“When the end came, it was beautiful.”

“When you got right down to it, humans were still just curious monkeys. They still had to poke everything they found with a stick to see what it did.”

I have to admit that I get intimidated by science fiction.  I’m worried that it will go over my head and I won’t get it.  Not that I don’t enjoy sci fi–I do!  But I’ve always leaned more in the direction of fantasy, feeling that sci fi was outside of my comfort zone.  I’ve been slowly warming up to sci fi and realizing just how very much I can enjoy the fuck out of it.  Leviathan Wakes had so much going on and so much going for it.

Humanity is divided in space–Earthers, Martians, and Belters–and relationships between the groups are somewhat tense.  One of our protagonists, Holden, perhaps prematurely announces that the Martians have attacked a ship.  “He has a track record of amateur press releases.”  Let’s just say by the end of the first book, that is an understatement!  Holden and his crew get caught up in a war and it’s hard to know who the true enemy is and what the motive for all of this is.  I know I am being vague as shit, but I really don’t want to spoil the story.

There is sooooo much going on in this book.  There are plenty of twists and turns, but not in a way that made me want to punch anyone.  I would highly recommend Leviathan Wakes–I was thinking most of the way through of about a 4.5 for the book and then it slowed down a bit around the 65-75% point so I was thinking I would rate it a 4…. and then holy shit the last 15% of the book really grabbed me by the balls and surprised the shit out of me! (disclaimer: I do not have balls)  So I am upgrading the book to a 5!  (also bonus points for the Dune shoutout)

“First off, get your shit together. Panic doesn’t help. It never helps. Deep breaths, figure this out, make the right moves. Fear is the mind-killer. Ha. Geek.”

I also want to take this moment to groan briefly about the series.  I actually DO enjoy the series (I am on episode 8 of season 1), but I have been so disappointed with the unnecessary changes from the book.  I’m mostly fine with the casting, but one of my favorite things about the book is the camaraderie of the Rocinante’s crew.  In the tv series, there is this constant tension, and it is just seriously fucking grating on my last nerve because they are not like that in the book whatsoever.  They are buddies in the book, and I like it that way.  Sorry it just seems like their relationship is this one thing they can really count on when their entire world seems to be going to shit.  So I HATE that the series fucked with that.  My husband thinks they are doing it to add tv drama as well as to have a reason to bring them all together eventually when the crew inevitably all gels together.  Well I call bullshit on that!  Anyways…  My only other real complaint about the series is I miss Miller and Julie…  because I love me some Miller and Julie :)

So if you enjoy sci fi then please go read this if you haven’t yet or if you’ve somehow been living under a stone and haven’t managed to hear of it yet (like me until the show came out on Prime since I don’t have cable anymore).