Name: Leviathan Wakes
Rating: 4.262711864406779 (413 reviews)
ISBN: 9781973776239

James S. A. Corey

Leviathan Wakes

Humanity has colonized the planets - interstellar travel is still beyond our reach, but the solar system has become a dense network of colonies. But there are tensions - the mineral-rich outer planets resent their dependence on Earth and Mars and the political and military clout they wield over the Belt and beyond. Now, when Captain Jim Holden's ice miner stumbles across a derelict, abandoned ship, he uncovers a secret that threatens to throw the entire system into war. Attacked by a stealth ship belonging to the Mars fleet, Holden must find a way to uncover the motives behind the attack, stop a war and find the truth behind a vast conspiracy that threatens the entire human race.

Tim Pendry

You may be familiar with the story line from the successful (but troubled in production terms) TV streaming series, 'The Expanse'. This is a nice case of where the book and the TV series are equally good with, at least in this first novel in the set, very little narrative difference between them. The casting of the TV series has the characters reborn in the series almost perfectly - certainly Amos the engineer and Alex the Martian pilot. The book is a well written unpatronising easy read that was made to be filmed. There are differences, of course, but they arise from books being books and film being film as well as the chance to work up some ideas in the meantime. I came to the book after the TV series (you can decide to taste) and was not disappointed. One difference is that there are barely any references to the Belter language in the book. The TV series allows it to emerge as a credible form of speech if 'moderated' somewhat. And, of course, there is some understandable foreshortening of plot and incident for episodic TV presentation. Finally, as almost family scifi entertainment and possibly for budgetary reasons, the TV series avoids a lot of the 'body horror', moments of raw violence and horror explicit in the book (which, by the way, are proportionate to the story and not gratuitous). I will not say much more because, as part of a long-running series, spoilers really are unhelpful but we can point to 'Corey' (actually two co-writers) giving us a space opera that is a little more credible than most in being restricted to the solar system. The novel starts with a resource-stretched but dominant Earth (united under the UN) in a tense but not openly hostile relationship with a weaker but pioneering and militarist Mars. Both co-exploit a wide network of resource heavy asteroids and research stations. In a story that links to narratives of colonialism and imperialism, the workers on the asteroids, who have substantial trading settlements with large populations, have developed not only a distinctive language but culture, body structure (for permanent low gravity) and politics. Needless to say, there is resentment of Inner (Earth and Mars) 'capitalist' exploitation. The authors are good at offering (over the series) different responses from acceptance of the situation or 'attentisme' through political but peaceful resistance to armed and terroristic resistance. The book is thus as much a political novel as it is science fiction. Its chief virtue is that (although not in fact quite credible since no science fiction is) the book is more credible than most in having recognisable humans with recognisable technologies in a recognisable system. The plotting is escapist adventure, of course, but the absurdities - how is it that everything always happens when Jim Holden is around in order to make his latest naive heroic blunder - are mitigated by characters you can engage with and root for. Almost as a bridge from pulp expectations to what will later become a full-on space opera, the story splits its time between the perspectives of Holden and those of what would normally be a stereotype, the broken-down cop past his prime (Joe Miller - a Belter). The plot itself, weaving a detective story about a poor little rich girl caught up in a dastardly corporate plot and a story of high politics threatening to bring the great powers and Belt into war with all against all, runs along nicely. 'Suspension of disbelief' tends to be achieved. At the end of the day, it is just an entertainment but, as an entertainment, it is recommended. It is no surprise to find it a popular phenomenon. We assume that only the costs of production have stopped its TV iteration from working its way to its final conclusion.

Princess Doe 

If I were to desribe this book it would be political crime mystery drama in space, and for me that is all the ingredients for a great recipe! The book is fast paced, not overly complicated but still a developed universe, and I was hooked. Such a great space opera, no complaints.

Patrick Book

I’m not huge on space nonsense, but I love this concept and it was very well done!

Luke Harkness

A fantastic space epic that truly lives up to a science fiction story. There are some great mysteries involving many great characters in a truly believable futuristic world! Would highly recommend for all sci-fi fans

I’ve watched The Expanse TV series before and I’m pleasantly surprised I’m just as excited to read this. One down, 8 more books to go I guess.

Frederik De Bosschere

The first book in the revolutionary New York Times bestselling Expanse series, a modern masterwork of science fiction. Leviathan Wakes introduces Captain James Holden, his crew, and Detective Miller as they unravel a horrifying solar system wide conspiracy that begins with a single missing girl. Now a Prime Original series. HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST SERIES Humanity has colonized the solar system -- Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond -- but the stars are still out of our reach. Jim Holden is XO of an ice miner making runs from the rings of Saturn to the mining stations of the Belt. When he and his crew stumble upon a derelict ship, the Scopuli, they find themselves in possession of a secret they never wanted. A secret that someone is willing to kill for -- and kill on a scale unfathomable to Jim and his crew. War is brewing in the system unless he can find out who left the ship and why. Detective Miller is looking for a girl. One girl in a system of billions, but her parents have money and money talks. When the trail leads him to the Scopuli and rebel sympathizer Holden, he realizes that this girl may be the key to everything. Holden and Miller must thread the needle between the Earth government, the Outer Planet revolutionaries, and secretive corporations -- and the odds are against them. But out in the Belt, the rules are different, and one small ship can change the fate of the universe. "Interplanetary adventure the way it ought to be written." -- George R. R. Martin The Expanse Leviathan Wakes Caliban's War Abaddon's Gate Cibola Burn Nemesis Games Babylon's Ashes Persepolis Rising Tiamat's Wrath ​Leviathan Falls The Expanse Short Fiction The Butcher of Anderson Station Gods of Risk The Churn The Vital Abyss Strange Dogs Auberon

Possibly the first time I’ve read a book after watching the TV show / movie. I loved The Expanse so had high hopes for the book — it didn’t disappoint. 

The book moves at what Alex would describe as a “high g burn”. Each chapter zips along at a pace that feels even faster than the TV show, and yet, despite this, you are able to get a strong sense of the world the book is building and how colonising space has altered people’s physical and emotional approach to life.

I found myself rolling my eyes at all the discussion of sex work, however. Hundreds of years into the future and for some reason we’re still living in a 19th century version of Las Vegas.

Daniel Bower

Possibly the first time I’ve read a book after watching the TV show / movie. I loved The Expanse so had high hopes for the book — it didn’t disappoint. 

The book moves at what Alex would describe as a “high g burn”. Each chapter zips along at a pace that feels even faster than the TV show, and yet, despite this, you are able to get a strong sense of the world the book is building and how colonising space has altered people’s physical and emotional approach to life.

I found myself rolling my eyes at all the discussion of sex work, however. Hundreds of years into the future and for some reason we’re still living in a 19th century version of Las Vegas.

Guruprasad Kulkarni

Science Fiction as it was never before and how it's always ought to be!

Matt Stein

My review: https://mattstein.com/books/leviathan-wakes

Gavin

Meaty, fine. Book has far fewer plot holes than the show. (Still some though: why does Johnson not put any of his people on the flight to Eros? Why are these intelligent characters so idiotic about aseptic procedure when handling the ultra-horror organism?)

How does it do as Serious science fiction?

 Social development: The Belters are an ok attempt at showing the start of speciation. Their creole language is pretty good, also the mannerisms designed for legibility in an EVA suit.

 Software development: Naomi is the only coder, maintaining however many million lines.

 Actual Science: the spaceflight physics is good. The economics of the Belt make little sense. The protomolecule (a nanotech spore virus capable of infecting anything regardless of biochemistry) strains belief even before it starts messing with the nature of electromagnetism and gravity in an entire AU volume.

The book is the basis for the first season of The Expanse, a new original series premiering on Syfy in December 2015. Leviathan Wakes is James S. A. Corey's first novel in the epic series the Expanse, a modern masterwork of science fiction where humanity has colonized the solar system. Two hundred years after migrating into space, mankind is in turmoil. When a reluctant ship's captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war, and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history. The ExpanseLeviathan WakesCaliban's WarAbaddon's GateCibola BurnNemesis Games The Expanse Short FictionThe Butcher of Anderson StationGods of RiskThe ChurnDrive

Bouke van der Bijl

This book was incredibly fun. If you’re a fan of space operas, you will love this. It’s good because it’s set in the time period between now and when humanity conquered the stars, so our solar system is colonized but humanity hasn’t gone beyond that.

Lyric Hooey

I am not normally a sci-fi gal but I've had this book on my shelf for about 4 years and decided it was time. It was so good! A little hard to follow but it was a me problem, not because of anything to do with the author. Otherwise, I flew through it despite the intimidating size!

Molly Morgan

I LOVED THIS. A really fun sci-fi romp. Love a good mystery in space.

I had watched the show previous to reading, so I was prepared for the sad bits... but it didn't make them hurt me any less. 

10/10, excited to read more in this series.

Really loved this book. Leviathan Wakes was a great space opera that also combined noir and some light horror. The characters were interesting and I liked that the chapters alternated perspective from one to the other. Helped make it really hard for me to put down. 
If you're looking for a hard science fiction book this isn't it, meaning no details on how the Epstein drives work. Though it isn't overly simple science fiction either so don't let that fact alone keep you away.
Ready to dive into the second book now.

It may sound odd to say given some of the outlandish things that happen, but this feels like a very realistic interpretation of not-so-distant humanity. The corniness of any romantic dialougue also lends to the realistic feel, despite the rich cosmic backdrop.

Definitely a page turner, I'm excited to see what else the series has to offer.

Simon Crocker

It may sound odd to say given some of the outlandish things that happen, but this feels like a very realistic interpretation of not-so-distant humanity. The corniness of any romantic dialougue also lends to the realistic feel, despite the rich cosmic backdrop.

Definitely a page turner, I'm excited to see what else the series has to offer.

Stefanie  Uwah

I don’t know what to rate this yet. I’m sitting somewhere between 3.5-3.75. I loved so much about it but certain things about the writing and characterizations left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish men would try to envision a reality in which sex workers were given some sense of agency and respect. The amount of jokes and analogies comparing things to wh*res/prostitutes/ sex workers were numerous and cheap. It took me out of the writing every single time it happened. I still plan on reading the next installment but I really hope the author(s) get more imaginative with their similes and analogies.

Leviathan Wakes

Reviews

Highlights