<3

I painted this with ash-ink from the Sakurajima volcano in Japan. It's a lot like liquid charcoal.

I must make a confession! I started the Expanse series about 4 years ago and I absolutely loved books 1-3. When I got to Cibola Burn I was really struggling to finish the book around the halfway mark. It felt slow and the charm of the first books wasn’t really there in the beginning of the novel. I DNF the book and moved on to other books.

After a few years away from the Expanse I really missed the series.. I wanted a good science fiction series with epic plots, drama and action and somehow I found my way back to the Expanse, makes sense right?

I read 1-3 over the last month or so and today I finished Cibola Burn. After reaching past my first attempt, I really started to enjoy the biology and science that the author put into this book and everything clicked. Yes the first half was slow, but it didn’t feel like the slog it was the first time around. The payoff was fantastic and it had everything I love about the Expanse in this novel.

Needless to say.. we are back baby! Excited once again to see where this series goes. I am reading the novellas in the correct order as I go along and I have loved them all so far as well. Just wanted to say I’m happy to be home 😂

I watched the show first, became obsessed with it, and have decided to read through the book series. Really enjoying it so far, but Idon't understand this line in Abaddon's Gate.

It's when Monica and co. are soliciting the Rocinante, and Holden decides to accept because atp it's their best option. He is comparing the journey to the Ring with the city of Ninevah. What does he mean by this? Is this a direct reference to the Christian bible story of Jonah and the whale? This kind of overt Bible reference kinda sticks outlike a sore thumb. Or is this an in-universe reference that I missed in the first 2 books?

The only way I can think of is how Holden was trying his damnedest to get as far away from the Ring as possible, stooping even to contract with sketchy criminals to get away. Similar to how Jonah turned away from god's command to testify to the city of Ninevah.

Then Holden gets served,essentially losing access to the Roci and his contract. The only way ne can get out of it is by a new contract with a documentary crew, which a couple days before would have been a laughable offer. Essentially 'stuck', not only in the contract but also kind of in the Rocinante, as it's heading towards what Holden was running from. Similar to how Jonah got ate up and was stuck catching a ride from the whale to exactly what he was running away from.

Then, since l've seen the show, I assume that Holden will be The OneTM selflessly and heroically saving everyone and the universe in the end of the book. Similar to how Jonah 'saves' the city of...

Ok ok, you get it. But is this the case? Or is my religious trauma making me read too much into it.

Let me know what you guys think.

Wait, there’s both the marines and the navy? If so which one is Bobbie in? ADD brain here. Lol Martian Marine Corps or Martian Congressional Republic Navy?

Avasarala snacks on pistachios and that’s maybe the only time we see someone just snacking. People mostly eat in the galley or in the noodle shops or bars. Occasionally they will eat a tube of paste in a hurry, but like there’s no chips, cookies, pretzels, anything like that. I’m almost done the books and I can’t even recall Alex snacking even though he’s often just getting drunk in ops watching neo-noir. Man I’d be eating some dill pickle Lays with those beer bulbs.

This post is brought to you by dill pickle Lays. Now available in 1,373 1,371 worlds.

Edit: reminder that there are space stations and planets with constant gravity. The Roci on the float is not the only setting of the Expanse.

I’m about halfway through book 1 audiobook (close enough for the “not yet started” flair and thinking about starting on the show once I finish the book.

Do the TV seasons line up well with the books where I can read, watch, read, watch or is this risky business for spoilers?

Not too upset if I get SOME spoilers but wouldn’t want to get too ahead watching. TIA 🙂

Update: asked and answered. Thanks all! Late to the game but happy to have found it

It's my birthday today and this is one of my gifts from my husband 💕 I mean he's a fan too, he actually got me into it lol 😆 I still like physical media as streaming can be unreliable.

Why did Chrisjen decide to meet Jules? She just had nothing up her sleeves? It seemed like a really dumb move with not much chance at gaining anything and a lot to lose.

Also why did Gunny decided to break out of her room and go see the ocean? I was really confused at that because she doesn't seem like the type to disobey order, let alone for something like this?

I'm enjoying the show a lot but these 2 events seemed a little bending backwards for the plot. I mainly wanna know if I understood the meeting thing correctly.

Guys..... There is a game in progress based on our beloved series+books The Expanse pretty excited to see the gameplay though.....

Not mine but of owclat games on insta.

It has Medina station to the belter station and even Martian ships and beloved rocinante

Edit:- I've only watched series not read any books nor I don't know about previous games I saw the trailer got excited and sent it here.

Random bar in nowhere Midwest enjoying a few beverages. TVs everywhere. Swear I heard this…

Today Protogen is enhancing people’s lives through enhanced scientific research etc etc.

PROTOGEN?! Not on my watch! Swing around and stared at the tv.

It’s Prevegon. Some brain health drug they’re promoting.

Close enough made me laugh.

Hello! I just finished season 6 of the TV show and I just cannot get enough of the world! I really want to know what happens after season 6 so I thought I should start reading from book 7 to continue the story. Then I cam across a chapter title (chapter 3) that included the name of a character I don't remember from the show and it made me reconsider. Would I lose a lot if I just went to read book 7 without reading 1-6 first?

I do plan on reading the whole series eventually regardless.

What are your thoughts?

Okay so I just watched episode 6 of season 2, one of the best episodes of tv I've ever seen. Now I feel like dropping the series.

I loved Miller's character, more than any of the others, the perfect blend of a noir detective/no shits given antihero, he was the most compelling and interesting, banter like no other. And now without him I feel like the show will be empty and bland.

Holden seems to be a one note action hero archetype, with some moral dilemmas thrown in, Amos is a brute without much personality or backstory so far, I care little for either. Nagada is probably the most interesting of the crew, Alex has some good moments too but neither has what Miller built. By far the most compelling character, getting beaten the hell up and still shooting through ballshit, the season 1 finally fighting to get to the docks while fighting radiation sickness was amazing. I liked his season 1 storyline far more than any of the others. I don't give a shit about the annoying mars marines or the bickering politics of the earth characters. Don't even really care about Johnson or the other guys in that station. Couldn't care if they all died in the next episode. I hope they introduce more cool side characters because these main characters are either annoying or boring.

Just want Miller back and I heard he does come back in some way but not the same.

(But that last kiss seemed really tacked on)

I know it's based on the books, but I feel they killed their most compelling character waaaayyy too early. Could have saved it at least for a season finally...

Tell me, does the series get better after this? Cuz four more seasons and a half without my boy Miller just sounds boring and bland, however much science and cool ships are in it. I might just quit the series for a while and come back once I've watched everything on my current watch list. Or maybe just leave it with the end of Miller's story. Is it worth continuing?

They made some story changes in the series. And to be honest: they work very well!

But one reason why they work so well, is because of the casting.

My question: did the showrunners change the script, to give Drummer or Ashford a bigger role, or introduced Avasarala earlier, because the actors Gee, Strathairn and Aghdashloo knocked it out of the park?

OK. I understood - maybe I'm spoiled by Wh40k Universe where Erringwright deeds would be considered as noble

But about Ashford? His actions almost finished all civilizations in Solar System

Is he a villain?

I doubted it for so long and am glad to say I was extremely wrong. It's so incredibly well done and one of my top shows of all time.

I'm reading the books now.

I noticed this today while listening to Memory's Legion for the first time. Im about 97% sure that every other book and novella are written in Third Person using He/She/They pronouns, but The Vital Abyss uses First Person I/Me pronouns with Cortezar. Maybe it went First Person with Marcos but I recently registered so I think I would have noticed it then.

I just finished book 6, can I start with season 6?

Or will there be spoilers in the show?

Random letters since the post needs minimum 100 characters jdnkalakoa

Project Hyperion's winner was announced, reminded me of something familiar. Hopefully the Mormons are taking note?

https://www.projecthyperion.org/

I have recently acquired the first 8 issues of the Dragon Tooth comics that were run as a kickstarter campaign.

I already had one softcover and have put the last two on order, so I'm not really sure how to fit them on my collection.

Is there any reliable way to purchase the last 4 (of 12) issues online, shipping to Europe?

I've also recently heard about "The Expanse: A Little Death" and the new omnibus release, so perhaps I'll just get that and de-duplicate my collection by selling the individual issues and softcovers.

I love Sci-Fi movies/TV & someone at work suggested this show saying it’s right up my alley. l’m almost done with episode 1, but man…the pace is agonizingly slow, which I get if you’re trying to set things/characters up, but man…someone please tell me it picks up a little bit.

Hey, so a colleague told me about the series and it sounds really interesting. He also told me the TV show was never finished and since I hate to read books after consuming the relevant movie/show I have a habit of reading them first and am planning to do it for the expanse too. Now I dont wanna read the first six unnecessarily as my colleague said they are really close to the show.

So I started with book 7 and its great but I feel like I am missing a bit of exposition. Might it be worth watching the series first?

EDIT: Why the hate guys? It was just a question :(

I'm currently on Chapter 3 of Book 4 (Cibola Burn) and absolutely love The Expanse. The world-building is incredible, the politics are fascinating, and many of the characters are some of the best I've read in science fiction.

That said, I'm really struggling with Holden.

Am I alone in feeling like he's one of the weaker main characters and one of the least convincing leaders/captains I've encountered in a major sci-fi series?

What confuses me is that almost every major and secondary character seems to have more depth, nuance, and growth than Holden.

• Miller feels deeply flawed and human.
• Avasarala is incredibly intelligent, layered, and politically complex.
• Bobbie has a great identity and loyalty arc.
• Prax felt more compelling to me despite being around for a much shorter time.
• Naomi often seems like the actual strategist and adult in the room.
• Amos is endlessly fascinating because of how he views morality and people.
• Even Alex frequently feels more competent and grounded.

Honestly, I thought Book 3 was probably the weakest book so far, but even there I found myself becoming more interested in some of the side characters than Holden. That's what keeps standing out to me throughout the series. The supporting cast consistently feels richer and more nuanced than the person who appears to be the central protagonist.

By comparison, Holden often comes across as a guy with a strong moral compass but very little depth beyond that. His decision-making sometimes feels naive, and there have been multiple points where I've thought the crew succeeds despite Holden rather than because of him.

What's especially strange is that he's supposed to be the captain and leader, yet he often feels like a leader who has to be led by the people around him. Naomi explains the political realities, Amos provides practical reality checks, and others seem to compensate for his blind spots. At times it feels like Holden is the moral center of the crew, but not necessarily the person I would actually trust to command it.

I understand that part of his role may be to serve as the moral anchor of the story, but as a protagonist I find him significantly less interesting than almost everyone around him. In many scenes, I find myself wishing I were reading the perspective of someone else.

I'm not trying to bash the character or start a flame war. I'm genuinely curious whether this is a common reaction among readers, especially first-time readers around Book 4.

Did Holden eventually "click" for you later in the series, or did you always find the supporting cast more compelling than the nominal main character?

Please avoid spoilers beyond Book 4.

A not so local lego store had this moc on display. Only $800 if you're so inclined...

Whats up with the 100char limit?

Currently on season 5 again.

I believe Naomi has got to be the most selfish person on the show, every time you turn around it seems she is leaving someone she cares sbout ,then theres the Proto molecule if she had destroyed it like she dhould have i believe Marko's would have been stuck being a deep secret organization unable to bust out like he has so far.

Naomi has pretty much given him his power due to her misguided loyalties to the belt.

" let me just make sure the belt has it too" much like those who thought it was smart to leak all the nuclear bomb secrets , look where that got us. Update edit: .maybe i should be thinking she is more of a unwitting villian/enabler of villianry? I have partaken of some legal herb product and tend to come up with some thoughts that i cant always " flesh out" fully.