The Not a Book Club Club discussion

Section 1

Please keep all discussion and speculation to the events of Prologue, Chapter 1-10.

No spoiler tags required. Though it would be highly appreciated if you Uncheck Add to my Update Feed to avoid accidentally spoiling this for your good read friends.

Please do not discuss events from later chapters. Referring back to events from a previous book is fine.

A lot of setup chapters. But I feel that all of the major plot lines and characters have been set up really well by the end of this part. I see Basia as a conflicted rebel. He believes in what he's fighting for but he didn't expect things to get this violent. So far, Elvi seems to exist to give the viewpoint of a biologist on a new world and to observe the actions of others.

I feel this conflict between the colonists and the RCE is really stupid. I understand the longstanding tension between the Belters & Inners. And I understand that this kind of conflict would, and has, happened. But it seems really stupid to be so confrontational in light of the need to survive on a new and potentially dangerous planet. This has no affect on my enjoyment of the book, its just a frustrating conflict to have to watch, when there are simple solutions that would leave everyone happy.

I wonder what will become of the interlude chapters. I'm thinking its the protomolecule talking and this is what Miller wants to find on the planet.

Alex wrote: "There was a subtle and incredibly well-played nod to Amos's past (for those of you who've read The Churn: An Expanse Novella)."

I have not read any of the short stories/novellas. The Churn is about Amos in Baltimore, right?

Great book so far, but I am mystified as to how the belters are surviving on a planet with slightly more gravity than Earth. I remember in the end of the second book they made a big deal about how Naomi couldn't visit Earth because of her physiology. Am I missing something, or is this just a case of "shut up and go with it?" Still, really digging it.

Patrick wrote: " I am mystified as to how the belters are surviving on a planet with slightly more gravity than Earth"

I can't remember when Basia said this (maybe in a later part of the book), so I'll put it in spoiler tags:

(view spoiler)[ The colonists are taking steroids/medicine that allows them to withstand the effects of greater than Earth gravity. They mention this was a particularly painful thing to go through, physiologically. (hide spoiler)]

Hope Elvi pulls her head out of her butt and decides not to do that alone in the dark next time. (chapter 8)

Am I the only one who doesn’t like *any* of the new POVs? I was all excited for Bobby in the prologue, but she hasn’t been back since. I was also excited for a brief cameo by Avasarala (despite the horrible way the new reader did her dialogue. I miss the Indian accent the last guy did). I really wish they’d bring more POVs from previous books back besides Holden.

I think right now I’m most invested in the wife/daughter of the welder guy. I’d have sympathy for him except he’s just letting himself be led around by Cole and getting into worse and worse situations.

I’m also intrigued by the notion that the Lithium gas may have been placed there by the gateway aliens and that the geology of the planet is apparently artificial.


That interlude chapter was really confusing. I think if I was reading instead of listening, I'd have slowed down and maybe reread part of it.

I agree the conflict is stupid. I understand the plight of the "squatters". It's pretty ridiculous for them to be called squatters because they don't have an official contract from a government they don't even belong to.

At the same time though, their violence is way over the top.

The interludes don't get any less confusing with a second read through.

Rob wrote: "I really wish they’d bring more POVs from previous books back besides Holden."

In the case of this book, I'm not sure what the other POV characters, like Bobby and Avasarala, would do. I suppose it would be to provide an outside look at the situation on New Terra, which might be interesting.

Agree about the reader. He does a few things better, but his voice for Holden is unnecessarily gritty, not the voice for a naive idealist, albeit a seasoned one.

Yeah, I meant morecin general. Those two are my favorite POVs. I wish they were more involved.

I kind of wish Bobbie had joined the crew.

And Avasarala could have a few chapters with the discussion with Mars and OPA about handling future planets.

I find the choice of names for the RCE ship, "The Israel", pretty funny, in a sick kind of way, in light of the whole land ownership controversy.

Sky wrote: "I find the choice of names for the RCE ship, "The Israel", pretty funny, in a sick kind of way, in light of the whole land ownership controversy."

I didn't even think about that.. Heh.