In "Caliban's War," the second book in The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey, the story continues with a focus on the consequences of the protomolecule's arrival. The plot delves into the political maneuvering within the UN and the escalating tensions between Earth and Mars. New characters like Bobbie, Prax, and Avasarala are introduced, enhancing the story with their unique perspectives and adding depth to the narrative. The book is a briskly moving space adventure with a blend of politics, mystery, and occasional spaceship battles, keeping readers engaged and eager to uncover the unfolding events in the solar system.
The novel is praised for its fast-paced narrative, well-developed characters, and intriguing world-building. Readers appreciate the addition of new diverse characters, the gripping plot that builds upon the events of the first book, and the seamless continuation of the story arc. The writing style is commended for its immersive quality, nuanced storytelling, and the introduction of strong, complex female protagonists who add depth and richness to the narrative.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include violence, PTSD themes, and complex political maneuvering.
Has Romance?
While there are emotional connections and tension between characters, romance is not the primary focus of the plot.
From The Publisher:
The second book in the NYT bestselling Expanse series, Caliban's War shows a solar system on the brink of war, and the only hope of peace rests on James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante's shoulders. Now a Prime Original series.
HUGO AWARD WINNER FOR BEST SERIES
We are not alone.
On Ganymede, breadbasket of the outer planets, a Martian marine watches as her platoon is slaughtered by a monstrous supersoldier. On Earth, a high-level politician struggles to prevent interplanetary war from reigniting. And on Venus, an alien protomolecule has overrun the planet, wreaking massive, mysterious changes and threatening to spread out into the solar system.
In the vast wilderness of space, James Holden and the crew of the Rocinante have been keeping the peace for the Outer Planets Alliance. When they agree to help a scientist search war-torn Ganymede for a missing child, the future of humanity rests on whether a single ship can prevent an alien invasion that may have already begun . . .
The Expanse
Leviathan Wakes
Caliban's War
Abaddon's Gate
Cibola Burn
Nemesis Games
Babylon's Ashes
Persepolis Rising
Tiamat's Wrath
Leviathan Falls
Memory's Legion
The Expanse Short Fiction
Drive
The Butcher of Anderson Station
Gods of Risk
The Churn
The Vital Abyss
Strange Dogs
Auberon
Memory's Legion
Ratings (74)
Incredible (18) | |
Loved It (39) | |
Liked It (10) | |
It Was OK (7) |
Reader Stats (93):
Read It (81) | |
Currently Reading (1) | |
Want To Read (8) | |
Not Interested (3) |
3 comment(s)
Whaaaaaaaaaaat!
That was my reaction to the ending. I'm not going to spoil it, but I kind of wondered if something like that would happen. It was still a great moment, though.
Caliban's War is a lot stronger than the first book, partially because it isn't just about dudes having existential crises and the two-dimensional women who help them find themselves. Two new POV characters are introduced, both women characters who are incredibly entertaining: Bobbie, a Martian marine who is the only survivor of the initial attack by the creature (the Caliban, I guess), and Chrisjen Avasarala, an elderly Indian woman two steps below the UN Secretary General. Both powerful women, in different ways. Bobbie has a huge physical presence and could, as Holden says, "kill you with your own teeth," but she suffers emotional damage from watching the monster kill her entire platoon before self-destructing. Her mission of revenge is what drives her. Avasarala is powerful because she plays the game of politics better than anyone in Game of Thrones. Also, her language would make a sailor blush and she isn't afraid to tell anyone to go f*ck themselves.
The two women end up working together with Holden and his crew to find the people who are creating these monsters, presumably by experimenting with the alien protomolecule, and rescue Mei Weng, daughter of botanist Praxidike Weng. Mei's disappearance occured shortly before the monster was released on Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter that has become the breadbasket of the galaxy. Prax is responsible for breeding soy beans that thrive in low gravity, one of many projects that make Ganymede the source of most of the food for anyone not on Earth. Mars and Earth are both occupying Ganymede after the uneasy truce made at the end of book one, and the release of the monster starts a war that destroys Ganymede.
I liked this book a lot more than the first one. It has more action, less man-moping, and plenty of zingers. Jim Holden is turning out to have a little Mal Reynolds in him, which only makes him a better character in my eyes. Naomi is more fleshed out here, less of a foil for Jim, but we still don't get her POV. Amos also plays a bigger role, and we find out something about his past that gives his character a whole new depth. And Prax is great as the absent-minded professor who can't understand why other people don't just get it ("it" being whatever genius idea he's just had). He also has the best line in the book: "I soiled myself." It's just a better book, and given the cliffhanger, I can't wait for book 3.
Also, wet willies. Personally I hate those but it is hilarious in context.
***4.5***
RTC
The ending sentence no bullshit makes it go up a full star.
What can you read after
Caliban's War?
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