Abaddon's Gate
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Science fiction literature |
| Founded | June 4, 2013 |
| Founder | James S. A. Corey (pseudonym of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Abaddon's Gate is a science fiction work authored by James S. A. Corey—the joint pseudonym of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The narrative centers on a Solar System-wide conflict involving Earth, Mars, the Asteroid Belt, outer planets, and an advanced alien technology. As the third installment in The Expanse saga, it follows Leviathan Wakes and Caliban's War, preceding Cibola Burn. Released on June 4, 2013, the novel was also made available as an audiobook narrated by Jefferson Mays.
In 2018, Abaddon's Gate was adapted into episodes seven through thirteen of the third season of the television series The Expanse. This adaptation represented the final book covered before the show transitioned from Syfy to Amazon Prime.
Plot summary
Half a year after the Protomolecule constructed a structure on Venus and departed the planet, it halts beyond Uranus, transforming into a circular formation known as "The Ring." Earth, Mars, and the OPA dispatch vessels to observe this phenomenon. When a young belter’s ship vanishes while attempting to traverse The Ring, it becomes evident that it functions as a wormhole. Military forces from the UN, Mars, and OPA converge to establish dominance over The Ring. The OPA converts the generation ship Nauvoo into a warship renamed Behemoth, commanded by Captain Klaes Ashford with security officer Carlos "Bull" de Baca onboard. The UN includes religious figures and artists for public relations purposes, such as Methodist minister Anna Volovodov and prominent pastor Father Cortez.
On Ceres, Holden and his crew—Alex, Amos, and Naomi—are enjoying a break following lucrative freelance missions aboard the Rocinante. UN Public Broadcasting approaches Holden to participate in a documentary centered on him and The Ring. Although initially hesitant despite visions of Miller urging involvement, Holden consents after Martians initiate legal action to reclaim the Rocinante, using the documentary agreement to settle the dispute.
Clarissa Mao, sister of Julie Mao and motivated by vengeance against Holden for her father’s downfall linked to Protomolecule research, assumes the alias Melba Koh to infiltrate the UN exploratory ship Cerisier. She executes a cyberattack on the Rocinante, seizing control and disabling its communications while detonating an explosive on another fleet vessel. A fabricated video falsely implicates Holden as responsible.
In response, combined military fleets launch an assault on the Rocinante, which escapes through The Ring. All major factions pursue it into The Ring’s central hub—a dormant wormhole network called "The Slow Zone," where objects exceeding 600 m/s are restrained by an inertia field. Inside this zone, communication is restored; Amos discovers evidence of sabotage and obtains a confession from Clarissa. Initially mistaking her for Julie Mao, Holden opts to investigate Ring Station further.
As fleets enter The Slow Zone, Martian forces chase Holden but are repelled by automated defenses at Ring Station following intense confrontations. Miller’s vision reveals that both the Protomolecule and Station are autonomous alien constructs designed to locate their creators via Holden’s presence. Contact with an alien installation discloses that its creators’ civilization was annihilated by an unknown adversary employing supernovae as weapons.
Martian marines detain Holden before he can fully comprehend how to reactivate the wormhole network. Miller advises shutting down all reactors aboard trapped ships to signal peaceful intentions to Station.
Due to speed restrictions imposed after Martian aggression, ships suffer fatal deceleration; casualties increase while survivors face extended entrapment. Aboard Behemoth, Bull leads a mutiny against Ashford over his management of survivors.
Clarissa attempts to assassinate Holden’s crew aboard the Rocinante but is stopped by Anna Volovodov. Overcome with guilt and failure, Clarissa admits her sabotage and is taken into custody; Holden is freed from Martian detention.
Ashford conspires with Father Cortez to destroy The Ring using the Behemoth's communication laser in an effort to eliminate alien threats. Holden gathers allies including Anna and Bull to avert catastrophic destruction that could trigger solar supernovae. After fierce conflict, Clarissa disables Behemoth's control system; Ashford’s plan collapses.
With reactors turned off as advised, Miller informs Holden that Station recognizes their peaceful intent and lifts speed constraints. More than a thousand wormholes open, each leading to new star systems. The Protomolecule continues its quest for its creators through Holden.
Anna arranges Clarissa’s trial on Luna in exchange for preventing Mars from reclaiming the Rocinante. The OPA retains control of Behemoth, renamed Medina Station, serving as a waypoint for interstellar travel. Humanity embarks on exploration through these newly accessible gateways to distant stars.
Characters
- James Holden commands the Rocinante and is a former officer of the UN Navy hailing from Earth. His principal team members include pilot Alex Kamal, engineer Naomi Nagata, and mechanic Amos Burton.
- The consciousness of Joe Miller continues to exist within the protomolecule's matrix, assisting Holden with investigations. He possesses insight into the immense potential and threats associated with the gate and its long-extinct creators.
- Clarissa Mao, sibling to Juliette "Julie" Mao and daughter of Jules-Pierre Mao—former head of the multi-planet enterprise Mao-Kwikowski Mercantile ("Mao-Kwik")—is linked to her father’s past involvement in schemes designed to exploit the protomolecule for financial gain.
- Carlos "Bull" de Baca, a former combatant and ally of Fred Johnson, acts as the third-in-command aboard the Behemoth, a generation ship refurbished by the OPA into a formidable war vessel.
- Klaes Ashford holds the position of captain on the Behemoth.
- Michio Pa serves as the executive officer on the Behemoth and is later elevated to captain following a rebellion.
- Annushka "Anna" Volovodov, a Methodist pastor originating from Europa, participates in a UN delegation observing humanity’s transition into a new era. She aims to facilitate resolution amid political tensions and personal disputes during the mission.
- Monica Stuart, a journalist with UN Public Broadcasting, chronicles the activities of Holden and his Rocinante crew.
Reception
Abaddon's Gate received the 2014 Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel. Publishers Weekly awarded it a starred review, describing it as "the finest installment yet" in the series.