This interesting novel is set entirely on an alien spaceship. The book opens just as hundreds of thousands of humans have awakened from being transported from Earth to the ship. The story starts somewhat slowly, but the characters are interesting enough to hold our attention. Almost everyone is surprised by the way the ship works. No electrical device will function, shattering Sophie's hopes of research, and frustrating many people's belief that they will be able to communicate with Earth.
Food supplies seem to be a problem, but in time the ship itself starts to make food.
Shelter is a problem, but the ship can be altered to provide this as well. The novel follows to some extent the stresses involved in setting up these groups, and in their interaction, but the more important problem is understanding the ship and the aliens, who don't seem to want to communicate. Morgan and his army squad attack the problem somewhat analytically, including a dangerous expedition into a dark core area which might be the control room. Stephen Cooper, always a loner, explores the ship on his own and also finds the supposed control room. Hathaway is an artist, and she finds that her attempts at painting on the ship's walls provoke a response that may be communication.