The Expanseis one of the modern juggernauts of the science fiction genre books. This is in part due to the excellent space storytelling and near-realism from authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck under the pen name James S.A. Corey. However, this popularity and success are also because of the equally highly recommended TV series.
If you’re missingTheExpansethese days, here are 10science fiction bookswe’ve enjoyed that come the closest to capturing the grounded and darker tone of this beloved series.
Best science fiction books like The Expanse (Quick List)
Hyperion Cantos
This sci-fi series from Dan Simmons encompasses four core books and a number of short stories. It is set up well enough that half the books feel like one series while the other half feels separate but connected.Hyperion Cantosalso has one of the most flexible and weird storytelling systems, with writing styles changing between novels. For instance, the first book has aCanterbury Tales-style split between main characters while the second book is told through a series of dreams. Some of these parts, especially the divided point-of-view storytelling, are reminiscent ofThe Expanse’sstyle.
Lord of Light
Roger Zelazny came out withLord of Lightin 1967 as a collection of seven different short stories following a crew of humans who mutated their bodies to gain supernatural powers to survive in their new world. The heavy imagery and symbolism make for a complex tale with several different characters and ideas to keep up with. In this vein, it feels quite a lot likeThe Expansewith all of the rotating characters and POVs you have to keep up with.
DuneSeries
The Expansemay feel a bit more grounded in its science fiction at times than the legendary Frank Herbert’s widespreadDuneseries, but there is no denying the monumentalDunenovelslikely played some part in inspiringThe Expanse’screation. Everything from the wide set of characters to the intense focus on politics and society go together so well in both series. Not to mention,Dunehas the unique benefit of both offeringa noveland adaptation form, similar toThe Expanse.
Remembrance of Earth’s PastTrilogy
Also known by the name of its first novel,The Three-Body Problem, this series from Cixin Liu takes place throughout human history as Earth discovers and engages with the Trisolaran alien race. That premise alone gives offThe Expansevibes. However, it is also similar in the fact it has its own ongoing TV series adaptation, which is quite engaging. Those who like both versions ofThe Expansemight enjoy this trilogy’s book and streaming versions.
Ender’s GameSeries
The first novel in this series,Ender’s Game, gives me the mostExpansevibes compared to sequels. Its smaller focus on a group of students at a military academy in space simultaneously allows for rich character development while also still containing massive twists for the universe as a whole. In this way, this sci-fi series reminds me of some of the earlierExpansebooks. But all of the novels in this series from Orson Scott Card are worth a read.
This science fiction series comprised of eight novels begins withA Shadow of All Night Fallingfrom Glen Cook. This is a long series and an early one from the sci-fi author so it has a pretty slow pace and some awkwardness at times. However, if you get past all this, the world-building and character development is incredible, as it takes its time to truly invest the reader in its universe, much likeThe Expanseseries.
Revelation Space
Science fiction doesn’t get more grounded than thisfirst novel by Alastair Reynolds. With a background of a PhD in Astronomy and many years working at the European Space Agency, it masterfully bridges together three seemingly separate storylines. This is all familiar for those who like The Expanse and a highly recommended novel.
CultureSeries
Iain M. Banks came out with this series, beginning withConsider Phlebas, in 1987. It focuses on the war between a utopian alien society and the other civilizations that surround it. The series spans thousands of years and each book pretty much acts as its own standalone tale within the overarching history. While it is far-reaching in its serialization, it stays just grounded enough to make everything believable in a similar vein toThe Expanse.
Hainish CycleSeries
This series of sci-fi novels from Ursula K. Le Guin, beginning with the first bookRocannon’s World, takes place in a far future setting where humanity evolved in space, rather than just on Earth. This resulted in some rather wild and odd groups of people in the solar system, such as one colony that has dreams while awake. The exploration of the communication between the various societies in space leads to one of the most gripping means of storytelling in the medium.
Altered CarbonSeries
Whilethis sci-fi seriesis heavy on the cyberpunk aesthetic unlike most of the novels on this list, its heart and central mystery feel perfect for fans ofThe Expanse. The first book centers on a former soldier who investigates the murder of a wealthy man amidst a society with immortality essentially reached. There are even some surprising elements of space colonies and aliens that will be welcome forThe Expansefans.
