Looking for an old school space opera

[quantumtheif]

The book takes place after earth discovers .99 c ships. They set an expedition to a nearby star, but they do not go into hibernation. The book is then set in a society traveling through space toward their new home.

It was written probably 40-50 years years ago.

 

[Vertigo]

Sounds a bit like Gregory Benfords Galactic Centre books, first is In the Ocean of Night but that only goes as far as discovery of the alien ship. Across the Sea of Suns covers their first journey to a new star. Those first two were written in the '70s and '80s respectively.

Another possibility might be Ben Bova's Exiles trilogy books (written in the '70s) but they don't match as well (ship was built not found).

Can you give any more details as there are really quite a lot of books that might meet your description?

 

[quantumtheif]

Well my description was a little vague. The society that lives on the ship is completely awake with a town-like community on the ship. I think it may have won a few awards. Was written in the late 50's.

 

[Vertigo]

James Blish's Cities in Flight series springs to mind then. Literally cities uprooted from the Earth travelling through space using the 'spindizzy' drive. Written late '50s. The first book (They Shall have the Stars) is setting the scene. The spindizzy and the flying cities don't appear until the second one (A Life for the Stars).

 

[quantumtheif]

Thanks 'they shall have the stars' was the one I was looking for.

 

[Vertigo]

Excellent!

 

[MHK99]

James Blish's Cities in Flight series springs to mind then. Literally cities uprooted from the Earth travelling through space using the 'spindizzy' drive. Written late '50s. The first book (They Shall have the Stars) is setting the scene. The spindizzy and the flying cities don't appear until the second one (A Life for the Stars).

I have to re-read the Cities in Flight and meet John Amalfi again.