In the Belly of the Whale is a story about the inhabitants of a generation ship during a middle period of the ship's 800 year-long journey - being centuries removed from those that begun the journey, as well as those that will live during its end. The story captures a period in which the noble aims of the ship have become less important to the leaders of its crew. The Whale has devolved from the aristocratic society of its departure with an effective, fair division of maintaining the ship's various systems, to an oligarchic society squabbling for power over another and oppressing its larger crew, that has finally had enough.

Following characters from numerous social-classes and roles within the ship, the book was an interesting story of how life on such a ship might exist - being large enough for complex social structures and dynamics, but small enough to where the fragile amount of resources and space remain important. I thought that the many characters and plot lines introduced were all aptly developed, and engaging to read. In particular, I thought that the focus on the 'Burnout' - an abandoned, semi-destroyed area of the ship due to a catastrophe 80 years ago - was a very interesting setting within the larger one of the ship itself, as well as for the people that continue to inhabit it.

As for improvements to the book, I thought that the 'mini chapters' or switches in perspective within the larger chapters were not very smooth to read, being somewhat confusing and not always well-placed. To add upon this, some of the plot events felt drawn out, and perhaps a bit stiffly written, leaving me wishing for more concise chapters at times.

Overall, I felt that the core of the story was always about how the faults of human nature can corrupt society at the detriment to our delicate, shared environment. When the book had this in view, it was very engaging to read, yet sometimes I felt like it got too caught up in its own events. Still, I would recommend giving the book a read.

The formality of the language the author used makes this story stiff and hard to enjoy. It would have been better if the author had relaxed both the description and the narrative.

In the Belly of the Whale is a gripping epic that takes readers on a profound voyage through time and space aboard an enormous generation ship. The narrative captures the poignant transformation of Earth's finest minds into a stifling regime, their rigid rules sparking an uprising among the hard-pressed crew. This provocative tale delves into the price of freedom, the metamorphosis of societies, and the repeating patterns of tyranny and liberation. Against this, Earth itself is undergoing a significant period of change, offering a layered, thought-provoking backdrop to the story. In the Belly of the Whale is a compelling exploration of humanity's enduring pursuit of freedom, pushing the boundaries of the genre to offer a deeply insightful study of societal evolution and individual resilience. This is more than a space odyssey; it's an invitation to delve into the heart of the human spirit and societal dynamics.

A fun and interesting science fiction epic for fans of the "science is real" type of fiction. If you enjoyed The Expanse for the reliasm, I think this one will be right up your alley!