The Vital Abyss by James S. A. Corey

The Vital Abyss (Expanse, #5.5)

by James S. A. Corey

The Vital Abyss is a novella that expands the world of James S. A. Corey's New York Times bestselling Expanse series - now a Prime Original TV series.

Somewhere in the vast expanse of space, a group of prisoners lives in permanent captivity.

The only company they have is each other and the Belters who guard them. The only stories they know are the triumphs and crimes that brought them there. The only future they see is an empty life in an enormous room.

And then the man from Mars came along . . .

The Expanse series:
Leviathan Wakes
Caliban's War
Abaddon's Gate
Cibola Burn
Nemesis Games
Babylon's Ashes
Persepolis Rising
Tiamat's Wrath

Praise for the Expanse:

'The science fictional equivalent of A Song of Ice and Fire' NPR Books

'As close as you'll get to a Hollywood blockbuster in book form' io9.com

'Great characters, excellent dialogue, memorable fights' wired.com

'High adventure equalling the best space opera has to offer, cutting-edge technology and a group of unforgettable characters . . . Perhaps one of the best tales the genre has yet to produce' Library Journal

'This is the future the way it's supposed to be' Wall Street Journal

'Tense and thrilling' SciFiNow

Reviewed by clq on

4 of 5 stars

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I enjoyed The Vital Abyss the most of the Expanse-novellas I've read so far. We follow one character, and the story alternates between taking place in the past and in the present. Gradually the significance of this particular story as it relates to the Expanse-universe as a whole is slowly revealed, and everything falls to place in a somewhat surprising, but really satisfying way. I'd say this novella in particular should more or less be required reading for anyone who has finished Nemesis Games.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 March, 2018: Finished reading
  • 27 March, 2018: Reviewed