The Expanse Books in Order
The Expanse is set a few centuries from now, when humanity has colonised the solar system and Earth, Mars and the Belt are on the brink of war. The crew of the Rocinante, led by James Holden, are drawn into the struggle over an alien protomolecule that changes everything. James S. A. Corey is the pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck.
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Series facts
- Books
- 9
- Published
- 2011 to 2021
- First book
- Leviathan Wakes
- Latest
- Leviathan Falls (2021)
- Setting
- Set in space
The reading order
Every The Expanse book in publication order. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
- 1Leviathan Wakes2011With James Holden and Joe MillerJames Holden, an officer on an ice hauler, answers a distress call from a derelict ship, and his own ship is destroyed.Buy on Amazon
- 2Caliban's War2012With James HoldenOn Ganymede, a monster attacks soldiers from Earth and Mars, and Bobbie Draper, a Martian marine, is the only survivor.Buy on Amazon
- 3Abaddon's Gate2013With James HoldenA huge alien ring has appeared beyond Uranus, and ships from Earth, Mars and the Belt set out to investigate it.Buy on Amazon
- 4Cibola Burn2014With James HoldenThe ring has opened gates to a thousand new worlds.Buy on Amazon
- 5Nemesis Games2015With James Holden and Naomi NagataWhile the Rocinante is being repaired, its crew scatter across the solar system, and Naomi’s past catches up with her, just as a devastating attack strikes Earth.Buy on Amazon
- 6Babylon's Ashes2016With James HoldenThe Rocinante’s crew join the fight against the Free Navy, a violent faction of Belters.Buy on Amazon
- 7Persepolis Rising2017With James HoldenThirty years later, a powerful empire emerges from one of the colony worlds, led by Winston Duarte.Buy on Amazon
- 8Tiamat's Wrath2019Under the rule of Laconia, a small resistance fights on.Buy on Amazon
- 9Leviathan Falls2021With James HoldenThe final book of The Expanse, as the crew of the Rocinante face the forces that destroyed the builders of the gates.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
Read in order, starting with Leviathan Wakes. The story runs across all nine books, with a jump of thirty years before Persepolis Rising.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | James Holden | Naomi Nagata | Joe Miller | Amos Burton | Alex Kamal | Bobbie Draper | Fred Johnson | Chrisjen Avasarala |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Leviathan Wakes | LLead | MMajor | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 2 Caliban's War | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 3 Abaddon's Gate | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ||
| 4 Cibola Burn | LLead | MMajor | ·Minor | MMajor | MMajor | |||
| 5 Nemesis Games | LLead | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ·Minor | ·Minor | |
| 6 Babylon's Ashes | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 7 Persepolis Rising | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | |||
| 8 Tiamat's Wrath | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor | ||
| 9 Leviathan Falls | LLead | MMajor | MMajor | MMajor |
Characters in the The Expanse books
12 characters from James S. A. Corey’s chart, with the number of The Expanse books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| James HoldenCaptain of the Rocinante | 9 | Leviathan Wakes 2011 |
| Naomi NagataBelter engineer | 9 | Leviathan Wakes 2011 |
| Joe MillerBelter detective | 3 | Leviathan Wakes 2011 |
| Amos BurtonMechanic with a violent past | 9 | Leviathan Wakes 2011 |
| Alex KamalMartian pilot | 9 | Leviathan Wakes 2011 |
| Bobbie DraperMartian Marine | 5 | Caliban's War 2012 |
| Fred JohnsonLeader of the Outer Planets Alliance | 4 | Leviathan Wakes 2011 |
| Chrisjen AvasaralaUN politician | 4 | Caliban's War 2012 |
| Camina DrummerBelter leader | 4 | Babylon's Ashes 2016 |
| Clarissa MaoHeiress seeking revenge | 3 | Abaddon's Gate 2013 |
| Elvi OkoyeScientist | 3 | Cibola Burn 2014 |
| Winston DuarteHigh Consul of Laconia | 3 | Persepolis Rising 2017 |