Best Sci-Fi Books Like the Expanse (2026): 4 Compared

These are the best sci-fi books like the Expanse for readers who want big space opera with politics, crew dynamics and believable science. We compared four by stated series length, book number and page count, from a 9-book collection to a classic Mars colonization novel. Every figure below comes from the Amazon listings, not from our own measurements.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	The Expanse 9-Book Collection	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Red Mars	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
3	Colony One	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon
4	Defenders of the Rim: Beginnings	9.5/10	Buy on Amazon

1

The Expanse 9-Book Collection

James S.A. Corey·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The full 9-book Expanse collection, 5216 pages, reading age 16 to 18 stated.

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Pros

• 9 books stated
• 5216 pages stated
• Reading age 16-18 stated

Cons

• 9 books, a major commitment
• 5216 pages total
• No awards are stated in the listing

2

Red Mars

Kim Stanley Robinson·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The first Mars Trilogy novel; the listing states it won the Nebula Award for Best Novel.

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Pros

• Nebula Award stated in listing
• Mars Trilogy book 1 of 3
• Published by Spectra

Cons

• Book 1 of 3, a commitment
• No page count is stated
• No reading age is stated

3

Colony One

Tarah Benner·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The first Elderon Chronicles novel, a space colonization adventure.

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Pros

• Elderon Chronicles book 1 of 5
• Space colonization stated
• Published April 23, 2018

Cons

• Book 1 of 5, a commitment
• No page count is stated
• No awards are stated in the listing

4

Defenders of the Rim: Beginnings

Randal Sloan·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

The first Far Future novel, a far-future sci-fi thriller.

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Pros

• Far Future book 1 of 9
• Far-future sci-fi thriller
• Published June 29, 2017

Cons

• Book 1 of 9, a commitment
• No page count is stated
• No awards are stated in the listing

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Compare the picks

Series and page counts as published on each listing, collected 20 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Book Score weighs performance (space opera craft), build (series depth), value, safety and warranty. For sci-fi, safety means a stated reading age: the Expanse collection lists 16 to 18 years, so it earned safety points. No listing states a warranty term, so all scored zero there. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

Best sci-fi books like the Expanse: how to choose

Space opera vs colonization

The Expanse collection and Defenders of the Rim are fleet-and-empire space opera; Red Mars and Colony One are colonization stories. Match the flavor to your mood. Browse fantasy books for adjacent genre picks.

Series length

Stated series run from 3 books (Mars Trilogy) to 5 (Elderon Chronicles) to 9 books each (The Expanse collection, Far Future). Longer series suit committed readers.

Where to start

Red Mars, Colony One and Defenders of the Rim are all book 1 entries. The Expanse collection bundles all 9 books in one purchase.

Setup Notes

• Check the book number; three entries are book 1 starts.
• The Expanse collection lists a reading age of 16 to 18 years.
• The Expanse collection lists 5216 pages across 9 books.
• Red Mars is a 2003 reprint edition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the actual Expanse?

The 9-book collection by James S.A. Corey.

Which won an award?

The listing states Red Mars won the Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Which is the longest?

The Expanse collection at 5216 pages.

Which are book 1 entries?

Red Mars, Colony One and Defenders of the Rim.

Still deciding? Our top pickThe Expanse 9-Book Collection

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Related lists

See our sci-fi space opera books and sci-fi books about Mars.

More lists: sci-fi space opera books and sci-fi military books.