Buddy Read for The Expanse Series-Leviathan Wakes-Nov 2022

[Choko]

Great!

[Felina]

Thanks Sally!

[Ginger]

Sally wrote: "On it!"

Thanks Sally!

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

You're welcome y'all! I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this!

[Graeme]

Sally wrote: "You're welcome y'all! I'm so glad everyone is enjoying this!"

Thanks Sally.

[Krystal]

I just hit chapter 13 and things are starting to take off a bit.

I was quite shocked by the sudden (view spoiler)[death of Shed - they're such a small crew already I did not foresee their group getting smaller! I'm so curious about who these other ships are that are so lethal.

Also, I'm still thinking about that face from the prologue. 'Help me.' *shudder* (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Yeah, that was creepy as hell!

[Graeme]

I was shocked too. It was a highly effective scene in the midst of a highly effective sequence.

[Kevin]

I finished this last night. A great story indeed. I don't usually gravitate towards sci-fi but this book made me buy a few more to try. Maybe it was the sci-fi/crime noire combination with a little horror mixed in.

I did sign up for this group read but I didn't post any thoughts on it. Sorry. I'm better at reading than reporting my findings I guess.

I haven't watched the show and I don't plan on it. I'm not much of a TV person. So I can't offer any thoughts on that.

Great ending for sure. Enjoy.

[Nyssa]

@Kevin - No need to apologize. Feel free to participate in whichever manner works best for you. :)

Glad you enjoyed the book and will be continuing with the rest of us.

[Graeme]

Nyssa wrote: "@Kevin - No need to apologize. Feel free to participate in whichever manner works best for you. :)

Glad you enjoyed the book and will be continuing with the rest of us."

I'll second that. Yep, just participate the way you want too. It's all good - we're just here to have fun.

[Felina]

Kevin wrote: "I finished this last night. A great story indeed. I don't usually gravitate towards sci-fi but this book made me buy a few more to try. Maybe it was the sci-fi/crime noire combination with a little..."

I am very similar. Not a great book review and chatter as a rule. But this crew has great insight and asks great questions that are engaging.

[Krystal]

I just hit chapter 24 and really enjoying (view spoiler)[Miller and Holden coming together! Finally! Very keen to see how much trouble they can all get in together. (hide spoiler)]

I do really enjoy the people dynamics; the actual science stuff is interesting but too much does go over my head. So I need action and good banter to keep me interested. This has had a great balance so far!

[Choko]

Krystal, years ago I got into Sci-fi more for the banter and action, but as the genre grew on me, so did the science stuff and now I am staying in it for that even more than just the action... It sneaks up on you, how you start wanting to understand more, you start imagining it and it changes the way you think about how things work in life... It is a fascinating process and I hope you also find it so eventually:)))

[Nyssa]

I think I'm a mix between Krystal and Choko.

I do find the science fascinating, but sometimes overwhelming as well. I have to take it in small, digestible bites. But if I can process the science, I'm okay with there being a little less action. Many parts of Project Hail Mary were science-heavy, but with the help of the narrator (he was excellent), I was still able to find it an enjoyable read.

[Krystal]

Choko wrote: "Krystal, years ago I got into Sci-fi more for the banter and action, but as the genre grew on me, so did the science stuff and now I am staying in it for that even more than just the action... It s..."

I do hope that occurs! I really enjoyed Hamilton's Salvation Sequence, but Asher's Weaponized was so painful. I think the main difference between the two was that Weaponized was all about technology. No decent characters at all.

I am getting quite addicted now and really loving how everyone is moving along with the story. I would like to meet some new characters now, though!

[Choko]

You will... What Ch. are you on?

Nyssa, I have to get to Project Hail Mary. I have it, so I will do that as soon as possible...

[Graeme]

Krystal wrote: "I would like to meet some new characters now, though! ..."

Gunny Sargent Roberta "Bobbie" W. Draper of the Martian Marine Corps is heading your way.

[Krystal]

Graeme wrote: "Krystal wrote: "I would like to meet some new characters now, though! ..."

Gunny Sargent Roberta "Bobbie" W. Draper of the Martian Marine Corps is heading your way."

Oh goodie, thank you! I'm currently halfway through Chapter 32: (view spoiler)[ they've just escaped the brown-goo-palooza and are being treated on the Roci. Poor Holden has just confessed his love. It's not going well. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I felt really uncomfortable for him in that scene:))) He is not good at reading the room at all!

[Ginger]

Krystal wrote: "Oh goodie, tha..."

Yep, totally agree with you Krystal. Holden (view spoiler)[did not handle that the best with professing his love to Naomi. It was super awkward and she called him out on shit. 😂🤣 (hide spoiler)]

[Nyssa]

Yep, totally agree with you Krystal. Holden [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Naomi correctly calling Holden out is exactly why they would be so great together! *Smile* (hide spoiler)]

[Krystal]

Choko wrote: "I am up to Ch. 39 and I am kind of pissed at Holden! [spoilers removed]

Did I mention I really love Miller?:)))"

Ah I feel this now! (view spoiler)[ Why is Holden STILL just blurting out all the info he finds, even though it's started a war AND escalated it further?! Bro. Please stop. (hide spoiler)]

[Emilie]

Better late than never- my hold for this is finally in my possession.

[Sally, The Ninja Clown]

Awesome Emilie, enjoy!

[Ginger]

Krystal wrote: "Ah I feel this now! [spoilers removed]"

Yeah! I feel this statement so much Krystal & Choko. I love how (view spoiler)[Miller keeps showing and telling him his actions will make this situation worse than it needs to be.

Holden has a bit of a God complex and is too much of an idealist.
Miller is a realist and I relate with this character so much more.
I do like the contrast between the two! (hide spoiler)]

[Ginger]

Choko wrote: "I am up to Ch. 39 and I am kind of pissed at Holden! [spoilers removed]

Did I mention I really love Miller?:)))"

Completely agree with everything in your spoiler. Spot on Choko!

[Graeme]

Ginger wrote: "Yeah! I feel this statement so much Krystal & Choko. I love how..."

Hence why we have Holden and Miller. They contrast each other beautifully.

Has anyone noticed how Holden and Miller are always 'their last name,' while everyone else is their first name (Amos, Naomi, etc) - just a quirk.

[Kristen]

I’m completely behind, work has been absolutely killing me! I just got up to chapter 16, hopefully I can catch up to you all over the next few days!

[Terry]

I definitely get that, Kristen. I’m just up to ch40 myself, so you’re not that far behind me at least.

[Choko]

Wow! I hadn't noticed that about the last names. Interesting...

I think in my youth, I used to be a lot like Holden. Believing in an idea and disregarding the real life consequences of my actions in order to achieve it. I fought against Communism in Bulgaria, was imprisoned, got out and continued fighting. But none of us had a real plan for after, for the vacuum that the toppling of a regime creates and the country suffered for years... Now I understand better, know the real practical suffering an ideal without a background preparation can bring, and Miller is the one I can relate to as well...

So glad I am not the only one feeling this way. Don't get me wrong, I still love the book, I just hope Holden grows up, or he will be used as a patsy by any side who knows him and can manipulate him...

[Choko]

For those who are running behind, take your time. We are here and happy to read your thoughts and discuss:)))

[Terry]

Choko wrote: "Wow! I hadn't noticed that about the last names. Interesting...

I think in my youth, I used to be a lot like Holden. Believing in an idea and disregarding the real life consequences of my actions ..."

Fascinating background Choko. That is an interesting perspective. Thank you for sharing. I feel that it takes the combination of the two character types of Miller and Holden in this case to make it through this. I’m not quite done but I’m enjoying very much the dichotomy of these two.

[Choko]

Exactly! We need both sides of the coin to make it interesting and for it to work. I think the author does a great job at it:)

[Graeme]

Choko wrote: " I fought against Communism in Bulgaria, was imprisoned, got out and continued fighting. But none of us had a real plan for after, for the vacuum that the toppling of a regime creates and the country suffered for years... Now I understand better, know the real practical suffering an ideal without a background preparation can bring, and Miller is the one I can relate to as well... ..."

Indeed.

P.s. There's a multitude of books in there.

[Krystal]

Finished up yesterday, really enjoyed this one on the whole!

Some final thoughts: (view spoiler)[I really loved how everything came back to Julie. I thought Miller's obsession with her was a little weird and it made me uncomfortable, but in the end it totally paid off. I'm very curious about what they'll get up to in the next book!

I don't like Fred at all. I don't know what it is about him, but he rubs me the wrong way.

Holden is a bigmouth idiot, but I think I'm okay with it because I see where it comes from. But I was very annoyed at him for how badly he handled the shooting incident! Miller did what he thought was right, too. I'm definitely hoping Holden learns to be a bit more level-headed, going forward.

Very curious about the original origins and intentions of the protomolecule. I have so many questions! (hide spoiler)]

I'm keener to read book 2 than I expected to be, so I've already ordered it through work lol

Graeme wrote: "Gunny Sargent Roberta "Bobbie" W. Draper of the Martian Marine Corps is heading your way."

You steered me wrong, here! I don't know who this character is but she wasn't in the book I read. :(

[Graeme]

She's in book #2 - Caliban's War.

My apologies, Krystal. I interpreted 'in front of you,' a bit too broadly. Check out chapter 1 of Caliban's War ... it begins with Bobby.

[Terry]

Graeme wrote: "Ginger wrote: "Yeah! I feel this statement so much Krystal & Choko. I love how..."

Hence why we have Holden and Miller. They contrast each other beautifully.

Has anyone noticed how Holden and Mil..."

I didn’t think anything of this until a chapter or two before where I’m at now, Fred called Holden, Jim and that caused some raised eyebrows. My thinking was it was because they’re used to being called Captain Holden and Detective Miller, but the title just gets dropped with frequency. I do like the quirky-ness though. I also really love the camaraderie of the crew. That is done really well here.

[Graeme]

I'm seriously considering jumping back in with Caliban's War once it starts.

I just read chapter 1, sparked by Krystal's point above, and it's just gripping.

My imagination is just captured by the magic of this story.

[Terry]

Graeme wrote: "I'm seriously considering jumping back in with Caliban's War once it starts.

I just read chapter 1, sparked by Krystal's point above, and it's just gripping.

My imagination is just captured by th..."

I don’t blame you, Graeme. It has such a realistic feel to it all.

[Graeme]

It is truly awesome, Terry - up there with the Malazan series and a few others that live inside my imaginary world.

[Terry]

Graeme wrote: "It is truly awesome, Terry - up there with the Malazan series and a few others that live inside my imaginary world."

I agree - well as much as I’ve gotten from just reading this first book in the series at least, haha.

[Felina]

YES! I'm glad everybody is liking this so much. I'm hoping to start the second one soon.

[Krystal]

Graeme wrote: "She's in book #2 - Caliban's War.

My apologies, Krystal. I interpreted 'in front of you,' a bit too broadly. Check out chapter 1 of Caliban's War ... it begins with Bobby."

Well I'm glad I won't have to wait too much longer lol. I anticipate starting book 2 much sooner than I originally expected!

Started watching the show last night and really enjoying it! They have really taken the characters of Miller and Holden to extremes and I kind of wish Holden wasn't such a jerk, but all the same I'm enjoying it.

[Ginger]

Hey all. I just wanted to give you all a heads up that one of the Cyber Monday deals for Kindle deals is this...

It's the complete Expanse story collection of all of the novellas between the main books.

Drive
The Butcher of Anderson Station
The Churn
Gods of Risk
The Vital Abyss
Strange Dogs
Auberon
The Sins of our Fathers

I can't post the link since it's outside the site. It's this though...
Memory's Legion

[Choko]

Thank you Ginger;)!

[Ginger]

Choko wrote: "Thank you Ginger;)!"

No problem!!

[Terry]

Good catch - thanks, Ginger!

[Ginger]

Terry wrote: "Good catch - thanks, Ginger!"

You got it Terry!

[Krystal]

Ginger wrote: "Hey all. I just wanted to give you all a heads up that one of the Cyber Monday deals for Kindle deals is this...

It's the complete Expanse story collection of all of the novellas between the main ..."

Not on Aus Kindle :(