Minor spoilers ahead.
I actually finished reading this book a couple weeks ago. I’ve been thinking about how to write this review since then - there’s only so many times I can say “I give this book 4 stars. The world is still very gendered, and that is annoying.” I somehow doubt that I’ll be changing that stance as I review future Expanse books.
The story has an otherwise interesting premise: what happens when humans enter an alien ecosystem for the first time? How would we interact with it? What would a corporation do to get their hands on a piece of land that refugees already made a home on when there are hundreds of potential other worlds to investigate? How would the United States… I mean, the United Nations *cough*United States*cough* be complicit in colonialism and corporate greed over the rights and liberties of refugees and the homeless.
The scene with Bobbi and the homeless person on the subway was hella insulting. It’s very reminiscent of how our veterans here fall through the cracks while tough white boys shout “take off my uniform” at them. That entire scene was a patriotic lampshade, serving no purpose except maybe to remind us that Bobbi was a marine. That time would have been better used to analyze the population issues that got alluded to in the epilogue. Now that is interesting.
I found myself sympathizing with the scientists and the refugees. Corporations can suck vacuum. I’m worried about the Martian population. And the authors need to stop with the sex and gender normativity - it’s done poorly.
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