Cibola Burn (2014) is the fourth installment in James S.A. Corey’s (pen name of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) acclaimed The Expanse series. This sci-fi novel follows the crew of the Rocinante as they navigate the explosive tensions on Ilus, the first human-colonized planet beyond the alien Ring Gate. What begins as a dispute between corporate settlers and desperate refugees spirals into a full-blown crisis when the planet’s ancient alien technology awakens—threatening everyone with catastrophic ecological disaster. Amidst sabotage, first-contact mysteries, and personal vendettas, Holden and his team must prevent interplanetary war while surviving the planet’s deadly secrets.
For fans of Cibola Burn, try:
- Leviathan Wakes (2011) – The series opener, blending noir and space opera.
- The Martian (2011) by Andy Weir – A stranded astronaut’s fight for survival on an alien world.
- Revelation Space (2000) by Alastair Reynolds – Hard sci-fi with ancient alien ruins and existential threats.
The Expanse
- Leviathan Wakes
- Caliban’s War
- Abaddon’s Gate
- Cibola Burn
- Nemesis Games
- Babylon’s Ashes
- Persepolis Rising
- Tiamat’s Wrath
- Leviathan Falls
- Memory’s Legion
