Leviathan Falls (The Expanse, 9)

When you read something over so long a period of time—investing hours and years into one story, one set of characters—the ending is always a bittersweet thing. Bitter, because it's over; you shall not return again. Sweet, because all good things must come to an end. And The Expanse is a very, very good thing.Closing Leviathan Falls, I am left with a strange feeling of malaise, almost. Like something isn't quite right. Because though this is the final book in the series, and the capstone to a long journey among the stars, it didn't really feel like an ending. Or, it did, but it also didn't. Certainly, the plot threads that have been woven for the last nine books were brought to a satisfying and poignant conclusion. That is true. But there was a part of me that book down the book and thought, "It's over? We're really done?" But the thing is, I'm not sure it could be otherwise.James S.A. Corey (Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham) have, in The Expanse, written a story about humans. Yes, it's a story in which people sail the stars; in which alien gates to other planets open; in which an extraterrestrial molecule sailed millions of light years through space to infect and co-op the minds of humanity. But really, it's a story about people. All the best science-fiction stories are. And so how could it be otherwise that the 'end' of the story feels conclusive, powerful, beautiful even, but also... unfinished? Because humanity's is a story that goes on. It doesn't matter if it's now, or ten thousand years from now, we are a species that adapts, survives, and goes on being exceedingly human. Being human is getting angry with someone when they get a better seat on the bus. Being human is holding the door for someone even though they're a little too far away. Being human is justifying another scoop of ice cream when you just promised yourself to lay off the sweets, or getting jealous of someone's new phone, or holding onto a secret so tightly that it eats away at you like acid. Being human is as simple as a smile on the lips of a baby, and as complex as the ever-present mysteries of love. And humanity is exactly what Ty and Daniel have put on display in The Expanse. It's humans writing humans. Real ones.And so if Leviathan Falls is about preserving humanity, then it is about no more or less than each of the eight books that preceded it were about. And every time it gave me chills, or made me sad, or made me miss the characters between its pages, I was all the more human for it. — [4.25]

It's always a strange feeling to finish a long series of books that has entertained, enlightened, and inspired you over years of your life, sometimes even decades. The stories are like a part of your history, the characters like friends you've joyously reunited with again and again. There's a unique excitement in a new book coming out in a series you love, afterwards followed by years of extensive discussion and anticipation for the *next* book, for those of us fortunate enough to be involved with communities of fans . But eventually, that next book will be the last one.I started reading Robert Jordan's "The Wheel of Time" in 1997, when I was in high school. WoT and the wonderful community of fellow fans who'd become like a family to me saw me graduate high school, struggle through some very difficult years, then go to college, followed by law school. The final book in the series came out while I was working my first job post-law school, a few months after I graduated. I read that book with both love and sorrow, because a part of my life was ending, something I had been able to look forward to for fifteen years. After I finished it, my life was different.The same thing goes for The Expanse. I've been flying around with the crew of the Roci for eleven years, many of which were very hard times; this series helped keep me sane and hopeful in those times. When the book finally appeared on my Kindle, I felt some trepidation, because I didn't want this story to end. I had pre-ordered it what feels like ages ago, and actually forgot it was coming up until it was there, downloaded. I read the first couple of chapters, and then I stopped because, as always seems to happen, real life intruded on my reading-for-fun.I didn't pick it back up until around the end of November, 2022; I tried to parcel it out gradually, so I could spend as much time as possible with these old frirnds. And now it's over, and once again my life is different.But, it was very well worth the journey. Leviathan Falls is a fitting and satisfactory conclusion to what I personally feel is the best science fiction series, so far, of the last twenty years, and indeed one of the best series in all of speculative fiction. The authors have done an excellent job of wrapping *almost* everything up. The biggest plot threads get a suitably epic send-off.The only thing I found wanting was a few minor loose ends from the series that either didn't get a mention at all, or were concluded off-screen and barely registered in the story (coincidentally, I felt the same about the final Wheel of Time book). All in all, however, it was excellent, as we've come to expect from this series. Reading the last couple of chapters had me crying by the end.Perhaps I get "too involved" with books, if a series' ending can hit me with such strong feelings, but books and the worlds in them have always been dear to me. And truthfully, it's not *all* over; there will still be discussions, and rereads, and speculation, and most importantly, inspiration to share with folks just starting out with the series.So, if you're a fan of the series, although you may feel sad that the series is finished, I'll bet that you'll very much enjoy the end of the journey.

I enjoyed reading every word of all 9 books…Kinda sad it’s over. Maybe the TV series will continue and I can see the remaining books come to life.

Started with the expanse TV series, loved it, read the books. The series captures all of humanity's violence, love, joy, hatred, and propensity for adventure and the hunger of the unknown. 10/10 must read book series.

Firstly Leviathan Falls has a pleasing circularity about it, with many situations a repeat of similar ones earlier in the series - particularly the first 3. Yet even with this it doesn’t feel stale rather it feels “right”.The ending whilst not full of unicorns and rainbows suits the series down to the ground and leaves a feeling of everything having slotted into its rightful place. The epilogue is particularly nice.Messrs Weber and Martin could do worse than look at this as a brilliant example of how to conclusively end a series.Whilst I bounced off of the time gap between books 6 and 7 this book more than the rest justifies the change to get to this conclusion. Bravo and well done to the 2 authors.I recently saw a tweet from the authors account where the series is better thought of as 3 duologies and a trilology, and this intrigues me enough to go back to the start.And now to watch the conclusion of the TV series, which unlike its close cousin GOT has wonderfully evolved into its own thing too.Well done again to the authors. Five stars for the conclusion 4 stars over all for the series.

It was always going to be a difficult task to bring The Expanse to a close, but they have pulled it off.For my taste, I found the book a little heavy on the metaphysical side and a little light on swashbuckling action.However, despite a touch of predictably, the book is true to the events, relationships and scars of earlier books.It’s a rare pleasure to finish the final book in such a long running series and feel that it was the right way to end the story. This book achieved that, and more.

Great end to the series, wraps up the story better than I could have hoped given the number of threads in motion at the end of book 8. Can't really say anything about the story without spoilers - it picks up almost straight after book 8. All I can really say is that if you've enjoyed the first 8 books you will like this one, all the regulars are back along with characters from the previous books who we learn more about.I didn't see the end coming, but it made sense and brought things together nicely, and a few hours later I'm still processing it: it doesn't skimp on the emotional side as well as wrapping up the story.Once it's all sunk in I might well go and read it again!

Begins with a slow reintroduction of the various characters and progresses with lots of words and people talking at each other some of which does not make sense especially when the scientists try to explain what is going on, it comes across as garbage. It continues with a bit of action and more talk with repeated thinking about who has died interrupted by “the dreamers”, more words signifying very little. There is no big showdown at the end just Holden being noble and turning out the lights. No explanation of who or what was the enemy and what the protomolecule was actually for and what happened to the last bits of it. The changed Amos is still there at the very end so at least this epic leaves on a cheerful note!

I really enjoyed the first 7 books, well paced good characters and excellent stories. Later 2 books were ok, they did have some characterisation and you could see some sort of plot coming together, but the made up science was being used to fill gaps and bulk out the books.The last book that took forever to actually land, is nothing short of confusing, not particularly well written and not so much in the way of a plot. It all sorts of ends predictably without much of fanfare. Now I know these books were steeped with science theory, this made them very realistic and the stories believable. Alas we get to the final book, it's like the writer's couldn't be bothered, don't know how to end it, copped out on a dramatic ending, and went for a Star Trek ending instead. They done such great work before this is a really really sad end to the series. Don't buy it unless it's on special offer as it's not worth the cover price.