Jefferson Mays

Book 2 of The Expanse series. Sequel to 'Leviathan Wakes' (10540). On one of Jupiter's moons, a single super-soldier attacks, slaughtering soldiers of Earth and Mars. The race is on to discover whether this is the vanguard of an alien army, or if the danger lies closer to home.

Humanity has colonised the planets - interstellar travel is still beyond our reach, but the solar system has become a dense network of colonies. But there are tensions - the mineral-rich outer planets resent their dependence on Earth and Mars. When Captain Jim Holden's ice miner stumbles across a derelict, abandoned ship, he uncovers a secret that threatens to throw the entire system into war…

Steinbeck's only work of political satire turns the French Revolution on its head, as amateur astronomer Pippin Heristal is drafted in to rule the unruly French.

Enchanting comedy ensues as Steinbeck creates the most hilarious royal court ever around the brief, bold reign of the corduroy-clad Pippin, his social-climbing wife Maria, his star-struck daughter Clotilde and her Californian beau, Todd.