Space Prison by Tom Godwin

"Space Prison" by Tom Godwin is a science-fiction novel written in the mid-20th century. The story begins with a group of colonists aboard the spaceship "Constellation", who are on the brink of reaching their destination on a supposedly peaceful planet called Athena. However, they come under attack from the Gern Empire, which has declared war on Earth, leading to a catastrophic situation where their ship is damaged, and they are left at the mercy of the enemy. The opening portion introduces Irene and her son Billy as they endure the chaos and fear of their impending capture. The catastrophe unfolds as the Gerns take control, forcing the colonists to separate into two groups: the "Acceptables," who will be taken to Athena, and the "Rejects," who are abandoned on Ragnarok, a deadly world fraught with dangers. As the story progresses, readers are thrust into the grim realities of survival as the Rejects struggle against the hostile environment, including hostile wildlife and dwindling resources, showcasing the harshness of their new reality.