Leviathan Wakes update #2 (Patreon)

In this video, we're analysing the big thematic conflicts and philosophical questions raised by Leviathan Wakes.

One of the biggies is Holden's idealism – his sense of justice and righteousness leads to some rash, dangerous decisions. After his ship (and home) the Cant is destroyed, he urges his crew to chase after the aggressor – which would probably be suicide. Later, he tells the world about the Martian transmitter used to lure the Cant, which ultimately helps cause a war. (In the show, it's a bit different – Holden's broadcast is a calculated strategic move, "insurance" to deter the Martian Donnager from killing them. This is an interesting change from the books, but imho it undermines the idealism vs pragmatism theme). In a later book, Holden's described as "the solar system’s white knight. Tilting at giants like Protogen and Mao-Kwik". This is a reference to Don Quixote – a wannabe knight who attacks windmills. (Holden's ship, the Rocinante, is named after Don Quixote's horse). Here's a reading of the windmills chapter in Don Quixote. 

Antony Dresden, architect of the Eros experiment, also creates some interesting ideological conflict. On the one hand, Dresden is a murderous monster who'd put Mengele to shame – Dresden infects a million people with the deadly protomolecule. But Dresden argues that humanity must learn to use the protomolecule – it has the power to reshape biology, and humans will need that power if they ever encounter the protomolecule's creators. Dresden argues that a million deaths is justified, if it saves humanity. This is cold utilitarian calculus, but it's kinda compelling – when Miller kills Dresden, it's not because Dresden's wrong – it's because Dresden's argument is convincing, and could lead others to commit further evil...

So there's heaps of heady philosophical stuff to unpack here. To stop the video from growing into an unmanageable overlong monster, we'll be narrowing the scope to focus more on the book, Leviathan Wakes – and less on the show, which introduces lots of differences and complications. So we won't talk about Avasarala in this one – which is a shame, because she's the bloody best – will save her for the next Expanse video, perhaps 🙂

PS:  Oh and the moon of Phoebe is a good excuse for a Friends reference..