The Expanse
Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby · 2015 · TV Series
It evolved hard science fiction in television, depicting a politically complex, realistic colonized Solar System and an enigmatic alien protomolecule.
What it is
Set in a future where humanity has colonized the Solar System, this series explores political tensions between Earth, Mars, and the Asteroid Belt, alongside a mystery involving alien technology. It offers grounded, realistic space opera.
↑Inherited from(12)
'The Expanse' builds upon the concept of enigmatic alien megastructures and ancient, incomprehensible alien technology, drawing inspiration from the profound mystery of alien intelligence in Stanislaw Lem's 'Solaris'.
The political tensions between factions in a colonized solar system and the exploration of humanity's future in space in 'The Expanse' build upon the themes of space exploration and inter-factional dynamics present in 'Star Trek'.
Heinlein's novel explored political tensions and rebellion in a colonized solar system, influencing The Expanse's geopolitical conflicts.
'The Expanse' builds upon the concept of enigmatic alien megastructures and ancient, incomprehensible alien technology, drawing inspiration from works like Larry Niven's 'Ringworld'.
Niven's work explored vast alien structures and their mysteries, influencing the enigmatic protomolecule.
Clarke's novel established the 'Big Dumb Object' subgenre with enigmatic alien artifacts, influencing the protomolecule's mystery.
The grand scope, political intrigue, and sense of a vast, lived-in universe in 'The Expanse' draw from the popularization of space opera by 'Star Wars'.
Lucas's film popularized a vast, immersive universe with political factions, influencing The Expanse's complex solar system.
Robinson's work defined scientifically rigorous colonization with political and ecological themes, influencing The Expanse's realism.
Its realistic portrayal of space politics, multi-faction conflict, and long-form serialized storytelling heavily influenced 'The Expanse'.
Its blend of hard sci-fi, political intrigue, and the discovery of ancient, dangerous alien technology aligns with 'The Expanse's' themes.
The series' emphasis on realistic space combat physics and fleet engagements influenced later works depicting tactical space warfare.
The Expanse's exploration of ancient alien technology, its profound impact on human civilization, and the complex political landscape of humanity's expansion share thematic ground with Mass Effect.
The discovery of ancient alien gate technology and the resulting multi-faction conflicts bear conceptual similarities.
The novel series is the direct source material for the highly acclaimed television adaptation, which faithfully translates its themes and narrative.
↓Passed on to(4)
The grounded, realistic depiction of space colonization, technological advancement, and the political complexities of human expansion in 'For All Mankind' aligns with the approach of 'The Expanse'.
The series' attempt to ground its political drama and depict the mechanics of a galactic empire with a degree of realism draws from the approach of 'The Expanse'.
The grounded, gritty political realism and exploration of complex factional conflicts in 'Andor' draw parallels and influence from the approach of 'The Expanse'.
The series' approach to depicting complex scientific and existential threats in a grounded, realistic way for television draws from the precedent set by 'The Expanse'.