~post by Marie
My most recent foray into sci fi and fantasy was enjoyed predominantly on a very long plane ride. Currently I am sitting on a veranda overlooking gently swaying palm trees, crystal blue waters, and a tall island rests gently on the ocean, partially obscured by clouds as little boats and kayakers flit past. I am in Hawaii, and thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to catch up on some good reading. But in order to get out here, I undertook an almost 9 hour plane ride which was broken up with some Dramamine induced naps, and losing myself in a thoroughly engrossing space opera.
I have already talked a little about the sub-genre of Space Opera when I looked at the late Iain M. Banks’ Culture series, although my new squeeze, Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, is quite different. There are a lot of books out there on an intergalactic scale centuries after humans have left Earth in their hyper light speed vessels, and plenty that take place here before we have managed to launch ourselves into space, but few that venture into the world of inter-solar-system exploration before humans have figured out faster-than-light travel. Such is the setting for this gritty, almost steam punk feeling sci-fi space romp.
The first of the Expanse series, this book is actually co-authored by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who write collectively under the pen name James S. A. Corey. They work collaboratively with several other authors, and Ty Franck is an assistant to George R. R. Martin. Because of their close proximity to other genre authors, they received a lot of feedback and constructive criticism while writing Leviathan Wakes, and what resulted is an incredible story with fleshed out characters and a distinct lack of made-up names and inaccessible technology, which is something that sci fi books are wont to do. Don’t get me wrong, there are some new technological developments that allow the story to move forward, and some new developments in inter-planetary politics, but this is not one of those books that makes it a challenge to get through the first 20 pages because of the proliferation of new gadgets, alien species, fabricated words, or impossible to pronounce names and unknown titles. There is a great deal of world building here, but it is a world that we can easily imagine, and almost reach.
In the time of Leviathan Wakes, humans have developed spaceships powered by an Epstein Engine that allows them to travel at great speeds, but still sub-light speeds, and the distances between Earth, colonized Mars and the Asteroid Belt are still vast and travel still takes weeks. Out in the Belt, asteroids have been turned into giant space stations, and are supplied by miner and transportation ships which acquire and transport resources from other asteroids, Earth and Mars out to the far reaches of colonized humanity. Tensions are high between Earth and Mars, and strong prejudice exists towards the Belters living in their colonies, which often times take on a slum-like quality. Jim Holden, himself a Belter, is at work on an ice mining ship when he and some of his team unexpectedly encounter the remains of the ship Scopuli, and watch in horror as their ice mining ship The Canterburry and all her crew are destroyed by an unknown vessel with superior technology that vanishes into space without a trace. Holden, a staunch believer that all information should be available to everyone, broadcasts the devastating news to the entire population of humanity, unleashing a chain of reactions that builds to an all-out war between Earth, Mars, and the Belters.
Meanwhile, on an asteroid station, Detective Miller is assigned to find and bring home Juliette Mao, the errant daughter of absurdly wealthy business moguls. When his search brings him to the Scopuli, and in turn to Holden, their worlds collide and they quickly discover how much they don’t know, and how far over their heads the roiling waters of conspiracy and anti-trust have risen. What follows is an engaging and exciting story about vomiting mutant zombies, ancient alien species, government corruption and a small crew of people who are the only hope for saving the world.
The ending of this pleasantly fat book is also satisfying, and doesn’t leave you with a huge cliff hanger, but certainly makes room for the sequel. And fortunately for all of us sci fi nerds out there, the next two in the series, Caliban’s War and Abaddon’s Gate, are already published, and have taken spots #1 and #2 on my “Read This Next” list. Leviathan Wakes is a great plane read, a great beach read, and really, just a great read period.
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Copies of Leviathan Wakes are available on our shelves and via bookpeople.com.
Sci Friday is a weekly post focusing on all things Sci Fi. Booksellers Tommy and Marie are you intrepid leaders on this journey through awesome new books; the best and worst of what’s come before; Sci Fi film adaptations and more. Check back next Friday for more!
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