The Expanse - The Books vs the TV Show *Spoilers*

[ctg]

For the folks enjoying the TV series, have you read the books?

First four books. Does that count?

 

[elvet]

First four books. Does that count?

I was wondering, for those that have read the books, if it is difficult to watch the series without prejudging what the characters are doing. For me, having the knowledge of what is going to happen taints my ability to comment on the actions of the characters in the current moment.

Spoiler: Major spoiler for non book readers

I look closely at Miller's relationship with Holden to see how their partnership is going to develop after Miller's transformation. Miller is driven to find out what happened to Julie , and it is interesting that he becomes the source of the answers later on in the books.

 

[ctg]

or me, having the knowledge of what is going to happen taints my ability to comment on the actions of the characters in the current moment.

You can minimize the impact by keeping your knowledge as secret. It's not really that difficult thing to do. Authors have to do that all time. You don't really know everything that is going to happen, because this series is so different and it mixes more material than what people find in the book 1 or 2.

Talk what you see and when something happens, that correlates with the source material, you reflect that. In that way you can keep your knowledge aside from spoiling things.

 

[elvet]

Now that I have the luxury of watching the series without being attached to my PVR, I am starting season 2 over. Rewatched episodes 1 and 2 last night. I picked up so much more detail. This is a show that needs to flow. The continuity makes it easier to follow the complexity of the political maneuverings. I so want to go back and read the books, but like any good friend, have lent them all in an attempt to spread the word on how great a story this is.
BTW, I have only seen up to episode 7. I am going to wait until it is all out and watch it then.

 

[ctg]

I so want to go back and read the books, but like any good friend, have lent them all in an attempt to spread the word on how great a story this is.

Just don't go and read them, because I find it very difficult to not compare the two and only write about this series. I'm already biased. So if you can keep it without revisiting the books, it might be better in the case of the Expanse TV series. Too bad first two books are so attention capturing that you've hard time on avoiding to turn another page. Third book is written in a completely different angle while TV series seems to remain very, very consistent.

 

[elvet]

Just don't go and read them, because I find it very difficult to not compare the two and only write about this series. I'm already biased. So if you can keep it without revisiting the books, it might be better in the case of the Expanse TV series. Too bad first two books are so attention capturing that you've hard time on avoiding to turn another page. Third book is written in a completely different angle while TV series seems to remain very, very consistent.

Yes, you are right. But I want to get back into the story lines again. Maybe I'll just pick it up at the 3rd book. I haven't bought Babylon's Ashes yet. I want to wait for the trade PB, just because it matches my other books (kinda anal, I know).

 

[elvet]

For the book readers, a new novella: Strange Dogs - James S.A. Corey

 

[ctg]

Sam Rosenberg

I think you'll be pleased with what they got in at next season as it boldly dives towards the alien thing. I still haven't finished the book 3. My brain just doesn't allow it go past the slow zone for some reason.

 

[Azzagorn]

I am intrigued as to how they are going to play out that part of the story. I just started the fourth book last week.

 

[clovis-man]

Anna Hopkins as the journalist reminds me of why Defiance became less of a favorite for me during its short lifespan.

 

[sinister42]

She becomes very very important later in the books. Very, very important indeed.

Last night's episodes hit every single one of its plot beats just bloody perfectly. I was literally cheering out loud when I saw where the episode was going, what it was gearing up for, and that scene at the end when

Spoiler

the guy explodes into jelly.

..beautifully described in the book and perfectly executed on screen. And now

Spoiler

it reaches out.

.. Amazon (or someone) needs to SAVE THIS SERIES!

 

[clovis-man]

She becomes very very important later in the books. Very, very important indeed.

I was trying hard not to say even this much. But I admit it is difficult to decide how much spoilerism to include in a discussion thread which is even titled *Spoilers*. I guess I was thinking that some who are big fans of the show are not interested in reading the books and want to discover all the dramatic new events as they "happen". So I may continue to pull my punches. But to each his/her own.

FWIW, there is a Facebook group named The Expanse Geeks which incorporates a great deal of detail irrespective of spoilers.

 

[Brunhildax]

Based on the book series also known collectively as "the Expanse" (which I must admit I've not read), written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (under the pen name James S. A. Corey). This looks good. I for one am happy to see TV returing to space-set shows.

PS Mike from Breaking Bad!!

I love the books and constantly find myself reconciling them with the show and trying to decide what I like more. Mostly, I find it to be a good adaptation, though I think they messed with the crew dynamic by making drama out of nothing by claiming Naomi gave the protomolecule to the belt. Overall, I still love it and am super excited that Amazon picked it up. There's a lot of great material to get to, so I hope they keep the pace slow and the content rich.

 

[Brunhildax]

Spoiler

Another great episode - loving the holden/protomiller dynamic.

what a shame that bobby and her martians had sucha militaristic response to the protomolecule.

so the ring is a gate. how come it needed holden to complete the funky stalagtite/mite?

and was one of those shots the sun getting blasted with protomolecule?

i think i might need to watch that ep again.

the ring is getting a little crowded.

This is definitely explained better in the books. It's better if you read it, so I don't really want to give too much away, but...

Spoiler

in the books Bobbie wasn't a part of the Martian team. Also, that wasn't our sun and the Holden bit is explained. The alien station is... not dormant, but not entirely active, either. Holden's actions are relevant to what makes the slow zone of the gate slow.

I don't want to say any more. It is really fun to read it on your own.

 

[Mr Orange]

cheers @Brunhildax

sure it'll get explained in the next ep. maybe...

i think i might have to put the book series on my reading list (or lsitening list if it's in audiobook)

 

[Brunhildax]

cheers @Brunhildax

sure it'll get explained in the next ep. maybe...

i think i might have to put the book series on my reading list (or lsitening list if it's in audiobook)

Yeah, it might. As far as adaptations go, I think The Expanse is pretty good. I definitely like the slow, relatively detailed pace they are taking. I compare it with GOT, where I think the pace of the show is too quick and too many details and characters are eliminated. It's a well made and well cast show, but I prefer the level of detail of the books. I think The Expanse does a better job of this, personally.

The books are a really enjoyable read. I'd be willing to bet that they are also a good listen.

 

[Mr Orange]

true, it does seem like the expanse is taking the time to get everything in.

in GOT's defense, there's no way they have the budget or time to fit everything in! unlike GRRM they're actually planning on finishing the story! (too harsh?)

 

[Gnrevolution]

Spoiler

TBF Abbadon's Gate seems to have been heavily truncated to fit into this season. There are a whole host of characters that never made it, Bull and Sam to name a couple. I wonder if they will make to the end of the book by the end of the season, and if so Christ only knows how they go from here, Book 4 is, well, different....

 

[Brunhildax]

Spoiler

TBF Abbadon's Gate seems to have been heavily truncated to fit into this season. There are a whole host of characters that never made it, Bull and Sam to name a couple. I wonder if they will make to the end of the book by the end of the season, and if so Christ only knows how they go from here, Book 4 is, well, different....

Spoiler

Michio Pa, too. She's supposed to be the captain of the Behemoth, not Drummer. Also, Anna isn't supposed to show up until Abaddon's gate, but the show tosses her into Caliban's War. And Naomi stays on the Roci - Sam is the head engineer of the Behemoth, never her.

There are a lot of changes, most of which don't annoy me too much. I figure they are keeping the cast smaller for budgetary reasons maybe? I dunno. I do think they've messed up the crew dynamic by putting the blame of the protomolecule being in Fred's hands on Naomi. If I recall, they all agreed to that in the book. Also, I would have liked to have seen Sam, Bull, & Pa, just because I like those characters. Oh, and Anna and Ren are supposed to be redheads, dammit. Shows always screw up redheads.

If the show makes it long enough, not having Pa will be problematic when they get to Babylon's Ashes, since she plays a big part in that book and Drummer exists in a different context and role. Naomi's motivations will also change since she's already told Holden about Marco. I predict many changes.

I still think The Expanse is taking things slower than GOT, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot of changes.

 

[Brunhildax]

true, it does seem like the expanse is taking the time to get everything in.

in GOT's defense, there's no way they have the budget or time to fit everything in! unlike GRRM they're actually planning on finishing the story! (too harsh?)

I agree with that in the early GOT years since they wouldn't have had the budget then, though once they got really popular, they probably could have slowed things down a bit.

However... I think the pacing is inconsistent in the GOT books. The action ebs and flows quite a bit, with Game of Thrones and A Storm of Swords having a nice balance of action and resolution and Clash of Kings and Feast of Crows being a bit of a slog. IMO, anyway.

I think The Expanse books, with the exception of Babylon's Ashes, all follow a basic formula of tension building like a crescendo throughout the text to a very tense, dangerous situation. I think Babylon's Ashes is different in that it has to pick up the pieces of the events of Nemesis Games, which are not insignificant.