Books Like The Dark Beyond The Stars

The vastness of space has always fascinated humanity and has inspired many science fiction authors to write tales of exploration and discovery. However, for humankind to brave the uncharted dangers of deep space, they need massive ships that can sustain life for the duration of these voyages. The concept of what life would be like onboard these ships and what types of perils the crew would face has made for thrilling science fiction novels. For example, in The Dark Beyond The Stars by Frank M. Robinson, the setting is a 2,000 year-old-ship on a mission to find alien life. While the Captain remains obsessed with this mission, the crew knows that the ship is falling apart, and a mutiny begins to return it to Earth. For more science fiction novels that use spaceships as the setting, check out the following books like The Dark Beyond The Stars.

Lightless

by C.A. Higgins

Lightless is the first novel in the trilogy of the same name by C.A. Higgins. The setting is an experimental military spacecraft called Ananke, launched by the ruthless organization that rules Earth and its solar systems. Althea is a computer scientist working onboard Ananke, where she has established an emotional bond with the ship’s electronic systems. However, her beloved ship becomes the target of two fugitive terrorists who gain access to Ananke and causes havoc. As the ship’s systems begin to malfunction, Althea has to track down the saboteurs and save Ananke before it is too late.

Tau Zero

by Poul Anderson

Tau Zero by Poul Anderson is set onboard the spacecraft Leonora Christine which is on a journey of discovery to a planet that is located thirty light-years away. However, because the ship is incapable of faster-than-light travel, it means that the crew will all age five years during the trip while thirty-three years pass on Earth. The crew of fifty are all experienced scientists and researchers and has come to terms with the logistics of their trip. Unfortunately, Leonora Christine sustains engine damage while passing through an uncharted nebula, which means it won’t be able to decelerate in time to stop at its destination. This prompts the crew to continue accelerating towards the speed of light as they hurtle deeper into space and an unknown fate.

Marrow

by Robert Reed

Marrow is the first book in the Great Ship series by Robert Reed. The spaceship used as the setting for the story is simply called “The Ship” and is larger than many planets. The Ship is larger than many planets and home to thousands of alien races along with countless secrets. Although the crew is near-immortal, The Ship has been traveling the universe for longer than any of them can recall, and its true purpose, as well as origins, are unknown. When it is discovered that the center of the Ship is a planet named Marrow, a team is assembled to investigate. As the best and brightest of the Ship set out on their mission, they could either return with information about the origins of the Ship or possibly bring doom to everyone on board.

Hull Zero Three

by Greg Bear

Hull Zero Three by Greg Bear is set on board a starship hurtling through the emptiness of space. The protagonist wakes up not knowing who he is and where the ship is heading. Before waking, his dreams were that of a new home on a new planet with the woman he was meant to love in his arms. However, his reality on the ship is far worse as he is wet, naked, and freezing to death as monsters prowl the dark halls. Unfortunately, trusting the other survivors he meets might be an even greater danger as he sets out to discover what happened to Hull 03.

Ship of Fools

by Richard Paul Russo

The starship Argonos is the setting for Ship of Fools by Richard Paul Russo. It is home to generations of humans who crews the ship as it aimlessly wanders throughout the galaxy. The purpose of Argonos is to search for other signs of life, but after hundreds of years, it has had no success. However, a steady, unidentified transmission lures the ship to a nearby planet, where they discover what remains of a former colony. Still haunted by the grisly discovery, the crew continues into deep space as another signal beckons.

The Wreck of The River of Stars

by Michael Flynn

The Wreck of the River of Stars by Michael Flynn is the story of a doomed spaceship and its crew. The River of Stars is a luxury space cruised that uses magnetic sails and solar energy as propulsion. However, advances in technology have rendered it obsolete and resulted in it being retrofitted with engines and used as a tramp freighter among the outer planets. The River of Stars is also crewed by a motley group of misfits who find themselves in a predicament when catastrophic engine failure strikes. While some of the crew believe the ship can be saved with heroic engineering, others dream of returning to the old ways and arriving at their destination proudly under sail.

Destination: Void

by Frank Herbert

Destination: Void by Frank Herbert is the story of the starship Earthling, which is filled with thousands of hibernating colonists. The ship is controlled by three Organic Mental Cores, which are disembodied human brains that handle all of its functions. However, when these brains go insane, the ship is stranded beyond the solar system. The emergency skeleton crew realizes that they have only one chance to survive the ordeal, and that is to create an artificial consciousness in Earthling’s primary computer. However, while this could guide them to their destination, it could also destroy the human race.