The Expanse
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Expanse is a universally acclaimed science fiction series by James S.A. Corey, frequently cited as a gold standard for both the space opera genre and the audiobook format. It is highly regarded for its blend of "hard science" realism, mystery, and epic scale, with many fans considering it one of the best series written in recent decades.
Pros
- Exceptional audiobook narration by Jefferson Mays, described as "top-tier" and "stellar."
- Satisfying "hard science" elements that provide a realistic feel to space travel.
- Compelling mix of genres, including mystery, murder investigation, and suspenseful space battles.
- Consistent quality across a large body of work, including nine main novels and seven novellas.
Caveats
- The series is a significant time commitment, consisting of nine lengthy novels plus additional short stories.
Best for
- Fans of hard sci-fi and space operas.
- Audiobook listeners who prioritize high-quality, consistent narration.
- Readers who enjoy the works of Michael Crichton or series like Project Hail Mary and The Bobiverse.
Avoid if
- You prefer standalone novels over long-running, multi-book sagas.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence is drawn from a consistent set of positive mentions in r/audiobooks over the last two years, with a median source age of approximately 566 days.
Sentiment
56 positive (97%) · 1 mixed (2%) · 1 negative (2%)
Trust + time weighted score: +95% · raw score 95%
What redditors said (10 of 58)
The Expanse is really good.
The Expanse series. From the first book, it was all I wanted to do until I’d heard them all.
The ones I DO consider memorable in a stand-out kind of way are: ... The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey
The Expanse (great Sci-Fi with a lot of mystery!!)
I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but I really enjoyed The Expanse series (it's epic), and the Netflix show was great.
The Expanse series. ... James SA Corey to a great job with using real physics the vast majority of the time
Had a similar moment with The Expanse - absolutely outstanding show, btw - when I saw them using a Makita angle grinder that I owned.
Recently DNF'D the expanse after about 400 pages in - cool premise and ideas but the prose and characters just fell flat.
I read the first Expanse and was kinda whelmed by it but I'm also not a huge noir fan so I think it just wasn't my speed
I feel The Expanse would be bang in the middle of these two, though a bit less grandiose than either.
Compare
The Expanse vs DiscworldThe Expanse vs MurderbotThe Expanse vs His Dark Materials
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