Rindis.com

It does seem like every well-written Expanse novel comes with a problem of its own.

This time, the problem is physics instead of plot structure. So, there’s now a new, alien made, structure in the outer solar system (maybe 21 AU from the Sun). It’s in the shape of a ring, and the prologue has a daredevil try to ballistically send his small ship through the ring, and dies.

What exactly is going on with the ring is left extremely unclear until about a quarter of the way through the novel. The briefing that tells you most everything isn’t very clear and brings up a number of questions that never get properly addressed. I was picturing your normal group of RPG players making a hash of the entire scene as they try to game the “rules” being set down by the GM. Rereading it helps, but a few things go by fast enough that it’s hard to bridge from the initial description to what you get later.

But, the object is a gate, to an unknown part of space, which has thousands of other gates, and a large automated hub station in the center of it all. Inside this area there is a “speed limit” of about 600 m/s. I assume that the hub and all the gates are static in relationship to each other (making them one simple frame of reference), but that’s not explicitly stated; neither is the fact that the speed limit would be in reference to that frame of reference, which also applies to the gate structure in the Solar System. And what it’s doing relation to the Sun is not stated. Given the “inertia is a suggestion” tech of the protomolecule, it might be hanging motionless with relation to the Sun (but not anything else…), or it might be orbiting the Sun. It’s not said, though the latter seems to be true.

(Now the speed limit happens as you go through the gate. But if an asteroid approaches on a collision course with the structure itself, what happens then? Presumably there’s some sort of inertial defense system on this side for such problems, but nothing is established on that either.)

Unfortunately for all the squishy humans inside a vessel, the inertial system that does all this seems to be able to affect all solid items connected to the outer hull as a unit, but doesn’t bother with anything else. It’s neat as a narrative hazard, but one does wonder about definitions. It seems to include, say, two solid items bolted together getting affected as a unit, as there’s no descriptions of doors, hatches, and access panels popping off, but people and loose objects go sailing. …I don’t even think they considered the transient pressure effects of all the air trying to go the old speed during forced deceleration.

With all that out of the way, the book is in much better shape. It is a slower burn than the first two, but I found it satisfying. We do seem to be sticking with a four character switching viewpoint structure now. Sadly, only one of them, Bull, really measures up to Bobbie or Avasarala in interest. Both Melba and Anna are interesting characters, and the former really is one of the spines holding the book together, but Anna is a tougher sell. I generally like her, but found her expressions of faith not up to thematic job needed.

We get one early chapter giving us real plot tension while the ostensible Big Dumb Object main plot gets going. As other bits pick up and tension ratchets up, the human drama is the real main driver here. The BDO is really the B-plot, though it certainly is also a big deal. To a certain extent, this is a good call. But it does undercut wonder side of SF that this series could support, but generally just doesn’t. We do get a nice bit with it in the middle, but after some aborted exploration of the hub, it’s all shunted off-screen.

The A-plot is about three different pieces that come together for another action-packed ending section that is well done, though it does go on long enough to start wearing thin the ever-mounting outpouring of adrenaline. Overall, the series is written with modern action-movie sensibilities in mind, and I’d like at least some pretense to something a bit more deliberate.

Still, it’s another good, if flawed book that so far has all been good but flawed books. However, this time the flaw is smaller, which helps it come together better. It’s also a transition book. We started with a pure STL setting, and now humanity is getting a chance at some (okay, a lot, but not on the scale of the sum total possibilities) stars, and bigger mysteries await. How well those are pulled off will determine the fate of the series.