SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Leviathan Wakes
Group Reads Discussions 2011
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"Leviathan Wakes" Sci-Fi First Impressions *no spoilers*
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Brad
(new)
Aug 31, 2011 09:31PM
Hey, hey ... a new month, a new Sci-Fi theme book, and yet another crack at Space Opera (I think it's the third time that theme's won). Go hard, folks.
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I loved, loved, loved this book
Cool. That's always a good start. Would you be willing to head the discussion, Denae?
Oh, but Ala, you're the sci fi czar. I feel I must defer to you on this occasion. You're far better qualified.
Ah, but as someone who has actually read the book already, you'd be the best choice to lead the discussion.
And on behalf of the Czar's and all the members, we thank you, Denae, for volunteering your time, knowledge and bad-assery to lead this month's discussion.
And on behalf of the Czar's and all the members, we thank you, Denae, for volunteering your time, knowledge and bad-assery to lead this month's discussion.
I can't wait to read it myself, but I have two books ahead of it.
I'm going to second Denae's opinion. I really enjoyed this book. So much so, that I'm going to try and read a little more space opera. If this is the direction the genre is going, I'm on board!Ala, move it up on your reading list!
Thank you for volunteering to lead this months discussion, laurel. Your willingness to help is an example for us all.
Hey everyone. Are non spoiler questions allowed? I've not read the book.
Not yet. Not in this thread. But they will be depending on the thread.
He said non-spoiler questions. It is the correct place for those, isn't it?
Ooops. Yep. You are right, Denae? This is the right place for non-spoiler. I am going to go and have another drink.
Have two, Brad.
Also, yes, fire away with your non-spoilery questions Banner
Also, yes, fire away with your non-spoilery questions Banner
Leviathan Wakes is the all round best book I have read this year. Once started I couldn't stop until the last page and I was wanting more.I don't know exactly what, but something about the story really drew me in. I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a long time . . . and I read several hundred books a year!
Several hundred books a year?! You must be some kind of freak. And I mean that in a good way.
With so many glowing compliments already I may have to jump this one to the top of the queue.
Brad wrote: "Several hundred books a year?! You must be some kind of freak. And I mean that in a good way."I'm on disability and have a LOT of free time. Plus, I like to read...obviously!
I've started Leviathan Wakes but haven't had time to really get into it yet. However, I already really like it! I can't wait until I have a big chunk of time to read it.
I'm liking this one a lot. One big reason is the atmosphere / setting. It has the same futuristic yet run down feel that Blade Runner has.
I just finished this last night, put up my little review and can't wait for the sequel.
Whoa ... Blade Runner? Does anyone else share that sentiment? I suddenly feel like I have to read this.
I can kind of see that from an aesthetic standpoint, but the stories are very different. Granted, Blade Runner is kind of fuzzy in my mind, so I could be remembering it incorrectly.
I can see the resemblance as Denae mentions. The stories are nothing alike but have a somewhat similar feel. I'd actually have to read Leviathan Wakes again with this in mind to see if it's really true in my opinion.But they do have a similar feel. Kind of strange when you think about it.
No need to reread or watch Blade Runner since it's in my top 10. I must have watched the film at least 50-60 times!
Can nearly quote it all. Kind of like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I can quote that from beginning to end!
Too much free time!
I meant to get back sooner with the questions, but work has been hectic.Non spoiler questions:
1)Do we have aliens in this book? (I love aliens)
2)Is there a lot of profanity? I seem to have read that in another review somewhere, but can't find it.
3) Anyone else listening to the audio? If so what do you think of the narrator, Jefferson Mays? I've not listened to him before.
I'm planning on starting the audio of this one after I finish my current one.
Banner wrote: "Non spoiler questions:...1)Do we have aliens in this book? (I love aliens)
Sort of ;-)
2)Is there a lot of profanity? I seem to have read that in another review somewhere, but can't find it.
Some, but I dont really remember how much. It's not something I look for. I would consider any appropriate to the situation. There' a lot of violence and descriptions that might nauseate those with tender stomachs.
3) Anyone else listening to the audio? If so what do you think of the narrator, Jefferson Mays? I've not listened to him before.
Not me—I dont do audio books unless in a long car ride which is rare for me.
Brad wrote: "Whoa ... Blade Runner? Does anyone else share that sentiment? I suddenly feel like I have to read this."
I understand what he means about a similar run down feel, esp regarding the asteroid culture, though that was due in part to too few people being distant from their supply chain vs too many people crowded in a city.
But, in other ways I don't think it's much like Blade Runner at all.
Thanks Kernos,I am intrigued by the "Sort of" answer. I'm looking forward to starting with all of the comments I've been reading. I drive about an hour one way to work each day so I get a couple of hours of audio a day. I usually have a couple of books going at once (reading one and listening to one).
I am absolutely loving this so far!
Well the Kindle sample was enough to have me click "purchase". I'm not a big space reader (I'd rather be on foreign planets then space stations and spaceships), but this seemed well written and the characters personable. That's where many space books fall down in my opinion, they turn into Mr. Indestructible and his Shiny Gadget in Search of Alien Booty (yes in both ways you can read that sentence) instead of real, complex people dealing with real problems and emotions.
Lara Amber wrote: "Mr. Indestructible and his Shiny Gadget in Search of Alien Booty"
I'd read that.
:P
I'd read that.
:P
Leah wrote: "This book has the feel of a mystery, I think. I enjoy a good mystery every once in a while and this is even more appealing to me because of the space/scifi aspect. I can't wait to see how it ends! ..."Yes! I thought of Mass Effect too! I couldn't help but think about the different space stations in the game and some of the mysterious missions they go on. It makes me even more anxious for Mass Effect 3!
The comparisons to Blade Runner end at the atmospheric similarities. The gritty, run down Los Angeles of the movie struck me as very similar to the gritty, industrial Belt stations. Beyond that, it has a noir vibe like the best of Raymond Chandler or Dashiel Hammett. Of course, this is offset by the way each chapter switches POV between the two main characters.Really, just a good, solid fun read all around.
I honestly didn't get a noir feel. Can you expand on that? I always like to know more about these things. :)I do agree with you concerning the similarities to Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep? ending at the aesthetic.
Admittedly not a strong noir vibe, but the Miller chapters had a hint of Philip Marlowe to them, just in the way the character dealt with everything around him and the circumstances he found himself in, very cynical and world weary. Miller had his conscious self-image shattered and after that he knows he's on his Last Case. The Holden chapters, on the other hand, were pure action and pure optimism. Despite the fact that it seems like the entire solar system is out to get him and his crew, his default position is one of good triumphant over evil, the good guys always win and truth rises to the top.
Miller doesn't see the world that way, of course, and that tension between the two characters is what helps make this book really good.
I suppose I can see that about Miller and just didn't think of it that way because it's a theme I am used to seeing outside of that genre.
Well, yes. It's a well-used trope.
It's been hard for me to really get hooked in. I think it was because I was just reading a few chapters at a time, I haven't had a lot of time to read the past couple of weeks. This morning I was able to read for a couple of hours and now I'm finally hooked. I want to keep reading more! I'll definitely be done with it this weekend.
I'm tardy to the party, but the library finally came through and plowing through the book. A little slow at first, but things pick up as the plotlines converge. A good read - I'm headed back to it as soon as I finish getting caught up on my email.
I started this today and read a half dozen chapters. I'm liking the more hard SF aspects (more so than I've seen in other space operas)(view spoiler).
Ok just started yesterday and I have been able to get into the story fairly easy. I like the hard sf parts as well. I'm enjoying the characters on the ship better than the police force ( I haven't quite caught on to the characterization yet).I'm listening to the audio and as a side note I don't think the narrator has the female voice down.
For some reason this book really captured my attention from the very beginning. I am about half way through it and really enjoying it. Sometimes sci-fi novels have way too many characters for me to follow, or the story is so in depth that I lose interest. However Leviathan Wakes seems to maintain a good story without overdoing it for me. Definitely a good book for a newby to this genre of reading.
I'm about halfway through this book so far, and while it didn't grip me immediately in the first few chapters, I was interested enough to keep with it. It didn't take long before it sucked me in like I'd been put out the airlock. It's amazing how quickly 2-300 pages can fly by in just a couple sittings with a really good book.
Also I agree with Chaines72 about the amount of POV characters. I usually see books with either one character that you follow, or a big handful/bagful of characters and it keeps jumping around, so seeing this book with its two POV characters was a little different. However, the two play off each other very well and I do not look forward to finishing this book as I don't think it's part of a series. I guess I'll just have to re-read it when I'm finished, eh? Hehe.
The title "Expanse #1" leads me to believe that there are other books in this series.. I am almost done with it and if the others are anything like this I will definitely add them to my list of "to-read" titles.
I started this over the weekend and am really enjoying it. Glad I decided to participate in the challenge....
Bought Cibola Burn over the weekend. I consider it a test of wills with myself to see if I can get through some other, older, books on my TBR list before I shamelessly rip into this one.
I've had Cibola Burn on my shelf for weeks - really need to get around to it!
this is a good, quick read Roger....:)
Maggie wrote: "this is a good, quick read Roger....:)"I just started Leviathan Wakes last night, and though I am only on page 27, it seems pretty good so far.
So I gotta ask, is the Expanse series a group of stand alone books, or should I read them sequentially?
Sequentially. They follow on from one another, not just stand-alone.
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Books mentioned in this topic
The Dragon's Path (other topics)Caliban’s War (other topics)
Leviathan Wakes (other topics)
