At a Glance: Authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, under the pen name James S.A. Corey, offer two shorter works set in the Expanse universe unveiled in their much-lauded collaboration debut, Leviathan Wakes.
Pros: Focused storytelling; not a word wasted; accessible to all readers regardless of experience with science fiction.
Cons: Need there be any?
My Experience: I was very impressed with their Expanse prequel, “Drive”, in the Edge of Infinity anthology when I read it last week and bought the first of these two stories right after finishing it. “Drive” demonstrated that these authors could tell an emotionally engaging story in a fully realized universe without wasting exposition on obvious world-building. These two additional works prove that they have the short form down cold. “The Butcher of Anderson Station” was compelling right from the start, telling a two-stage tale that had me completely immersed right through to the end. I followed it up this afternoon with a purchase and read through of “Gods of Risk” and it did not disappoint. This is well-crafted fourth generation space opera with a maturity that makes it impossible for me to keep to myself.
My Combined Rating: 9/10 stars
Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck’s partnership has resulted in a series of stories set within our solar system in a future in which we have left Earth but have not made it out beyond the stars. From what I have sampled in the three short forays into their created universe they seem determined to tell the stories of “real” people and they do not shy away from demonstrating that be it on the surface of ye olde Earth or in the asteroid belt circling one of her sister planets, people are people. Some may be honest and hard-working, others may be seeking a short-cut to fame and fortune and still others are taking the darker road to make ends meet. Most will not be that easy to peg though, as real people are complex and often have shades of the saint and the sinner mixed thoroughly within.
“The Butcher of Anderson Station” examines the aftermath one man’s actions during a military solution to a hostile takeover of an Earth-owned space station. We are introduced to Fred as he sits in a Belter bar, drinking to forget. Circumstances soon arise that force Fred to remember as he recounts the mission he led to retake Anderson Station. This story has a cadence that irresistibly draws the reader into both the events of Fred’s present as well as those of his past. I was once again amazed by how effective the short story can be as a format when utilized by a writer, or in this case writers, in possession of creativity and the skills to make every word count. If this were the only piece of fiction that existed in the Expanse universe I could see where some might find the ending to be too open-ended. Thankfully it is not and I thought the ending struck just the right emotional note. (10/10 stars)
“Gods of Risk” takes place on Mars and introduces the reader to sixteen-year-old David Draper, a smart kid obsessing over the results of his lab experiments as he awaits word on where he will be assigned for his future career. The curse of adolescence is the state of thinking you know it all while actually being somewhat clueless and the reader learns early on that Draper has done something particularly stupid–he has gotten himself involved in the manufacture of illicit drugs. I read a review that wrote this story off as “Breaking Bad on Mars” and while there is that similarity in idea, the drug storyline exists as a backdrop against which to present the state of unrest that exists between the citizens of Earth and the citizens of Mars and the way that unrest is mirrored in the relationships between David, his father and mother, and his father’s aunt Bobbie. The story is solid throughout with a couple of really nice character moments that I suspect will resonate more fully in the novels. (8/10)
In quoting and paraphrasing Jonathan Strahan’s introduction to Edge of Infinity I wrote:
Fourth generation science fiction then is fiction that is meant to merge the “romance of science and the romance of fiction” into stories that move SF away from the realm of Earth-bound dystopian futures and inspire both readers and scientists to embrace our love affair with tomorrow, to look to our own Solar System as the next great frontier of exploration.
That collection excited me greatly as this idea harkens back to some of the classic science fiction in which Earth’s closest neighbors featured as the main stages for the action and adventure. These fourth generation stories bring that sense of wonder forward mixing plausible science and speculation with rich creativity to produce stories that allow our imagination to focus on the area of the galaxy that we call home.
These short stories attributed to James S.A. Corey have whet my appetite for more and I look forward with great anticipation to (finally) reading the novels of the Expanse.
I enjoyed these so much that I want to share, so I am giving away two sets of “The Butcher of Anderson Station” and “Gods of Risk”. All you need to do to qualify is mention that you want to be included in the drawing in the comments. Winners may choose their platform (Kindle, Nook, Kobo). I will announce the winners on Thursday, January 31st.
Update: I am adding an ebook edition of Edge of Infinity to this prize pack as well because their story “Drive” is also a must-read (as is the entire anthology)
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James S.A. Corey is, as noted above, the writing team of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Their first Corey novel, Leviathan Wakes, was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus awards in 2012, for novels published in 2011. The second Expanse novel, Caliban’s War, was released in 2012 with the third, Abaddon’s Gate, to be released June 4th, 2013. Each novel is written as a stand-alone adventure in the Expanse series with little or no carry over of characters between stories.
Hi!
I’d like to enter the giveaway.
Thanks 🙂
You are welcome Odo, I’ll include you in it. 🙂
I really enjoyed Leviathan Wakes and look forward to reading the rest of the series. Please put my name in for the giveaway!
Will do Anthony. After enjoying these stories so much I cracked into Leviathan Wakes last night. Good start!
Have been thoroughly enjoying your reviews. Please consider me in the givaway!
Thanks!
Thanks Rusk! If you have yet to read their work these would be a great introduction.
Fingers crossed!
darn, i really need to get an e-reader one of these days. more of more of this special stuff is electronic only.
You can download a Kindle or Nook app on your PC or smart phone and read these too. 🙂
Great review and I definitely want to be included in the giveaway. I loved Leviathan Wakes, but haven’t gotten round to reading any of the related work yet.
Thanks KJ! You just HAVE to snag yourself a copy of Edge of Infinity as the story “Drive” expands on one of the opening paragraphs of Leviathan Wakes (which I now know since I started reading it last night…finally!) In fact, you’ve inspired me. I’m going to add a copy of Edge of Infinity to these prize packs.
I would very much like to be included in the giveaway. This team has written a coherent, compelling world and I will be happy to read anything they write.
Done! I am super impressed with their work from these small samples I’ve had.
Neato! Can I enter? I need free books to fill that void of not buying books this year. Love the cover of Gods of Risk. That would make me want to grab it off the shelve to see what it’s about.
Do you even need to ask? Of course you can enter. I like the Gods of Risk cover as well. Reminds me of the cover to The Legend of Ellie Quin which I read and reviewed recently.
This morning I was looking at pics of Mars taken by Curiosity and was wishing I would see the curve of a domed city in the horizon.
Hi Carl! I’ll toss my name in the hat. Would it improve my chances any if I pointed you to my review of Leviathan Wakes? :p I need to write up Caliban’s War as well, but been too busy with old stuff. Enjoy the vomit zombies.
Perhaps the gods will smile on you? At the very least I will enjoy reading your reviews once I’ve finished each of the novels, 🙂
I would like to participate in the giveaway as well!
Thanks a lot
Done! And you are welcome.
Please include me in the giveaway. I loved Leviathan Wakes and Caliban’s War. I’d love to check out the shorts. I’m normally a fantasy reader, but I can’t get enough of the Expanse. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
You certainly have to read these then Eric. Fingers crossed!
I love the Expanse novels, so I’d like to be in the giveaway, too.
Thanks!
You are welcome Bob, I’ll put your name in.
I’d like to be included.
Thanks!
No problem Naugem, happy to do it.
Please include me for the giveaway. Thank you.
You are welcome, thanks for reading.
Count me in, please! Just picked up a copy of LEVIATHAN WAKES the other day…
I’m enjoying it so far Chris (just cracked into it last night).
Considering how much of my reading you have influenced recently (and I mean that in a good way), I shall ask to be included as well.
Sounds good Nick! 🙂
Can’t wait for Abbadon’s Gate. I would love a chance to win these stories. It sounds like a great treat to hold me over til July.
I’m hoping I’ll be all caught up by then so that I can read Abbadon’s Gate right when it comes out. Gotcha in on the giveaway drawing Dave.
I love this series. I hadn’t even known about the novellas until reading your post. Definitely include me in the giveaway.
Very happy to Bob!
Count me in for The Butcher of Anderson Station” and “Gods of Risk” give-away! Your review makes them sound enticing!
Will do George!
I have the Infinity collections, and both of these e-stories on my Kindle for Mac, but all unread.
Its time you got to readin’! Its not like you have any other books to distract you. 😉
Seriously though, The Butcher of Anderson Station is a short one and worth moving up your to-read list.
Sign me up!
Done!
Yay! I was hoping you’d like their writing. I just read and reviewed Leviathan Wakes and LOVED it. I’m currently 100 pages into Caliban’s War. I’m so addicted that I couldn’t read any other sci-fi until I got my hands on Caliban. By the way, the Butcher of Anderson Station is a character in Leviathan Wakes and I kept imagining him as the actor from Breaking Bad, Giancarlo Esposito. I’d love to win these in Nook versions. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed them so much. You would have a good time reading all these other shorter stories I am sure.
Hey Carl.
Thanks for telling me about this. It totally slipped my radar. And yes, I’d love to be entered as well.
Before I forget: I’m a Kobo girl, all the way. 🙂
I got you entered Nadine. 🙂
I’d love to be included for the giveaway. I read Leviathan Wakes last week, dove straight into Caliban’s War and have just learned that I have to wait months for Abbadon’s Gate. Sigh!
The Kindle rules my life. 🙂
It has been ruling mine lately too, Eva. I have you in the drawing.