Inner Space    by Jakub Szamalek Order:  USA  Can Harper, 2025 (2025) Softcover, e-Book      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson What I enjoyed most about Jakub Szamalek's Inner Space (whose action is mainly on the International Space Station) is that the author made it all so credible and left me feeling I'd been up there with the astronauts, struggling with their struggles and living their lives. The novel is translated from the Polish by Kasia Beresford. The lead is ambitious astronaut Lucy Poplasky, one of the station's first female commanders (and feeling the weight of that role). Readers are shown both her point of view and that of her husband Nate back on Earth with their daughter Eliza. Tensions on the planet are rising as Russia has just invaded Ukraine. The story moves back and forth in time between a December 2021 commission hearing on what transpired in Mission Control and on the space station, and the events that led to it. Lucy's role as commander was complicated by her prior history with Russian cosmonaut Anton. They deal with a solar flare, followed by an ammonia leak, potentially dangerous if they can't find the source. Might this be Russian sabotage? Lucy gets worrisome instructions from Mission Control and feels very much on her own. Trust between American and Russian crews is low. A weapon, normally kept under lock and key, goes missing and rising tension leads to violent confrontations with a paranoid crewmember. Lucy copes, barely. Inner Space is an engaging and fascinating read that delves into the inner workings of human minds in outer space. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more SF books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews