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story identification - A sci-fi book or TV show about a tribesman discovering he or she actually lives in a huge spaceship


The story starts with a tribesman going on a exploratory voyage around the land, meeting other progressively more and more distant tribes, learning about the world. Gradually he or she discovers that the "world" is actually a giant spaceship flying through space.


The story climaxes by the hero ascending to the commanding deck and learning who actually pilots the ship and to what purpose.



Answer



You could try to go through some Generation Ship stories list and try to see for yourself if any match your memories. This list on Goodreads could be a good start.


The first book on that list, Non-Stop (1958) by Brian W. Aldiss fits your description quite well. There is a tribe, two members of which go on an exploratory journey, and discover the world is a starship... just as you said.



Curiosity was discouraged in the Greene tribe. Its members lived out their lives in cramped Quarters, hacking away at the encroaching ponics. As to where they were - that was forgotten.


Roy Complain decides to find out. With the renegade priest Marapper, he moves into unmapped territory, where they make a series of discoveries which turn their universe upside-down...




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