The Expanse

The Expanse is an American space opera/mystery science fiction drama television series on Syfy, based on the series of novels by James S. A. Corey [ collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck]. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System, but doesn’t have FTL spaceships, it follows police detective Miller, ship’s officer Jim Holden and his crew as they unravel a conspiracy that threatens peace across the System and the survival of humanity. The series premiered on streaming services on November 23, 2015, and on Syfy on December 14, 2015.

It’s a familiar setup: Earth has colonised Mars and the asteroids are mined for water and metals. There’s tension between the governments, and a potential revolution brewing.

The TV series looks fantastic, with an interesting Belter patois suggesting the separate development in the different environments. The story is dense, but apparently follows the source material closely.
looks like serious SF on TV again!

The source material

At present, The Expanse consists of five main novels and four shorter works (two prequel short stories, one prequel novella and one novella set between Caliban’s War and Abaddon’s Gate). Four more novels are planned, as well as three more novellas.

The series comprises

• Leviathan Wakes (2011) novel — Hugo nominee, Lotus winner
• The Butcher of Anderson Station: A Story of The Expanse (2011) novella
• Caliban’s War (2012) novel
• “Drive” (2012) short story
• “Gods of Risk” (2012) novellette
• Abaddon’s Gate (2013) novel — Locus Award
• Cibola Burn (2014) novel
• The Churn (2014) novella
• Nemesis Games (2015) novel
• The Vital Abyss (2015) novella
• <Babylon’s Ashes (2016) novel

All of the novels and the novellas have been released as audiobooks, with Jefferson Mays as the narrator for all novels (except Cibola Burn) and the novella The Vital Abyss. Erik Davies is the narrator for Cibola Burn and the first two novellas that were released (Gods of Risk and The Churn).