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Erik's Reviews > Leviathan Wakes
Leviathan Wakes
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It’s a space adventure, with politics, heroism, and mad science - that takes pains to be scientifically accurate. Simulated gravity is created by engine thrust, without which mag-boots are necessary to walk. Ships have no magic shields. They have, at best, point defense cannons - high rate of fire projectile weapons - that can shoot down torpedoes but do a whole lot of nothing against railguns. Carelessness is just as dangerous as enemy combatants; in space, an improperly sealed helmet will kill just as readily as a missile.
This aspiration to realism is important. I’ve seen science fiction divided up in a lot of ways: hard sci-fi vs soft sci-fi, sometimes called science sci-fi vs social sci-fi. Or split up into sub-genres like cyberpunk, military, space opera. Or, more recently, split along political lines (eugh), “leftist” sci-fi and “right-wing” sci-fi. Myself, I divide sci-fi on the basis of the author’s approach to reality:
On one side of sci-fi are authors like Greg Egan, Ted Chiang, and Ursula K. Le Guin. They believe in grounding their science fiction in reality: real linguistics, real mathematics, real economics, real psychology, real humanity. On the other side of sci-fi are authors like Robert Heinlein, Ann Leckie, and Yoon Ha Lee. Reality to them is not something to ground their fiction in, it is something they *create* with their fiction. And if you read my reviews of the above, it’s pretty clear which type of author I prefer (and why)…
Well, S.A. Corey (aka Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck) belongs on my preferred side, the authors who seek to ground their stories in reality. And while yes it’s neat they strive for realistic space flight and fight, it’s more important in that it’s representative of their approach to EVERYTHING. They also want realistic characters. A logical, hole-free plot. Accurate (I almost said ‘sensible’ hah!) political machinations.
I like this. As a teenager, I considered phrases like “the truth will set you free” to be empty cliches, but now as an adult and a teacher, living in the Putin-era of misinformation, in which any inconvenient fact can be readily dismissed as “fake news”, I’ve come to understand the absolute necessity of truth. So it matters to me that Leviathan Wakes strives for honesty in character, plot, and physics. But don’t think that means it’s boring either. It is a Space Adventure, in the Tolkien sense, as a battle between the good parts of humanity and the evil parts. Generosity vs Greed. Compassion vs Cruelty. Tolerance vs Tribalism. Navigated by characters that are *gasp* actually decent people.
Really, you should read it. Or... should you watch the TV show?! Next up on my Caliban's War review!
This aspiration to realism is important. I’ve seen science fiction divided up in a lot of ways: hard sci-fi vs soft sci-fi, sometimes called science sci-fi vs social sci-fi. Or split up into sub-genres like cyberpunk, military, space opera. Or, more recently, split along political lines (eugh), “leftist” sci-fi and “right-wing” sci-fi. Myself, I divide sci-fi on the basis of the author’s approach to reality:
On one side of sci-fi are authors like Greg Egan, Ted Chiang, and Ursula K. Le Guin. They believe in grounding their science fiction in reality: real linguistics, real mathematics, real economics, real psychology, real humanity. On the other side of sci-fi are authors like Robert Heinlein, Ann Leckie, and Yoon Ha Lee. Reality to them is not something to ground their fiction in, it is something they *create* with their fiction. And if you read my reviews of the above, it’s pretty clear which type of author I prefer (and why)…
Well, S.A. Corey (aka Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck) belongs on my preferred side, the authors who seek to ground their stories in reality. And while yes it’s neat they strive for realistic space flight and fight, it’s more important in that it’s representative of their approach to EVERYTHING. They also want realistic characters. A logical, hole-free plot. Accurate (I almost said ‘sensible’ hah!) political machinations.
I like this. As a teenager, I considered phrases like “the truth will set you free” to be empty cliches, but now as an adult and a teacher, living in the Putin-era of misinformation, in which any inconvenient fact can be readily dismissed as “fake news”, I’ve come to understand the absolute necessity of truth. So it matters to me that Leviathan Wakes strives for honesty in character, plot, and physics. But don’t think that means it’s boring either. It is a Space Adventure, in the Tolkien sense, as a battle between the good parts of humanity and the evil parts. Generosity vs Greed. Compassion vs Cruelty. Tolerance vs Tribalism. Navigated by characters that are *gasp* actually decent people.
Really, you should read it. Or... should you watch the TV show?! Next up on my Caliban's War review!
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
September 1, 2019
– Shelved
September 1, 2019
– Shelved as:
detailed-review
September 1, 2019
– Shelved as:
scififantasy
September 1, 2019
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Finished Reading
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Well yeah, I didn't mean constrained by real science, so much as informed by it.There's definitely quite a few pieces of magic, like the Epstein drive and the "juice" needed to sustain consciousness over sustained periods of high-G manuevers. Not to mention a lot of omissions, like Rocinate's lack of heat radiation.
But as you said, it's all way less extreme problems than most popular sci-fi space stories.
Splendidly expressed! 👏 That is awesome you are getting into this series! I do love these books! I especially highly enjoyed the first four in the series! You are in for a treat in experiencing them for the first time!But I agree about the honesty of its storytelling and how it handles physics. I found that to be both refreshing and fascinating! I too prefer the more reality-based science fiction. Not because I do not value fantasy, but only that to me the reality of things is much more interesting and compelling than anything the mind of man could invent. I would rather have authors speak to the truth of things, and extrapolate within their imaginations from there, and the authors of this book series do an amazing job! I was thoroughly impressed.
I shall read your next review to see your thoughts on the books vs show. ;-)
Btw - there are LEFTIST and RIGHT-WING science fiction??? Dare I even ask? 🤦♀️
Yeah I was impressed too! They did a good job of crafting these books.As for left vs right science fiction, yeah I'd say many people do see sci-fi in those terms.
The original sad puppies Hugo protest movement was definitely NOT right vs left, but when the rabid puppies came onto the scene, the whole conflict got recast in political terms.
And now even though the puppies protests are over and done with, the politicization of science fiction has continued. Recently, there was the whole John Campbell is a fascist thing. And just in general, books with a very strong left leaning (e.g. books with gender fluidity, anti-imperialist themes) have been making strong showings in the Hugo nominations.
Oh, wow. :( Can nothing be sacred anymore??I had not heard of any of this, as I don't really keep up with the current goings on of the world of literature, but for science fiction to succumb to the political squabbling, it is just a real shame. Science fiction by its very nature deals with these humanistic themes already. We should allow the stories to speak to those ideas naturally and organically and not try to suppress, redefine, or allow bias to enter into it. But maybe I'm being too idealistic. Haha.
Well if the dude was a fascist, it's good someone called him out. And the Rabid Puppies behaved exactly as advertised.That said, I don't particularly care. My political interests largely begin and end with: Who is able and willing to battle climate change in order to avert the extinction of human civilization? Within which, I take the stance that you're either part of the solution or part of the problem.
So yeah I'm with you in labeling some of this as childish squabbling. Science fiction - in my mind - is and ought to be about much more. Like Egan does :D
Well, true. If he was truly a fascist we would want to make sure we bring that to light. However, I get very skeptical when people start labeling other people like that. Then it is only a hop, skip, and a jump before they start shouting "Hitler!"Haha, yes. I can understand what you mean. I feel similarly, but in a more generalized sense. - Are you competent and can actually do your job? You're hired! - Unfortunately, no one actually ever ends up being part of the solutions. :(
Agreed! Science fiction, and storytelling in general, must take us to higher places and speak to the deeper things. And yes, Greg Egan is a singular science fiction writer! ^_^ I would say, though, that he is on a whole other dimensional plane of his own! Haha.
I'm actually okay with lots of shouting of "Hitler!" To me, it's less 'boy who cried wolf' and more 'constant vigilance!'Hitler and the Nazis were not some aberration. They came to power through democracy, not military coup or assassination or any sort of illegal maneuvering. The right-wing conservatives of Germany fully supported the ascension of the Nazi party, happily willing to trade true conservatism in exchange for power. Even as this was happening, German politicians thought they could control Hitler - use him like a popular figure head - and newspapers wrote how it was impossible for Germany to become a dictatorship because of their love of freedom of speech and thought, and because of their traditions of democracy.
My time as a teacher has taught me that a large chunk of human beings are incredibly stupid. They *need* constant reminders of how easy it is for an amoral strong man to come to power - and the consequences of allowing such a thing to pass.
Anyway, bit of a lecture, sorry :D But it's an important topic to discuss!
Yes! I agree about it being an important topic to discuss! I don't think you were lecturing. I very much agree with you on the ignorance of humanity, and we need those constant reminders of human corruptibility. And I agree with your assessment of Germany and how Hitler and the Nazis came to power. I have not studied it thoroughly myself, but that makes sense based on my rudimentary knowledge. People never actively think of themselves as "evil", or see themselves as being deluded. Everyone always sees themselves as being right in their own eyes, so it makes sense Germany saw itself impervious to corruption and lovers of freedom. America isn't exempt from this delusion to be sure! However, why I am opposed to the shouting of "Hitler" is that it has become to mean something through its usage. It has built an idea behind it that connotes, basically, "pure evil". And to me that hinders our vigil because we are not only demonizing the person we are labeling, but we are demonizing Hilter himself. He was an insane, cruel, and terrible man, but he was still, after all, only just a man. He wasn't some monstrous supernatural devil, but was a human being who actually inspired people and literally got people to follow him into horrendous and genocidal acts. You see what I mean? As we have been discussing about our current politics, everything is so polarized, so we start building these "boogey man" concepts, that makes those who accuse other people of being "Hitler" as feeling like they are harbingers of justice and truth. It makes a monster of "the other", which leads us right where we don't want to be, deluding ourselves that we couldn't ever possibly be bad people. We are in the right, aren't we? We are the ones fighting and holding evil at bay, aren't we? So my desire would be that we would speak factually and truthfully about one another, always keeping things in perspective. To be vigilant in discernment and rationality instead, by not only holding others accountable, but ourselves as well. We don't need to call someone Hitler in order to challenge their erroneous and/or dangerous viewpoints.
Danielle wrote: "We don't need to call someone Hitler in order to challenge their erroneous and/or dangerous viewpoints."For sure, there's definitely a time and a place to bring up Hitler. I certainly don't think it'd be appropriate to liken a book editor to Hitler or really any other non-politician or leader. It's rarely appropriate outside of a political context.
However, I am quite okay with bringing up Hitler within the context of authoritarian leaders (Trump, Putin, Duterte, Kim Jong Un, etc). All of them very much operate following a playbook well-established by Hitler - propaganda, demonizing the other, etc.
For sure, there's definitely a time and a place to bring up Hitler. Haha, yeah. I could agree with that. ^_^ As long as that context is defined then yes, in a political setting I would be okay with bringing up Hitler and the ideology from which he operated. My main concern would be to always operate from reason rather than sensationalism, which the cultural and political arena is saturated with - and now I suppose literature as well. I don't think combating the ideology that Trump and his political party perpetuates will be successful otherwise.
Unfortunately, I don't really see a non-violent ending to the ideology of Trump, et al.Basically, Trump and his group are like Belters, who became obsolete following the opening of the gates. They're American factory workers, coal miners, farmers, etc who have been left behind by technological, economical, and societal advancements. And they will respond violently. No group of people has ever quietly accepted becoming obsolete and left behind.
The only reason this hasn't become physical violence (which is arguably untrue, i.e. mass shootings) just yet is that Americans still enjoy a high standard of living. And, probably more importantly, it just so happens this group of people still wield inordinate political power, thanks to the structure of the senate and the electoral college. So they've largely restricted themselves to political violence.
But when even that isn't enough... Well you've got the plot of Nemesis Games & Babylon's Ashes, basically.
Well, except for energy expenditure. The prequel notwithstanding, the amount of energy that'd be required for the accelerations they'd need really doesn't seem realistic.
But I'm not really griping. It's just a less extreme problem than any interstellar scifi has to do to magic away transit times. Warp Speed Ahead, Mr. Sulu!