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Auberon (The Expanse, #7.5)

James S.A. Corey

Start date: December 1, 2019

Finish date: December 31, 2019

Discussion: Novellas

Why we're reading this: Featured Buddy Read - December 2019
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Novellas

* Novellas planning and discussions
By Teanka · 139 posts · 54 views

last updated Nov 18, 2018 09:33PM

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What Members Thought

Dec 19, 2019 Trish rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This latest novella in the The Expanse universe offers a look at one of the human colonies that is now supposed to be brought to heel by the Laconian Empire. Remember, Duarte has executed his plan brilliantly and therefore basically rules humanity. This means he also controls the ring gate(s) and the colony worlds.
Auberon is one such colony planet and Governor Rittenaur is sent there to bring law and order to the world. Moreover, his wife is there to ensure certain research can progress, thus ad ...more

54 likes · Like · see review

Dec 19, 2019 Bradley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2019-shelf, sci-fi

I REALLY love the subtext in this novella.

It's not only a novel about the straight-laced Laconian government taking over a thoroughly integrated quasi-mob-based world of Auberon and the clash that arises.

It's also a fantastic commentary on America. With the rife corruption throughout all levels of government... not least with high cabinet members profiting on their positions by having billion-dollar deals in the very industry they should have been regulating... this novella lays out the problem ...more

49 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2021 Justine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2021-read, novella

Along with Strange Dogs, this is my favourite novella of the series. It's a great fit to read right after Persepolis Rising, as we get to see yet another Laconian governor attempt a soft takeover, this time of a well established colony world, following the clearly successful invasion of the Sol System.

And what a great story! It was fabulous to see Erich again, who of course hasn't lost any of his well-honed tactical senses and predatory patience. ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

Dec 29, 2019 Lindsay rated it really liked it

Shelves: science-fiction

One of the interesting things about the later Expanse books is the moral foundations behind them. If the earlier books are a warning about amoral greed and what a lack of empathy in powerful individuals can cause, then the post-Laconia universe shows that the opposite is true as well. Laconia is a militaristic society based on law and honor, but it's also absolutist. We've already seen in the series how that fails with ordinary humans (Santiago Singh from Persepolis Rising). This one basically r ...more

21 likes · Like · see review

Feb 11, 2020 Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller rated it liked it

[3.5/5 stars] A full review for a novella?! Only when it's from James S.A. Corey. These novellas usually focus on periphery characters, and I love how in-depth and meaningful the authors make them. The stories are always about the human connection and digging into what motivates us. Auberon took a few pages to warm up, but quickly built momentum. I was totally enthralled by the end. There's one scene in particular that about had me out of my seat in shock. And that ending! O_O

Auberon dives into [3.5/5 stars] A full review for a novella?! Only when it's from James S.A. Corey. These novellas usually focus on periphery characters, and I love how in-depth and meaningful the authors make them. The stories are always about the human connection and digging into what motivates us. Auberon took a few pages to warm up, but quickly built momentum. I was totally enthralled by the end. There's one scene in particular that about had me out of my seat in shock. And that ending! O_O

Auberon dives into the culture and struggles of an outpost colony. It presents some interesting dynamics regarding settlements that take on lives of their own, moving increasingly away from the entities that originally colonized them. It's seems, no matter the setting, humanity is self-serving when resources are scarce, dragging its corruptive ways to the edges of the universe. Then throw in a character (Gov. Rittenaur) who's supposed to show up and restore focus and order to this lot with absolutely no backing save his supposed "authority"... and you have a fascinating tale. And a stressful one.

And amidst all of those exterior dynamics, the story also provides an examination of personal vices and how they shape our behavioral patterns. I personally found Rittenaur's vice especially poignant: perfectionism. A need for things to go according to plan and a strong desire for structure. The story really immersed you into the internal struggles of these characters, and I also thought the authors did an especially good job at incorporating sensory detail.

I'm not usually one for novellas unless it's a series I'm super passionate about (The Expanse qualifies), and even then, I find they often don't add a whole lot to the main story. The Expanse novellas are the exception. They may not always have direct influence on the story, but they always immerse you into what it means to be human - the point of the whole series, IMO. Auberon was a glimpse into the lives of those on the fringes of society, and it was a heart-wrenching one at that. These authors are brilliant at making me care about even the most insignificant players, and I'm always holding my breath, wondering what choices they're going to make. People are beautiful, wretched, resourceful, loving, greedy, and always full of surprises, and this novella highlighted that variety for me.

Side note: apparently they incorporated a character from the Churn (another Expanse novella) but I read them so far apart I didn't make the connection (or even remember the character lol). I'm not sure how this story will play in the bigger picture (if at all), but it was a good teaser to keep me satiated until the final novel comes out (I can't wait!!).

Recommendations: The Expanse is one of the easiest series to recommend - it has a little bit of everything and is consistently good throughout the series (happily ignoring the tangent that was book 4). And the novellas are equally as good. If you haven't picked any up, now's a good time to start with the finale just around the corner...

Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com

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19 likes · Like · see review

Dec 06, 2019 Veronique rated it really liked it

Shelves: read2019

Maybe not my favourite Expanse Novella but it had a certain weight. Once more, we get to see Laconian’s experience and behaviours in the face of the rest of the ‘verse, and it surprised me. Kingpin Erich is not what you expect, and nor is Governor Rittenaur. Their confrontation very much felt like a game of chess, which was fascinating. Veronica and Mona ended up being pawns, or better still, the Queen and the Bishop. I do wonder if these players will feature in the last novel... It would be int ...more

19 likes · Like · see review