The Wasatch County Library provides digital access to several titles within James S. A. Corey's bestselling science fiction series, The Expanse, through the Libby platform. The available collection includes the sixth book in the series, Babylon's Ashes, and the eighth installment, Tiamat's Wrath, both of which are accessible via the Libby app or online.
Revolution in Babylon's Ashes
The sixth book in the series, Babylon's Ashes, follows the crew of the Rocinante as they undertake a desperate mission to the gate network in an attempt to find a thin hope of victory. The narrative is set against a backdrop of galaxy-wide revolution, with a violent group of Belters known as the Free Navy using black-market military ships to cripple Earth and engage in piracy and violence among the outer planets.
As the Free Navy targets colony ships traveling to new worlds on the far side of the alien ring gates, no single navy possesses enough strength to provide protection. The story follows James Holden and his crew, who possess a deep understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this new force. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the crew must navigate flawed new alliances as the struggle for power intensifies.
Series Success and Availability
Babylon's Ashes was published by Hachette Audio in 2016. The unabridged audiobook version has a duration of 19 hours and 58 minutes and is currently available for users to borrow via Libby. The series has achieved significant commercial success, with over 10 million copies sold to date.
George R. R. Martin, a Hugo Award winner for Best Series, has described the series as an interplanetary adventure conducted the way it ought to be written. The work is part of a larger collection of science fiction that includes titles such as Leviathan Wakes, Caliban's War, Abaddon's Gate, Cibola Burn, Nemesis Games, Persepolis Rising, Tiamat's Wrath, Leviathan Falls, and Memory's Legion.
Conflict in Tiamat's Wrath
The eighth book in the series, Tiamat's Wrath, published by Orbit in 2019, shifts the narrative focus toward an underground war against a nearly invulnerable authoritarian empire. In this installment, James Holden finds himself a prisoner of the enemy while the crew of the Rocinante conducts a brave rear-guard action against the regime of Teresa Duarte.
The setting involves thirteen hundred gates that have opened to solar systems throughout the galaxy. As humanity builds an interstellar empire within these alien ruins, the mysteries and threats surrounding the gates deepen. The plot follows Elvi Okoye as she conducts a desperate search to uncover the nature of a genocide that occurred before the existence of the first human beings, seeking weapons to combat forces located at the edge of the imaginable.
Political Intrigue and Empire
The narrative of Tiamat's Wrath explores the tension within the heart of the empire, where Teresa Duarte prepares to assume the burden of her father's godlike ambition. The story features several key figures navigating a palace filled with intrigue, including the scientist Paolo Cordozar and the prisoner James Holden.
As the memory of the old order fades, the series depicts a future where the rule of Laconia appears increasingly certain. The story suggests that against the terrors existing between worlds, neither courage nor ambition may be sufficient to prevent a battle that humanity can only lose.
Reading Recommendations
The Expanse series is characterized by its detailed world-building and complex character development. Based on recommendations from NoveList, which provides suggestions based on librarian data, readers who enjoy the series may also find interest in works by authors such as Peter F. Hamilton, John Scalzi, and Orson Scott Card.
Specifically, the NoveList service suggests the Shongairi series by David Weber for fans of The Expanse. Other similar titles include A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and The Lady of Caladan by Brian Herbert.
Digital Access via Libby
Both Babylon's Ashes and Tiamat's Wrath are available through the Libby platform, which is compatible with Android and iOS devices. Users can access these digital media formats, including ebooks and audiobooks, through the Libby app or via an online interface.
