is done and the final book is out, I felt it was time to do a final review of one of the most epic series I have ever read. (I’m now reading the Wheel of Time, so it’s all relative.)
As this review is intended for people who haven’t read the series and are debating giving it a go, I can’t really go into too much detail. I don’t want to deliver a nine-book spoiler alert, so this will be short and sweet.
What is the Expanse about?
If you are a science fiction fan, which seems likely if you’re here, you probably have at least a vague idea of the story. The Expanse is essentially a scientifically believable space opera. There is no faster than light travel, people get physically altered by living in space, and the ships fire projectiles at each other.
The fact that people grow up in different societies and gravities has led to three different groups – those from Earth, Mars, and the belt, or ‘Belters’ (who spend their lives in space). The latter group are tall due to living from birth under low or no gravity and can no longer return to Earth. They are also generally treated a bit shit by the Earth and Mars and want to be independent. Being humans, the three groups don’t really get on with other.
Into this mix comes an alien substance/thing. At first, no one knows what it does or what it is for. Predicatbly, people try to weaponise it but the substance has plans of its own.
There isn’t a lot more I can add without spoilers. So, the pressing question is if it is worth reading. And the answer is a resounding yes.
As someone who has been burned by authors like George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss who are both around NINE YEARS from having written the last book of their respective series, the Expanse has finished. And unlike the Game of Thrones TV show, it finishes well.
All nine of the Expanse books were brilliant. If I was to be picky, there were a couple – namely a book where everyone is stuck on a planet and another where there is a battle against a terrorist called Inaros – that were just great. Books 4 and 6, I think. Other than that, they were superb.
As an overall series, it is a ‘must read’ for a scifi fan. The characters are truly what make the series. They all have satisfying arcs and are all relateable and brilliant. I feel sadder that I’ll never read about them again. (Well, probably…)
The epic dual plots of battling factions and alien weirdness also have satisfying conclusions with nearly all loose ends tied up. There are a couple of characters that are left hanging, but maybe they will be concluded later. They had pretty much finished their stories and could well just be chilling out.
To summarize – THE EXPANSE IS GREAT! I highly, highly recommend it. I’m now off to binge on season six of the TV show. I might as well get sad all over again.