Abaddon’s Gate (2013) by James S.A. Corey (pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) is the third installment in The Expanse series, a sci-fi saga that escalates from solar system politics to cosmic mystery. The novel centers on humanity’s confrontation with the Ring, a massive alien structure built by the same civilization that created the protomolecule. When a coalition of Earth, Mars, and Belt ships ventures through it, they trigger a catastrophic defense mechanism that traps them in a pocket universe—forcing enemies into uneasy coexistence.
The story follows:
- James Holden, whose idealism is tested as he becomes a scapegoat for the crisis.
- Anna Volovodov, a Methodist pastor and pacifist navigating the chaos.
- Clarissa “Peaches” Mao, seeking redemption for her father’s crimes.
- Bull, a Belter security chief with a no-nonsense approach to survival.
Tensions explode in claustrophobic battles aboard the stranded ships, while the Ring’s secrets hint at ancient alien wars. The climax—a desperate bid to communicate with the entity controlling the gate—reshapes humanity’s future.
Abaddon’s Gate is a breakneck science fiction adventure following the critically acclaimed Caliban’s War.
For fans of: 2001: A Space Odyssey’s enigmatic aliens, Battlestar Galactica’s survival politics, or Hyperion’s cosmic stakes.
The Expanse Series
Leviathan Wakes
Caliban’s War
Abaddon’s Gate
Cibola Burn
Nemesis Games
Babylon’s Ashes
Persepolis Rising
Tiamat’s Wrath
Leviathan Falls
