Leviathan Wakes
Ratings1,159
Average rating4.2
The beginning of a long, epic sci-fi—The Expanse.
The story is set in the close future solar system where capitalism is still the main driver and the amount of explored space is similar to Red Rising but the society is much closer to modern. So there are some research stations on some of Saturn’s moons and that’s the farthest we get in this book.
There’s a very short intro—compared to most other books where it’s at least a third—after which we get one gripping event after another with very short breaks between them. And also there’s a lot of mystery about what’s happening for like half or two thirds of the story which gets even more mysterious and dangerous. But then it all slows down around 70% mark until almost the very end which feels a little strange and like the authors try to build tension through a lot of text instead of a lot of exciting stuff.
Also the story is told from two points of view: a detective on the asteroid belt and a captain of some transport ship who, at the moment, works for the belt. I think they’re pretty good in showing the story from different perspectives and telling a lot of interesting details about how the world works and how people live on the asteroids. And I mostly prefer the detective here as he shows some real dangers and unpleasant details of that future, while the captain has some good points and decisions in the beginning, he later becomes too naive or strict with his rules (at least he starts to realize this in the end).
So the epically open ending promises some big events and even bigger threats. Can’t wait for the second book.
Not the best book ever but it made me feel like I was in space having fun so it's exactly what I was looking for
Why, oh why do authors these days seem to think that the use of foul language by all of their characters including their protagonists is a good idea? Is it because they feel their story/plot is weak and it needs “punching up”? I had (perhaps unreasonably) great hopes for this series of books since it seems so well-received by many, and even has spawned a well-regarded television/video series - only to have my hopes summarily dashed by the constant foul language and low-class topics of conversation among the characters. This only served to alienate me from the characters and (sooner rather than later) cause me to abandon the book, and the series, and the author. Too bad.
Having watched the show before finishing the book, I knew ahead of time that not much would be different in terms of the plot. It was still nice to sit down and spend some more time with the world as the story opened up. Miller's POV is definitely the stronger of the two since his follows a more formulaic structure, but Holden's POV has its highlights. The world is fully realized and feels like a future that I could see humans embarking on in a couple hundred years. The characterization felt slightly flat for the most part, but there was enough to go off of to get a feel for each character; this is something I think the show did a little better, but visual media has that added benefit. Had I not seen the show beforehand, my opinions may be a little different. All in all, a good start to a series that I plan on finishing in the coming year, hopefully in time for the final book.
Had gelezen dat de TV-serie best goed was, daarom eerst maar aan het boek begonnen (en dat blijkt, na bekijken van de eerste afleveringen van de serie, behoorlijk af te wijken..., ik vind met name de ondersecretaris van de VN in het boek een veel interessanter personage)
In de toekomst is er een fragiele vrede tussen aarde, Mars (twee super-powers), en de “Belt” (richting Jupiter, met meer een zootje ongeregeld die meer aanzien willen), die behoorlijk verstoord raakt als een er een ketingreactie van ontploffingen in werking wordt gezet, alles om de aandacht van een protomolecule af te leiden, richting ons zonnestelsel gestuurd door onbekende aliens.
Uiteindelijk wordt de situatie min of meer gered door een klein groepje avonturiers op een min of meer gejat Martiaans oorlogsruimteschip (maar niet voordat ze de situatie danig verergeren).
Prima tussendoor-kost.
I decided to read this book due to my enjoyment of “The Expanse” on SyFy. I rather enjoyed the book, and while there are some major differences between the show and the book, I thought the show really captured the major themes of the book. If anything, the show downplayed some of the stronger sequences of the novel. I'm very much looking forward to both the next season of the show, and to reading the rest of the series. I think I'll start the next book now, as a matter of fact.
This has great world building, a pretty good story, and a lot of overwrought thinking that you get to listen to. I especially thought the escape from eros is really overdrawn. Tighter editing and this is a five star
It wouldn't make sense to the story but I'd love to understand the interaction between corporate power and government. I'll try the next one and see how that goes
I will say that I did see the show before reading this book. The show on its own is great. I had also heard bits and parts from my partner who had read this series before me and they highly talked up the books.
This book takes you right into the thick of the story and builds from there. The story picks up immediately and sets a fast pace followed throughout the book. I did find that it was sometimes too fast and there are some characters that I wanted to see more of. On the other hand, the quick pace was nice as we didn’t spend too much time on one scene or on the character backstories allowing the main story to flow. I do hope we learn more about the characters in the next book as they are very interesting.
The characters are written in a captivating way. Miller is my favourite. He has great lines throughout the book and is just a scene-stealer. The world-building can be a bit much at first but you get into it. Each of the factions/Societies (Earth/Mars/Belters) is unique. Reading the Belter speech can be a little odd but if you listen to the audiobook or have watched the show it's easier to get into the rhythm of it.
There is a good mix of action and politics. You don’t feel cheated on the fight scenes as you do with some books. They are descriptive, fast-paced, and well-thought-out. With the political side, once you have a grasp of the societies it becomes easier to pick up the build of what will
become a massive political battle. There are a lot of questions the book opens up but doesn’t finish but this only makes me want to get to the next book.
I can’t wait until my hold comes up for the next book.
Contains spoilers
TL;DR
Great adventure with great characters and interesting places. I liked almost everything about this book, the story, the characters, the writing. The only few things I didn't like are some stuff about the ending but everything else was great in my opinion. This is a great science fiction book.
My Scoring System
I have five things I look for in a book, if the book checks all five it's a 5/5 stars book, if it checks none it's a 1/5 stars and everything else is a combination:
✓ - Main Story: It started out very interesting and once we get to know more about main thing going on that's when I was very intrigued because the implications of this are pretty big and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.
X - Side Stories (if it applies): I liked Miller as a character but I think that his story with Julie Mao wasn't as interesting as the main thing going on in the world. For me this was the weakest part of the book.
✓ - Characters: I like every character in this book. I've watch season one of the series and the characters are pretty different. I liked the ones in the book far better.
✓ - Setting/Ambiance: The different stations and ships were very cool to imagine and having seen the series I can picture it a bit better. The nauvoo was a thing to behold and imagine.
✓ - Ending: Towards the ending chapters is definitely where the book starts to ramp up in action and also the implications about the main thing going on. It was great reading the stuff with the Eros station. I really want to know what happens next.
Extensive Review
Nothing to say here just a few things that I didn't quite like I guess but they are spoilers.
I didn't like how we don't get to see what happens at the end with Miller and Julie, I would have liked to see them together in their final moments. We've been building up these two and at the end they just die off screen. I wished we got to see more.
Other than that tiny issue I had a blast reading this book and I will definitely be continuing the series to see what happens next with the main thing. Because what Dresden said when he was explaining it it made me want to know more.
Credible sci-fi that keeps a human story at its heart. Miller's tale makes this a gritty noir which I loved.
Leviathan Wakes by James Corey is a tour de force in science fiction. This sprawling epic seamlessly weaves together elements of space opera, detective thriller, military combat, and even a potential dystopian pandemic. However, it's the characters that truly steal the show.
The novel's strength lies in its ability to create a cast of incredibly relatable and complex individuals. Their personal struggles, from childhood traumas to present-day relationship issues, add depth and authenticity to their actions. The realistic dialogue and character interactions further enhance the immersive experience.
While the plot is filled with thrilling action and mind-bending concepts, it's the emotional journeys of the characters that keep readers engaged. The way their personal lives intertwine with the larger events of the story creates a powerful and satisfying narrative.
Leviathan Wakes is a must-read for fans of science fiction and anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant novel. It's a testament to Corey's masterful storytelling and his ability to create a world that feels both familiar and utterly alien.
This is a long, complex, exciting story written with some skill and a good deal of work. It kept me interested.
On the other hand, it's also a thoroughly depressing experience, and I don't read fiction because I want to be depressed. I don't hate it enough to give it one star, so I'll give it two.
This novel is a tale of endless misery, people suffering in numerous ways, having bad lives, being attacked, being killed quickly or slowly, and even in some cases being transformed into half-alien monsters. That's how it starts, right from the first page, and that's how it goes on. This first novel is followed by a whole string of sequels, and I presume they go on depressing readers indefinitely. But I stop here.
Extremely well written Sci Fi compared to some other author's I'm coming off of (I'm looking at you Peter Hamilton and later years Neal Asher). Loved how the characters interact with each other and overall how they are written.
Lots of setup for the political machinations that are to come in later books but nothing felt like filler or overly descriptive.
Two minor quibbles that aren't worth taking a star off for. Lots of stuff happens between different ships in the beginning and is a bit hard to follow. They are also just starting to reveal what's going on with the core conflict so that piece felt a bit meh but it's a long series.
Asteroid/moon hopping space murder mystery with a backdrop of political intrigue sprinkled with a pinch of horror. It's a fun ride. The two main characters are broad archetypes that could've use a bit more development. The worldbuilding got me interested enough to continue with the series. I do want to find out more about the dynamics between Earth, Mars and the Belt.
Funny, heartfelt, suspenseful, and utterly unexpected in many ways. I was recommended this book by a friend and was not disappointed. While I definitely found myself more attached to some characters than others, I really enjoyed all of the cast.
Interesting characters. Nice interplay between them. The plot was ok. I do not feel pulled in to read more though. I do not see why this is heralded as one of the greatest scifi books ever created.
5.00/5.00“Miller watched a little peice of the man's idealism die and was sorry that it gave him joy”.
Leviathan wakes is a stunning accomplishment of modern science fiction, a perfect blend of classic sci-fi ideas, worldbuilding, with the modern touch of charcter development. The world created in this book is frighteningly real, awesomely detailed, brilliantly creative and ultimately hopeful. A marriage of tangents from Star Trek and Dune, the expanse is a world to aspire for, and to fear with the foreboding inevitability. An epic space opera, warrring factions, well-developed characters, deeply rooted in science fiction worldbuilding, Leviathan Wakes is a love story of epic proportions. “Oi Pampaw!”
Emotional Impact -> The realistic world building, the wonder or orbital mechanics, the intrigue of the protomolecule, and the wonderful characters. Its hard not to like Holden, the reincarnation of Duke Leto Atredies, but still unique and fresh. I am loving Amos, I am loving all the ethical dilemmas, the thought provoking questions. Characters -> Miller! I hated this guy and ended up loving him. "He looks at his soul, sees the taint, and wants to be clean. But you? You just shrug". Miller's character is a masterpeice. A damaged, hurt soul making the ultimate and selfish sacrifice. Amos > Holden > Fred > Naomi. Plot -> Complicated plot, focued on orbital mechanics. Can I ask for anything better ? The warring planets! So relalistic! The protomolecule is giving us everything we needed in a mysterious alien seed missile. Killing the cant, the twist with the MCRN, finding Julie, romancing Holden, romancing, hallucianting Miller, Eros coming alive. Great, just great. Prose -> Slightly better than Sanderson. Several quotable lines. But I see too many characters shrugging all the time. Prose has the potential to be much better. Worldbuiling -> Here we go! Gimme the orbital mechanics. Give the MCRN, the UNN, the OPA. Give me the belter creole. Give me the hand gestures. Gimme the gravity! the ultimate villan. The uranium bullets, the nuclear explosions, the PDCs! The Nauvoo. I cannot stop. Best of the best of sci-fi. The worldbuilding is not historically rich as like Dune. But its so good. so good. I love it.
This was a great book to start a big serie! It did however really felt like a first book in the beginning. The story develops slowly and focusses only on two main characters. The ending however, was absolutely amazing!
I'm really curious to see where the story will go.
There's nothing that raises this book above average in every way - and more than its fair share of things that reduces it to well below average.
I do not like the characters. I find our two POV's to be insufferable and mostly interchangeable. (The only real difference between them is that Holden is holier-than-thou which also means I hate him the most.) The other three are very underdeveloped and we know little about them at the end of these five hundred plus pages that we didn't learn in the first hundred pages. (To be fair, Naomi or Amos might have been good MC's if they were given the opportunity. They at least have sparks of personality that would, to be fair, likely be gone were they to be the MC's.) (They could wipe out the entire five person ‘main cast' and the most I would feel is an even stronger sense of ‘why did I bother?')
The plot is bog standard, recycled sci-fi fair. There isn't original here, though there is a lot that I personally dislike. (I deeply, deeply hate when my sci-fi takes a turn into horror which I feel that this did, around the halfway point. It does climb back out, after awhile, but by then the damage was done and I had, it turns out, completely checked out. For me horror is often categorized by a lack of characters to care about, characters to feel anything for and more of a focus on how grotesque/disgusting something is. And this book never really pulled out of that. shrugs)
I find it extremely jarring that in the preface of the 10th anniversary edition, the authors said ‘the project was a love letter to the science fiction of the 70's [...] with an updated, contemporary sensibility' when there is very little here that isn't sci-fi straight out of the 70's or 80's. The two narrators are still straight, cis, white men. Yeah, that's updated. I mean, there were none of them as narrators in the 70's, right? There a five person main cast and there is only one woman. Are any of the main cast BIPOC? (I think Naomi is, but I don't know if that's because it was said or I'm just linking her to the show Naomi. Was Alex? It seemed like he might be?) How about literally any LGBT+ rep - or at least the aforementioned straight, cis, white men narrators not lusting after a woman for over half the book and/or fancying they're in love with a woman and/or maybe a little less hardcore heteronormativity?
(Also, it just generally pisses me off/creeps me out that our missing female macguffin also functions as a love interest for one of our MC's because he talks to her in his head.)
What's absolutely hilarious to me - and somewhat appalling - is that the more I read this book, the less I liked it. We started out, for the first quarter or so, at around an estimated for stars. (That might have been a little high, but I was enjoying it.) Each quarter my estimation dropped by one star until I was left with this mess that I would have just been all around happier if I hadn't read.
It looks like an scary epic sci-fi. But it really is just a very good epic sci-fi
The first sci-fi book I read in ages and I enjoyed it a lot! I watched the first season of The Expanse a few years ago but remember not being too interested in it. The little I remembered helped a bit here because I had immediate images of the characters and knew of certain moments that were coming. For some reason the book version made things click more into place than the show did, so I might give that another shot soon.
Alternates between clever and silly. Lacks the awe and wonder I'm drawn to in sci-fi, and the world building stalls out pretty early on. But it mostly kept my attention.