diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 0d2d1533..6b40ee5c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 This is a history of changes to gateless/clara-rules.
 
+# 1.6.6
+
+### Added
+- **Query-only sessions**: New `:query-only?` option for deserializing sessions that only need to execute queries. Query-only sessions are a more aggressive optimization than read-only sessions (`:read-only?`), with smaller memory footprint and serialization size. Read-only sessions support both queries and inspection operations, while query-only sessions support queries only. Use query-only when you need the smallest possible session for query execution.
+
 # 1.6.5
 * remove generated bindings from clara.tools.inspect/inspect-facts bindings results
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index cf4b8f5d..15e5b2e6 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
   <groupId>com.github.gateless</groupId>
   <artifactId>clara-rules</artifactId>
   <name>clara-rules</name>
-  <version>1.6.5</version>
+  <version>1.6.6</version>
   <scm>
-    <tag>1.6.5</tag>
+    <tag>1.6.6</tag>
     <url>https://github.com/gateless/clara-rules</url>
     <connection>scm:git:git://github.com/gateless/clara-rules.git</connection>
     <developerConnection>scm:git:ssh://git@github.com/gateless/clara-rules.git</developerConnection>
diff --git a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/compiler.clj b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/compiler.clj
index 84e5eb89..f3a5d9bf 100644
--- a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/compiler.clj
+++ b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/compiler.clj
@@ -172,7 +172,9 @@
     (boolean (or (#{'= '== 'clojure.core/= 'clojure.core/==} op)
                  (#{'clojure.core/= 'clojure.core/==} (qualify-when-sym op))))))
 
-(def ^:private read-only-expr (constantly true))
+(defn read-only-expr
+  [& _]
+  true)
 
 (def ^:dynamic *compile-ctx* nil)
 
diff --git a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability.clj b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability.clj
index bfa66ba3..f0ae475b 100644
--- a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability.clj
+++ b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability.clj
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@
 ;;;; Rulebase serialization helpers.
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 
+(def ^:internal ^:dynamic *read-only*
+  "Indicates whether the rulebase or session is being deserialized in read-only mode.
+  This is useful for durability implementations to know whether to restore nodes
+  that would only be used for rule firing (which is disabled in read-only mode)."
+  false)
+
 (def ^:internal ^:dynamic *node-id->node-cache*
   "Useful for caching rulebase network nodes by id during serialization and deserialization to
    avoid creating multiple object instances for the same node."
@@ -488,7 +494,7 @@
    Note!  Currently this only supports the clara.rules.memory.PersistentLocalMemory implementation
           of memory."
   ([rulebase opts]
-   (let [{:keys [listeners transport read-only?]} opts
+   (let [{:keys [listeners transport read-only? query-only?]} opts
          memory (eng/local-memory rulebase
                                   (clara.rules.engine.LocalTransport.)
                                   (:activation-group-sort-fn rulebase)
@@ -498,12 +504,18 @@
                      :transport (or transport (clara.rules.engine.LocalTransport.))
                      :listeners (or listeners [])
                      :get-alphas-fn (:get-alphas-fn rulebase)}]
-     (if read-only?
+     (cond
+       query-only?
+       (eng/assemble-query-only components)
+
+       read-only?
        (eng/assemble-read-only components)
+
+       :else
        (eng/assemble components))))
 
   ([rulebase memory opts]
-   (let [{:keys [listeners transport read-only?]} opts
+   (let [{:keys [listeners transport read-only? query-only?]} opts
          memory (assoc memory
                        :rulebase rulebase
                        :activation-group-sort-fn (:activation-group-sort-fn rulebase)
@@ -513,8 +525,14 @@
                      :transport (or transport (clara.rules.engine.LocalTransport.))
                      :listeners (or listeners [])
                      :get-alphas-fn (:get-alphas-fn rulebase)}]
-     (if read-only?
+     (cond
+       query-only?
+       (eng/assemble-query-only components)
+
+       read-only?
        (eng/assemble-read-only components)
+
+       :else
        (eng/assemble components)))))
 
 (defn rulebase->rulebase-with-opts
@@ -527,6 +545,30 @@
          :activation-group-fn (eng/options->activation-group-fn opts)
          :get-alphas-fn (opts->get-alphas-fn without-opts-rulebase opts)))
 
+(defn reconstruct-node-expr-fn-lookup
+  "Rebuilds the expr-lookup map from the serialized map to NodeExprFnLookup:
+  {[Int Keyword] {Keyword Any}} -> {[Int Keyword] [ExprFn {Keyword Any}]}
+
+  Options:
+  - :read-only? (boolean) or :query-only? (boolean)
+    - true: the expressions are not compiled, and instead com/read-only-expr is used for all expressions.
+    - false: the expressions are compiled via com/compile-exprs.
+
+  This is left public to assist in ISessionSerializer durability implementations."
+  [expr-lookup {:keys [read-only? query-only?] :as opts}]
+  ;; Rebuilding the expr-lookup map from the serialized map:
+  ;; {[Int Keyword] {Keyword Any}} -> {[Int Keyword] [SExpr {Keyword Any}]}
+  (let [read-only (or read-only? query-only?)
+        node-expr-lookup (into {}
+                               (for [[node-key compilation-ctx] expr-lookup
+                                     :let [expr (if read-only
+                                                  com/read-only-expr
+                                                  (-> compilation-ctx (get (nth node-key 1))))]]
+                                 [node-key [expr compilation-ctx]]))]
+    (cond-> node-expr-lookup
+      (not read-only)
+      (com/compile-exprs opts))))
+
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
 ;;;; Serialization protocols.
 ;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
@@ -546,9 +588,16 @@
      space and time in these scenarios.
 
    * :read-only? - When true indicates the rulebase or session should be deserialized in read-only mode,
-     meaning only queries are allowed, this session can be queried like any other session but rules can
-     no longer be fired, facts cannot be inserted nor retracted. This session will only contain query nodes
-     and query beta memory.
+     meaning only queries and inspection operations are allowed. Rules cannot be fired, and facts cannot
+     be inserted nor retracted. The session will contain query nodes, query beta memory, and sufficient
+     infrastructure for inspection operations.
+
+  * :query-only? - When true indicates the rulebase or session should be deserialized in query-only mode,
+     a more restrictive subset of read-only mode. Only queries are supported (inspection operations are
+     not available). Rules cannot be fired, and facts cannot be inserted nor retracted. This is a more
+     aggressive optimization than :read-only?, resulting in smaller memory footprint and serialization
+     size since only query nodes and query beta memory are preserved. Use this when you need queries
+     but not inspection.
 
    * :with-rulebase? - When true the rulebase is included in the serialized state of the session.  
      The *default* behavior is false when serializing a session via the serialize-session-state function.
diff --git a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability/fressian.clj b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability/fressian.clj
index a726b4c2..7cf2fcec 100644
--- a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability/fressian.clj
+++ b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/durability/fressian.clj
@@ -602,30 +602,24 @@
     (with-open [^FressianReader rdr (fres/create-reader in-stream :handlers read-handler-lookup)]
       (let [{:keys [base-rulebase
                     rulebase-only?
+                    query-only?
                     read-only?]} opts
 
+            read-only (or read-only? query-only?)
             record-holder (ArrayList.)
             ;; The rulebase should either be given from the base-session or found in
             ;; the restored session-state.
             maybe-base-rulebase (when (and (not rulebase-only?) base-rulebase)
                                   base-rulebase)
 
-            reconstruct-expressions (fn [expr-lookup]
-                                      ;; Rebuilding the expr-lookup map from the serialized map:
-                                      ;; {[Int Keyword] {Keyword Any}} -> {[Int Keyword] [SExpr {Keyword Any}]}
-                                      (into {}
-                                            (for [[node-key compilation-ctx] expr-lookup]
-                                              [node-key [(-> compilation-ctx (get (nth node-key 1)))
-                                                         compilation-ctx]])))
-
             rulebase (if maybe-base-rulebase
                        maybe-base-rulebase
                        (let [without-opts-rulebase
-                             (binding [d/*node-id->node-cache* (atom {})
+                             (binding [d/*read-only* read-only
+                                       d/*node-id->node-cache* (atom {})
                                        d/*clj-struct-holder* record-holder]
                                (binding [d/*node-fn-cache* (-> (fres/read-object rdr)
-                                                               (reconstruct-expressions)
-                                                               (com/compile-exprs opts))]
+                                                               (d/reconstruct-node-expr-fn-lookup opts))]
                                  (assoc (fres/read-object rdr)
                                         :node-expr-fn-lookup
                                         d/*node-fn-cache*)))]
diff --git a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/engine.clj b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/engine.clj
index d6ba13c7..3d0ede25 100644
--- a/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/engine.clj
+++ b/src/main/clojure/clara/rules/engine.clj
@@ -2213,6 +2213,71 @@
   [session]
   (assemble-read-only (components session)))
 
+(defn rulebase->query-only-rulebase
+  "Constructs a new query-only rulebase from an existing rulebase. The query-only network
+  contains only query nodes and strips out all production-related infrastructure:
+  - Alpha and beta root nodes (not needed for queries)
+  - Production nodes and rules (queries don't fire rules)
+  - Activation group functions (no rule firing)
+  - Node expression functions (queries use pre-compiled expressions)
+
+  This significantly reduces memory footprint for sessions that only need to execute queries.
+  Query nodes are preserved through the original rulebase structure's :query-nodes map."
+  [rulebase]
+  (assoc rulebase
+         :alpha-roots {}
+         :beta-roots []
+         :productions #{}
+         :production-nodes []
+         :id-to-node {}
+         :activation-group-sort-fn nil
+         :activation-group-fn nil
+         :get-alphas-fn nil
+         :node-expr-fn-lookup {}))
+
+(defn memory->query-only-beta-memory
+  "Constructs a query only beta memory from a memory, the query only beta memory only contains the beta memory for query nodes"
+  [{:keys [rulebase] :as memory}]
+  (let [{:keys [query-nodes]} rulebase
+        query-node-set (set (vals query-nodes))]
+    (into {}
+          (for [query-node query-node-set
+                :let [node-id (:id query-node)
+                      node-memory (mem/get-tokens-map memory query-node)]
+                :when (seq node-memory)]
+            [node-id node-memory]))))
+
+(defn assemble-query-only
+  "Assembles a query-only session from the given components. A query-only session is a more
+  restrictive subset of a read-only session - it supports queries only, not inspection operations.
+
+  This function:
+  1. Creates a minimal rulebase containing only query nodes
+  2. Extracts only the beta memory needed for those query nodes
+  3. Constructs a ReadOnlyLocalSession with the minimal rulebase and memory
+
+  Query-only sessions have significantly smaller memory footprint and serialization size compared
+  to both full sessions and read-only sessions, making them ideal for scenarios where only
+  query execution is needed."
+  [{:keys [rulebase memory transport listeners get-alphas-fn]}]
+  (let [query-only-rulebase (rulebase->query-only-rulebase rulebase)
+        query-only-beta-memory (memory->query-only-beta-memory memory)
+        query-only-memory (mem/map->PersistentLocalMemory {:rulebase query-only-rulebase
+                                                           :beta-memory query-only-beta-memory})]
+    (ReadOnlyLocalSession. query-only-rulebase
+                           query-only-memory
+                           transport
+                           (l/combine-listeners listeners)
+                           get-alphas-fn)))
+
+(defn as-query-only
+  "Converts an existing session into a query-only session. The resulting session supports
+  only query execution - inspection operations, rule firing, and fact insertion/retraction
+  are not available. This is a more aggressive optimization than as-read-only, resulting
+  in smaller memory footprint since only query nodes and their beta memory are preserved."
+  [session]
+  (assemble-query-only (components session)))
+
 (defn with-listener
   "Return a new session with the listener added to the provided session,
    in addition to all listeners previously on the session."
diff --git a/src/test/clojure/clara/test_durability.clj b/src/test/clojure/clara/test_durability.clj
index e6f7017e..8c60deb3 100644
--- a/src/test/clojure/clara/test_durability.clj
+++ b/src/test/clojure/clara/test_durability.clj
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@
 
           restored-rulebase (d/deserialize-rulebase (mk-rulebase-serializer))
           ro-restored-rulebase (d/deserialize-rulebase (mk-rulebase-serializer) {:read-only? true})
+          qo-restored-rulebase (d/deserialize-rulebase (mk-rulebase-serializer) {:query-only? true})
           restored (d/deserialize-session-state (mk-session-serializer)
                                                 mem-serializer
                                                 {:base-rulebase restored-rulebase})
@@ -216,17 +217,26 @@
                                                    mem-serializer
                                                    {:base-rulebase ro-restored-rulebase
                                                     :read-only? true})
+          qo-restored (d/deserialize-session-state (mk-session-serializer)
+                                                   mem-serializer
+                                                   {:base-rulebase qo-restored-rulebase
+                                                    :query-only? true})
 
           r-unpaired-res (query restored dr/unpaired-wind-speed)
           ro-unpaired-res (query ro-restored dr/unpaired-wind-speed)
+          qo-unpaired-res (query qo-restored dr/unpaired-wind-speed)
           r-cold-res (query restored dr/cold-temp)
           ro-cold-res (query ro-restored dr/cold-temp)
+          qo-cold-res (query qo-restored dr/cold-temp)
           r-hot-res (query restored dr/hot-temp)
           ro-hot-res (query ro-restored dr/hot-temp)
+          qo-hot-res (query qo-restored dr/hot-temp)
           r-temp-his-res (query restored dr/temp-his)
           ro-temp-his-res (query ro-restored dr/temp-his)
+          qo-temp-his-res (query qo-restored dr/temp-his)
           r-temps-under-thresh-res (query restored dr/temps-under-thresh)
           ro-temps-under-thresh-res (query ro-restored dr/temps-under-thresh)
+          qo-temps-under-thresh-res (query qo-restored dr/temps-under-thresh)
 
           facts (sort-by hash @(:holder mem-serializer))]
       (testing "Ensure restored read-only session"
@@ -245,33 +255,54 @@
         (is (thrown? UnsupportedOperationException
                      (retract ro-restored))))
 
+      (testing "Ensure restored query-only session"
+        (is (instance? ReadOnlyLocalSession qo-restored))
+        (let [component-keys [:rulebase :memory :transport :listeners :get-alphas-fn]
+              components (eng/components qo-restored)]
+          (doseq [component-key component-keys]
+            (is (some? (get components component-key))
+                (str "Read-only restored session should have component: " component-key))))
+        (is (thrown? UnsupportedOperationException
+                     (fire-rules qo-restored)))
+        (is (thrown? UnsupportedOperationException
+                     (fire-rules-async qo-restored)))
+        (is (thrown? UnsupportedOperationException
+                     (insert qo-restored)))
+        (is (thrown? UnsupportedOperationException
+                     (retract qo-restored))))
+
       (testing "Ensure the queries return same before and after serialization"
         (is (= (frequencies [{:?ws (dr/->UnpairedWindSpeed ws10)}])
                (frequencies unpaired-res)
                (frequencies r-unpaired-res)
-               (frequencies ro-unpaired-res)))
+               (frequencies ro-unpaired-res)
+               (frequencies qo-unpaired-res)))
 
         (is (= (frequencies [{:?c (->Cold 20)}])
                (frequencies cold-res)
                (frequencies r-cold-res)
-               (frequencies ro-cold-res)))
+               (frequencies ro-cold-res)
+               (frequencies qo-cold-res)))
 
         (is (= (frequencies [{:?h (->Hot 50)}
                              {:?h (->Hot 40)}
                              {:?h (->Hot 30)}])
                (frequencies hot-res)
                (frequencies r-hot-res)
-               (frequencies ro-hot-res)))
+               (frequencies ro-hot-res)
+               (frequencies qo-hot-res)))
 
         (is (= (frequencies [{:?his (->TemperatureHistory [50 40 30 20])}])
                (frequencies temp-his-res)
                (frequencies r-temp-his-res)
-               (frequencies ro-temp-his-res)))
+               (frequencies ro-temp-his-res)
+               (frequencies qo-temp-his-res)))
 
         (is (= (frequencies [{:?tut (dr/->TempsUnderThreshold [temp40 temp30 temp20])}])
                (frequencies temps-under-thresh-res)
                (frequencies r-temps-under-thresh-res)
-               (frequencies ro-temps-under-thresh-res))))
+               (frequencies ro-temps-under-thresh-res)
+               (frequencies qo-temps-under-thresh-res))))
 
       (testing "metadata is preserved on rulebase nodes"
         (let [node-with-meta (->> s
diff --git a/src/test/clojure/clara/test_rules.clj b/src/test/clojure/clara/test_rules.clj
index 942e3da2..d558d83d 100644
--- a/src/test/clojure/clara/test_rules.clj
+++ b/src/test/clojure/clara/test_rules.clj
@@ -2522,10 +2522,12 @@
                     (insert (->Temperature 15 "MCI"))
                     (insert (->WindSpeed 45 "MCI"))
                     (fire-rules))
-        read-only-session (eng/as-read-only session)]
+        read-only-session (eng/as-read-only session)
+        query-only-session (eng/as-query-only session)]
     (is (= [{:?fact (->ColdAndWindy 15 45)}]
            (query session ::rules-data/find-cold-and-windy-data)
-           (query read-only-session ::rules-data/find-cold-and-windy-data)))))
+           (query read-only-session ::rules-data/find-cold-and-windy-data)
+           (query query-only-session ::rules-data/find-cold-and-windy-data)))))
 
 ;;; Verify that an exception is thrown when a duplicate name is encountered.
 ;;; Note we create the session with com/mk-session*, as com/mk-session allows