Persepolis Rising
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2017 |
| Founder | James S. A. Corey (pseudonym of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck) |
| Products | Science fiction novel |
Persepolis Rising is a science fiction novel authored by James S. A. Corey, the joint pseudonym of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. It represents the seventh installment in their The Expanse saga. The book's title was made public in September 2016, with its cover unveiled in December of the same year.
Plot summary
Nearly three decades after the events of Babylon's Ashes, Admiral Winston Duarte and his renegade fleet have remained unseen since their defection from the Martian Congressional Republic Navy and subsequent entry into the Laconia system. By harnessing Protomolecule technology alongside a purloined sample obtained from Fred Johnson, Duarte has constructed a technologically superior armada and extended his lifespan, aspiring to become the eternal ruler over the 1,300 worlds interconnected by the ring gates.
Meanwhile, within the Solar System, Earth has recuperated from previous assaults. The seasoned crew of the Rocinante—comprising Holden, Naomi, Alex, Amos, Clarissa, and Bobbie—are engaged under contract with the Transport Union, which oversees commerce through the Slow Zone and its associated gate worlds. Following a contentious directive to enforce a blockade on an entire system, Holden and Naomi withdraw from active duty, appointing Bobbie as captain.
The Laconians reveal their resurgence by dispatching their cutting-edge battleship, Heart of the Tempest, through their gate to capture Medina station. The vessel employs a novel magnetic weapon capable of disintegrating matter at an atomic scale to obliterate Slow Zone defenses rapidly, securing control of the station.
Initially exercising moderation, Laconian commander Santiago Singh administers Medina but becomes increasingly distrustful after surviving an assassination attempt. His response involves escalating authoritarian measures such as establishing public prisons, imposing communication blackouts, enforcing curfews, instituting censorship, and dismissing his head of Security. The Rocinante team allies with a resistance movement led by Saba, spouse of union president Camina Drummer.
As the Tempest departs prematurely to subjugate the Solar System, it leaves behind the gunship Gathering Storm and sends another battleship named Typhoon. The resistance orchestrates a plan to infiltrate Laconian military secrets utilizing a bomb diversion. Although Holden is apprehended during this mission, they successfully retrieve encryption keys without alerting Laconian forces.
Within the Solar System, the Tempest wreaks havoc on Earth’s, Mars’, and Transport Union’s naval forces. Its magnetic weapon induces a system-wide power outage before an enigmatic artifact materializes aboard—reminiscent of one that annihilated alien technology on Ilus. Singh interrogates Holden concerning this object’s origins; recognizing Holden’s specialized insight, he sends him to Laconia.
Despite a combined fleet launching a final atomic offensive against the Tempest, it endures and presses forward with its campaign. Confronted with inevitable defeat, Drummer surrenders; subsequently, Earth and Mars governments swiftly concede authority to Laconia.
On Medina station, resistance members decode stolen intelligence and devise an evacuation plan through ring gates ahead of Typhoon’s arrival. Saba intends to free prisoners to incite disorder; Bobbie and Amos aim to commandeer the Gathering Storm, while Alex creates diversions; Clarissa and Naomi work to disable sensors to conceal escape paths.
The operation achieves partial success but treachery results in Singh ambushing Naomi and Clarissa; Clarissa eliminates their assailants but succumbs in the process. Bobbie successfully captures the Gathering Storm, fleeing with comrades to seek refuge on Freehold colony. Due to security lapses, Singh is executed under Duarte’s orders for failing to quell the uprising.
In the epilogue, prisoner Holden encounters Duarte on Laconia. Ignoring cautions about the artifact’s dangers, Duarte unveils his intention to exploit Protomolecule technology for human domination and extends an invitation for Holden to join his cause.
Characters
- James Holden, the seasoned Captain of the Rocinante with over three decades of service, contemplates retirement. However, the resurgence of the Laconians drags him back into turmoil; while his crew spearheads the resistance, he is captured and transported to Laconia.
- Bobbie Draper, a former Martian Marine and current Rocinante crew member, takes over as Captain following Holden’s retirement.
- Camina Drummer, once the security chief at Tycho Station and now serving as president of the Transport Union, wields significant influence through her governance of Ring station and its network of 1,300 worlds, making her one of humanity’s most powerful leaders.
- Santiago Jilie Singh, newly elevated to Laconian Navy Captain in command of The Gathering Storm, becomes governor of Medina Station after its capture by Laconia.
- Naomi Nagata, chief engineer and executive officer aboard the Rocinante, hopes for a peaceful retirement alongside Holden but joins the resistance upon the Laconians’ return.
- Alex Kamal, pilot of the Rocinante, continues to navigate despite personal struggles and intends to remain with the crew.
- Amos Burton, mechanic on the Rocinante, maintains a close relationship with Clarissa Mao and now cares for her as her health declines.
- Clarissa Mao, daughter of disgraced Jules-Pierre Mao and former prisoner on Earth, works as a mechanic alongside Amos. Her health suffers due to long-term consequences from body modifications used during her vendetta against Holden. She ultimately dies while activating these mods in a final attempt to seize the Storm.
- Paolo Cortázar, formerly a Protogen nanoinformatics scientist and OPA detainee, now collaborates with a renegade Martian fleet under Admiral Duarte, leading research on Laconia focused on achieving Duarte’s immortality through protomolecule advancements.
- Winston Duarte, ex-commander in the Martian Congressional Republic Navy turned Laconian Admiral after leading a faction through the ring gate to Laconia. Harnessing extensive protomolecule technology, he positions himself as a Philosopher King destined to guide humanity against unknown threats, undergoing treatments aimed at immortality.
Reception
A critique from Elitist Book Reviews commended the novel's character development, describing it as "possibly the strongest in the series," with emotionally resonant moments. Andrew Liptak of The Verge offered some reservations, observing that "Persepolis Rising" falters at times, portraying the Laconians as a clichéd tyrannical empire and depicting their leader Singh as politically naïve. He found the narrative stakes less gripping than those in previous installments. Niall Alexander from Tor.com emphasized the book’s darker themes, calling it among the saga’s bleakest entries despite its optimistic beginning, and lauded its thrilling yet touching storytelling as it nears the series finale.
"Auberon"
Published on November 12, 2019, "Auberon" is a novella by James S. A. Corey set between Persepolis Rising and its follow-up Tiamat's Wrath. Spanning 63 pages, this short story has garnered favorable reviews, maintaining an average rating of 4.5 stars on Goodreads.
References