Caliban's War
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Literature, Science fiction |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | James S. A. Corey (pseudonym of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Caliban's War is a 2012 science fiction novel authored by James S. A. Corey, the joint pseudonym of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. The story centers on a conflict spanning the Solar System, involving Earth, Mars, the Asteroid Belt, the outer planets, and a formidable extraterrestrial biological entity known as a von Neumann probe. As the second installment in The Expanse saga, it follows Leviathan Wakes and precedes Abaddon's Gate (2013). One of eight interconnected short stories, titled "Gods of Risk," takes place immediately after this novel's events.
Setting
Following the events of Leviathan Wakes, the Protomolecule has been constructing an immense structure on Venus, closely observed yet not fully comprehended by Solar System authorities. The organization Protogen, responsible for unleashing the Protomolecule on Eros, has been dismantled; however, its financier Jules-Pierre Mao remains at large. Earth and Mars have maintained a fragile ceasefire since the war ignited by Protogen’s actions and jointly govern Ganymede, a critical agricultural center for the Belt. Concurrently, the Outer Planets Alliance (OPA) is advancing toward formal political recognition.
Plot summary
On Ganymede, four-year-old Mei Meng, who suffers from immunodeficiency, is deceitfully abducted and taken to a clandestine laboratory where she observes a grotesquely altered human contained in a vat. Soon after, Earth and Martian marines stationed on Ganymede are annihilated by an alien super soldier impervious to conventional weaponry; Martian Gunnery Sergeant Roberta "Bobbie" Draper emerges as the lone survivor. This assault reignites hostilities between Earth and Mars, plunging Ganymede into disorder. Botanist Praxidike "Prax" Meng embarks on a desperate search for his missing daughter amid the chaos.
The crew of the Rocinante, now engaged in contract work for the OPA, delivers humanitarian aid to Ganymede. After suppressing a food-related riot, they commit to assisting Prax in locating Mei. Their inquiry reveals a covert laboratory producing alien soldiers by utilizing Protomolecule remnants and immunodeficient children as experimental subjects. During an armed confrontation with security personnel at the facility, another alien super soldier is unleashed but ultimately contained. The escalating conflict compels the crew to evacuate Ganymede.
Hospitalized and grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder, Bobbie Draper is recruited by UN official Chrisjen Avasarala despite ongoing diplomatic tensions. The United Nations is fractured by competing factions; Avasarala leverages Bobbie as a strategic asset against political adversaries such as Admiral Nguyen and Undersecretary Errinwright, who aim to obstruct inquiries into Ganymede. To politically marginalize Avasarala, she is dispatched on a relief mission aboard tycoon Jules-Pierre Mao’s yacht—with Bobbie assigned as her protector.
Meanwhile, the Rocinante crew discovers an alien super soldier concealed within their cargo hold and destroys it at some expense to their vessel. Holden confronts OPA leader Fred Johnson regarding the secret laboratory but is dismissed and loses OPA backing. To support Prax’s search efforts financially, the crew releases a video appeal for Mei’s rescue. Their investigation leads them to Io, where alien soldiers are being mass-produced.
Avasarala uncovers that Nguyen and Errinwright have deployed fleets intent on destroying the Rocinante, while Mao’s yacht crew attempts to isolate her from communication channels. Bobbie seizes control of the yacht using smuggled arms and warns Holden before escaping to rendezvous with the Rocinante. Together they unravel Mao’s scheme: he weaponized the Protomolecule using immunocompromised individuals and sold these bioweapons to rogue elements within the UN.
Supported by Martian fleet forces, they defeat Nguyen’s troops in battle. Avasarala exposes the internal conspiracy within the United Nations; Errinwright is detained while Nguyen retreats to defend Io’s base in a large-scale engagement culminating in a Martian-UN victory. Facing defeat, Nguyen launches alien soldiers toward Mars; Holden infiltrates Nguyen’s flagship, kills him, and activates transponders to safely neutralize the rockets.
On Io, Amos and Prax rescue Mei along with other children; Bobbie eliminates the final alien super soldier using her combat expertise. Back on Luna, Mao and Errinwright are brought to justice; Avasarala receives a promotion; Prax oversees Ganymede’s rehabilitation; Bobbie returns to Mars; and the Rocinante resumes independent contract operations unaffiliated with the OPA.
The Protomolecule completes its construction on Venus before departing into deep space for unknown objectives. While resting aboard the Rocinante, Holden encounters Detective Joe Miller—presumed dead for over a year—who insists they must converse.
Characters
- James Holden commands the recovered Martian warship Rocinante. Following 18 months of involvement with the Outer Planets Alliance (OPA) after the Eros Incident, he severs his connection with the OPA while aiding botanist Prax in the search for his missing daughter. As he uncovers ongoing efforts to manipulate the protomolecule, Holden becomes central to a multifaceted conflict over dominion of the solar system.
- Chrisjen Avasarala is a senior UN official skilled in managing interplanetary diplomacy. Observing developments on Earth, Mars, Ganymede, and Venus, she accepts a strategic assignment removed from frontline engagement, positioning herself to take decisive action. Her trajectory eventually intersects with Holden’s, leading to a collaborative effort aimed at averting war.
- Bobbie Draper serves as a Martian Marine based on Ganymede, an essential agricultural center for the outer planets. After witnessing an alien force obliterate military units including her own platoon, she is dispatched to Earth for peace negotiations but is sidelined due to her opposing views. Later assigned to work with Avasarala, Bobbie applies her combat experience amid rising political strife and subsequently returns to space missions.
- Praxidike Meng is a botanist residing on Ganymede whose daughter vanishes amidst escalating tensions. Upon learning that her daughter was kidnapped prior to open hostilities, Prax allies with Holden and emerges as a prominent figure representing the crisis. His personal quest reveals broader interstellar consequences.
Reception
Caliban's War garnered largely favorable critiques from reviewers. Kirkus Reviews acknowledged that while it functions independently, it is most impactful when read after the initial installment. Wired.com's GeekDad and Publishers Weekly commended its authentic characters and plausible technological elements. Tor.com delivered an overall positive assessment but noted occasional overly direct dialogue, pronounced political messaging, and somewhat one-dimensional antagonists.