Memory's Legion
Memory's Legion: The Complete Expanse Story Collection is a collection of science fiction short stories and novellas by James S. A. Corey, the pen name of writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck. Published by Orbit Books on March 15, 2022, the book collects all eight short fiction works set in The Expanse universe, along with author's notes for each entry.
The collection includes seven previously published works and one new novella, The Sins of Our Fathers, which serves as an epilogue to the main book series.
Content
The collection arranges the stories in the order of their original publication, though they take place at different points in the series' internal chronology. Each story is accompanied by a brief introduction and commentary by the authors.| No. | Title | Original release | Series setting | Plot synopsis |
| 0.1 | Drive | 2012 | Prequel | Set roughly 150 years before Leviathan Wakes. It details Solomon Epstein's test flight of the modified fusion drive that would eventually enable humanity to colonize the outer solar system. The narrative juxtaposes his physical helplessness in the cockpit with flashbacks to his life on Mars, chronicling the invention that grants Mars independence from Earth. |
| 0.3 | The Churn | 2014 | Prequel | Set in a dystopian, overcrowded Baltimore on Earth, this novella explores the early criminal life of Amos Burton. It functions as a crime noir, detailing his relationship with a local crime boss named Erich and his surrogate mother figure, Lydia. The story explores the concept of "the churn"—a societal collapse where the rules of civilization vanish and only the most ruthless survive. |
| 0.5 | The Butcher of Anderson Station | 2011 | Prequel | Focuses on Fred Johnson during his time as a UN Marine colonel. It depicts the tactical decisions he made during a raid on Anderson Station, a rebellious outpost in the Belt. Johnson initially believes he is suppressing a violent insurrection, only to discover later that the station had attempted to surrender, a fact hidden by his superiors. This betrayal serves as the catalyst for his defection to the Outer Planets Alliance. |
| 2.5 | Gods of Risk | 2012 | Between Caliban's War and Abaddon's Gate | Set on Mars, the story follows David Draper, the teenage nephew of Bobbie Draper. While Bobbie attempts to adjust to civilian life after her discharge, David becomes entangled in a dangerous scheme involving the production of illegal "designer drugs." The narrative highlights the declining morale of Martian society as the terraforming dream fades in favor of the new ring worlds. |
| 3.5 | The Vital Abyss | 2015 | Between Abaddon's Gate and Cibola Burn | Written as a psychological thriller, this novella is told from the perspective of Dr. Paolo Cortázar, the scientist instrumental in the Protomolecule research. Held prisoner by the OPA on a small station, Cortázar narrates his own history and his obsession with the alien technology. The story delves into the sociopathic detachment required to prioritize scientific discovery over human ethics. |
| 6.5 | Strange Dogs | 2017 | Between Babylon's Ashes and Persepolis Rising | Set on the colony world of Laconia, this story leans into the horror genre. It follows Cara, the young daughter of a Laconian scientist, who discovers the local flora and fauna have strange restorative properties. When her brother dies in an accident, she uses the local "repair drones" to resurrect him, establishing the biological foundation for the Laconian technology used in the final trilogy. |
| 7.5 | Auberon | 2019 | Between Persepolis Rising and Tiamat's Wrath | Follows Governor Rittenaur, a Laconian true believer sent to take command of the Auberon colony, one of the most prosperous and corrupt trade hubs in the gate network. Rittenaur attempts to impose fascist order but is outmaneuvered by the local criminal syndicate, led by a hidden figure from the past. The novella illustrates the difficulty of imposing authoritarian control on a complex ecosystem. |
| 9.5 | The Sins of Our Fathers | 2022 | Epilogue | The only story exclusive to this collection. It follows Filip Inaros living in exile under the alias "Jacek" on a primitive colony world after the collapse of the Ring entities. Cut off from the rest of humanity, he is forced to defend his new community from a local apex predator, grappling with the violent skills he inherited from his father. |
The Sins of Our Fathers
The collection features one original novella, The Sins of Our Fathers, which acts as an epilogue to the entire series. Set after the events of Leviathan Falls, the story follows Filip Inaros—the son of Naomi Nagata and Marco Inaros—who has been living in exile under the alias "Jacek" on a primitive colony world.Filip has spent years distancing himself from his father's genocidal legacy, living a quiet, solitary life in a settlement cut off from the rest of humanity by the collapse of the Ring network. The narrative centers on the arrival of a local apex predator—a reptilian beast the settlers call a "water dragon"—that begins threatening the community's children. Filip initially refuses to intervene, fearing that any display of violence will reveal his true nature. However, when the creature attacks, he is forced to utilize the tactical training and ruthlessness he inherited from Marco to kill the beast. The story explores themes of redemption and "nature vs. nurture," concluding with Filip accepting that while he cannot change his past or his instincts, he can choose to use them to protect rather than destroy.
The Last Flight of the Cassandra
The collection does not include the short story "The Last Flight of the Cassandra". It takes place during the events of Leviathan Wakes and was released on May 14, 2019. At only five pages long, "The Last Flight of the Cassandra" is the shortest story yet. It was included in The Expanse Role-Playing Game rulebook published by Green Ronin Publishing.Genre and themes
The authors have stated that the novellas were often used to experiment with different genres within the science fiction setting or to flesh out backstory that did not fit into the pacing of the main novels.- **Noir and Crime:** Stories like The Churn and Gods of Risk strip away the space opera elements to focus on street-level crime, exploring the underworlds of Baltimore and Mars through a hardboiled lens.
- **Horror:** The Vital Abyss and Strange Dogs utilize tropes from Psychological horror and Body horror, focusing on the dehumanizing effects of the Protomolecule research.
- **Political Thriller:** Auberon and The Butcher of Anderson Station focus on the machinations of power, contrasting the rigidity of military or imperial structures against the chaotic reality of human governance.
The release of the collection coincided with the conclusion of the television adaptation, marking a definitive end to the saga's primary release schedule.