The Expanse--series overview and discussion schedule!

[Shel, Moderator]

Hi all! Welcome to the group series read of James S.A. Corey's Expanse series. We'll be devoting a month and a half to each installment, since they are so long. Here is the schedule:

Leviathan Wakes: July 1
Caliban's War: Aug. 15
Abaddon's Gate: Oct. 1
Cibola Burn: Nov. 15
Nemesis Games: Jan. 1
Babylon's Ashes: Feb. 15
Persepolis Rising (expected to be published 12/2017): April 1

Apparently there are two more books planned in the series, so it's not quite complete. There are also several prequel short stories/novellas that maybe we can go back and read together when we finish book 7, if the group is interested.

Enjoy!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Yay! Glad I decided to join in!

[Paul]

Nice. I did enjoy Leviathan Wakes but then stalled (just so many books to read, I guess) so will use this to kick start me back into the series.


Hope everyone enjoys it!

[Silvana]

Oye tumang! This is one of the best series I read in the last five years, it is fast-paced, has great characters and awesome power plays.

Visually the show has done a wonderful job as well so if you need visuals go watch the show.

Apparently my reading schedule for October is already pretty packed, but I'll make sure to join the threads for Abaddon's Gate and Cibola Burn.

[Sumant]

Awesome, going to join this read.

[Stephanie]

I've only read the first one (slacker) but I think I may well join in with the re-read. Although my to-read pile (physical, not on here) needs planning permission at the rate I'm going...

[Helen]

I'm packed for july and August but I'm giving these priority.

[Gary]

I've read the first three, trying not to get too far ahead of the TV show, but they are so good I can't wait. I'm planning on reading Cibola Burn in September and Nemesis Games in January.

[Shel, Moderator]

From comments people are making about wanting to forge ahead early, I'm wondering if we should re-schedule the discussions to be monthly instead of six weeks? I'm a fast reader, so I'm content either way. What do you guys think? If we change, we'd still start the next one Aug. 15 but then just do the 15th of every month from then on. Shall I set up a poll?

[Jim]

I say hang in there with the current schedule. I have other things I'd like to read as well.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I'm OK either way. Like Jim, I read other things in between and I've learned, finally, not to rush through a series. I pay better attention to each book if I'm not diving into the next one right away. But then I'm retired, so I have that flexibility. Others who are working may prefer the every 6 weeks schedule, especially as we get into fall, winter, & holidays.

[Random]

I'm fine with monthly personally, but either is fine with me.

Planning on starting Caliban's War this weekend. :)

[Helen]

I haven't started yet as I've been working and knew there were two more weeks...

[Jim]

Random wrote: "I'm fine with monthly personally, but either is fine with me.

Planning on starting Caliban's War this weekend. :)"

Yep. Just started it myself.

[Shel, Moderator]

Ok, never mind, let's keep it as is! Those who want to read ahead are, of course, welcome, as long as you don't spoil anything for the rest of us!

I'll be out of town next week with limited computer access (I have the Goodreads app on my phone but it is not so user-friendly when it comes to discussion groups) but will be back in plenty of time to start the next discussion on 8/15!

[Bill's]

I read Drive (The Expanse, #0.1), before finishing Leviathan Wakes, then read The Churn (Expanse, #0.2), The Butcher of Anderson Station (The Expanse, #0.5), and 2 other novels afterwards. I should be able to get another 2 novels finished before starting Caliban's War on schedule.

The 6 week schedule gives me plenty of time to fit in some other reading.

[Helen]

:O

[Random]

Can I take back my previous answer?

Despite my valiant efforts to slow my reading down, I have finished Caliban's War one week prior to the start of discussion. Waiting 6+ weeks to start the next one might just kill me. :D

I could just forge a head on my own, but I like being able to speculate with others. Since my husband has already read everything available so far, it seems I'm stuck staying with the group. :)

[Sumant]

Started Calibans War today and will catch your discussion as my reading pace is much slower than you guys.

[Jim]

Finished Abaddon's Gate this week. Waiting for Oct. 1st.

[Bill's]

I got the first 3 books for Christmas. Book 4 is scheduled to be read before Christmas arrives again.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Reading time was scarce this past week and might be scarce for the next week as well. I need to finish the book I'm currently reading, and Abaddon's Gate is next!

[Bill's]

Reading Mentats of Dune is taking me longer than expected, so I will read Abaddon's Gate next, instead of fitting in another book first like I had planned.

[Travis]

I've also got Abaddon's Gate in the queue and should start it next week...that is, unless The Stone Sky comes in from the library first.

[Random]

I'm really trying to hold off on starting for another week. I got too far a head for the last book IMO.

[Shel, Moderator]

I started Abaddon's Gate yesterday - it's long but I think I'll be done quickly, I'm already absorbed!

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm starting the Cibola Burn discussions a day early because I've got a busy day tomorrow and I don't want to forget!

[Helen]

:)

[Shel, Moderator]

I'm going to post the Nemesis Games discussions early -- will be on the road traveling on Monday and don't want to let everyone down by posting late! :)

[Silvana]

Tiamat's Wrath, the eight Expanse book, is coming out on December 4th. Let's read it together.

[Jim]

Cover art already done as well: https://www.orbitbooks.net/2018/04/03...

[Shel, Moderator]

Silvana wrote: "Tiamat's Wrath, the eight Expanse book, is coming out on December 4th. Let's read it together."

Definitely!

[Shel, Moderator]

May be of interest:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/11/16...

[Jim]

Some bad news and not sure of a good outcome in another venue:

http://deadline.com/2018/05/the-expan...

https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/0...

I'm not overly optimistic, but hope there's a Longmire style outcome.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Sad to see that this season of the TV series may be the last (well, IS the last on SyFy). But glad to see that the authors of the books will finish The Expanse before heading off to their new world(s).

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Tiamat's Wrath is available for preorder at Amazon...

[The]

Just found this group , excited to read #8 with y’all in December !

[Nick]

The wrote: "Just found this group , excited to read #8 with y’all in December !"

Thanks The!

I would message Shel about the possibility of jump-starting the group again when the next installment comes out.

For now we have moved on to a Robin Hobb Fantasy series which will take about a year and a half -- if I read correctly the results of the poll on how fast to read it.

We may have to work out some sort of double-duty for the continuation of the Expanse, if enough folks are interested.

[Silvana]

Count me in for Tiamat's Wrath.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

I think from previous posts it seemed like people wanted to discuss the remaining books as they come out. I know I do!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

The wrote: "Just found this group , excited to read #8 with y’all in December !"

Feel free to add comments to any of the prior books' discussions as well. And welcome!

[Silvana]

Tiamat's Wrath is delayed till March 2019.

[MadProfessah]

Oy vey!!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Silvana wrote: "Tiamat's Wrath is delayed till March 2019."

MadProfessah wrote: "Oy vey!!"

Darn!

[Chris, Moderator]

Just finished Tiamat's Wrath. I thought it was a bit slow to start, but the finish was fantastic! This series just keeps getting better and better. And I can't think of any way to say just how good it was without a spoiler!

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Are we opening the discussion of Book 8, Tiamat's Wrath, on May 1 or May 15?

[Shel, Moderator]

I was thinking May 15 since that's when we've usually done series books.

[Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover]

Shel wrote: "I was thinking May 15 since that's when we've usually done series books."

Thanks.

[Random]

A new novella in the series has been released

Auberon: An Expanse Novella

I just picked the ebook up last night.

[MadProfessah]

And “Tiamat’s Wrath” is in the Best of Goodreads 2019 semifinals for Science Fiction.