I’ve read the first two books and enjoyed them both. I enjoyed the TV series. But I see there are nine novels and eight novellas in the series, and I know the book series goes on longer than the TV series. I’m curious: is the quality fairly consistent or, like a lot of longer book series, does it degrade over time?
Edit: Thanks everyone! Sounds like the vast majority of folks enjoyed all of the books - enough that I’ll probably read them all. I have other books on my reading list, so I might take breaks and read some of those in between.
I really appreciate all the responses. Thank you all. Upvotes all around!
Having read all of them, I think of these books as three different sets:
- Books 1-6 of the main series basically cover the same time period as the TV show. If you enjoyed the first two books, it’s extremely likely that you will enjoy books 3-6. The primary story arc started in book 1 comes to a very satisfying conclusion in book 6, broadly the same as it did in the show.
- Books 7-9 are more like a sequel series than a direct continuation of book 1-6. The primary characters return but it’s really a new story arc. Personally I read book 7 at release, then later bounced off book 8 when it came out however many months later. It was only when I came back to reread the entire series that books 7-9 clicked for me. For my money everything came to a satisfying conclusion in book 9, with answers to most of the bigger mysteries behind the entire series (i.e. who built the rings, how did they build them, who killed the ring builders, etc.).
- The novellas and short stories focus on backstories and side characters. I particularly liked that they reveal where certain side characters eventually ended up; not naming any names for spoiler reasons. Memory’s Legion collects all of these into a single book-length collection, which is probably the best way to get them.
TL;DR book 1-6 for sure for sure, books 7-9 probably, novellas if you go through books 1-9 and still want more.
I read them all at once and it’s been a while but overall I enjoyed them. Definitely felt like it went on longer than maybe it needed to which is probably why I didn’t bother with the short stories. I would still recommend the books.
Read them all, with the novellas where the tin says they belong. It’s just unrelentingly good.
This seems like an unpopular opinion, but I quit after 3 books. The first book was great, the second not as good, the third confirmed some consistent discouraging writing patterns from the second.
My biggest complaint is that I started the series for the sci-fi concepts and plotlines, but it quickly became a standard political procedural, with action and drip-reveal mystery elements, and the actual sci-fi elements felt unnecessary and incidental. Or to put it a different way, with rare exceptions, there just weren’t reliable sci-fi “big ideas” introduced after the first book, just a lot of human drama and plot that felt like it didn’t require the sci-fi setting.
I also felt like some pacing was off and there was a ton of filler. What confirmed that for me was when I noticed the chapter dividers in my reading app and saw nearly every chapter was almost identical length. My guess is the authors worked backwards from a chapter outline with a planned word count for publisher deliverables. If that type of planning sounds more like a business then it does art, I’d say that’s actually my experience reading it too.
Finally, one of my pet peeves for any type of believable drama is when conflict is created by people acting stupidly. Kind of the opposite of deus ex machina resolution, it’s a transparently artificial conflict that is just meant to give the characters something to do, but lazy writing. I felt that many many times by the second and third books.
Again, I’m in a minority I guess, but I felt it just wasn’t worth the time. Not as bad as Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson (my all time worst offender for filler and lazy plot), but lots of squeeze for little juice.
Every chapter focuses on one main character and each main character’s chapters are written by a different author. So one author writes all chapters titled “Naomi”, another one writes all chapters titled “Holden” and so on.
Once you know that, it becomes glaringly obvious while reading.
The thing you noticed, with each chapter being identical in length, is probably due to an agreement to give each author equal space in the novels.Yep, that jogs my memory about the different chapters. And that’s a better theory on chapter length, thanks. I think that is the same problem, though: a non-diagetic agreement to format it a certain way, resulting in filler and awkward pacing.
I’m with you on your unpopular opinion.
The third book is a grind to finish. I say that because I’m grinding to finish it. I plan to start #4, hoping the writers learn from their experience and bring back compelling storytelling.
It doesn’t get better. The rest of the series, bar the novellas, is a slog. It took me several months, around fifteen other books, and a vacation to get through the whole series.
I’ve been listening to the audio books when I do my 10 h drive home for vacations/holidays and I watched the show first. I’m on book 7 now.
I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 and 2, but 3 through 6 I did find tedious to get through having seen the show and knowing what happens. I’m enjoying 7 again with a fresh story.
Personally, one of my favourite things about the series is the realism of the sci-fi setting and the use as a setting for a political drama.
Sort of agree on the filler and formulaic type writing as well, but I haven’t noticed it as much with some fresh plot development
Yeah I’d say that’s unpopular, no one can keep the same amount of “new Sci fi” concepts continously. And for me it’s still worth a read, because they created a universe with a set of rules (keep protomolecule aside for now) that apply to all humans everywhere. And they never forgot that, not in any books, no stupid gravity generators, no ships appearing magically from somewhere, and they were consistent with that to the end.
That in my mind will always have a special place. And I’ll always keep recommending expanse for anyone that cares about a bit sensible physics in their fantasy.
Hey, that’s great. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Different readers are looking for different things.
I think a good example of sci-fi that can keep up the “new sci-fi concepts continuously” is the Three Body Problem trilogy, if you haven’t read it yet.
I have read rememberance of earth’s past trilogy. Well continously here meant for 9 books, If a series wanted to stop at 3 books a lot easier to manage new sci-fi topics. But if you are looking for something that is going for a while, I don’t think there are any good ones other than expanse.
Happy to be proven wrong.
Yes, and I loved the end of the series.
Yes, absolutely.
@AFKBRBChocolate Yes.
👆
I’ve read all the novels and they are all good. The last one I remember as not quite as good as the others, or maybe I just had enough of the series.
Could not set them down… except the last one. Jumping 25 years into the future was a strange choice and, for me, less entertaining.
Spoiler warning maybe?
That’s not a spoiler
Feels like one to me. When I get into a series I prefer to know as little about the final entry as possible. Didn’t know that was such a hot take around here.
It’s not the last book. It’s how the seventh book, Persepolis Rising, starts.
Just finished last month and it’s one of the best series I’ve ever read. I haven’t read the novellas so after some time I will reread the series with them included.
oh heck yes it is a great series.
The only regret about any of that is the show didn’t do the last 3 books any justice. Otherwise, you are in for a treat.
After you enjoy the experience, try Alastair Reynolds’ Revelation Space series. If you liked Amos and Bobbie, you’ll be rooting and cheering for Scorpio and Nevile Clavain in no time.
@DaMonsterKnees @AFKBRBChocolate They didn’t do the last three books at all really. That particular set of book events was beginning to be set up, but involves a significant time jump. If The Expanse returned as a series later, it could be done with the original cast, but seems highly unlikely now.
Highly worth the effort. What they managed to finish was done well enough.
it’s a very interesting Sci-fi series. It’s different to other more mainstream sci-fi shows. It has great Physics and gives a glimpse of what the future could be. There are some fictional developments as well , per all the sci-fi shows. Recommended
They’ve already seen the show.
I think the first half of book 4 dipped a bit in quality due to some weaker characters, but the bonkers second half more than made up for it (and the TV version improved on that particular book, IMO).
The show ends on book 6, which means you miss out on pretty much the entire third act of the series. I’d say it’s worth finishing just to get some closure on some of the unresolved loose ends.
Yes, it’s all very good.
As others have said, yes. Oh I’m so jealous of you right now!
I know i just want to read those books for the first time again. Second and third runs are nice, but not as great as the first one where your brain just explodes.
