Leviathan Wakes

I read this book after seeing the first two seasons of the tv show, so that was a bit of an oddity that influenced my whole way of experiencing the text; I kept imagining the tv actors performing the dialogue. Honestly, that kind of worked to my advantage, because I think at the beginning, especially, it's hard to get a sense of the main characters as people. The book just kind of makes them nice folks who get along. On the other hand, it's especially obvious which one of them is not going to actually become a main character, whereas on tv, I found the same moment really startling.

It's interesting how the show and the books are paced so differently. The events of Leviathan Wakes actually correspond to the first season of the show, plus show more the first few episodes of season two. In the show, the finale of the first season seems like a climax; in the book it's another point of escalation in the middle, even though it's basically the same events. The tv show adds a main character who's not in the novel (apparently she'll appear in book two), and since she's in politics, this gives a wider context to the adventures of our heroes; however, I was surprised that the book is still able to communicate this context, but maybe I shouldn't have been, since of course a novel can fill in those kind of details in a lot of ways. The politics viewpoint character in the show is on Earth, though, while the book gives us much more of a feeling for how the Belters feel about things, and why they do what they do.

The most striking difference, though, is speed. The show, for all the fact that it's harder sf than 90% of the sf on tv, gives the impression these spaceships get around the solar system at a pretty brisk clip, in a couple of hours when something's on the line. But in the novel, it's all we've got to get there as fast as we can... that'll take a few days. It's different, and I see why tv can't do that, but I like it a lot, it makes the universe feel lived in and real and distant and lonely. show less

I read this book very fast (~1 week) so clearly, I enjoyed this book. I liked how the characters of Holden and Miller played off of each other with Holden being the idealist who thinks there is good in everyone and thus deserves transparency to make the best decision vs Miller who is cynical (his character is the classic detective trope) and thinks that people will make decisions in their own best interests at the expense of the public good. Yet both are good people in their way. I also appreciated Amos' character as someone who almost seems aethical (as in not ethical - not unethical - but simply no moral compass). The only ethics he has is loyalty to his crew: He is an interesting character study. I look forward to reading book two - show more Caliban's War.

I like this rating system by ashleytylerjohn of LibraryThing (https://www.librarything.com/profile/ashleytylerjohn) that I have also adopted:
(Note: 5 stars = rare and amazing, 4 = quite good book, 3 = a decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful.) show less

This book is a wild ride. It's a thriller to be sure – It'll hook you through the nose and drag you along on its break neck pace – but it still makes time for a rich setting and a handful of quiet, hard-hitting interpersonal moments.
The setting is not restrained by our current understanding of physics and technological progress, but it makes enough of an effort to be believable that it feels grounded. Mars is being terraformed, Jupiter's moons are harvested for resources, and g-force is a serious concern.
Our two main characters are excellent foils for each other and I love to see them shift between arguing with each other and standing up for one another. The supporting cast aren't given a ton of time to shine, but none of them are show more cardboard cutouts and I'm excited to get to know them better in the next books.
Leviathan Wakes wraps up pretty nicely, but it asks a lot of questions that will take the next books into grander and more fantastical places. I can't wait to see how it turns out. show less

This book, Leviathan Wakes, might still be on my wish list if not for a friend, and fellow bibliophile, gifting me a copy for Christmas. She knows how much I love a good Sci-Fi story and this one delivered. So glad she choose this book because after watching the first season of The Expanse I was wanting to read the books before watching further episodes.
The authors (Corey is a pseudonym for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) put a lot of work into the world building. The politics and racism in the book are spot on for what you would expect in the future where humans have inhabited the entire solar system. Earth looks down on people not born on Earth and the Belters, those born on asteroids or space stations in the Asteroid Belt are at the show more bottom of the list.
While this book is not hard core Science Fiction, it still ticked all the boxes for me. Told from two POVs, Jim Holden, captain of an ice hauler, and Detective Miller on Eros station in the Belt. The characters were portrayed realistically. They two are polar opposites and once their paths become intertwined the story gets riveting. The character development is as strong as the plot and together they make for a book that is hard to put down.
I highly recommend this book to all those who love Science Fiction. I can see why it won so many awards. Totally looking forward to book two. show less

I've tried to write a comprehensive review on this one for a while, but each one devolves into a rambling mess about how much I love this series, so instead I'll post the little blurb I wrote as part of my library's Staff Picks newsletter, since I had to reign in my absolute fangirling for that one.

Leviathan Wakes is the first book in The Expanse series, of which there are currently seven published titles with two more planned for the future (book 8 has been announced for December of 2018!). The books inspired SyFy’s hit series The Expanse, which entered its third season in April of this year. Leviathan Wakes introduces readers to Corey’s expansive (pardon the pun) and fully realized world. "James S.A. Corey" is actually the nom de show more plume for Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, though their writing is so in sync that you'll be hard pressed to distinguish their individual voices.

In the not-so-distant future, humans utilize gravity-based space flight to colonize our solar system, though they have not moved beyond that because faster than light travel is not yet possible. In the years since the creation of the Epstein Drive, three distinct factions of humans have emerged: Earthers, Martians, and Belters – those who live on one of many asteroid bases and have never set foot “down the gravity well” on an actual planet. Each group has its own priorities, with Earth struggling to manage overpopulation and maintain control of belt resources, Mars focused on the terraforming effort and building a Naval fleet, and the Belt fighting for equality and survival.

War is an ever looming threat, and it finally arrives after the most unlikely spark – the destruction of a humble ice hauler. James Holden, one of five survivors of the Canterbury, is at the center of the conflict, and his efforts to find the truth seem to be making everything worse, but there is far more going on than anyone could guess. Someone may be trying to start a war on purpose, and it all traces back to an ancient extra-solar threat, proof of life outside our solar system that may be deadly than even the largest scale human war.

Insert some fangirling here: I fucking love this book and the series it kicks off. I don't normally read hard scifi or space operas, and I usually hate politics in scifi, but Goddamn does this series do it well. I read this book twice in less than 6 months, because I took a break after book 4 and wanted to start over before moving on to 5-7, and it was no less engrossing the second time around.

Also - QUEEN FUCKING AVASARALA!! show less

I flew through this book pretty quickly and it was quite a ride. I loved the different perspectives, from Holden to Miller, and how their characters were so consistent in their actions with what had been shown to be their personalities (if that makes sense). This kind of science fiction is quick-paced, deals with galactic political issues that are really similar to what we deal with in our own lives, and focuses on the individuals involved. It just fits together really well--although there was quite a bit of "But you're a really trustworthy guy!" exposition about Holden and Miller at times, which knocks it down a star for me.

Overall though, this was a lot of fun and I'm already listening to the second book.

"Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of Warre, where every man is Enemy to every man,” wrote Thomas Hobbes in 1651, “the same is consequent to the time, wherein men live without other security, than what their own strength, and their own invention shall furnish them withall....and which is worst of all, continuall feare, and danger of violent death; And the life of man, solitary, poore, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Hobbes’s “Leviathan” argues that men require an absolute ruler to master their violent natures. This classic treatise finds a scifi interpretation in “Leviathan Wakes,” which blends several genres without feeling uneven. It’s hard scifi, military drama, noir mystery, social commentary, cosmic horror, show more and political thriller expertly crafted around two men each trying to do his version of the right thing in a solar system gone mad.

XO James Holden of the ice hauler Canterbury investigates a distress beacon between Jupiter and the Belt. Detective Josephus Miller of Ceres receives an assignment to find a missing heiress, a distraction from the strange evaporation of the dwarf planet’s organized crime. Each is soon drawn into a cascade of shocking incidents driving the human race toward a fratricidal war. Someone seems determined to drown humanity in its own blood; but as Holden and Miller discover, there are things worse than war.

Part of what makes the story so compelling is that this future feels both possible and familiar. The industry and commerce of the Belt and beyond is what I would imagine for human expansion beyond Earth. Belter patois, psychology, and physiology have evolved in isolation from the inner planets, enabling easy racism from dual superpowers Earth and Mars. In return, both Belters and the paramilitary Outer Planets Alliance resent their second-class status beneath their cousins down the gravity well. It’s a tale as old as colonialism, providing all the tinder necessary for a consuming fire.

The plot is exciting, inventive, unpredictable, and thoroughly grounded in science. Whether engaged in a high-speed chase at 6 G’s or trying to survive radiation poisoning in the middle of a firefight, the action feels real because the science is sound. The adventure starts on the first page and never stops, but it’s also never mindless: every twist and turn advances a clever storyline designed to keep you guessing.

On a personal note, I appreciate that faith exists in this universe as part of humanity’s warp and woof. Neither author is religious, but neither are they determined to stamp religion out. Ex-Methodist Miller has a thoughtful encounter with an older and wiser Christian missionary; and the Mormon generation ship Nauvoo is a background character in its own right, prepping for its long flight into the unknown. Faith isn’t a major theme, but I appreciate that the authors handle it respectfully rather than ignoring it or mutating it into dangerous cults that Science should’ve outgrown ages ago.

If I had to level a criticism, it would be that this is a very male-coded book. Women exist as objects of men’s wants or needs. Miller’s obsession over his missing heiress becomes a projection of his own depressive psyche, the best part of him trying to hold his shattered self together. Holden’s right-hand woman, Naomi, is a fully-realized supporting character; but she’s also there so that if he’s a righteous enough leader, maybe someday he can have her as a reward. Otherwise, women are nameless prostitutes, topless servers, or competent techs dodging male advances. “Leviathan Wakes” could’ve benefited from better female representation.

Where it shines, other than being a rip-roaring good time, is in its moral dilemmas. I emphasize that this is not nihilistic grimcore where every choice is bad and no one is good. Rather, Holden and Miller operate from firm but different moral centers, making the tough choices those centers demand. Sometimes good outcomes are only available to those willing to do a bad thing, but what’s the price of a soul and the cost to society? Sometimes doing the right thing makes everything worse; but if you don’t do the right thing, what are you fighting for? On the other hand, if doing the right thing catalyzes the end of everything you hold dear, was your moment of purity worth it?

Neither Miller nor Holden have much time to grapple with their dilemmas, because Hobbes is coming for them. As the latter wrote, “This is the Generation of that great LEVIATHAN…of that Mortall God, to which wee owe…our peace and defence.” Violent anarchy invites order, and maybe not the order you want. All that the pride of man ever does is awaken a heart as firm as a stone, one made without fear, who beholdeth all high things, a king over all the children of pride. show less