PERSEPOLIS RISING by James S.A. Corey (The Expanse #7)

What can an author team do seven books into an extremely successful book series that is both a New York Times bestseller and the basis for a critically acclaimed television show? In the case of The Expanse by James S.A. Corey, hit a soft reset button and jump 30 years into the future. The crew of the Rocinante is older, a little wiser, a little worn down, but a true family.

Persepolis Rising is the seventh novel in James S. A. Corey’s New York Times bestselling Expanse series–now a major television series on Syfy.

AN OLD ENEMY RETURNS

In the thousand-sun network of humanity’s expansion, new colony worlds are struggling to find their way. Every new planet lives on a knife edge between collapse and wonder, and the crew of the aging gunship Rocinante have their hands more than full keeping the fragile peace.

In the vast space between Earth and Jupiter, the inner planets and belt have formed a tentative and uncertain alliance still haunted by a history of wars and prejudices. On the lost colony world of Laconia, a hidden enemy has a new vision for all of humanity and the power to enforce it.

New technologies clash with old as the history of human conflict returns to its ancient patterns of war and subjugation. But human nature is not the only enemy, and the forces being unleashed have their own price. A price that will change the shape of humanity — and of the Rocinante — unexpectedly and forever…

Holden and crew spent much of the three decades between Babylon’s Ashes and Persepolis Rising working on and off for Drummer, President of the Transport Union. Early in the novel, James Holden and Naomi Nagata decide they are going to “retire,” leaving the helm of the Rocinante to Roberta “Bobby” Draper after they don’t exactly follow the directive set forth by President Drummer as it relates to a slightly rebellious group on the world of Freehold. Holden (being Holden) is not willing to cross a line and much of the novel’s conflict is set into motion. With hopes of retiring and living quietly with Naomi, they leave the ship to fan favorite Bobby.

Of course, very little that James Holden does is without consequence (save, presumably, for the intervening 30 years between Babylon’s Ashes and Persepolis Rising). This isn’t to say the universe has been quiet. Clearly a lot was going on across the worlds of humanity under the surface for such an explosive situation here in Persepolis Rising. Much of that involves the character of Duarte, who sped through a gate in the closing of Nemesis Gate (book #5) along with a contingent of Martian defectors who all settled a colony on the planet of Laconia. The Laconians have largely flourished in the expansion as a result of studying the protomolecule as much as possible. They’ve returned to the Solar System in what they see as a peaceful conquest.

The Expanse universe continues to expand (forgive the punnish allusion) and the characters have shown signs of aging, especially as this novel is set so long after years after the previous novel. I found myself identifying very strongly with Bobby Draper for a few reasons. First, she is an amazingly well-rounded, likeable, believable character. Seeing her maturation and progression through these books has been great to read/watch. More specifically in this book, as she was given reins of The Rocinante I received a nice career bump and was promoted to a management role, so I could empathize even more closely with some of her thoughts and frustrations about being a leader and proving to herself and others that she is In Charge.

So Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck are really smart, really clever writers in many ways. Persepolis Rising can be seen as the ramp to the end of this series. The previous six books can be broken down into two over-arching stories. Jumping the storyline 30 years presents both a new impetus for the series and an opportunity for new readers to potentially begin reading the series. With two seasons of a television show completed and third to come, people have been more interested in reading these books, as sales have proven. Some folks may be wary of starting a set of six (or seven) books, so a good entry point is a smart move. On the other hand, the author team have given themselves sort of a new garden of new stories to seed with the thirty years jump. There’s a lot of story in those thirty years that could be explored, particularly the Laconian’s rise.

I always look forward to new Expanse novels and this one was no exception. The novel delivered in ways I didn’t expect, which was what I hoped, but also gave me the characters I adore so much. In other words, another superb novel.

Highly recommended – both this novel and the series as a whole.