BookBingeThe Expanse Books in Order
The short answer
James S.A. Corey · 9 books
- How many books?
- There are 9 books in The Expanse series, published 2011–2021.
- Is it finished?
- Yes — the series is complete; it ends with Leviathan Falls (2021).
- Where to start
- Start with Leviathan Wakes (2011).
About 5,100 pages — roughly 80 hours of reading
The Expanse is a series of science fiction novels by James S.A. Corey, set in a colonized Solar System.
Here is the complete The Expanse reading order — all 9 books by James S.A. Corey, in the order you should read them:
Reading order
- Leviathan WakesHumanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond.2011592 pages
- Caliban's WarOn Ganymede, breadbasket of the outer planets, a Martian marine watches as her platoon is slaughtered.2012608 pages
- Abaddon's GateFor generations, the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt—was humanity's great frontier.2013566 pages
- Cibola BurnThe gates have opened the way to a thousand new worlds.2014607 pages
- Nemesis GamesA thousand worlds have opened, and the greatest land rush in human history has begun.2015536 pages
- Babylon's AshesA shattered solar system scrambles to answer the Free Navy's insurgency, and the crew of the Rocinante is pulled into the fight to hold humanity together.2016544 pages
- Persepolis RisingDecades on, an old enemy emerges from beyond the gates with power enough to reshape the young worlds of the new frontier.2017560 pages
- Tiamat's WrathScattered across a thousand worlds, the crew of the Rocinante wage a quiet resistance while something far older stirs beyond the gates.2019544 pages
- Leviathan FallsThe last battle for the fate of humanity plays out across the gate network, and the crew of the Rocinante makes its final stand.2021528 pages
Good news: for this series, reading order and publication order are the same — just read straight down the list.
On our lists: Completed sci-fi book series
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Get BookBingeFrequently asked questions
How many Expanse books are there?
There are 9 books in The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey, from Leviathan Wakes (2011) to Leviathan Falls (2021). Together they run to about 5,100 pages.
Is The Expanse series finished?
Yes. James S.A. Corey completed the series with Leviathan Falls in 2021; all 9 books are out now.
What is the first Expanse book?
Leviathan Wakes (2011) is book one, at 592 pages. Humanity has colonized the solar system—Mars, the Moon, the Asteroid Belt and beyond.
Should I read The Expanse series in publication order?
Yes. For The Expanse series, reading order and publication order are the same — Leviathan Wakes (2011) through Leviathan Falls (2021).
How long does it take to read all Expanse books?
About 5,100 pages across 9 books — roughly 80 hours at a page a minute. The longest is Caliban's War (608 pages); the shortest is Leviathan Falls (528 pages).