Leviathan Wakes

James S. A. Corey ★★★★★

A space-based, action-packed, lightly political action sci-fi, set in the not-so-distant future, where mankind has already colonized Mars and the asteroid belt.

When a large interplanetary cargo ship, towing a few thousand tons of ice gathered on the rings of Saturn, is attacked and demolished by misterious stealth ships that seem to belong to the high-tech Martian Navy, the Outer Planetary Alliance rebel group rises to get ready for war. The handful survivors of the long-hauler, seeking justice, suddenly find themselves in a spaceship-hopping adventure.

Meanwhile, in the buzzing transport hub of Ceres space station, a hard-boiled, recently divorced and increasingly alcoholic detective (picture John McLane in space) has trouble finding a supposedly kidnapped twentysomething girl, daughter of a wealthy magnate. As he gets deeper in the case, his path connects him with the survivors of the cargo ship. Their ultimate goal is — of course — saving humanity.

It’s not too far-fetched for a sci-fi, at least not until the very end. Sure, it’s somewhat simplistic in terms of politics (thankfully, perhaps), but very entertaining. I would not start reading the sequels right away though — you wouldn’t want to binge watch Die Hard in Outer Space I-III neither.