The Expanse - My #1 Sci-fi Series

Welcome to the Expanse!
This is a spoiler-free introduction to my personal favourite sci-fi series. However I will not pressure you to read it! You and I might have different tastes. So this in an objective look at the Expanse to help you know if it's the right series for you.
We'll look at all 10 books, talk about the 'hard and soft' science and technology on display, and the brilliant character work. (Avasarala is queen!) We'll also discuss the social commentary and some deeper philosophical themes on display here. Hope you enjoy!
You can support this channel through our shop:
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Shoutout to the youtube channels I referenced in this video.
‪@GenerationFilms‬ check out their video The Most Complex Character in Science Fiction | Amos Burton from The Expanse
‪@JustWrite‬ every video in his amazing 5 part breakdown of The Hobbit is great. Specifically I referenced his video Why The Hobbit Sucks Part Two: Tensionless Action.

[@Wouter_K]

Your clear explanations, production quality and puns/pop culture inserts are so great. Thanks for another great video!

[@wadecoppage5583]

I had never read a sci-fi book before 2015, I was 31. I worked at an airport and someone left Leviathan Wakes in the terminal so I took it. I've never read such a big book so quickly. The Expanse is the greatest story I've ever read. I remember my hands shaking and actually getting emotional many times. I tell anyone who'll listen about it.

[@cronkthebookguy]

That is extremely cool! Glad you found a book that you connected with so deeply!

[@wadecoppage5583]

@@cronkthebookguy Your video was great. Id never thought of hard vs soft science before but you were spot on. I've read them all twice and listened to the audiobooks probably 4 times all the way through. You talk about world building, last time I finished them I was thinking about the few characters who made it from just Earth, Mars, and the Belt, through the rings, through the wars and occupation, and ended up right back where they started. Alongside that, all the major players who died at big points in history and everything they missed after that were so much bigger. Now thanks to your videos I have new series to check out; I couldn't find a worthy series after to fill the void.

[@MDalal91]

Your videos are awesome!! Currently rocking our newborn to sleep which makes it hard to read, but listening to you talk about your favorite books is the next best thing 😅

[@cronkthebookguy]

Omg congrats! ❤ I hope you can still read from time to time. But be nice to yourself if you're a bit time poor for a while!

[@regulah2125]

It really is a fantastic series. I'm so happy they nailed the ending. I read on Ty and Daniel's recent AMA that they've handed in the first book in their new series as James S.A Corey to the publisher, so that is for sure coming out next year!

[@justink5000]

One critcism: I wouldn't call soft magic systems "wishy washy you can do whatever you want". It's more about that this kind of magic is more mysterious and unexplained. Great examples of well-done soft magic systems are in A Song of Ice and Fire and the Ghibli movies! Great channel though, I'm lying sick in bed and been binging your content ❤

[@KannadaLofi]

You randomly popped on my home feed and I am so glad you did, loved the way you articulate things. No drama no bs straight to point. Loved your work. Half hour video felt like a 10 min one. Keep up the good work ❤

[@iancrawford2191]

Ah, The Expanse, my second favourite sci-fi series (first is Red Rising). Loved every second of reading it. The only part about it I didn't like was that it ended. Definitely a series anyone who claims to like sci-fi should at least try. Great video, as usual!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Nice!! Haha I think Red Rising is my second favourite! Hmm... *civil war* 😂

[@iancrawford2191]

Then you had best prepare for an Iron Rain!

[@TheMasterMango]

​@@cronkthebookguywould love to hear you do a video about Red Rising!! I just stumbled upon your channel. Great videos and content!

[@idawg7332]

I'm reading the expanse now (almost done with book5) I want to read red rising but after ASOIAF i'm nervous about starting anything that isn't finished. Do you think the author will get the final book done is reasonable time?

[@slkendall85]

A. Reasonable. Thing. To. Expect. 🙌🏻 Could not be rolling my eyes harder when every woman a “cool guy” character interacts with wants to sleep with him.

[@RedwoodTheElf]

The TV adaptation is what Firefly could have been, if it had the support of the producers. A shame they didn't have 3 more seasons to develop and complete the story from the books. 32:00 kzbin.info/www/bejne/r3THl4yhirWpitU

[@johnbd9765]

You know, if they bring it back in 15 years the actors will all be about the right age for the last 3 books 🤔 maybe that's the plan

[@soph_taylor]

I watched this video several months ago, when I was considering diving into this series. It made me super excited to jump in, and now I’m on Book 3 and still loving it. So, thank you! I’ve rediscovered my love of reading and your channel played a big part in that!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Awwww! Thank you so much for coming back just to tell me that. That is so inspiring to hear. Hope you keep enjoying the series!

[@chrism7395]

Another amazing sci-fi book series is The Mars Trilogy (Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars) by Kim Stanley Robinson; three books and a collection of short stories covering an incredible range of subjects, from hard science to economics, sociology and politics (also, if you've played the Terraforming Mars board game, the Mars Trilogy was definitely an influence!)

[@VladSvitlychnyi]

> there is general belief that the books 4,5,6 are the boring ones I wouldn't say that book 5 is considered boring; in fact, it has been the fan's favorite until book 8 came out (it literally has "The Red Wedding of The Expanse" and _very_ action-packed). As for book 4, it's very polarising: some readers absolutely love it and the others hate it, there is nothing in between; but no matter what is your opinion on the first read, it becomes much better with each subsequent re-read (because it has a lot of foreshadowing and groundwork for the books 7-9). As for book 6, in my opinion it suffered a bit because of having too many POVs; still, Anderson Dawes' chapters are ones of my favorite in the whole series.

[@AshleyRebecca]

Loved this video so much! Such a great recommendation! And heck yes if you start with LoTR! Lol

[@jenniferlummis8196]

I hope I love it too and that it rekindles my love of sci-fi. Just picked up book 1! Thanks so much for the fun review!

[@FullaEels]

bought Leviathan Wakes a couple years ago but only started reading it about a month ago, nearly done with it. Already ordered Caliban's War. The Expanse certainly makes my 2h of bus on workdays more bearable!

[@FullaEels]

4 months later... Blasted thru Leviathan Wakes and Caliban's War in November, Abaddon's Gate in about 2 weeks this month and now onto Cibola Burn. Yeah, I love this series. I'm going to finish the entire thing. Excited to see what The author duo's new trilogy 'The Captive's War' has to offer in august!

[@KyNYC212]

I've watched TV series and watching your video has me interested in the books.

[@obijuan-kenobi5117]

Just finished book 5 and the algorithm put this video in front of me. Love the series so far and look forward to the rest of it!

[@johnbd9765]

You gotta do the Three-body Problem Series next year!

[@destro6971]

BELTALOWDA!!!!

[@ElectricProductions2]

I work construction and have a lot of commute time, read leviathan wakes as a hard copy and listened to it, and i listened to the rest of the main novels and absolutely loved them and loved all the novellas as i listened to them in the Memories Legion book

[@renatosouza9261]

I really enjoy your book reviews. The Expanse is already on my TBR and I guess it just jumped ahead on the line up.

[@PhoenixSuki]

I might give these a go on audiobook :) have added the first one to my audible wish list. I don’t usually go for science fiction but want to give it a try. Thanks for doing this video, been interesting to hear about the series!

[@roxanacasuso3376]

I love the books and I love the Tv show, both are amazing.

[@AmandaInEly]

Brilliant! I admit, I did stop around book six. Maybe I'll get back to it. But I'm only three books into Robin Hobb just now. Obviously I want to be Christen when I grow up.

[@cronkthebookguy]

Thank you! Well books 7, 8 & 9 are incredible! Hope you get to them. But Robin Hobb is a more than worthy alternative. ❤ Lol right? Becoming Chrisjen is my life goal.

[@maybelore]

yay! a sci fi book! by the way how do you read so fast? I can't keep up!

[@cronkthebookguy]

Don't feel bad! These videos come from my last 5 years of reading. I'll run out of content eventually! 😅 Just read at your own rate. Tolkien once wrote, 'little by little, one travels far'. You don't have to read everything all at once. ❤

[@maybelore]

thanks, that's a good quote from a good author.

[@Akuma60]

The more you read the faster you'll go. Variety and degrees of difficulty helps too. But don't start on like Gravity's Rainbow or Malazan. Maybe Neal Stephenson would be good. One of his will stretch your brain without the dedication to a series

[@TheEvilJade]

Can I recommend Expeditionary Force series (18+ books) by : Craig Alanson. One of the most interesting series as it sets Earth as total underdog in a very very dangerous believable universe where the main characters are trying to keep an unaware Earth from destruction. I think better to listen to rather than read because R.C. Bray narrates it so good.

[@kawaiikitty4569]

Awesome video, I am picking up the sci-fi genre again after a few years and this series sounds fantastic! Will have to try book 1. Also very knowledgeable and clear explanations, thank you!

[@shinaxia7474]

The series was amazing. The first episode was a bit boring, Miller is a rather boring anti-hero (in my opinion), but I made it to the end and was drawn in. I can't hide the fact that my attention was caught by Holden, an imperfect paragon. As for the books, I didn't manage to read any of them. Maybe because I liked the series too much or maybe because I have no desire to read in a foreign language and the translation into my language had some annoying elements for me. Overall, however, I agree that Expanse is one of the best that sf has seen. And in case anyone was curious, my mother tongue is Polish. I'm not saying the translation is bad, it just annoyed me that the name Rosinante was changed to Rozynant. I would have preferred that they kept the original name, as was done with the names of the characters - James Holden not Jakub Holden.

[@alien777]

Original star trek has naval based combat. New trek cobies star trek and has nothing with old trek in commen. That made star trek so unique and great. Best is star trek 6, the shakespeare one.

[@korruptcontent954]

To give them credit they did it in the first few episodes. Like the belter she was torturing in the beginning was like tall and skinny but I believe they said they couldn't find that many actors that are that tall and skinny. So they gave up.

[@Adamwofford]

So, in that comparison, one side of the battle is DND magic, which is understandable, and everyone knows the rules, and on the other side is lovecraftain magic, which starts off understandable, but then Cthulhu eats everyone

[@landoe2846]

I enjoyed this review. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I really did miss not having Drummer in the books like she was in the series.

[@General_reader]

The time jump deflates everything that follows…. 😢

[@JoelFeila]

If you want an even harder view on the science of space living go watch Issac Arthur. There are some really interesting points where reality and the books break. There is a lot of O2 in the belt just in the form of oxides so they wouldn't need to import air.

[@Alkemisti]

I would love to see your video on Django Wexler's _Shadow Campaigns._

[@zuzana15]

Haha I was hoping you were going to say horror October, I guess that is a little predictable. Gotta keep them guessing!

[@errynbalzan174]

You have great insight man! And I love the little pop culture cutaways 😂.

[@r.coburn3344]

When he goes to do the cringy lightsaber move BUT THEN HE NAILS IT i grin real wide.

[@toedrag-release]

I cant wait for the author's next series with the series debut novel "the mercy of gods", by the description of it it sounds very intriguing.

[@thatsci-firogue]

Haven't read Expanse yet but I've read Daniel Abraham's Long Price Quartet and that's a really underrated Fantasy series.

[@BigBossTooN]

I couldn’t get into the show, but your explanation of the books makes me interested.

[@FrshChees91]

The Expanse is probably my second favorite show ever.

[@jennifer_left_a_comment]

awesome video - thank you! i absolutely loved the tv show! 💜 and i’ve been planning to read the books ever since.. maybe this will be the month i start 🤞 happy reading!

[@Kallekosmo]

OMG. Love the series. But.... The tv series are even better. Best tvshow ever. You have to see it.

[@SpencerRussellSmithAuthor]

I was blown out of the water by this series. I DNFed after the first few chapters on my first readthrough because I wasn't in the right mindset for it, but when I returned to it, it was incredible!

[@celestegosling6054]

Yay! I'm so glad you did this one! The Expanse is my favourite Sci-Fi series as well!!! I love it so much. And the Sci-Fi September opening is great!

[@alien777]

Hi thats nathan fillion next to g r r martin. Love cap. Mel so much.

[@diego0299]

Great video!!! Have You read the stormlight archive?

[@kevins4254]

Great description of the series. I love the Expanse. It's one of my favorite series from all genres.

[@melindad1945]

Could listen to you talk forevermore 😊 Thanks for being a educational, interesting, and hunky sci fi guy !

[@junebunchanumbers]

Yeah, alright, this is on the list. Won't be getting to it any year soon, though.

[@Redtornado6]

Being poor doesn’t give you a free pass to do crime

[@lorimariebee]

Excited for next week and Octobers videos. Always look forward to your videos! I really love your format and keypoints you go over to help everyone decide if these series are going to be a good fit.

[@r.coburn3344]

8 minutes in and I am now a dedicated subbliber

[@rhondasawosz3821]

Thanx, I may try SCI FI and start with this one

[@BackseatDak]

I’m reading the first book now. I watched the entire series, which I’m actually glad I did, having faces to put to characters. As always, book is WAYYY better. I’m using this as a springboard to get back into reading and away from video games…ruined my dopamine uptake for too long 😂

[@cronkthebookguy]

Wonderful! I love hearing about people getting back into reading. Expanse is so perfect for that. Enjoy!!

[@PolishGirlReads]

I'm on book 4 now :D great video!

[@cjhumphris3428]

Hi Love your reviews, I think they are great. I was wondering if you had read the Black Complany series by Glen Cook and if you had considered doing a video on it.

[@cronkthebookguy]

Thank you! Haven't read Black Company yet. Sadly the first 3 books have been on my to-read shelf for nearly 3 years! Very eager to get to them asap.

[@Paulovlyra]

I didnt know it was 2 authors 😳

[@goblin3810]

Man i gotta say i loved the intro!

[@cesarbeltran316]

man I just wanted to know who is the enemy is this about aliens or what? Really liked the 3 body series

[@cronkthebookguy]

Oh fair question. I couldn't answer that cause it's a spoiler. But you do find out in book 1. But the 'true' enemy is always humanity and human nature. Hope that helps.

[@SaduranYT]

Just to get context, but are you from UK, USA or Australia?

[@KitCronk]

He’s from Australia 😊

[@johnbooth3887]

per the authors its actually 3 duologies and a single triology

[@cronkthebookguy]

Wow! I hadn't heard that before, but it makes SO much sense. :)

[@BloodKills]

I love this story so much, that even though I have a severe social anxiety disorder, I will recommend this to anyone willing to listen.

[@fernandopaiz3696]

My best friend (that I've known for 16 years) couldn't convince me to try "The Expanse." You just did :)

[@cronkthebookguy]

Hahaha!! Please tell your best friend I said 'You're welcome'. 😜 and that they have great taste.

[@fernandopaiz3696]

@@cronkthebookguy haha will do! Your channel is amazing btw! Please keep doing what you do, we need more readers 🤘

[@hartmut30plus]

6:22 Speaking of series with clashing magic systems, I saw that you have a full set of the Powder Mage series behind you. Do you have any plans to make a video on that? Obviously it doesn't fit the themes of September or October, but I'd love to see more Powder Mage content on youtube

[@cronkthebookguy]

Great question! I love powder made and I'm trying to schedule time to do it! Maybe a Flintlock February? 🤣 hopefully soon!

[@hartmut30plus]

@@cronkthebookguy Flintlock February rolls of the tongue seriously well, that's a great idea. Or perhaps Military March

[@hectatereads105]

How bad is the body horror? I got a little freaked out in the prologue of the first. Is this continued, or should I try a bit more?

[@cronkthebookguy]

Oooh good question! I'm pretty sure the only body horror is in book 1. Book 2 does have some monsters, but not really the body horror type. I'm thinking hard and really can't find any other example of it.

[@hectatereads105]

@@cronkthebookguy thanks! Thé séries sounds amazing and I’d be sad to miss out. Maybe I’ll give it another go and at least I have an idea of what is coming up in book 1 and won’t be as surprised