The Expanse Series Books in Order

The Expanse Series is a landmark of contemporary science fiction written by James S.A. Corey (the joint pen name of authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck), set several centuries in the future when humanity has colonised the solar system. Earth remains the political and cultural centre of a fractious civilisation; Mars has become an independent military superpower with its own culture and ambitions; and the asteroid belt and outer planets are home to the Belters — a third culture of people born in low gravity, physically distinct from inner planet humans, politically marginalised, and increasingly radicalised. The story begins when the discovery of an alien protomolecule of unknown origin and catastrophic potential sets these three civilisations on a collision course.

The Expanse is exceptional among space opera series for its scientific rigour. The physics of space travel — the crushing g-forces of hard burns, the weeks-long journeys between planets, the vulnerability of life-support systems — are treated with more accuracy than almost any comparable franchise. The political dynamics are equally sophisticated: the series functions partly as an extended analogy for real-world geopolitics, with the Belt's situation evoking the experience of colonised and economically exploited populations throughout history.

Comprising 9 novels from Leviathan Wakes (2011) through Leviathan Falls (2021), the series tells a complete story across a vast timespan. The Amazon Prime Video adaptation is one of the best science fiction television series ever made. Essential reading for any fan of hard science fiction, political thriller, or ambitious world-building. Must be read in order from Leviathan Wakes.