A deep space colony ship. A pilot’s inner conflict. Who will win?

Sisu Publications is proud to publish the novelette, In The Space Of Nine Lives, by R. R. Angell. The story was first published in the January 2006 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, edited by Sheila Williams.

About the story

The ship’s cat slipped Tom’s grip and ran up the curving floor toward the galley. As he stalked her, young Tom felt less sure of himself. He could talk it over with Pilot, but Pilot was in sim and not to be bothered unless it was an emergency. 


Tom’s best friend, his schoolmates, and all his teachers on the interstellar ship exist in virtual reality. The only other living person on board is the Pilot, and Tom is being groomed to take his place, ensuring that the colonists in hibernation reach their destination planet after their centuries-long journey.

But after Pilot retires to his own hibernation, young Tom has a life-changing event that makes him question the mission’s purpose, and his own. Meanwhile, the ship seems to have its own agenda concerning a mysterious cloud of debris.

Will Tom accept fate or choose his own destiny?

Praise for R. R. Angell

Angell looks into the psychology behind deep space exploration, with another factor, VR, in a story of the kind Asimov’s does particularly well, and which Angell handles particularly well.

A good Asimov’s debut for Angell.

– Mark Watson. http://bestsf.net

Where to buy it!

Amazon Novelette Trade Paperback link is here

Buy the eBook here (links to all major platforms)

Cover design by Teagan Gavet