Inner Space A Novel
Inner Space A Novel by Jakub Szamalek, published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2025, is a 352-page work available in English. This debut technothriller unfolds in the International Space Station, where American and Russian astronauts find themselves trapped together amidst escalating tensions due to the war in Ukraine. As life support systems begin to fail, the narrative explores the complexities of trust and cooperation in a high-stakes environment, raising questions about human motivations in the face of crisis.
Readers will encounter a gripping scenario where an ammonia leak threatens the crew’s safety, prompting Lucy Poplasky, one of the ISS’s first female commanders, to investigate. The situation intensifies as accusations of sabotage arise between the Russian and American astronauts, leading to a breakdown of trust. Inner Space delves into themes of exploration, ambition, and the instinct to escape from earthly troubles, all set against the backdrop of a suspenseful and action-packed storyline.
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*Spotify best of the month* *Gizmodo best new sci-fi, fantasy, and horror* * BOOKISH 20 Debut Novels to Read This Year *
“A Crichtonesque cascade of mistakes and misunderstandings in an all-too-plausible but entertaining thriller.”–Booklist
American and Russian astronauts are trapped together in the International Space Station as war breaks out in Ukraine and life support functions begin to fail in this action-packed debut technothriller that ripples with the tension and danger of Solaris and Andy Weir’s Project Hail Mary.
When an ammonia leak threatens the astronauts on the International Space Station, NASA directs Lucy Poplasky, one of the ISS’s first female commanders, to investigate the cause. Russia has just invaded Ukraine and tensions are running high–could the leak be a brazen act of sabotage?
The Russian cosmonauts aboard deny tampering with the ship’s systems and insist on the issue stems from the American side. As levels of the poisonous gas rise, Lucy’s investigation shatters trust between the Russian and Western crews, exposing deep fissures in the partnership thousands of miles below.
Intense and unrelenting, Inner Space questions what truly draws us to the stars: the urge to explore the unknown, selfish ambition, or an instinct to run away from the entrenched troubles on Earth?
Translated from the Polish by Kasia Beresford
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