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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Normally I rate a book three stars if it is okay -- not bad, not great. Not in this case. This is getting the three-star treatment because there are an equal number of things about it that I loved and hated. What I loved:
The World
The author writes in the afterward:
Attention to Detail
Speaking of feeling real, the author's attention to detail, regarding the different gravities on various planets and asteroids, the effects of ship acceleration and deceleration, and the culture-grown food the characters would eat added a tangible element to the story.
Pacing
One thing the story never did was stall. It went from action segment to action segment -- ships shooting at each other, riots, assassination attempts, space station raids, etc. -- pausing only long enough to make each distinct and clear. The action segments were the highlights of the book.
Surprising Emotional Moments
In an otherwise shallow and emotionally stunted sci-fi shoot-em-up, there were a few touching moments, such as the conversation Miller and Holden had, and Holden and Naomi on Tycho Station.
Notice not much about the plot or characters made that above list. Why? Lets move on to what I hated:
Switching POVs
For the first half of the book, every time I got invested in either Holden or Miller's story, without fail, the book would switch to the other point-of-view. It halted the momentum of the story, and made me put this book down at points I wouldn't have otherwise. Also, the prologue -- from Julie's point-of-view -- did not really add anything to the story, nor did having the epilogue from Fred's point-of-view.
Characters
I wanted Holden to be a more toned down, righteous Malcolm Reynolds character, but that is, sadly, not how he was written. He is far too naive to believably be a ship's XO-cum-captain, and his overreactions to a number of incidents basically caused the interplanetary mess everyone was in. When Miller calls Holden on his counter-productive moral principles, everyone treats him like he is some sort of conspiracy theorist whackjob -- even when everything he says basically comes true. Furthermore, the inconsistency between Holden being loyal to ex-military thug Amos, and not to Miller -- even after Miller saved his life -- because of the Thoth station incident felt disingenuous. And don't even get me started about how, after twenty-five years of being a cop, Miller suddenly "falls in love" with Julie because her case was so compelling to him -- that was a beyond impossible leap.
The Macguffin
The Ending, or Why I Won't Read the Sequel
The World
The author writes in the afterward:
There’s a lot of science fiction that talks about the near future. There’s a lot about great galaxy-spanning empires of the distant future. But there’s not much that talks about the part in between. The Expanse is playing on that bridge.The execution of this idea was one of the biggest strengths of the book. It was great reading a space opera about the solar system right above us, and with humans as both the protagonists and the antagonists. It is the equivalent of reading fantasy without elves, dwarves and dragons -- it felt more real.
Attention to Detail
Speaking of feeling real, the author's attention to detail, regarding the different gravities on various planets and asteroids, the effects of ship acceleration and deceleration, and the culture-grown food the characters would eat added a tangible element to the story.
Pacing
One thing the story never did was stall. It went from action segment to action segment -- ships shooting at each other, riots, assassination attempts, space station raids, etc. -- pausing only long enough to make each distinct and clear. The action segments were the highlights of the book
Spoiler
the most compelling section of the entire book was Holden and Miller's escape from Eros StationSurprising Emotional Moments
In an otherwise shallow and emotionally stunted sci-fi shoot-em-up, there were a few touching moments, such as the conversation Miller and Holden had
Spoiler
before the attack on Thoth StationSpoiler
coupling upNotice not much about the plot or characters made that above list. Why? Lets move on to what I hated:
Switching POVs
For the first half of the book
Spoiler
before Holden and Miller meetCharacters
I wanted Holden to be a more toned down, righteous Malcolm Reynolds character, but that is, sadly, not how he was written. He is far too naive to believably be a ship's XO-cum-captain, and his overreactions to a number of incidents basically caused the interplanetary mess everyone was in. When Miller calls Holden on his counter-productive moral principles, everyone treats him like he is some sort of conspiracy theorist whackjob -- even when everything he says basically comes true. Furthermore, the inconsistency between Holden being loyal to ex-military thug Amos, and not to Miller -- even after Miller saved his life -- because of the Thoth station incident
Spoiler
when Miller blows Dresden's head off in cold blood, another highlight of the bookThe Macguffin
Spoiler
Remember when I said I loved that this book didn't have alien antagonists? That's true. However, there is an alien macguffin -- the protomolecule -- that basically ruined this book for me. Nothing about how this was introduced or how any character handled it made any logical sense at all. The characters treat it like "the holy grail," but it acts like a world-killing super-virus. Am I the only one that finds this a bit odd?The Ending, or Why I Won't Read the Sequel
Spoiler
The protomolecule controlled the Eros asteroid, contained Julie's sentience, absorbed Miller, steered away from Earth, landed on Venus, and continued on to form "two-kilometer-high crystal towers"? No thank you. My eroding suspension just jumped out of airlock.
I’m almost the last person in the world who likes this type of thing to read Leviathan Wakes so I doubt there’s much I can add to the discourse around the start to this series. I haven’t seen The Expanse and won’t even try to watch it until I’ve finished the novels, so this is a very non-informed take.
But this first novel is perfectly adequate. It has some great, pulse-pounding space battles, good character development (from at least one POV character), and some surprising moments of horror.
It is, however, long, with definite pacing issues and the ending is fairly anti-climatic.
That said, I’m interested enough to see where the series goes from here and have already bought the second book. So let’s see where The Expanse goes.
3 Stealth Ships for Leviathan Breaks.
But this first novel is perfectly adequate. It has some great, pulse-pounding space battles, good character development (from at least one POV character), and some surprising moments of horror.
It is, however, long, with definite pacing issues and the ending is fairly anti-climatic.
That said, I’m interested enough to see where the series goes from here and have already bought the second book. So let’s see where The Expanse goes.
3 Stealth Ships for Leviathan Breaks.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An explosive introduction to the world of the expanse.
High action, high stakes and high emotions, this book plays on the space opera tropes extremely well.
I read this one wayyy too slowly for the pace the book demands which I suspect hindered my enjoyment somewhat. Great visuals, action and worldbuilding.
High action, high stakes and high emotions, this book plays on the space opera tropes extremely well.
I read this one wayyy too slowly for the pace the book demands which I suspect hindered my enjoyment somewhat. Great visuals, action and worldbuilding.
My fave Quotes from Leviathan Wakes-NO spoilers!
P25-"The circle of life on Ceres was so small you could see the curve. He liked it that way."
P187-"Never knew if you had any luck left unless you pushed it."
P223-"The lights were cheap LEDs tinted a false pink that was supposed to flatter the complexion but instead made everyone look like undercooked beef."
P333-"Zombie vomit?"Holden said.
"Think so."
"Well, I guess we're on the right ship. For some value of right."
P533-"You think he's insane. You threw him off the ship because you thought he was a psychopath and a killer, and now you're going to let him speak for humanity to an alien God-thing that wants to rip us to shreds?"
P25-"The circle of life on Ceres was so small you could see the curve. He liked it that way."
P187-"Never knew if you had any luck left unless you pushed it."
P223-"The lights were cheap LEDs tinted a false pink that was supposed to flatter the complexion but instead made everyone look like undercooked beef."
P333-"Zombie vomit?"Holden said.
"Think so."
"Well, I guess we're on the right ship. For some value of right."
P533-"You think he's insane. You threw him off the ship because you thought he was a psychopath and a killer, and now you're going to let him speak for humanity to an alien God-thing that wants to rip us to shreds?"
Twenty hours of listening and I couldn't find a single female character existing as something other than love interest, sex object, or muse. I mean really not even one. It doesn't even try. I was so ready to love the book, the rest is a space romp with engaging worldbuilding that mostly makes up for flat characters, but good lord I wish I'd taken the warning signs to heart 30 minutes in and tossed it.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes