The Undersea Trilogy is a series of three science fiction novels by American writers Frederik Pohl and Jack Williamson. The novels were first published by Gnome Press beginning in 1954. The novels were collected in a single omnibus volume published by Baen Books in 1992. The story takes place in and around the underwater dome city called Marinia. The hero of the stories is cadet Jim Eden of the Sub-Sea Academy.
 Cover of the omnibus edition | |
| Author | Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | David Mattingly |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Baen Books |
Publication date | 1992 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 501 |
| ISBN | 0-671-72123-2 |
| OCLC | 25903328 |
Books
editUndersea Quest
edit | |
| Author | Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | First edition |
| Cover artist | Ed Emshwiller |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Gnome Press |
Publication date | 1954 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 189 |
| OCLC | 1804239 |
| Followed by | Undersea Fleet |
Undersea Quest is the first volume of the trilogy. It was first published by Gnome Press in 1954 in an edition of 5,000 copies.
Plot Summary
editIntrigue surrounds the mining of uranium beneath the underwater dome city of Marinia. Jim Eden, expelled from the Sub-Sea Academy on trumped-up charges, seeks out his uncle who disappeared while mining at the bottom of Eden Deep. While looking for clues to his uncle's disappearance, Jim runs into some men who try to stop him.
Reception
editGalaxy reviewer Groff Conklin praised the novel's craft, but faulted its espousal of "the petrifying process that military academies put children through" and the "us-against-the-world" attitude it engendered.[1] Anthony Boucher received it favorably, commending its "vigorous storytelling [and] excellent detailing of the background of a submarine civilization."[2] P. Schuyler Miller found it "the kind of book that should predispose Captain Video fans to our kind of science fiction."[3]
Undersea Fleet
edit | |
| Author | Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | First edition |
| Cover artist | Ed Emshwiller |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Gnome Press |
Publication date | 1956 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 187 |
| OCLC | 1488168 |
| Preceded by | Undersea Quest |
| Followed by | Undersea City |
Undersea Fleet is the second volume of the trilogy. It was first published by Gnome Press in 1956 in an edition of 5,000 copies.
Plot Summary
editDavid Craken, a firm believer in the existence of sea serpents, disappears in search of them only to reappear drifting offshore months later. His friend Jim Eden and members of the Sub-Sea Academy retrace David's journey and soon run into the strange creatures that had been only mythical before.
Reception
editGalaxy reviewer Floyd C. Gale praised the novel for its "fast and furious" action.[4]
Undersea City
edit | |
| Author | Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | First edition |
| Cover artist | Wallace Wood |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Publisher | Gnome Press |
Publication date | 1958 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 224 |
| OCLC | 2195313 |
| Preceded by | Undersea Fleet |
Undersea City is the third volume of the trilogy. It was first published by Gnome Press in 1958 in an edition of 5,000 copies, of which only 3,000 were bound.[citation needed]
Plot Summary
editKrakatoan Dome was specifically designed to cope with the tremors of its earthquake prone area. Problems begin when more quakes occur than had been expected, which many experts suspect are being artificially created. The Sub-Sea Academy assigns Jim Eden to investigate, because of his experience working underwater, and also because his uncle is the prime suspect.[citation needed]
Reception
editFloyd C. Gale reviewed the book as follows:
Frankly and honestly, a gee-whiz yarn, it reaches its target—youngsters—with plenty of mystery, action, and suspense."[5]
See also
edit
- List of underwater science fiction works
- Attack from Atlantis – 1953 novel by Lester del Rey
- Sealab 2020 – American animated television series
- Sealab 2021 – American adult animated television series
References
edit- ^ "Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, July 1955, p.93
- ^ "Recommended Reading," F&SF, September 1955, p.89.
- ^ Miller, P. Schuyler. "The Reference Library," Astounding Science-Fiction, August 1955, p.152.
- ^ "Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1957, p.123
- ^ Gale, Floyd C. (August 1959). "Galaxy's 5 Star Star Shelf". Galaxy. pp. 140–141. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
Sources
edit- Brown, Charles N.; William G. Contento. "The Locus Index to Science Fiction (1984-1998)". Retrieved 2008-02-27.
- Chalker, Jack L.; Mark Owings (1998). The Science-Fantasy Publishers: A Bibliographic History, 1923-1998. Westminster, MD and Baltimore: Mirage Press, Ltd. pp. 303–307.