Book Review: Caliban’s War by James S.A. Corey
The Story of Caliban’s War
Caliban’s War is the second novel in the acclaimed science fiction series The Expanse, following the events of Leviathan Wakes. Set in a future where humanity has colonized the solar system, tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Outer Planets Alliance remain high. Amid this fragile political balance, a new and terrifying bioweapon—an evolved version of the protomolecule—emerges in the form of monstrous, nearly invincible creatures.
The story begins with a tragic and shocking attack on Ganymede, the “breadbasket” of the outer planets, where a young girl named Mei goes missing during the chaos. Her father, a biologist named Prax Meng, teams up with the returning protagonist James Holden and his crew aboard the Rocinante to investigate her disappearance. As they uncover a vast conspiracy involving military experimentation and the continuing manipulation of protomolecule technology, the story builds to a thrilling climax that spans the solar system.
Meanwhile, we’re introduced to new characters, such as Martian Marine Gunnery Sergeant Bobbie Draper, who survives the initial attack and becomes a key figure in navigating the interplanetary tensions, and UN politician Chrisjen Avasarala, whose political acumen and sharp wit make her one of the series’ most beloved characters. All these perspectives paint a dynamic and engaging picture of a solar system on the brink of all-out war.
About the Author: James S.A. Corey
James S.A. Corey is the pen name used by collaborators Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Together, they have crafted a rich, politically complex universe that combines hard science fiction with thrilling action and deep character development. Abraham is an accomplished fantasy author known for his Long Price Quartet and Dagger and the Coin series. Franck, once a personal assistant to George R.R. Martin, helped to create much of the worldbuilding for The Expanse, originally conceived as a role-playing game setting before becoming a series of novels.
The duo’s strength lies in blending Abraham’s narrative and structural sensibilities with Franck’s meticulous planning and immersive world design. Their collaboration has yielded a space opera that doesn’t just entertain—it resonates with real-world themes of class tension, governance, technological ethics, and the nature of humanity itself.
Reflection and Deep Dive
Caliban’s War elevates the strength of Leviathan Wakes by expanding the scope of The Expanse universe. The narrative arc is both more ambitious and more grounded. Holden transforms from idealistic captain to a man faced with moral ambiguity, struggling with his decisions and their ripple effects. The introduction of characters like Avasarala and Bobbie Draper was a stroke of genius, enriching the story with distinctive, memorable voices. Their presence adds political depth and a sense of realism to a universe often dealing with monstrous alien threats.
The real power of Caliban’s War lies in its seamless integration of personal and political. Mei’s abduction is not only a desperate father’s tragedy but a lens through which readers can understand the broader moral decay present in this future’s power structures. Corey’s writing never loses pace—action sequences are cinematic, dialogue is sharp, and the stakes keep climbing. Yet, the science remains grounded enough to satisfy hard sci-fi fans, while the emotional undercurrents will attract readers from across genre lines.
It’s a book that asks tough questions: What does it mean to be human when faced with something entirely alien? Where does loyalty lie—in politics, family, or ideals? And what happens when those loyalties conflict? Caliban’s War answers these with intelligence, pace, and heart.
Happy reading, and I will see you in the next post!