This introduction into a short segment of your MC's life is clear and effective. I could clearly get a feel for his mundane life. Things like...

scratched the carapace beneath it's eye stalks

...and...

His dark eyes glistened beneath a shock of black hair as he watched the Seven Pilgrims tracing their nightly journey across the heavens.

...are excellent examples on how to show over tell. The first example clearly explained that he was on an alien planet with an alien pet. The second one is a brilliant way to say he gazed up at the stars.
A very good way to open a chapter, but not necessarily a book. You did so well to show his mundane life that it made the opening mundane as well. No sign of much conflict or possibilty of danger at this point. If I were to open a book and read this I may be tempted to put it back and search for another to buy.
I wonder if this is chapter one. Perhaps a prologue may be a good idea to punch up some excitement early and hook someone like me.

[This message has been edited by honu (edited October 29, 2008).]

http://www.hatrack.com/forums/writers/forum/Forum1/HTML/005181.html

If you really want to start with this scene, the dead father and the impact on his life could be explained (danger danger, telling up front), OR the last sentence could be replaced by the arrival of one of those dangers. Even if no direct conflict occurs, the potential danger could serve as an inciting incident.

Assuming you don't want to pursue the father angle right away, its a bit of a tease to drop it in here and not follow up. That could wait until later.

Beautiful writing, by the way! Stellar!

Nit-picks:
Lots of long sentences.

"stood near the side of his dug in and sleeping sand crab"

First read, I thought a "dug in" was going to be a thing. Maybe sleeping is enough.

"drowsily munching the scow shrub"
drowsily might be a slight POV violation, and scow scrub was already mentioned.

Don't need "for the most part"

Sorry, I get a little carried away...

My *suspicion* is that novellas are harder to sell. Section breaks between sets of chapters could serve.

I count on others here to counter me if I'm off base.