Daniel Kraus, acclaimed for his work with Guillermo del Toro and his upcoming adaptation by Ron Howard, ventures into science fiction with his novel The Sixth Nik, set to release June 26, 2026. The book blends the visceral dread of body horror with sharp political commentary, exploring themes of bodily autonomy and the potential for state control.
A Living Ship, A Plague World
The story unfolds aboard The Sickness, a spacecraft literally grown from biological matter. This isn’t metal and wires, but “woven biomatter” that reacts to the crew’s needs – or perhaps, demands. The ship’s disturbing design, described as a “tumor” or “rotted chunk of an Oort Behemoth”, sets the tone for a dark, unsettling journey.
The crew’s mission: investigate a plague-ridden planet that has gone rogue. The narrative centers on Sisilla, a nine-year-old cultist whose brain has been augmented for this task. The premise alone suggests a story where innocence is corrupted and exploitation is routine.
Influences and Origins
Kraus notes the novel’s genesis in a warped reimagining of the 1962 thriller What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?. But the project mutated into something far stranger, driven by real-world anxieties. The author explicitly links The Sixth Nik to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and rising attacks on trans rights.
As Kraus states, “the American government is trying to control the physical bodies of flesh-and-blood people”. The narrative doesn’t shy away from this connection. A quote from Josef Mengele serves as a chilling reminder of the historical capacity for state-sponsored brutality.
The Horror Within
The excerpt reveals a ship that is not just alive, but grotesque. Cauliflower-like cockpits, pulsating cargo holds, and cancerous-looking airlocks: The Sickness is a nightmare rendered in flesh. The crew’s reaction to the ship – “pained grins” and “fresh apprehension” – underscores the horror.
The protagonist’s detached, clinical narration heightens the unease. Trained for this mission, they enter the ship alone, greeted by forced applause that quickly fades into desperate relief. The question lingers: what kind of civilization would engineer such a vessel?
The Sixth Nik is not a comfortable read. It is a brutal, unflinching look at power, control, and the terrifying potential of biological technology. The novel’s blend of sci-fi, body horror, and political outrage promises to be a disturbing, unforgettable experience.
