Question Re: The Expanse

[dewline]

Having seen only four episodes of the second season thus far (specifically episodes 3 thru 6), and none of the novels - which look rather dense on the shelves of the local bookstores - I have to admit to some curiosity about the whole thing, and a lot of uncertainty about what questions to ask about which aspects in what order. Also, I notice among those who have already been reading and/or watching, there's a growing enthusiasm.

So...open forum for discussion of what makes the novels and/or TV series work for those of you who got there before me.

Comments

[mycroftca]

The books and short stories are very good; the TV series does a pretty fair job of doing the story well. Start the show again from the beginning. Either read the short stories or start the novels with Leviathan Wakes.

[dewline]

Am I correct in thinking that the adaptation of Leviathan Wakes is still underway?

[devilc]

Levithan Wakes is all of S1 and 1/2 of S2.

[mycroftca]

Do you mean that the TV show is still dealing with Leviathan Wakes? Yes.

[devilc]

What make the books and TV show work for me is the excellent characterization -- these characters evolve over time -- and the level of thought that has gone into the whole thing from the physics and the politics, to how one thing, one event is going to change the world as we know it.

It's a series that rewards both close reading and close watching.

[mycroftca]

Amen.

If it's not too late ...

[ed_rex]

... go back to the start.

I've read all the books (so far), but that hasn't stopped me from finding the series to be absolutely riveting television. But it is a long form narrative, not an episodic series. You owe it to yourself to watch it from the beginning.

And frankly, the books are great, too. There are surprises but both show and books are such that they don't suffer much from being spoilered.

Re: If it's not too late ...

[mycroftca]

I'm very glad that once I heard that the story was coming to TV that I went ahead and started reading the books from the beginning. It meant that I was champing at the bit when the TV series got going. Great stuff.

Re: If it's not too late ...

[ed_rex]

I only discovered the books a few months back. And the tv series only a few weeks ago. Needless to say I binged, first on one, then on the other.

Great stuff indeed. I do get the feeling (based on what, I'm not sure) that the authors sat down with the intention of writing a Big Best-Selling Series, but if so, they really managed to transcend mere commercialism.