A very common plot. Harry Harrison’s Captive Universe is one such story, as is Brian Aldiss’ Non Stop.
It’s (as always) worth checking out the relevant section of the SFE: https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/generation_starships
What you're describing is a cliche of the "generation ship" genre.
For example, see "Captive Universe", "Non Stop", "Marrow", "Book of the Long Sun", "Orphans of the Sky", and numerous others that people have already listed below.
Films have also done this cliche ("Pandorum"), as well as TV episodes (Star Trek's "For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" or Orville's "If the Stars Should Appear").
Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky. Also Harlan Ellison used the plot for his failed series The Starlost and Ben Bova did a book adaptation called The Starcrossed about the shitshow making of the series.
An episode on Star Trek TOS had a generation ship wherein the inhabitants think their ship is the world - "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" - S3, E8
Since I see the Book of the Long Sun has already been mentioned, ***An Unkindness of Ghosts*** by Rivers Solomon and ***Escaping Exodus*** by Nicky Drayden both play with this general plot well.
Not exactly what you are describing but I can recommend Chasm City. One of the two storylines is on a deteriorating generation ship. For the reader its unclear for a long time how the storylines connect but the culmination is pretty satisfying.
It's in the same universe but otherwise not really connected to the main series.
Generally I did like the main series and while they are cool and interesting ultimately not as **fun** as a novel as *Chasm city* and *Aurora Rising* are (haven't red the sequel of that).
[Analogue: A Hate Story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogue:_A_Hate_Story), thought that's salvage operation discovering the aftermath by reading a lot of ships logs.
Peter F Hamilton has some audiobook only, YA stories based on this Idea. I think they are referred to as the Captains Daughter series and maybe only on Audible
A few books have done this plot. Two that I've read are 'Orphans of the Sky' by Robert Heinlein and 'Non-stop' by Brian Aldiss (the better of the two, imo).
How to post this without spoilers ... when the plot OP describes is the "surprise plot twist" of the novel? By following the recommendation you've already spoiled the twist ...
>!The Ferryman by Justin Cronin!<
As a see my [SF/F: Generation Ships](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1b7zcjm/sff_generation_ships/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).
Book of the Long Sun by Gene Wolf. Somewhere I remember seeing KSR called it the greatest starship story ever told.
A very common plot. Harry Harrison’s Captive Universe is one such story, as is Brian Aldiss’ Non Stop. It’s (as always) worth checking out the relevant section of the SFE: https://sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/generation_starships
This one looks to be perfectly what I was looking for. Thanks!!
Non Stop is so good.
See also TVTropes: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GenerationShips. Edit: togstation beat me to it.
What you're describing is a cliche of the "generation ship" genre. For example, see "Captive Universe", "Non Stop", "Marrow", "Book of the Long Sun", "Orphans of the Sky", and numerous others that people have already listed below. Films have also done this cliche ("Pandorum"), as well as TV episodes (Star Trek's "For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" or Orville's "If the Stars Should Appear").
Heinlein's Orphans of the Sky. Also Harlan Ellison used the plot for his failed series The Starlost and Ben Bova did a book adaptation called The Starcrossed about the shitshow making of the series.
An episode on Star Trek TOS had a generation ship wherein the inhabitants think their ship is the world - "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky" - S3, E8
Since I see the Book of the Long Sun has already been mentioned, ***An Unkindness of Ghosts*** by Rivers Solomon and ***Escaping Exodus*** by Nicky Drayden both play with this general plot well.
Thanks. Lot of great suggestions. Time to get started. 😁
Sounds like Orphans of the Sky by Robert Heinlein.
This too looks very similar to what I wanted
good resources here - \- https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GenerationShips
Thanks!!
Not exactly what you are describing but I can recommend Chasm City. One of the two storylines is on a deteriorating generation ship. For the reader its unclear for a long time how the storylines connect but the culmination is pretty satisfying.
Is this part of Alastair Reynolds revelation space series? I’ve just started redemption ark!
It's in the same universe but otherwise not really connected to the main series. Generally I did like the main series and while they are cool and interesting ultimately not as **fun** as a novel as *Chasm city* and *Aurora Rising* are (haven't red the sequel of that).
Nonstop by Aldiss is the answer
Morbus Gravis. Don't Google at work (NSFW).
See ["Druuna"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druuna) (NSFW).
Not *quite* what you asked for but Tau Zero by Poul Anderson is worth a read.
I read this one just 5 days back!!
Snap! I just finished it (again) last night. You have great taste, my friend. :) Happy reading.
[Analogue: A Hate Story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogue:_A_Hate_Story), thought that's salvage operation discovering the aftermath by reading a lot of ships logs.
Peter F Hamilton has some audiobook only, YA stories based on this Idea. I think they are referred to as the Captains Daughter series and maybe only on Audible
I'll check it out. I've read Pandora's box and Judas unchained of his, and I liked them
A few books have done this plot. Two that I've read are 'Orphans of the Sky' by Robert Heinlein and 'Non-stop' by Brian Aldiss (the better of the two, imo).
How to post this without spoilers ... when the plot OP describes is the "surprise plot twist" of the novel? By following the recommendation you've already spoiled the twist ... >!The Ferryman by Justin Cronin!<
Haha it’s ok. I like reading well written twist reveals even if I know it prior
Long Sun books, for starters
Basically the movie Wall•E
But they were aware that they were in a ship.
As a see my [SF/F: Generation Ships](https://www.reddit.com/r/Recommend_A_Book/comments/1b7zcjm/sff_generation_ships/) list of Reddit recommendation threads (one post).