Leviathan Wakes: The Expanse Book 1 Explained

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What happens in Leviathan Wakes, Book 1 of The Expanse? How do Holden, Miller and Julie Mao evolve? What is the influence of the protomolecule?
Spoilers for The Expanse Book 1, Season 1, and the first five episodes of Season 2.
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Created with Adobe After Effects and a Shure SM7B microphone: www.amazon.com/shop/altshiftx
Images and video from The Expanse are used under fair use.
Special thanks to Patrons Reverend Xandria, Cameron Weiss, Michael Appell, Jason Rattray, Ryan Steele, Eric Louis-Dreyfus, Matthew Elisha Williams, Triangle Wine Company, Harry, Jake Burling, Chris Cole, Chris Amolsch, Alex Kirkendall, Paul Lesiak, Hank Lero, Zach Gordon, DscoDan, Jon Levin, Jesus Tagle Jr, Julien Marchand, Shane Veglia, Marc Pierre Louis, Cregg Riley, Joel Soucy, Kellie Maestri, Ali Almuhanna, I think a Faceless Man ran up and said 'Valar Morghulus' before running off?

[@meris8486]

That little bit about how this series is based on a tabletop game the authors were in and that Shed was killed off because the person playing him decided to quit is amazing.

[@MoonV29]

the player decided to come back.. RESURRECTION!

[@meris8486]

@@MoonV29 Maybe that's how Miller was created

[@MoonV29]

@@meris8486 Daaaaaaaaamn

[@DrJReefer]

The Expanse started as the backstory of an MMO. Then it morphed in to the table top game and finally the books and tv show. I REALLY want that MMO

[@meris8486]

@@DrJReefer I'd prefer to play the tabletop game

[@jon2431]

You inspired me to try reading the Expanse, and I ended up reading the first three books in about two weeks. Seriously, thank you

[@AltShiftX]

Awesome, so glad you're into them

[@TheMeanMongoose]

It's a fantastic series, I'm glad that more and more people are supporting it. Happy reading, beratna!

[@nikofloros]

Same! ASX is the first time I'd Ever heard of them! I've now binged the whole series and am in the process of devouring the audiobooks!

[@TheSpHornet]

it got you to, eh?

[@Eudomac99]

Seriously? The first one felt massive.

[@kn0bhe4d]

Next-level sponsor transition.

[@iamarunshrestha]

😆😆😆

[@MrTbob418]

Hate to say it, but I hated it. The monotone voice that covered this soooo well turned into a sponsor transition-less. F U damnit.

[@CottonCandySharks]

I laughed so hard when I heard it

[@cerealofdoom2125]

That was a genius move mate

[@at0mly]

So excited you're doing videos for The Expanse.

[@tite93]

More people should know about this series, for sure

[@Fexzz]

Seriously. I'm so sad that this show isn't more popular. It's so good

[@tite93]

@@Fexzz it'll get more popular now that Amazon is behind it, I think

[@katzhou9561]

I remember when The Expanse TV show first got canceled from SyFy, us the fans were desperate to try everything to get it exposed yet dared not to dream it being covered by Alt Shift X. Now it has happened it almost feels surreal. This makes me just as happy as Amazon saving the show.

[@KabbalahSherry]

I'm so sad I never got into the show back when it was on SyFy. If more of us had paid attention to it back then... we'd have been able to enjoy it on primetime television for FREE. 😢 (Well, after paying for your local basic cable pkg, but... you know what I mean. LOL) But now! Not it's on Amazon, and I refuse to pay for both Netflix AND Amazon both! I mean Jesus, these streaming services are getting out of control. I'm not paying for all of them ON TOP OF cable TV too. 😒 #FOH #WillWatchShowLaterIGuess

[@hardticket123]

I've been calling Holden "Jon Snow in Space". I think it's pretty accurate.

[@alanpennie8013]

hardticket Yep. And Miller is rather like a non - malevolent Littlefinger.

[@Cissablack708]

They even make the same face

[@liammcnulty1987]

He's his double!

[@blackettcharlie]

I'd say Anderson Dawes is more like Littlefinger. Especially in the later books.

[@narxes]

@@alanpennie8013 Miller is more like a combination of the Hound and Tyrion.

[@gabrielgrey2253]

Worth noting that the name of the protomolecule isn't derived from some arcane or alien evidence of whats its name is nor any real scientific basis. Protogen saw it as a product, perhaps even THE product, so they just named it after themselves.

[@comedyman4896]

wait, really? I thought it was protomolecule where the molecule was DNA, so it was like a weird form of DNA. I guess that makes more sense though.

[@epiccollision]

Player 36 it’s perfectly logical...might be you.

[@InternationalYogurt]

Wasn't Miller fired for trying too hard though? As far as I remember, the reason he is assigned the Julie Mao case is precisely because his boss considers him an unreliable, worn out drunk. He wasn't supposed to poke around too much, but does it anyway because searching for Julie fills him with purpose.

[@mercury199runner]

In the novel, it's played a little differently. It's made more clear that Miller is a 'has been', and is an alcoholic. He's fired because his boss doesn't trust him anymore, or at least that's what she tells him.

[@irfansyahril8511]

In the show, Star Helix was payed off by Protogen/Mao to stop looking for Julie since it started to interfere with their plans

[@zeffmalchazeen3429]

@@mercury199runner but it also showed how good of a detective miller is. He deducted there's something fishy about the secret war and its ties to his julie assignment. Also she liked julie by just looking at her pics. Julie is in her 20s while Miller is 50s.

[@AlpenTree]

In the show Miller is fired because he begins to find out too much about Julie Mao, more than the police chief and Julie's father want anyone to know

[@pagenotfound7248]

I thought it was that he used to be a really good detective but after a messy divorce, he was an unreliable drunk

[@AuskaDezjArdamaath]

This series is one of the best new sci-fi to hit the shelves.

[@OOTD_]

I hope you keep doing videos on this book series.

[@FlosBlog]

Hm, I would not go so far. The MIller character is a bit stereotypical, and I am not really ok with the Eros scene nor the depiction of Juli. Also, it is weird and how the book is calling attention to the character's bodies.

[@narsil1984]

@@FlosBlog What's wrong with the body descriptions in the books? Have finished them recently, nothing really caught my attention regarding that, so can you elaborate? As for Julie Mao... well, they made the protomolecule sexier in the series than the book, and by that, I dont mean the female character shown on screen. The reasons for that seem straight forward to me: the blue glowing stuff looks nicer than open torsos with 5 legs attached to it, so it's a visual pull (different media, different rules) and also: you just cant show certain things and hope to keep a general audience. They didnt want to make a horror show, so they chose to tone down on the kronenberg factor.

[@waynesomething7379]

@@FlosBlog Miller has one of the best scenes in the book when he shoots dresden in the face. Done much better in the books imo. I would also argue that Holden is more of a stereotype. Not that I care I like both characters.

[@thedarkflowkiller]

Thanks to your last video, out of total curiosity, I started watching the Expanse. Forever grateful and in debt man....forever. This is....so....so....so...amazing. I can't believe a show like that went under every single radar ever.

[@thedarkflowkiller]

I did, just miss the last double episode that I save for in a couple of weeks. But I've watched all the rest.

[@619Gotenks]

Man same. Just wanted to watch enough to check out his first video, ended up binging the whole show in a few days.

[@Martijn_M]

Same

[@alanpennie8013]

DFK It's probably because it was on SyFy, a network most people have written off

[@619Gotenks]

@@alanpennie8013 that's sure as hell why I wrote it off. They've had a lot of duds.

[@elbaecc]

Wait, so the first 2 seasons were just ONE book!? My respect for this series went up even more. Grossly underrated series, The Expanse.

[@willhowlett]

They're a mix of the first two books (the first book only has Holden and Miller as POV characters in it, no Avasarala or Bobbie or Ganymede etc)

[@Morrisseyyy]

Why did your respect for the series increase?

[@elbaecc]

@@Morrisseyyy When they take 2 seasons to cover one book, they are taking their time and doing justice to the books, unlike say, Game of Thrones, where huge swatches of story in the books is left out because they are covering a 400+ page book in 10 episodes. GoT is still a good series, but for someone who has read all the books released so far, I could see each season of the story getting progressively "bad" because so much from the books was left out - stuff that mattered. By Season 6 it was just a husk that bears no resemblance ot the meat of the story. Bad metaphor, I know, but cba. Moral of the story, respect to the writers and creators of The Expanse series for taking their time with the source material.

[@CollattaQuad]

The first book goes up to episode 15, with some book 2 sprinkled in.

[@Morrisseyyy]

Rey Kenobi a series is built to be watched. Fact of the matter is that it would be boring if everything from the books was in the show. And it would be like a soap opera. And it's impractical to show everything. I don't think you should respect a book more just because it's drawn out. Has to be gripping

[@NinaFelwitch]

The Expanse is my new Firefly. I love this show.

[@leblanc8014]

We are huge Expanse fans in my household and when my guy and I saw you were going to be doing videos on it, we were thrilled! Thank you so much for this and all your hard work!

[@LelouchLothric]

I could watch an Alt Shift X video on anything tbh!

[@TheMeanMongoose]

While I'm also an idealist I do have to admit that Miller did make some good points occasionally and it's plain to see that some of the stuff he says does stick with Holden. So maybe there isn't always a "right thing to do"...but as beings capable of reason and empathy both it is our duty to strive for solutions that are ultimately helpful with the best of our ability. (Star Trek teaches this lesson as well, in very interesting ways.)

[@Onid88]

This channel introduced me to The Expanse. Three seasons later I want to thank you guys so much, it was worth the watch. Here's to season 4.

[@sandeepkarkhanis2273]

Go with low hopes S04

[@pinkduke]

Right after the last episode I binged every episode of the Expanse, great new series for me. Thank you Alt Shift X community.

[@HankRearden2]

Your intro to the Expanse is what got me to read it! I'm in the middle of book 4 already!

[@RandyDanger]

I wish these vids would continue, I'd LOVE a vid for each book now that the book series is over

[@stanj85]

Your first video got me into the show. I knew if you were recommending it, that it must be great. And it really was amazing. Thinking about jumping into the books as well. Thanks so much for this!

[@GowtuGames]

Same here! Watched 2 seasons in 2 weeks. Season 3 left. Great show!

[@1234teemu]

Well i watched all 3 season in a week

[@patrickt6227]

@@GowtuGames season 3 is the best one so far!!

[@supermonkey321]

Me too! Binged seasons 1 and 2 in like 4 days after watching that video, then saw season 3 a bit later over the span of like 2 weeks. Actually just finished season 3 this past weekend. The whole show is amazing. I may read the books, but I'll probably wait until the TV series ends. Now that Amazon picked it up, hopefully the end will be a few years away.

[@germinvermin]

Fantastic video! You helped me understand a point or two that I had missed even after watching the series repeatedly. Thank you

[@JamesRoyceDawson]

Now that GoT is over, I'd love to see you do more Expanse videos. Love the show and the book series

[@waffle2434]

Your first video on The Expanse made me inspired to finally watch the series and I watch all 3 seasons in two week and I can't wait for season 4, so thanks for showing me this great series :)

[@riseagainst1172]

Very excited to see you doing a series on this. The Expanse book series is my favorite and I think the show is doing a great job. Exited to watch more!

[@decadentia84]

Just finished the 8th book. Feel like you could break up books into multiple videos with everything that's going on. Love that you're covering this!

[@Andxel2]

It's official. This is my favorite channel on You Tube. I just finished watching the fifth episode of S2 and I gotta say that I was becoming confused about some of the plotlines and the motives behind some of the characters. In a 15 minutes video you made everything clear for me. Thank you so much.

[@roelguerra5306]

Great channel. Love the content. I just started reading the Expanse books and NEED more explained videos. You keep all the plot points, no fluff, into straight forward well edited videos.

[@KingEdwardMMVIII]

Wish you completely covered all of the Expanse!! Great stuff

[@harleyt-l8977]

This is so well done, the detail and editing is wonderful xx

[@jerzbouy1]

I just started reading "Leviathan Wakes" after having watched the series a couple of times. The deviations between the book and the first season are quite noticeable which makes reading the book interesting and not just a repeat of the show.

[@Mysterey101]

This is awesome I literally just finished the audio book on audible per your recommendation. I can't wait to start watching the show. Thanks Alt-Shift X

[@joef9648]

Excellent show and brilliantly written. Thanks for reviewing

[@mdimascio]

Thank you for the amazing job covering the Expanse so far! I just binge-watched the first two seasons. I like listening to audiobooks while I am running so I suppose its time to start them!

[@joshdiebel]

Thanks for the Expanse videos! Hope to see more! Cheers!

[@YipeeKiYayJB]

Loving the content and the recent coverage of The Expanse.

[@MrGabiiiii94]

After watching your first vid i decided to watch the whole series, and i loved it! Planning to buy the books now!

[@Lionfire1998]

Marked this video so I can watch it as soon as I finish the book. Your spoiler free video about this series got me into it and so far I'm hooked! Great choice, keep it up :)

[@Lionfire1998]

Watching it right now and about to beginn part two :)

[@giovlms]

This was such an amazing summary! Please keep 'em coming. Need one for book two.

[@hansolo4017]

Can you please do a video about ''The Churn'' and Amos in general

[@edkenndy]

this would be awesome!

[@mduckernz]

Yeah, he's a fascinating character!

[@gateauxq4604]

Even if I don’t read any books so as not to be spoiled for the show I really want to read The Churn. Partially morbid curiosity tho probability since I’m interested to see if me or the authors could tell a more fucked up backstory for him.

[@Reliken]

Love love love this book series and the fact that you're covering it, hope to see some in-depth analysis and theory videos put together like what you've done for Thrones. Keep up the work!

[@howhigh0521]

Your transitions into your dashlane advertisement is amazing. Good video I'll check this book out. It will be my first sci-fi

[@AdanDimaloun]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos, please do all the books!

[@jgregorygraves5792]

That was an incredibly concise yet thorough explanation. Thanx for sharing that.

[@geoffreyf7829]

If you make more expanse videos like this i will watch it man!

[@SgtYngve]

Great video, as always. I'm reading the books now, currently at the end of book 4, "Cibola Burn". Really enjoying them so far.

[@msannethr0pe]

Thank you asx for your work on this amazing show and novels. Nice segue, too.

[@Steelersrockjj]

So glad that the book series is getting more coverage, I've loved every one of them and can't wait to see how they're adapted to a TV series

[@azulprusia]

I only found out of the TV series because of your previous video, and having seen the 3 season, now I plan to read the books. Would love if you did a video like this for every book in the saga too.Thx!

[@kalashnikovdevil]

I hope you continue this series in the future. I love The Expanse.

[@joejosleyn1988]

Was so excited to see this. Can’t wait for the videos on subsequent books.

[@TheTotapaluza]

Whenever I see Alt Shift X recommend a series, I always watch them because I know they'll be good. It's how I ended up watching both Westworld and The Expanse after the last season of GoT ended. thank you.

[@christinearmington]

Outstanding analysis, as always! 😊

[@kjellvb1979]

More of these book breakdowns!!! Reading book 3 now finishes 3 of the novellas as well. Would love some more of this though.

[@pij3333]

Amazing video! And you always impress with the sponsor segue

[@smithanimal]

I could not be more excited that you'll be covering The Expanse. Your timing is impeccable. I just finished Leviathan Wakes a couple of months ago. I'm all caught up on the show though.

[@vats1955]

This was a great video. Watching this after finishing the book made the plot much clearer in my head. I would love it if the other books also got an explanation video :D

[@OOTD_]

I hope you keep doing videos on this book series. It needs to be explained because some thing went over my head that your video answered for me.

[@Karlswebb]

The thing i never understood was why not turn off the engines for the middle third of the flight? Takes 6% longer to arrive but you save 33% on your fuel. That middle section is ideal to throttle down or shut off your engines, since you’re gonna flip around soon and undo all that increase in speed you just did, making it unimportant for travel time. Like I did the math. You can save 1/3rd fuel and only take 6% longer to arrive.

[@Christianson53]

Beautifully done. Information dense and entertaining AF

[@corentinmagny2034]

I bought the first 3 books after watching your first The Expanse video. I just finished Leviathan Wakes (literally 30 seconds ago). Thanks for the content, i'm looking forward to the rest of your videos!

[@ilhamm1915]

Absolutely amazing summary. The facts are spot on.

[@aarong9327]

I finally understand the first season of this amazing show. Thanks!

[@colburn0004]

Would love to see you do more book style videos like this. Been looking for something along these lines on youtube forever but all I ever seem to find is half assed book review videos.

[@adamhawkins4591]

This great addition to your channel. Fits nicely between Westworld and Game of Thrones.

[@Br4nTheBuilder]

The video came out great! Well done everyone! I love this series and look forward to more people falling in love with it!

[@raymond-reviews]

I’m literally binge watching The expanse and you upload this beauty

[@mekhiingram85]

i’d love to see a continuation of this!

[@rebelshadowrider1]

Mad props for that transition at the end. Damn fine work

[@MotelsonMars]

Thank you for this. I LOVE these books and the show.

[@Megafreakx3]

Hey, thank you for doing this series, mainly because you got me to read the books and watch the tv show and I am drinking it up like there is no tomorrow

[@kingdancekiller]

10:22 *Duarte is listening very intently*

[@harvey1965]

I'm so thrilled - about to watch this new installment on my favourite book / show - (GoT comes in second!) - you're the BEST Alt Shift X

[@throwmeaname]

I’m very captivated by this universe. Thanks AltShiftX!

[@tyronealfonso]

Really wish this explained series was complete. I read the final trilogy but would love a deep dive on each of the books.

[@Cronoo]

Gotta say after your first video on this series I wasn't all that interested, but this one changed my mind. It sounds like a really compelling story that I'll have to check out.

[@alexander_marvelon]

I got here and already in love with this channel😍😍😍

[@michaelraymond1432]

You guys always make the best content.

[@rayaqin]

Great video. I thank you sincerely.

[@welcometonature9021]

I love your explanations.. and your voice is really good.

[@dekunokisamasetto407]

In the middle of the book now, so I'll have to wait to watch, but I love that you are doing this series!

[@sdauz]

That was a great ad segway, better than most videos!

[@portuguese-translator]

Wonderful! Thanks a bunch, now I can understand better the very first episodes :-)

[@tontonclepe6291]

Such a great video, can't wait to see The Expanse book 2 explained

[@pindab0ter]

Please, please continue this serie. It's amazing!

[@aldoantunes]

This is great. I hope it brings more people to this amazing universe. Thanks for making these videos! P.S: That ad segue at theend was brilliantly hilarious. ;)

[@gerardcooke7296]

This makes me so happy. Huge Alt Shift X fan, bigger Expanse fan.

[@Salmontres]

One of the smoothest transitions to an ad ever

[@MemequisitorDominus]

I wish you would do this whole series mate its definately worth it and good content :)

[@michaelmorgue98]

Will we ever get more Expanse content on this channel? Loved these videos

[@AhmetOguzArslan]

This is so beautiful. Thank you.

[@MrFNP90]

Can we get more of these? This video is great

[@619Gotenks]

Anyone else binge 15 episodes so they could watch an Alt Shift X video? Just me? I'll see myself out.

[@Cissablack708]

Nah we in this together. i did the same!

[@619Gotenks]

@@Cissablack708 my man!

[@vanelive09]

Do more videos of The Expanse, please! Great job! Keep it up!

[@TexasTUK]

Thank you for covering this

[@jackdemask4177]

This is very helpful. Just started watching the TV series. Thanks.

[@dhowison6052]

Nice. I was recommended your channel for GoT vids but I also love the expanse. Currently reading book 8

[@voidy4947]

Need more expanse videos! Keep up the good work!

[@RullyisJRM]

I'm sure more people will watch the show/read the books thanks to your channel covering it. The Expanse is a fantastic story, and I'm looking forward to the fan base continue to grow as more people discover it.

[@bobert13581]

Videos about all these books? Joy!

[@chipmccloud]

More of these please.

[@jpo375]

Please make more of these.