Cibola Burn (The Expanse, #4) in SpecFic Buddy Reads

Jun 19, 2014 Bradley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi, space-opera, 2018-shelf, worldbuilding-sf, fanboy-goes-squee

Re-Read 9/25/18:

This second read went down SMOOTH. :) Sure, we're out of the Solar System and Holden is attempting to play peacemaker rather than the lone voice of truth, but what he's got on his shoulders is the one-eye'd king in the land of the blind syndrome... AND massive conflict. Not whole Powers breathing down his neck this time, but things get really hairy out on the frontier where law and order is played fast and loose.

Yep. It's a cowboy novel featuring slugs that blind you, a planet li ...more

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Sep 25, 2018 Trish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

It's utterly fitting that this fourth volume in the The Expanse series is about the exploration of an entirely new planet in another solar system since it is also the first book where I don't know what will happen because the TV show has not caught up to the book series yet.

After the protomolecule has built the Ring and humans have gone through, finding the station connecting us to all kinds of planetary systems, humans want to leave Sol and live some place else. The problem? Well, it's mostly ...more

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May 25, 2014 Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller rated it really liked it

Shelves: my-library-catalogue

I love this series – the plot, the characters, the humor, the world building… all of it. I was excited for this one in particular because when I first started The Expanse a couple of years ago I thought it was only going to be a trilogy. Cibola Burn (and Nemesis Games) felt like bonus books. I’m super thrilled the story is not over!!!

As always, this Expanse book had an excellent mix of familiar and new POV characters – an element that has always kept these novels fresh and exciting for me. Of al I love this series – the plot, the characters, the humor, the world building… all of it. I was excited for this one in particular because when I first started The Expanse a couple of years ago I thought it was only going to be a trilogy. Cibola Burn (and Nemesis Games) felt like bonus books. I’m super thrilled the story is not over!!!

As always, this Expanse book had an excellent mix of familiar and new POV characters – an element that has always kept these novels fresh and exciting for me. Of all the non-Rocinante crewmember POVs we’ve met, I unfortunately enjoyed the ones in this book the least. They just couldn’t compete with Avasarala, Bobbie, or even Bull… but they were still good because I don’t think these authors could write crappy characters if they tried. I’ve mentioned before that strong characterization is my favorite part about this series, in part because they always feel like real people, flaws and all. It’s fantastic.

Admittedly, I expected the story to go much broader from this point (it is, after all, The Expanse series), especially after the vast potential and new revelations discovered in Abaddon’s Gate. But the scope of Cibola Burn maintained a fairly narrow scope (not that it wasn’t just as enjoyable, mind you). Having it different than my expectations didn’t disappoint me like many other novels have, but instead made me appreciate how consistent these authors are. They don’t jump the story ahead of what is feasibly possible just to advance the plot. As a result, all of the progression the solar system makes feels natural and unforced. Human ambition never goes beyond what is technologically possible, and I love that consistency. Not to mention that it was still wildly interesting even without fast expansion.

As narrow as the story might have felt, the things that happened in this novel will definitely have galaxy-wide ramifications… I can’t wait to see how they’re going to cope next! The broadness of the concept (particularly involving the protomolecule and its origins) always makes me feel so immersed these books.

Overall, Cibola Burn was a great continuation of the story (the next book, Nemesis Games, was even better! Review to come…). If you are a Firefly fan, or if you’re even looking to dip your toes in the space opera genre, give this series a try!

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com ...more

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Nov 29, 2015 Justine rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016-read, 2021-read, rereads

I think I enjoyed this even more the second time through.

Elvi was a bit tiresome with her weird crush on Holden, but I liked her smarts. Havelock was easy to become attached to; I love little connections that bring previous side characters to the fore.

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Apr 28, 2016 Robyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2016

I found the challenges of the planet, the scientists rushing around to save things, Holden's interactions with the protomolecule, the idea of a new frontier, etc all absolutely fascinating and lots of fun. But I didn't like the moustache-twirling evil villain (I found him unbelievable) or the lack of female viewpoints in this. (Elvi is a great character but also problematic.) Man oh man, though, I am looking forward to the next one! ...more

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May 19, 2017 Veronique rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, read2017

4.5 - 4th book in series

“Captain,” Amos said with mock surprise. “Have you actually learned from your past? Is this a new thing you do now?”

It is becoming a monthly treat to come back to the Expanse to have my next fix. As per the other novels, the narration is shared by Holden on one side, the constant, and a new set of characters on the other. I love it that certain secondary protagonists do keep appearing since this reinforces the world-building. I also really appreciated how Corey doesn't j ...more

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Oct 29, 2017 Cathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Re-read 2021:

From the prologue:
Whatever had built the protomolecule and fired it toward Earth back in the depths of time wasn’t answering calls anymore. The bridge builder had opened the way, and no great gods had come streaming through.
It was astounding, Bobbie thought, how quickly humanity could go from „What unimaginable intelligence fashioned these soul-wrenching wonders?“ to „Well, since they’re not here, can I have their stuff?“

And that is the driving force behind this book. Let‘s finds t Re-read 2021:

From the prologue:
Whatever had built the protomolecule and fired it toward Earth back in the depths of time wasn’t answering calls anymore. The bridge builder had opened the way, and no great gods had come streaming through.
It was astounding, Bobbie thought, how quickly humanity could go from „What unimaginable intelligence fashioned these soul-wrenching wonders?“ to „Well, since they’re not here, can I have their stuff?“

And that is the driving force behind this book. Let‘s finds the City of Gold and get all that stuff. Well, ok, the Belters go there as well to have a place of their own and a life free from the Inners. Then the rest show up to kick them out and try to get that stuff instead. And Avasarala sends Holden and company to mediate. Yes, crazy idea, right? It doesn‘t take long for the proverbial sh*t to hit the fan. Entertaining! On top of that we get a fascinating ecosystem, alien ruins, natural disasters, battles in space and more. Never a dull moment. This time around my mind wandered a little though, hence I knocked off a star from my first review.

*+*+*
First read in November 2017:

This is a solid addition to the Expanse. Another fairly straight forward story, not as twisty and with as memorable characters as Caliban's War, but good stuff. My only grievance is the very formulaic aka always very similar plot construction.

Holden is a bit much at times, with his boy scout persona, but luckily he has Amos at his side to keep him ankered to the realities of life and death. Naomi and especially Alex could have gotten a little more page time. There is the now expected bunch of new and never to be seen again characters thrown into the mix.

The really bad guy is really bad and there is the also usual morally ambiguous character, that could fall either side of that line. Miller does his thing, we get unexpected plot twists and oh-shit situations and everything slowly goes to hell in a hand basket, also as in the previous books.

I really liked the natural history excursions. I'll have one of those mimic lizards, please. Good sense of humour. The interludes are new. And odd. And interesting. And they didn't end up in quite the direction I expected them to go.

All in all a good read, if somewhat repetitive in set-up/structure. Entertaining , but not mind blowing. Will I read the next book in the series? Absolutely. ...more

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Feb 08, 2017 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audio

I enjoyed this but not as much as the prior three. Part of that is because the story took place mostly on a planet, which was odd. Then there was the narrator... Yeah, him. They switched narrators for this one for some reason. The guy wasn't terrible but I had trouble tracking the characters. Especially since the men mostly sounded alike and partially because he was extremely inconsistent with voices/accents. Havelock was sometimes American and sometimes Australian-ish and it was very difficult ...more

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May 10, 2021 Liam || Books 'n Beards rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-books, 2021, science-fiction, bought-2014, specfic-buddy-reads

The Expanse is always a fun romp, and CIBOLA BURN was no exception.

As normal I struggled a bit with the tone, I feel like with each book the authors are drinking more of a vat labelled "JOSS WHEDON DIALOGUE" and by the last book they'll reach critical mass and every single sentence will end with a witty remark while the character saying it has a gun pointed at them.

Also, lol, I bought this in 2014 and read it now. Top work me. ...more

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Sep 12, 2014 Suzanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

This was a fun entry into the Expanse series. Never ask "what more could go wrong?" I didn't love most of the newly introduced characters as much as in previous books, and the villain was so obviously bad that I wondered why people supported him. But I really liked the idea of landing on a new planet, the issues with colonization, and most of all Holden and pals. ...more

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Mar 31, 2016 Scott rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, sci-fi

This series continues to consistently deliver.

True to form, we get some new POV characters to flesh out more of this world and the people who inhabit it. Typically getting so many new POVs would bug me, but these authors handle it so well and seamlessly. Plus we always have the anchor of the ever constant Holden, who I really admire.

It's been a great journey through these four books so far, and I can't wait to see where we go from here. ...more

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Dec 10, 2017 Helen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I enjoyed this a lot more than its predecessor. Mays does his usual great narration too.

This part of the Expanse is set on or in orbit of a newly discovered (and fought over) planet. Our crew are delectable and can I just say Amos is becoming a really funny guy. I had funny looks from people assuming that I’m listening to music and then I randomly start laughing.

The next part will be listened to in the new year.

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Dec 03, 2019 Ctgt rated it really liked it

Still enjoying this series.

7/10

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Mar 03, 2016 Cindy rated it really liked it

There are new worlds to populate and the race is on. What might a "land grab" look like in the future? Will corporations overpower settlers? How is the rule of law (and just whose laws) enforced on a new world? And what about the life that already exists on these "new" worlds? Great science fiction looks forward but is rooted in our past: What have we learned since the "gold rush" days (apparently not so much when there's money to be made), and how might our experience shape future societies? An ...more

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