Irina: The Vampire Cosmonaut

On November 23, 1957, the world watched as the Federal Republic of Zirnitra made history by launching the first living creature-a dog-into space. Since then, the rivalry between Zirnitra and its competitor, the United Kingdom of Arnack, has grown fiercer, with both nations determined to one day send humans beyond Earth. But a dog’s biology is too different from a human’s to fully understand the risks of space travel without direct observation. Zirnitra’s government sees a possible answer in vampires, whose physiology is strikingly similar to humans. Irina Luminesk, a vampire taken from her mountain home, doesn’t resist-she even agrees to train as a test subject. Lev Leps, once a leading candidate to become Zirnitra’s first human cosmonaut, is assigned to guide her. As they prepare together, their shared fascination with space draws them closer, forging an unexpected bond.