Reading on the right day

[vaznetti]

Currently reading: Caliban's War by the people who write the Expanse books. I have seen the show all the way through probably four times now, but this is the first time I've picked up one of the books. So far it's really, really good! I know this is the second book in the series but I started with it because (a) there was a copy in the used bookstore and (b) I have heard that the first one doesn't have Avasarala in it, and there's only so much time in the world for books that could have Avasarala in them but don't. In any case I don't have a problem figuring out what happened, although I get the sense that the protomolecure-related worldbuilding is much more detailed in the books than it was in the show. But it's a fictional universe I really love, and I'm very happy to be getting more if it. I don't know why I never thought of reading these books before, really.

Comments

[greenwoodside]

I've really enjoyed the three fantasy series by Daniel Abraham (50% of the Expanse authors). Plus the pair of them as James Corey are starting a new sci-fi series -- the first book is out, and it's good.

I wasn't sure about reading the Expanse books, but it sounds as if they're different enough from the show to be worthwhile.

[vaznetti]

I wouldn't say that the books are different -- all the plot points are familiar enough, although a few things happen in a slightly different way -- but there is a lot more detail there. So for example right now I'm at the point where Avasarala goes up to Mao's ship, with Bobbie and Cotyar (and here also some others) and because we're seeing this through Bobbie's eyes you get a really clear sense of the depth of Mao's wealth and power, and the extent to which those things are invisible to Avasarala.

[greenwoodside]

That does sound appealing!

[isis]

They are good books! Caliban's War is a particularly good one. The next one (Abaddon's Gate) was my least favorite of the series, but in general I liked these books; also, the show ends basically with the end of book 6 (though shading into 7), so there are 3 more books about this universe than is depicted in the show. (Though not all of them have Avasarala in them.)

I also am always intrigued by the changes made in adapting books to the screen, and there are some interesting changes particularly around Camina Drummer, who in the TV version is really a combination of the book character plus another book character (which I think was a good choice).

[vaznetti]

Yes, I've heard that the Drummer of the show is a kind of composite character (and as she is another of my favorites that was also a thing that made me put off reading them.) But so far I'm really enjoying the book. And I have to admit that knowing that there's more plot after the end of the books is another draw. Although I hear there is a time-skip? On the show I found the plotline that teased that part of the story a little confusing but I'm interested to see what it's all about.

[rthstewart]

I deeply enjoy both the series and the books, except for Cibola Burn (4th book). I get why some don't love Abadon's Gate too. Very smart to start with Caliban's War -- neither Bobbie nor Chrisjen are Book 1; it's just alternating Holden and Miller pov. For newbies, I usually tell them to watch the TV series through to the end of Book 1 (it's about 3 episodes into Season2) and then jump to Caliban's War. I feel the (no spoilers) the end of Caliban's War is vastly superior to how it's handled in the TV series. I think it is one of those things where you can go back and forth and I appreciate how the authors were willing to look at the medium of TV, and make changes. As characters grew, like Cara Gee as Drummer, they let the story evolve too.

[vaznetti]

It took me a few rewatches before I really warmed to Holden or Miller so it might be just as well that I skipped the first book!

I'm interested to see how the story diverges as it goes, then. The thing I notice most right now is that they relied on the visual nature of TV to beef up the worldbuilding, whereas the books seem to have a great deal more explanation (not a bad thing, for me!)

[isis]

The time-skip isn't huge, e.g. it's not centered on another generation, it's still the main characters, but some characters die and some have significantly changed their lives. The first three books are basically, humanity has discovered this weird ancient artifact and evidence of the past presence of an alien people, giving humanity a way to explore the universe if they can get their act together; the second three books are, humanity is tribal and fractious and that old saying about uniting in the face of a common threat is more hopeful than true; the final trilogy is the rise and fall of the Roman Empire (IN SPAAACE).

(I was just looking at my review of book 7 and I said it was one of the best and maybe my favorite. But I loved all of the last 3 books a lot, though things get weird toward the end.)

[vaznetti]

Oh, yay! I am a complete sucker for the Roman Empire in Space (and obviously this is what the Martians think they're doing, even if they aren't) so now I have something really juicy to look forward to!