From the Back of the Book:

Working Title:

Into the Belly of the Beast  

Story Synopsis:

Rheesor’s starship, The Hannu, has crashed inside the belly of a colossal space worm after being swallowed whole during a routine scouting mission. Rheesor and his intrepid crew wake up to find themselves deep within the winding insides of the beast, their ship badly damaged. The mechanics grimly inform Rheesor that it will take some time to repair the ship.

Venturing outside to assess their surroundings, the crew discovers the remains of countless other ships scattered throughout the worm’s interior. Some vessels are easily recognizable, while others appear to be from civilizations completely unknown, their origins lost to the galaxy over untold millennia. It becomes clear that this space worm has claimed many victims before The Hannu.

As the crew ventures deeper into the mucus-filled corridors of the worm, they are shocked to come across a thriving village of survivors—descendants of shipwrecks from generations past. These people have no memory of the universe beyond the worm and dismiss Rheesor’s claims that they are trapped inside a giant creature. Over time, their culture and technology have adapted to this claustrophobic, organic world.

Rheesor desperately tries to convince the villagers to leave with his crew before the worm digests what’s left of The Hannu. However, the village elder remains stubborn, dismissing Rheesor as a liar, a madman, or both. Time is running out, and the crew struggles to make the necessary repairs to the ship while convincing the villagers to join them in escaping the worm’s belly.

Amid the tension, Rheesor bonds with a curious young villager named Asiri. Unlike the elder, she is open-minded and believes in the truth of Rheesor’s words. Asiri becomes an ally, helping persuade others in the village to consider leaving. Her courage and curiosity ignite a spark of hope among the villagers.

Just as Rheesor and his crew begin leading the villagers back to The Hannu, the worm’s endless teeth begin grinding, and the corridors tremble violently. It has detected the activity within and has entered a digestive cycle. The worm’s convulsions send waves of rising acid through its intestines, threatening to dissolve everything in its path.

With the worm collapsing around them, their ship still partially damaged, and escape seeming impossible, Rheesor faces his greatest leadership test yet. The lives of his crew and the rescued villagers rest on his ability to stay calm under unimaginable pressure. He must guide everyone through the treacherous intestines and find a way out before they are all dissolved alive.

Questions:

  1. Would you purchase and read this novel if you saw it in a bookstore?
  2. Would you read this novel if it were given to you as a gift?
  3. How do you feel after having read the synopsis?
  4. What is your overall opinion of the genre?
  5. Have you ever read a space opera before?

Drop me a comment down below! I would love to hear your opinion.