In the Belly of the Whale
"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.
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.
