Cibola Burn

Refugees from Ganymede found a colony on Ilus, the first planet beyond the Ring, but the company Royal Charter Energy holds the official charter to it. Settler Basia Merton helps blow up a landing pad, and dozens die. Holden is sent to mediate, guided by Miller's vision, which wants to know what killed the planet's old inhabitants. Security chief Murtry kills a settler in public, and the violence grows. An explosion wipes out the colony, and the alien network shoots down shuttles and kills ship reactors. The survivors face hunger, toxic worms and a fungus that causes blindness. Holden takes Murtry down, and scientist Elvi Okoye shuts off the network. The colony survives and opens the way for others.

1. ChangeAlmost all on Ilus

   The book stays almost entirely on Ilus. S4 adds storylines for Bobbie on Mars, Avasarala in an election, and Ashford and Drummer in the Belt.

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2. ChangeLucia instead of Basia

   In the book, settler Basia Merton is the Ilus narrator and part of the cell that blows up the landing pad. The show focuses on his daughter, Lucia.

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3. ChangeNo Havelock

   Havelock spends the whole book on the Edward Israel, switches sides and ends up on the Rocinante. None of that is in S4.

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4. ChangeElvi without the crush

   In the book, Elvi Okoye falls for Holden. The show cut it because Holden's mission on Ilus changed, according to showrunner Naren Shankar.

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