BOOKS LIKE THE EXPANSE | What To Read After Leviathan Falls

[@spector3881]

After finishing leviathan falls I also sat there and wondered what to do with myself...thank you for this

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Haha happy to attempt to feel the void.

[@beyond_the_tequila_rift3194]

I felt like I lost family after finishing off Leviathan Falls 🥺😭😭😭😭 i want to see the continuation in live action, but i don't know that LA could give books 7-9 it's tragic and intense credence that the books place.

[@NatureFreak1127]

Same, so I started the series again. Reunited with my Roci family.

[@cdh8stings]

The similes and metaphors really got me in the expanse. I can't imagine finding writing that ever hit me as deeply as his profound comparisons and scene descriptions.

[@coregoon]

I was very lost after finishing the Expanse. Ended up picking something I felt was very different. Someone suggested it, and on a whim I picked it up. So I started reading Gideon the Ninth.
Ended up loving it, tho I really wanted to know more about the setting. Month and a half later and I've now read all three published books for the series. They get progressively weirder and weirder, but not bad, and I really wanna see where this ends up. It's a fascinating setting. Last book is supposed to be out later this year.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yeah sometimes it's good to go in a totally different direction so you can't compare at all

[@Oilbleak5453]

Take a look at Megan O’Keefe’s Protectorate trilogy (Velocity Weapon, Chaos Vector, and Catalyst Gate) and the First and Second Formic War trilogies by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston (those trilogies cover the attacks on Earth that lead to Ender’s Game). The first book in the First Formic War series, Earth Afire, is what you’d get if the belters from the Expanse made first contact.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for all the recs!

[@sakrowley]

Yup the Enders Game series would be great, too. Not as many characters but more focused on the characters in every sense of the word

[@yankeyhotel]

Another series to look at is the A Memory Called Empire: Teixcalaan, Book 1 series. The first one took me a bit to get into, but now about a third of the way into Book 2 I am really liking it.

[@rowsiethemas4798]

Check out Lois McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan series, beginning with Shards of Honor and Barrayar, if you like space opera and character driven stories. Thanks for your suggestions!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the recs

[@garyvincent5619]

Late to the party - just finished Leviathan Falls, so thanks for the recommendations! Saw in another video that you recommended John Scalzi's "Old Man's War" as good beginner space opera. Since it is older, some folks who got their intro with The Expanse may be unaware of it.
Old Man's War, The Ghost Brigades, and The Last Colony make a pretty good trilogy. Not sure about later books in the series, they don't seem to be as well received.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh yes that's a very good recommendation too!

[@greenknightable]

The Golden Oecumene by John C Wright ( only 3 books)

[@BennBugby]

First time commentor because it's awesome to see someone mention Saga of the Seven Suns. This is my favourite series ever. So fast paced and so many great ideas all rolled into one. Absoutley love it, every book is a cracking journey.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I never hear anyone talk about the series. I definitely want to reread them at some point

[@the_srm]

Exactly what I need right now. Though, my to-read-stack has 2 titles on top that will take the edge off

[@Jonathan-ug9yu]

I binged Leviathan Falls in one day. Then was spent on books for a bit. I’ve gone back to the Cosmere now.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Ah yes good call to switch genres and read some fantasy

[@Jonathan-ug9yu]

@@TheShadesofOrange I'd put it on hold for my Expanse reread before Leviathan Falls.
It'll keep me busy for a while!

[@jaffarebellion292]

If you like the TV show, also feel free to check out a few of these if you haven't already. You won't regret it.
Farscape
Babylon 5
Battlestar Galactica (2003)
Stargate SG-1/Stargate Atlantis
Firefly/Serenity
I'm sure there's more, but that's what I've seen that compares. I'm not going to count Dark Matter because they never finished it.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Ooh yes I love Babylon, Firefly & Battlestar. I should check out the rest

[@jaffarebellion292]

@@TheShadesofOrange Be warned, Farscape is... How do I say this...
A bit weird.

[@chrisconnors7418]

Megan O'Keefe's Protectorate series (Velocity Weapon is the first one).
S.K. Dunstall's Stars Uncharted series.
Alex White's A Big Ship at the End of the Universe series (3 books).
I haven't read any Kevin Anderson; the only copy I have from him is Stake, which seems to be a gender-reversed Scully-Mulder team hunting a person who is staking vampires (or is he a serial killer killing innocents he thinks are vampires?). It's been on my TBR since Aug 1, 2020. I may look up that series of his you mentioned. I have the other series already on my tbr. Just a matter of time getting around to them.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the recs! I read Velocity Weapon but need to read the other two still

[@KevinLyda]

Another one I'd recommend is "The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet" by Becky Chambers - it's part of a series of four novels in the Wayfarer series.
And this one's old, but "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell. It's the first of a two part series. "Children of God" is the second. One thing I'd note is that religion plays a role in these books but this grumpy atheist still enjoyed them. Don't be put off by that if you read the book jacket.
Oh, and for an even older series there's the Red, Green, Blue Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Interesting recs

[@thetheatrezoo3603]

I just picked up Shards of Earth for my son. The Expanse series really fixed me into wanting to read Space Opera.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

What an awesome gift

[@alexai7971]

The Protectorate trilogy by Megan E. O'Keefe! Mystery, found family, and with each book you realize that the world has a lot of similarities with that of The Expanse.

[@devlyn873]

Love that series! I read it just a few months ago and it was so much fun!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Ah yes another good rec! I've only read book one but I definitely see the comparisons

[@jamesdouglas6977]

I went and read ‘Final Spin’ By Jocko Wilink and followed that with the novelization of Qunitin Tarimtino’s movie ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’. Neither book is sci fi.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Cool. Yeah sometimes reading something very different is the best way to go

[@pixilixy]

ok now i just filled my audible wishlist - again lol

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Lol sorry/not sorry 😅

[@redfishbum]

Hyperion series by Dan Simmons. I loved it and much more satisfying than the Expanse.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Still need to read it!

[@redfishbum]

@@TheShadesofOrange It is amazing! Mind blowing. All four books... character development is excellent.

[@petelannen3077]

Velocity weapon by Megan E OKeefe is another Expanse like, twists and turns, with a large bit of political intrigue. It's the first book of a trilogy.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh yes, good recommendation

[@johnstanton2853]

First time here. Enjoyed your presentation. Thanks for the recommendations. Half way through "Falls" right now and look forward to reading your suggestions. Previously read "Machine" and was sorry there weren't more by this author. Also, "Dark Matter" by Blake Crouch was another one I wished was part of a series.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh thank you! Can't wait to hear what you think of the ending of Leviathan Falls

[@Tom-B4848]

great video....3 more (sry if you mentioned them in other videos) Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds SunEater Saga by Christopher Rouccio and Red Rising bu Pierce Brown

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the recs! Embarrassingly I haven't read any of those (yet)!

[@sakrowley]

Red rising would be a great palate cleanser series light yet engaging enough! Great rec!

[@paulallison6418]

Hi Rachel I am up to around book 8 of the series and have seen all the TV shows - great series and right up my wheelhouse and found MACHINE that you mentioned the most interesting from this video. I am reading The Grand Tour series at the moment by Ben Bova probably this influenced The Expanse as it existed 20-30 years ago and inhabits the same space (The Solar system) but is set much more in our near future, say 50 years time instead of 150 years time. The Grand Tour consists of over 20 books.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks I'll have to look up that series by Ben Bova. Thanks

[@r3cgm]

Thanks for producing this video! Always looking for good recommendations. I misheard a sentence as "a Red Tag group of salvagers" and it immediately made me picture a motley crew of space voyagers on a quest across the galaxy to find the best bargains and sales. :)

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Lol... I want to read THAT book!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Love a good bargain!

[@laracroft1829]

Loved the video. I’d like to give a try to Machine. It sounds great.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@nancywolf1467]

I loved Shards of Earth!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Me too!

[@cade4746]

i haven't read The Expanse seres yet and im here adding these to my TBR 😅 , excited to start the expanse asap. Thanks for the recommendations!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Haha totally allowed!

[@SufficientlyAdvancedLena]

I will definitely need this after Leviathan Falls 😭😭

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yes!

[@jtjr26]

I have read every Honor Harrington book or Honorverse as it is called. This is my favorite SF series of all time and I am glad to see someone recommend it. I do have to disagree with you the Honorverse and The Expanse aside from being space operas are very different. I would say the Honorverse is more military SF with the expanse is more SF adventure. For someone coming in from reading the Expanse books, I might recommend a palate cleanser before diving into a new series.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yes I've read further in since filming this and I'd agree with you

[@greenknightable]

The main character being impeller field torpedoes.

[@arriverchicago]

I’ve been with the series for a while so I’ve had to scratch that itch a few times. Books that have done it best:
Kim Stanley Robinson “Red Mars” - foundational classic “realistic” sci-fi trilogy, an acknowledged influence on the Expanse…essential.
NK Jemisin “The Fifth Season”. First in a trilogy. Believe the hype.
Nnedi Okorafor “Binti”.
Charlie Jane Anders “The City In The Middle of the Night”.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for sharing your recs. Some I have read, some I still need to read

[@Colonel2005]

I’m not the most familiar with your channel I fell into the expanse before Tiamats released I believe but I watched seasons 1-3 on Amazon prime because it recommended it. Before season 4 released. I am a huge audible listener because I am a truck driver but the expanse wrapped up and I loved it a ton but I am now listening to the Three Body Problem by Cixen Liu it is bizarre to say the least but very good so far about 75%through the first novel and loving it

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I love audiobooks too. It's great that you'll able to listen while listening. I really liked the narration for 3 body problem. I wish the other books had the same narrator

[@andriyandriychuk]

I like dark, brutal and gruesome sci-fi! Like 'The Last Bounce' by William Tenn!

[@Snowy123]

I highly recommend "Spiral Wars" series its also a modern sci-fi space opera currently going. This book doesn't get any recommendations on the TH-cam community so I'm here to say I'm on book 7 and it's still great it doesn't drop off.
The books sometimes bring up interesting concepts similiar to cosmic sociology on how certain evolution traits leads species to be creative, democratic, etc etc. Or how all AIs cannot be trusted since everything they do is calculated by their nature. It's all calculated for effect.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I'll have to check it out

[@miyayume_eclectic_dream]

Thank you for Machine 😊 The first 2 sentence from the blurb made me download the e-book ASAP. I love the prose and the action from the get-go.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I hope you enjoy it!

[@MrStevo808]

Hello Rachel. Did you ever talk about about Space Operas from Peter F. Hamilton, like Night's Dawn or Commonwealth? Did you talk about them already in a video? If so, please let me know, I would like to know your opinion on those.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

No I sadly have read Peter F Hamilton novels (yet)!

[@albizu75]

Great video! I love your recommendations!
One recommendation I would make is the Vorkosigan Saga. The Vorkosigan Saga was written by Lois McMaster Bujold who has won the Hugo Award four times.
There are 16 books and 6 short stories.
Her books are a lot of fun. I think that people who enjoyed the Expanse, Star Trek, Game of Thrones and On Basilisk Station would enjoy the series.
The characters are really interesting.
The main character is a little bit like Tyrion Lannister , every bit as brilliant, but raised in a loving family.
The series tends to be lighter than GoT. A lot of fun and humor but it can be quite dark at times.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the recommendation! I read one of the books in that series but I definitely need to go back to it

[@jonhill3328]

I'm currently half way through the Arthur C Clarke Space Odyssey series, highly recomended! I'm playing catchup and on to the Expanse series next. Keep up the great work on the channel Rachel! Always an insightful watch.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks!

[@JasonsWeirdReads]

Fantastic list, Rachel. I added all of these onto my wish list at Audible.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oo yay!

[@PhyzikTalks]

So pleased you started with Shards of Earth. The Architects are very reminiscent of the protomolecule, barely aware of humans existence like we don't notice ants in the grass we walk over. I highly recommend it, it's a bit more of a 'crew of misfits go on an adventure' kind of series. Fun and is packed with utterly unique and fresh ideas.
The biggest recommendations aside from that will be; the books of Peter Hamilton and Alistair Reynolds. Mainly Hamilton's Commonwealth Saga, or Reynolds Revelation Space series. Reynolds work has a very familiar style, dark, gritty, characters with varied morals. Try Chasm City first, its a standalone prequel to the Revelation Space series, its like Corey mixed with China Mieville which personally sounds so good haha. It's described as gothic cyberpunk, a world slowly turning into a surreal dystopian nightmare.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Love reading your additional recs

[@mgelliott1]

Excellent video. Great recommendations. My post LF was going to be the novellas, but I am waiting for the bound set (Memory's Legion) in March...especially as it appears some novella material will end up in the TV show Season 6. Until then I am definitely picking up some of your recommendations right away. Reccs for you? I read all of FH's Dune books 1-6 B4 the movie in Oct. I thought you said you read book 1 a couple times. You MUCH better understand what he was doing by reading all 6 books. Post Leviathan Falls, I am currently finishing the Bone Shard Daughter duology book 2. This series surprised me. While NOT a horror book per se, as you read horror, there are definitely Mary Shelly esque and Zombie related themes woven into the magic system that separate this series from standard fantasy fare. Anyway, your sci-fi heavy channel is awesome. Most don't do this. So Thanks.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

So glad you're interested in all my scifi content. I wish there was more of it on booktube! And yes I'm dying for the novella collection this March

[@loxodoncyclotis1823]

As it happens I'm currently reading the Last Watch! Haven't read Machine yet but I definitely recommend Ancestral Night. Also pretty much anything by Alastair Reynolds.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Ahh yes I need to read more Reynolds this coming year

[@brandonn4332]

The Red Rising series is my all time favorite book and I could definitely see it being on this list! If you haven't read it you're missing out! I always read the red rising series after a reread of the expanse! It quenches my thirst and it will for you too! Just take this chance and you won't be disappointed!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the rec! I actually have not read that one despite how popular the series is

[@jasnacar9186]

Shards of Earth is great space opera.....Tchaikovsky is doing various subgenres lately, and scoring hit after hit......maybe " The Quiet War " series by Paul J. McAuley could be fine reading after S.A.Corey....It's Earthers against " Outers " again but with more genetic engineering and nanotech stuff....

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh thanks. I'll have to look that one up

[@grimm516]

Lol, I read gideon the 9th now I'm waiting for the 3d book of the series

[@epiphoney]

I just read Peter Hamilton's Pandora's Star and am at 65% in Judas Unchained. They're epic alien invasion space opera, more like 4 books than two.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Ah yes I still need to read those!

[@deannabanquer1942]

Excellent suggestions, as always!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks! And I promise I had Shards of Earth on my list before you shared your current read on discord... I promise I'm not just stealing your recs

[@deannabanquer1942]

@@TheShadesofOrange ❤️ I’m looking forward to book two, I already have it preordered.

[@andysimmons2648]

An excellent collection of books. Thank you for the recommendations; I’ll certainly look into them. I’ve just picked up The Ghost Line on your recommendation and am really looking forward to that. One of the aspects that I enjoyed about the Expanse series, and one that comes over in the series, is the blue-collar spacer stories. For me, tales of salvagers and asteroid miners are the great fun. With that in mind, I would recommend Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds. It gets a more space opera-like as it goes on and is a good read. Another book is Beltrunner by Sean O’Brien about an asteroid miner. It’s a stand alone book but one I would class as enjoyable nonsense and an easy read.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Ooo thanks for the recs. I haven't read Pushing Ice but I was wondering if it would give me similar vibes. I like that books like Nophek Gloss and Last Watch feature non soldier characters

[@andysimmons2648]

@@TheShadesofOrange I’m pretty certain that Pushing Ice is a standalone novel that starts with a slightly more ‘grounded’ setting before expanding into ‘high’ sci fi. I hope that I’m making myself clear. I found it an absolutely captivating read with some brilliant concepts.

[@beyond_the_tequila_rift3194]

I wanted to know more about the Dark Gods in the Expanse and the ring builders, but i also understand The expanse is truly about the human experience and to what lengths we're to go in venture of human advancements as well as the sacrifices and grief we're willing to go through to ensure our exisistence. I'm so sad that it's over.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yes I really want to know more about the aliens, but I do acknowledge that it clearly was that the focus the author's chose for the series

[@SeemaSingh-qd7xb]

Thanks for this. I have the full series if Kevin j Anderson on my shelf for a while but have not read. After this review, I think I'm going to add it to my TBR pile

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I hope you enjoy them!

[@josefkainrad]

Cold as Ice trilogy by Charles Sheffield!
It’s written in the 90’s (mostly). Honestly, very similar to the expanse (minus protomolecule). Belters and inners have a big war, the book deals with the aftermath of that war 30 years later. Super well done.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the rec

[@wietzejohanneskrikke1910]

I very much enjoyed reading the Gaia trilogy by John Varley. It's an odyssey and a mystery rolled into one sprawling story. Highly recommeded.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I'll have to look that one up

[@foggycraw6758]

ENDERS GAME!

[@Alpharius79B]

good list, but I`m sticking to Warhammer 40k universe with The Infinite and The Divine by Robert Rath

[@khomo12]

Sounds great!! I'm adding on basilisk station, the last watch, nophek gloss, hidden empire to my tbr📚

[@oleyullah]

How did you find the Honor Harrington series? The first several books were awesome, later it's become too repetitive, stopped reading after like book 18 or something

[@Maren617]

Thank you so much for the great ideas! My own contribution: try Artifact Space by Miles Cameron - it's awesome! 🙂

[@TheShadesofOrange]

We must be on the same wavelength because I just added that to my goodreads tbr last week!

[@EDD8209]

Very new to this channel and the expanse is next on my sci-fi list. If your looking for epic space opera and haven’t read it before then the night dawn trilogy by Peter f Hamilton is amazing. His other epic sci-fi series the commonwealth saga is almost as amazing. Definitely worth a read of epic space opera is your thing and You haven’t read any of those series

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for the rec! Shamefully I haven't read Hamilton's long fiction yet

[@lisa-azrabroad4137]

Pandora's Star/Judas unchained P F Hamilton, has action, memorable characters, interlinked storylines and a mystery driving it forward, thanks for your reviews

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I definitely need to try that duology

[@lisa-azrabroad4137]

@@TheShadesofOrange It is Hamilton at his best, I think you'll love it, there is first contact (almost), and a big un answered question along with the other things I mentioned. I would be glad to know what you think if you get round to reading, or listening, John Lee narrates the audio books and he is a great auditor.

[@WordsinTime]

Great video idea! I have read the first 3 books of The Expanse and have already bought books 4 and 5. I actually haven't read any of these books but I have bought Shards of Earth and will be reading it in January. I haven't read it yet but Liam from Liam's Lyceum recommends The Spiral Wars for fans of The Expanse, so that's on my list too. My recommendation would be the Sun Eater series. It's not that similar to the Expanse, it's a little closer to Red Rising, but it's my favourite current series, and think there's a good chance any sci-fi or fantasy fan might enjoy it!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Thanks for recs! Definitely keep reading the Expanse. I hope you enjoy Shards of Earth!

[@greenknightable]

The Culture series by Iain M Banks

[@kphamma]

Hi I am new to your channel. About two years ago I found a pop up video about a younger female science fiction author whowas explaining her book series similar to The Expanse about space mining with characters like a military character in a exploring group. I don't have her name or books but I was hoping you could find out for me I would be gratelful.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Maybe Up Against it

[@papamoto95]

Did you read The Sins of Our Fathers yet? Nice short ending to the series and a taste of what happens next in the universe

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I just got a copy of Memory's Legion so I'll read it very soon

[@papamoto95]

Excited to hear your thoughts!@@TheShadesofOrange

[@scottfarriss495]

Found your page for the exact reason in the title! To be honest I’ve never been into books but for some reason I decided to get the first book in the expanse series. Holy Moly I fell in love and now I have an itch for more! I think you mentioned that these types of books are space operas? Who would of thought, me and operas! Lol I’ve read two series now Dune and Expanse what should I read next!?!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

That's so awesome that the Expanse pulled you into reading. Obviously I recommend the books in this video for similar readalikes but you also might want to try something like the Suneater series

[@theabelmontero]

So many juicy suggestions 💚

[@TheMike28212]

Great recommendations. More for the tbr!

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Wooo!

[@grimm516]

Some of those sound interesting, might have to look in to them, the stuff I read while waiting for books 8 & 9 of the expanse
Was the locked tomb series
By Tamzin Muir
And somthing called the sojourn daniel orrett, technically it's an audio drama bit really good 👍
All of the expanse novels

[@shawngerard]

Anyone have good Expanse Book Summary Videos? I read 1-6 quick and now been on a year break. Need a refresher before getting into Persepolis rising

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Wikipedia might be the best bet

[@jaffarebellion292]

"Harrington does not like coffee"
The weight of your heresy will stay your feet, and you shall be left behind.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Haha love it

[@Hawkido]

What? No, Expeditionary Force by Craig Alanson?

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Haven't read it

[@Hawkido]

@@TheShadesofOrange Please do, you will enjoy the interstellar shenanigans of inter-specie cultural interaction. And Jeraptha Ship names are a golden treasure.

[@oleyullah]

The Honor Harrington series should have ended at 15 books max.. it's too much and too repetitive later on. The first 10 books are awesome though

[@Grimm44]

I saw the Expanse TV series should I read the books as I grew dislike the last few seasons of that show I ordered shard of the earth by the way

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I personally prefer the books so I vote yes

[@zubaerchaudhari8267]

Hey

[@SurzhenkoAndrii]

We are bob?

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Oh yes that's a fun one

[@sharaththallapally5208]

Hello Rachel can you recommend me some post apocalyptic horror books??

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Working on a video on the topic!

[@zbigniewiksinski]

is there more story in books than the show ending?

[@TheShadesofOrange]

I haven't finished the the TV show so I don't know

[@The_Mariner]

You lost me at "Kevin J. Anderson". Luckily it was at the end of the video.

[@TheShadesofOrange]

Yeah... I reviewed the series in a follow up video... I was not impressed

[@rickchase6990]

Wow, your so cute. Big crush.

[@andriyandriychuk]

Nofap gloss 😅