Babylon's Ashes

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Babylon’s Ashes plunges the solar system into total war, exploring deep political and tribal divisions. How did this large-scale conflict compare to the political struggles in other science fiction universes you’ve encountered, such as the great houses in Frank Herbert’s Dune?

2. Did the novel’s use of numerous point-of-view characters, from leaders like Avasarala to civilians like Namono, enrich your understanding of the war’s impact?

3. What moment did you find most pivotal or shocking? Was it a major battle, a quiet character decision like Filip’s desertion, or the final, strange fate of Marco’s fleet?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. The novel constantly tests its characters’ loyalties, forcing them to choose between their faction, their family, and their own moral compass. Have you ever had to navigate a conflict between loyalty to a group and loyalty to a person or a personal belief? How did you handle this?

2. Which leader’s style did you find most compelling: Marco’s charisma, Avasarala’s pragmatism, or Michio Pa’s humanitarianism? Why?

3. In a story filled with devastation, where did you find moments of hope or resilience? Did these moments come from grand strategic victories or small, personal acts of kindness and connection?

4. Filip Inaros struggles to define himself outside the shadow of his famous and manipulative father. What challenges do people face when trying to forge an identity separate from their family’s expectations or reputation?

5. Holden’s project of recording interviews with Belters is an attempt to build empathy. Has a personal story ever fundamentally changed your view of a group or an issue?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Marco Inaros masterfully uses broadcasts to control the narrative of his revolution, casting atrocities as acts of liberation. In what ways does his strategy reflect how leaders use information and media to shape public opinion in our world today?

2. The relationship between the Inner Planets and the Belt mirrors historical colonial dynamics. Does the book’s portrayal of the Free Navy’s brutal tactics challenge or complicate your ideas about what constitutes a justified revolutionary struggle?

3. In what ways does the novel’s tribalism between Earthers, Martians, and Belters reflect real-world divisions?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What is the narrative function of the Rocinante crew, a “fleet of one” made up of people from every faction?

2. Michio Pa is a direct foil to Marco Inaros. How do her motivations and leadership style thematically highlight The Moral Cost of Revolution?

3. How does the recurring symbol of rocks (asteroids) evolve throughout the novel to represent more than just a physical weapon?

4. Unlike the contained mystery of Leviathan Wakes, this sixth book in The Expanse series is a sprawling military epic. How did this shift in scope and genre affect your reading experience and your connection to the core characters?

5. How is Fred Johnson’s unglamorous death from a stroke, rather than in heroic combat, significant to the novel’s message about war?

6. Marco’s entire fleet vanishes at the end, caught in a bizarre “load limit” anomaly of the ring gates. Did you find this a fitting end for a character obsessed with his own narrative and legacy, or did it feel anticlimactic? Why?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you’re a graphic designer tasked with creating a propaganda poster for one of the three main factions: Marco’s Free Navy, the consolidated Earth-Mars fleet, or Michio Pa’s humanitarian group. What imagery and text would you use to win hearts and minds?

2. If you were Anderson Dawes, what would be your next political move after Marco forced you to flee Ceres?

3. Imagine yourself as a journalist for an independent news network in the solar system. Which character from the novel would you most want to interview after the war, and what would be the first three questions you would ask them?