TIAMAT'S WRATH

Volume eight (of, reportedly, nine) of The Expanse (Persepolis
Rising, 2017, etc.), Corey’s (aka Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) sprawling
alien-contact space opera.

Fashioned by an alien life form, the protomolecule opened an
interstellar portal to thousands of other planets. As humans began to spread
into the galaxy, civil wars flared across the solar system. But the
protomolecule also proved the key to unlocking a highly advanced alien science.
Thirty years ago, Martian dissidents fled through a portal and founded an
aggressive, technologically sophisticated empire, Laconia, ruled by immortal
dictator Winston Duarte. In the previous book, the Laconians returned to the
solar system, effortlessly conquering it and capturing iconic ship’s captain
Jim Holden, who’s managed to survive since the inaugural volume. He now
languishes on Laconia, talking with Duarte’s young daughter, Teresa, whom the
dictator is training as his successor. Back in the solar system, a few freedom
fighters—inspired by Holden’s ex Naomi Nagata and space marine Bobbie Draper—continue
the resistance, but even they are faltering against Laconia’s protomolecule
science–powered superiority. The empire, meanwhile, has its own problems.
Millions of years ago, enigmatic but even more advanced aliens wiped out the
protomolecule’s builders and have already reacted with horrific violence to
Laconia’s attempts to reactivate ancient protomolecular artifacts. But rather
than delicately investigate these aliens, Duarte recklessly orders his chief
scientist, Elvi Okoye, to provoke them. The Expanse has always been, well,
expansive, but recent developments have exponentially amplified it in scope. As
an intriguing side effect, where previously the solar system yawned
unfathomably vast, on a galactic scale it feels almost claustrophobic. So, what
with the plentiful palace intrigue, freedom fighters battling desperately, an
existential alien menace, and characters both familiar and fresh, the stage is
set for another churning, relentlessly gripping, mind-boggling episode. The
well-received TV series tie-in will help.

With only one installment to come, the tension and excitement show
no sign of flagging.