I Like “The Expanse”

Hello, friends!

This week’s edition of Things I Like is about something big. Really big. I just finished reading The Expanse—all nine novels—and I’m feeling a little emotionally spaced out (pun intended). I started the series back in January, and for the last several months, these books have been my steady reading companion. Now that I’ve closed the final page, I’m left with a lot of feelings, and a lot of admiration for what this sci-fi epic manages to explore.

The Churn: Chaos, Change, and the Human Story

One of the most powerful ideas in The Expanse is something the characters call “the churn.” It’s the cycle of upheaval that shapes human history—political collapse, violent conflict, new technologies, old power structures falling and reforming. In the books, humanity spreads across the solar system and beyond, but we don’t leave our patterns behind. We adapt, evolve, fall apart, and try again.

I found myself reflecting on how true that is in our own lives. Personally. Culturally. Globally. Whether it’s massive geopolitical shifts or the quiet upheaval of a personal loss, life keeps churning. And when it does, The Expanse offers a quietly powerful reminder: you find a way forward. You survive. You build something new.

Chosen Family > Biological Destiny

The central crew of the Rocinante—Holden, Naomi, Amos, Alex, and eventually others—form a kind of makeshift family. They argue, drift apart, come back together, protect one another, and grow. What makes it beautiful is that they choose each other. Again and again.

It’s not the kind of perfect, glossy family you see in commercials. It’s messy and imperfect. But that’s what makes it real. As a therapist, I’m always interested in how people find belonging—how they build safety and connection in relationships that aren’t defined by blood or obligation. The Expanse nails this.

It says: family isn’t who you’re born to. It’s who you build with.

Moral Certainty Is a Luxury

If you’re someone who likes clear good guys and bad guys, The Expanse might frustrate you. But if you’re interested in moral complexity, in what happens when people have to make impossible choices in impossible situations—this is your book series.

Characters disagree. They act out of loyalty, fear, love, guilt, ambition. Sometimes they’re right. Sometimes they’re not. And the narrative gives you space to sit with all of it.

What I love is that the books don’t pretend that doing the right thing is easy. They show how murky morality becomes in the face of survival, power, and limited information. In a world where things often feel black and white online, it’s refreshing to live in a fictional universe that lets you hold tension and ambiguity.

Also… Space Stuff Is Fun

Let’s not forget: this series has rail guns, fusion drives, alien protomolecule weirdness, warships, political intrigue, and one of the most iconic opening lines in sci-fi:
“The Scopuli had been taken eight days ago, and Holden was having a cup of coffee.”

The authors manage to keep the science believable enough to feel grounded, but imaginative enough to stay exciting. It’s an absolute blast (sometimes literally).

Conclusion

Reading The Expanse reminded me that the best stories don’t just entertain—they reflect us. They hold up a mirror to our chaos, our relationships, our choices. They remind us that even in the churn, we can choose connection. We can move forward. We can keep driving the ship.

Thanks for joining me this week in Things I Like. Until next time, remember: know yourself, love yourself, and never stop adjusting your trajectory.