Leviathan Wakes-novel

4 replies [Last post]
Extrasolar Angel
Extrasolar Angel's picture
Offline
Joined: 2010-03-28
Posts:

Recently I read a SF book called Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey
The book places a story within an interesting space-opera setting set in mostly colonized Solar System. We are told the story from the point of view of two protagonists, one of whom is a police detective based on Ceres, while the other starts as Earth-born crew member of ice hauler.
I will spare the story details, it is engaging and fast enough(the author is editing assistant of George Martin so take it as a plus), and while there are occasional bumps or fights that IMHO take too long I found it enjoyable enough, even if it's not a ground breaking book.
What is interesting for use in Eclipse Phase game?

First the author did give some interesting thoughts about division in solar system culture between those born on planets with atmospheres and those born in the Belt and Outer System. The need for quick and efficient reactions to life threatening situations shapes the outer culture and its perception of political solutions. This puts them sociologically apart from people born under Mars and Earth skies (It is implied that Mars gets partially terraformed). I found that believable and interesting, the author even shows some of the Outers forming racist ideology believing they are superior to other humans.
There is even an Outer organization that is combination of new informal political system and alleged terrorist group(something similar to EP Autonomist Alliance), unfortunately they aren't described in much detail.
Description of everyday life on Ceres is very useful in creating atmosphere for EP based games. You have all the conflicts and problems of frontier society with its own lingo, prejudices and traditions, as well as scenery.

Overall I would recommend the book as good enjoyable SF of space-operish nature, with some good ideas to implement into EP setting and certainly a lot of good source of inspiration for scenery, atmosphere and characters.

__________________

Mankind must shed its meat chrysalis and become our true selves. We will take wing and leave for unguessable spheres

Quincey Forder
Quincey Forder's picture
Offline
Joined: 2010-03-14
Posts:
Re: Leviathan Wakes-novel

found the audiobook at Audible.
downloading it as I type that.
19 hours and 9 minutes of goodness

__________________

Q U I N C E Y ^_*_^ F O R D E R

"This is how a human dies! At Ramming speed!"
ANN Reporter Emily Wong, RIP 2186

Decimator
Decimator's picture
Offline
Joined: 2011-01-12
Posts:
Re: Leviathan Wakes-novel

I read this a few weeks ago. Excellent book.

Quincey Forder
Quincey Forder's picture
Offline
Joined: 2010-03-14
Posts:
Re: Leviathan Wakes-novel

That book is a gold mine for EP gamers
so, so many inspirations of locations, NPCs and storyhooks.

Spoiler: Highlight to view
I'm a bit confused, though. The opening scene, with the girl in the locker. Is that before or after the destruction of the Cant'?

I really like the detective, Miller.
Has anybody given him (and the others, like Holden, Shadid, etc) a character sheet?

__________________

Q U I N C E Y ^_*_^ F O R D E R

"This is how a human dies! At Ramming speed!"
ANN Reporter Emily Wong, RIP 2186

Prior
Prior's picture
Offline
Joined: 2012-01-13
Posts:
Re: Leviathan Wakes-novel

Just ordered. Thanks for the heads-up.

__________________

"I do seem to remember a process where you people ask me questions and I give you answers, and then I ask you questions and you give me answers, and that's the way we find out things. I think I read that in a manual somewhere."