Cibola Burn

In the fourth installment of the bestselling Expanse series, the crew of the Rocinante faces a new frontier as the rush to colonize new planets spirals into chaos and potential conflict. The gates to a thousand worlds have opened, and settlers eager for new beginnings flood out from humanity's home planets. However, the first human colony on this frontier, Ilus, is born amidst violence and turmoil. Independent settlers clash with a powerful corporate colony ship, relying solely on their determination and skills honed during past wars. As innocent scientists are killed while surveying this alien world, the struggle on Ilus threatens to reverberate back to Earth. James Holden and his crew are dispatched to restore peace amid the chaos, but Holden suspects their mission is destined to fail. He is haunted by the memory of a dead man, reminding him of the once-great galactic civilization that existed on this land and the mysterious forces that led to its demise. The narrative explores themes of survival, conflict, and the dark legacy of colonization as the characters navigate a treacherous landscape filled with uncertainty and danger.