The Mercy of Gods; Expanse authors return with a new Sci-Fi trilogy (book news).
In a universe far, far away from the beloved world of The Expanse, James S.A. Corey – the pen name of the dynamic sci-fi duo Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck – is set to launch a new space opera trilogy that promises to be as exhilarating as a rocket ride to Pluto. The first book, The Mercy of Gods, slated for release in the scorching summer of 2024, is the literary equivalent of discovering a new galaxy in your backyard.
After wrapping up The Expanse series with Leviathan Falls and bidding adieu to its TV adaptation in 2022, Abraham and Franck have clearly had no time to lounge around in zero gravity. Instead, they’re back, doing what they do best – crafting intricate sci-fi narratives that have fans setting up tents outside bookstores months in advance.
The Mercy of Gods is the inaugural book of the Captive’s War trilogy, which, according to Orbit’s press release, involves humanity in a cosmic war as old as time itself. The story is set on the planet Anjiin, which sounds like a place where one should never forget to pack their laser gun. Humanity’s history on Anjiin is as murky as a black hole, but one thing is clear – they’re on the brink of annihilation. Enter the Carryx, part empire, part hive mind, and full-time conquerors who’ve waged intergalactic wars for eons, now facing an enemy that even they fear.
The protagonist, Dafyd Alkhor, a simple assistant caught in academic snags and romantic tangles, finds himself plucked from his humdrum life and thrust into an existential crisis on a galactic scale. As the Carryx decimate Anjiin and capture its brightest minds, including Dafyd, the stage is set for a battle of wits and wills, with the stakes no less than the survival of an entire species.
Franck, in Orbit’s Crowdcast reveal, described the trilogy as the unholy offspring of Frank Herbert and Ursula Le Guin, mixed with a sci-fi rendition of the biblical Book of Daniel. Imagine that family reunion. Abraham added that while The Expanse was nestled cozily between the realms of Apollo 13 and Buck Rogers, this trilogy voyages into an uncharted region of the space opera genre.
Dafyd’s journey from a nobody to humanity’s reluctant savior and betrayer is teased as a tale of epic proportions. He’s set to be the most polarizing figure in human history – think space’s answer to Marmite. The trilogy will explore themes of power, manipulation, and survival, with a generous side serving of extraterrestrial politics.
As for the cover reveal of The Mercy of Gods, expect it to be as striking as a supernova explosion in a moonless sky. Mark your calendars, set your starship coordinates, and prepare for a rendezvous at your nearest bookstore on August 6, 2024. In the meantime, one can only speculate about the fantastical worlds and cosmic dilemmas that Abraham and Franck have concocted in their latest space opera. One thing’s for sure – it’s going to be an interstellar ride worth the wait.
