[November] Babylon's Ashes (The Expanse #6)

[Lisa]

OK! Here goes. Just a quick note to remind folks that I'll be reading this both here and as part of Sci-Fi Month, so hopefully we can attract some new people. On that note, here's the schedule.

Week 1: Prologue to Chapter 13, Sunday 5th November, hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 2: Chapters 14 to 27, Sunday 12th November, hosted by The Illustrated Page
Week 3: Chapters 28 to 41, Sunday 19th November, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 4: Chapter 42 to End, Sunday 26th November, hosted by There's Always Room For One More

[Sarah]

I'll take Week 2!

[Lisa]

You got it! Also, I was wondering - Allie, since you say you've already started reading, do you think you could take the first week?

[imyril]

May I do week 4?

[Lisa]

Certainly!

[Allison]

I could probably do that, sure! I haven't finished reading the section yet, but I'll be finished by the end of the week.

[Lisa]

Awesome, thank you!

[Sarah]

It's looking increasingly likely that I won't make this first week. Alas, the post office still hasn't received my copy.

[Lisa]

Curses!

Don't worry about it; hopefully you can catch up? *Crosses fingers for your delivery getting its act together*

[Allison]

Here are some first week questions! I hope your copy comes soon :(.

(view spoiler)[

1. We have a very different approach for viewpoint characters in this book! Do you like the change to having many different perspectives? Is there any one that stood out to you in particular?

2. We’re also beginning to see a bit more into the “Free Navy” ranks. What do you think of the people who have thrown their loyalty to Marco, and is his charisma is enough to keep the group from collapsing?

3. There’s still some discussion of the Rocinante crew. Do you agree with Holden’s perspective on Clarissa and Bobbie?

4. Two sections have featured the inner thoughts of two people responsible for many deaths—Filip and Clarissa. What do you think of them now, and do you believe they are redeemable?
(hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

9, 10> Unfortunately, it still hasn't arrived and the post office is closed for the weekend. I'm hoping it will show up on Monday and Tuesday and I can get my week one post up by Friday.

[Sarah]

I have made a banner though! - https://imgur.com/oWebrze

[Allison]

Thanks for the banner! I used it on my week 1: https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...

[Lisa]

Here's my week 1! http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...

*Runs back to add the banner* :D

[Sarah]

Okay so I got a copy and speed through Week One (my post goes up tomorrow) and somehow ended up reading Week Two also. Here's the questions!

(view spoiler)[1. So far we've gotten POVs from Namono, Pa, Filip, Holden, Salis, Clarissa, Dawes, Avasarala, Prax, Alex, Naomi, Jakulski, Fred, and Bobbie. Do you have any favorites? Least favorites? Of the characters who's POVs we haven't gotten yet in Babylon's Ashes, who do you most want to see?

2. Marco's left Ceres. Is this a smart move? Is he abandoning the people of the Belt? And what do you think has happened to Dawes?

3. Pa's got a temporary truce of sorts with the OPA. Do you think accepting her supplies is the moral thing to do, or is it condoning piracy? And who do you think fired on Pa when she was with the Rocinante? 

4. Filip appears to be having some unusual feelings. Do you think he's any closer this week to edging towards redemption? 

5. Prax's home is unofficially being occupied by the Free Navy, and he went and sent potentially lifesaving information to Earth. Do you think this is going to come back to hurt him?

6. Any other thoughts this week? (hide spoiler)]

[imyril]

...challenge accepted? ;) I just finished my week 1 post, and I may as well read week 2 as pick up a new book :D

[Sarah]

Right now I'm struggling to keep myself from reading Week Three!

Here's my Week One post - https://theillustratedpage.wordpress....

[imyril]

Okay, week one from me: https://onemore.org/2017/11/07/babylo...

[Lisa]

Here's my Week 2. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go and bury myself back in this book. :D

http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...

[Sarah]

And here's my week two! - https://theillustratedpage.wordpress....

[imyril]

Hokay, week 2: https://onemore.org/2017/11/12/babylo...

(and I just realised I can use my US Netflix credit to watch UK Netflix until the end of the month. EXPANSE S2 HERE I COME!)

[Allison]

Here's my week 2! https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...

[Lisa]

OK, I'm hoping to have week 3's questions up by tomorrow or Wednesday, because I NEED TO FINISH THIS BOOK OMG.

[imyril]

PLEASE YES PLEASE ;)

[Lisa]

OK! Here are my week 3 questions before I zoom off to finish the book because AAAAAH.

(view spoiler)[
1. The side of good takes a hit with the sudden death of Fred Johnson, but it doesn't take long for some to start using it toward their own ends. Dawes, in particular, seems to have kingmaker aspirations that won't wait, despite his grief. What did you make of his actions in these chapters?

2. Filip appears to be sliding further toward realising just where, precisely, he really stands with Marco. Do you think he'll slide the rest of the way there before it's too late to do anything? For that matter, given our general attitudes toward him so far, do you feel more sympathy for him now?

3. With Avasarala's massive (and massively ambitious) attack upon the Free Navy underway, plans are already having to be altered - though Captain Pa is altering them because of her conscience, rather than (arguably) out of necessity. Did she do the right thing with the Solano, or do you think it will only come back to bite her?

4. It's all on the line now, so I have to ask: Do you have any predictions? Desired outcomes? Possibly any POVs remaining you'd like to see before it's all over?

5. Did anything else of note stand out to you this week? Here is your highlighting/flailing space!
(hide spoiler)]

[imyril]

AAAAAAAAAAH

[Sarah]

Regarding this week's questions, I must have completely forgotten something from the reading. (view spoiler)[Who or what is Solano? (hide spoiler)]

[imyril]

(view spoiler)[ The Solano is the empty ship that Pa and co were going to use to destroy the docks on Pallas (and instead used to blockade the docks on Pallas) (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah]

imyril wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

Thanks Imyril!

[imyril]

You’re welcome :)


Aaaand week 3: https://onemore.org/2017/11/19/babylo...

[Sarah]

And here's my week three! - https://theillustratedpage.wordpress....

[Allison]

And mine! https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...

[Lisa]

Here's mine! http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...

[imyril]

Okay, week 4 questions!

(view spoiler)[
1. So - we get up close and personal with Marco Inaros. Reactions?
2. Filip completes his arc - were you surprised? How do you feel about him as a character now? Would you be happy to see his POV in the future?
3. What do you make of Holden’s choice at the end?
4. Can Holden's vision succeed? Is it going to be happily ever after?

...and of course general comments / favourite moments / flailing!

(hide spoiler)]

...as an aside: this is The End - for now - but book 7 comes out in a couple of weeks. How do you all feel about read-alonging (vs intentions to lay your paws on it ASAP and just read it)?

I'm happy to wait and read-along again, but would suggest we wait until at least January to give it time to arrive in libraries (and because Christmas tends to be a bit mad, whereas a January read-along is a nice pick me up :) ) What do you all think?

[Allison]

I would be in favor of reading it together in January. I was actually thinking of suggesting that as well, because it might be kind of a challenge to juggle Christmas & family & travel & read-alonging in December.

[Sarah]

I also think reading it in January would be a good idea.

[Lisa]

I'm up for doing another read along for it. January sounds best.

[imyril]

IT'S A PLAN <3

[imyril]

Week 4, with a sniff: https://onemore.org/2017/11/26/babylo...

[Lisa]

Here's my week 4! http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...

[Allison]

I'm going to be late due to Thanksgiving, still 2 chapters left to read. I'll have it up tomorrow!

[Sarah]

Here's mine! - https://theillustratedpage.wordpress....

[Allison]

A day late, but here it is! https://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/201...