In the Belly of the Whale - by Michael Flynn (Paperback)

About the Book

"Experience a truly extraordinary journey aboard a colossal generation ship, where Earth s brightest minds have forged a strict regime to ensure survival of the human race. The unintentionally-oppressive rules form uniquely distinct societies as the years pass, until differences in ideology, class, and cultural identity stirs up rebellion among the beleaguered crew, igniting the first whispers of revolution."--

Book Synopsis

Finalist for the Prometheus Award.

"Pursuing humanity's redemption to its final interstellar frontier, Flynn delivers an impressive and original epic."-Publishers Weekly, starred review

Experience a truly extraordinary journey aboard a colossal generation ship, where Earth's brightest minds have forged a strict regime to ensure survival of the human race. The unintentionally-oppressive rules form uniquely distinct societies as the years pass, until differences in ideology, class, and cultural identity stirs up rebellion among the beleaguered crew, igniting the first whispers of revolution.

A masterful exploration of humanity's relentless quest for freedom, In the Belly of the Whale pushes the boundaries of the genre, offering a deeply insightful examination of societal evolution and personal resilience. Each character is so set in their convictions it will make you continuously reevaluate what is right and wrong as you dive into the depths of the human spirit and space.

"In the Belly of the Whale is, if you'll pardon a Flynn-like pun, a whale of a tale, a grand reading adventure from first page to last. If there has to be such a sad thing as the last novel of a great storyteller, this book is a fine note on which to depart."--National Space Society

A gripping epic that will take readers on a profound voyage of the mind and space.

Review Quotes

"The thought-provoking final novel from Heinlein Medalist Flynn (1947-2023) speaks volumes through its formidable application of hard science fiction principles to softer sociology. Following 2013's In the Lion's Mouth, Flynn sets this meditation on human corruptibility within a hollowed-out asteroid, the Whale, on a centuries-long journey to colonize the planet Tau Ceti. Now several generations into the voyage, the Whale has suffered the "Big Burnout." A tenth of the ship has been largely abandoned by its 40,000 other inhabitants, whose diverse ancestors were initially selected for the voyage to avoid inbreeding. But stratification of the Whale's population has set in, with selfish actions of the privileged classes fueling rebellion in their underlings and threatening the entire enterprise. Flynn's rapid cuts between his main characters--an upright detective, doomed young lovers, unscrupulous politicians, a resourceful NCO--provide a captivating human panorama of this city-in-a-ship, while his convincing scientific lore reveals fascinating what-ifs about space travel and colonization. Pursuing humanity's redemption to its final interstellar frontier, Flynn delivers an impressive and original epic."--Publishers Weekly, starred review., July 2024 (full review)

About the Author

Michael Flynn was known for his
exceptional writing style and the ability to write extremely well drawn-out
characters against a background of hard science fiction narratives.

Flynn's writing style is further characterized by his
application of the rigor of his own scientific background to "softer" sciences
such as sociology, which is evident in works such as In the Country of
the Blind and the Hugo nominated Eifelheim .

Nearly all of Flynn's work falls under the category of hard
science fiction, and he is recognized as one of the most sophisticated and
stylistically acute writers in this genre. His treatment of character-based
narratives is complex and nuanced, as seen in many of his critically acclaimed
works.

Nearly all of Flynn's works have been extremely well received
by critics and includes several award-winning works such as In the
Country of the Blind, Fallen Angels, and Eifelheim.
He was also the first winner of the Robert A. Heinlein Medal. Flynn passed away
on September 30, 2023, at his childhood home in Pennsylvania.