Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, #1) in Fantasy-Faction.com

Apr 06, 2015 Laura Hughes rated it really liked it

For my first ever science fiction reading experience, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Leviathan Wakes. I wasn’t sure what to expect – 600 pages of spaceships randomly flying around and making ‘peowm!’ noises? – but it certainly wasn’t a mystery story with horror elements that just happens to be set in space.

Leviathan Wakes introduces us to the futuristic world of The Expanse, a world in which humanity has colonised the Moon, Mars and the Asteroid Belt, and in which the ‘Belters’ are For my first ever science fiction reading experience, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Leviathan Wakes. I wasn’t sure what to expect – 600 pages of spaceships randomly flying around and making ‘peowm!’ noises? – but it certainly wasn’t a mystery story with horror elements that just happens to be set in space.

Leviathan Wakes introduces us to the futuristic world of The Expanse, a world in which humanity has colonised the Moon, Mars and the Asteroid Belt, and in which the ‘Belters’ are seen as inferior to the ‘Inner Planets’. When a small mining crew accidentally stumbles upon an eerie deserted ship, they find themselves reacting to a series of explosive events as unseen players try to eliminate them in a bid to start a destructive interplanetary war. Meanwhile, a washed up and world-weary security guard on the asteroid of Ceres finds his fate tied with that of the crew, as a seemingly standard investigation begins to turn up clues about a sinister plot that threatens not just the planets but the entire human race.

The story focuses on two central characters: Holden, a dashing young ship captain intent upon protecting his small crew and doing the right thing; and Miller, a fifty-something cynical Detective with a much looser opinion about right and wrong. Both characters are likeable and sympathetic in their own ways, though Miller proved to be the more interesting of the two given his many faults and peculiarities.

For the most part Leviathan Wakes has a pleasantly colloquial and engaging tone, though the prose feels a bit bland at times. This may be the result of two authors sharing the writing, but the inconsistency leaves it feeling slightly rough around the edges. Despite this, the first book in the ongoing Expanse series is an intriguing, character-focused narrative with a minimum of technological bullshit, which I think has made it an excellent choice for my first ever SF read. I’ll definitely be coming back for more, of this series at least. ...more

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Sep 03, 2018 Thomas Stacey rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because of Miller. Holden on the other hand I wanted to strangle.

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Oct 19, 2022 Lanko rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2022

I heard a lot about this series, but for me the first book was merely ok. I even considered dropping it halfway through.

Mostly the problem for me is that there wasn't anything that felt really unique, really wonderful for most of the story, which made it pretty bland and barebones as it can get. Only around the 70% mark the story hits a lot of strong notes, gives unique elements that awe you.

But then you realized you had to slog through 400-500 pages to get to the really good parts. In the past I heard a lot about this series, but for me the first book was merely ok. I even considered dropping it halfway through.

Mostly the problem for me is that there wasn't anything that felt really unique, really wonderful for most of the story, which made it pretty bland and barebones as it can get. Only around the 70% mark the story hits a lot of strong notes, gives unique elements that awe you.

But then you realized you had to slog through 400-500 pages to get to the really good parts. In the past it wouldn't have bothered, but this has become so common in SFF that these super late payoffs are not working anymore to carry books to 4+ stars.

Brooding middle aged soldier, brooding middle aged cop... the POVs really didn't work for me until much, much later in the story. And only in parts. All the characters seemed too archetypal than people.

I could forgive the characterization if the plot was amazing. But unfortunately it was even more bland until again, the last ~20%. For a near 600 pages book, that's a lot to ask.

While the setting is refreshing that there isn't galactic empires and such, and humans are still stuck on the solar system, there's no feeling of wonder of space, of the difficulties or of the colonization efforts.
There are some unique elements like people's physical appearance being different because of gravity, some of the difficulties in living in say, the moons of the outer planets are only briefly mentioned, never really experienced.

For 70% of the story, you could've replaced Earth, Mars and the Belt by some street names with some rival groups and you could have the same story, that's how barebones the overall complexity of it all was.
Considering the interview at the end of the book, it may even have been the authors' intention to be boringly mundane to reflect humanity carries it's flaws along with it, but the execution really didn't work here.

Which was a massive problem as I was often told this was Game of Thrones in space. And I can't possibly understand why anyone would think this. Even the whole rivaly between the factions seemed forced enough just to have conflict around. Everything was too young in all this colonization for people to already be such rivals.

No amazing crew, no wonders of space, no unique gimmick... I indeed considered dropping this. I pushed through, and then by the last ~20-25% the story gets much better, even better written, surprisingly enough. Some really great lines and thoughts there.
A lot of weird things then make sense, in pretty surprising ways. Then the book finally gets that "this is unique to me" feel.

But again, it was too little too late when it happens. While the final parts did intrigue me enough to continue the series, overall it doesn't really make me want to do it as my next read. ...more

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Nov 06, 2014 Lianne Pheno rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Chronique tirée de mon blog :

Je voulais commencer cette série depuis que l'annonce de la série TV a été faite, donc il y a un moment, mais je ne sais pas pourquoi, sans doute à cause des avis mitigés en français, j'avais du mal à m'y mettre. Une LC impromptue m'a motivée et me voila partie.
Ce livre est un mélange entre du space opéra, avec des attaques de vaisseaux, des militaires qui canardent tout et de l'intrigue politique, d'une enquête à l'ancienne, avec un détective typique des romans no Chronique tirée de mon blog :

Je voulais commencer cette série depuis que l'annonce de la série TV a été faite, donc il y a un moment, mais je ne sais pas pourquoi, sans doute à cause des avis mitigés en français, j'avais du mal à m'y mettre. Une LC impromptue m'a motivée et me voila partie.
Ce livre est un mélange entre du space opéra, avec des attaques de vaisseaux, des militaires qui canardent tout et de l'intrigue politique, d'une enquête à l'ancienne, avec un détective typique des romans noirs, blasé et limite alcoolique et même de l'horreur avec des zombies. On alterne les chapitres en suivant les deux premiers sur toute la première partie du film et le troisième fini par arriver ensuite.

Au final ça a été une lecture sympathique. Il y a des passages que j'ai tout bonnement adoré, toute la partie du début sur les vaisseaux, et d'autres qui m'ont laissé plus de marbre, comme tout le début, aussi mais du coté de Miller et l'ambiance dans la ceinture, bon je n'ai pas non plus détesté mais ce n'est clairement pas ma partie préféré, trop morne.
Ce que j'ai particulièrement aimé, c'est tout le coté mystère, et la recherche de la vérité. C'est pour ça que mon intérêt est un peu redescendu une fois qu'on a eu nos réponses, et il m'a fallu un peu de temps avant que je retrouve un intérêt pour la fin.

L'auteur développe deux protagonistes principaux et quelques secondaire. Et je dois dire que mon avis à fluctué sur ces personnages.
Holden est un sous-héros, il n'a pas vraiment confiance en lui, il a un peu trop de "morale" et à tendance à agir avant de réfléchir, il est celui par qui toute l'histoire se déclenche. Je l'aimais bien au début mais il a assez vite eu tendance à m'énerver. Bon j'ai compris sa logique de diffusion des données et j'ai aussi tendance à m’enflammer comme lui donc je ne l'ai pas autant détester que certaines autres personnes mais sa façon de rejeter Miller m'a vraiment mise en colère sur certains passages.
Miller de son coté est le flic désabusé et déprimé. Il semble toujours à coté des événements et met un certain temps à se réveiller. Autant avant son réveil et sa prise de conscience j'avais tendance à ne pas m’intéresser à lui, autant après il est devenu vraiment mon personnage préféré. Il est beaucoup plus intelligent et nuancé que Holden, et il n'hésite pas non plus à prendre des décisions. J'ai bien aimé l'idée qu'a eu l'auteur d’apporter ce type de personnage en Space Opéra, d'habitude on les associe plus avec le cyberpunk qui a un univers qui s'en rapproche, donc c'est vraiment original sur ce point.

Le final est bien réussi aussi, même si j'ai eu un coup de flottement lors du passage de l'intrigue du policier vers l'aventure, j'ai tout de même fini par bien accrocher sur cette partie. Si je devais regretter un truc c'est que j'ai trouvé que la "solution" m'a semblé un peu trop facile et donc moins crédible que ce que j'attendais. Mais le coté palpitant des 50 dernières pages est quand même très bien, et m'a tenu en haleine tout du long !

Au final un livre qui est un gros mélange de genre, ce qui le rend original. Il y a des passages que j'ai adorés, d'autres non, ce qui fait que j'ai un peu de mal à mettre une note. J'ai tout de même dans l'ensemble bien apprécié ma lecture, car l'intrigue est bien pensée. Ce n'est que le début de toute façon, j'attends de lire au moins le tome suivants pour me faire une idée plus complète sur l'univers qu'a développé l'auteur.

14/20 ...more

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