Undersea Trilogy Explained

The Undersea Trilogy
Author:Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson
Cover Artist:David Mattingly
Country:United States
Language:English
Publisher:Baen Books
Release Date:1992
Media Type:Print (Paperback)
Pages:501
Isbn:0-671-72123-2
Oclc:25903328

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.

Books

Undersea Quest

Undersea Quest
Author:Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson
Illustrator:First edition
Cover Artist:Ed Emshwiller
Country:United States
Language:English
Publisher:Gnome Press
Release Date:1954
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

Intrigue 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

Galaxy 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

Undersea Fleet
Author:Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson
Illustrator:First edition
Cover Artist:Ed Emshwiller
Country:United States
Language:English
Publisher:Gnome Press
Release Date:1956
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

David 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

Galaxy reviewer Floyd C. Gale praised the novel for its "fast and furious" action.[4]

Undersea City

Undersea City
Author:Frederik Pohl & Jack Williamson
Illustrator:First edition
Cover Artist:Wallace Wood
Country:United States
Language:English
Publisher:Gnome Press
Release Date:1958
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.

Plot Summary

Krakatoan 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.

Reception

Floyd C. Gale reviewed the book as follows:

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. "Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, July 1955, p.93
  2. "Recommended Reading," F&SF, September 1955, p.89.
  3. Miller, P. Schuyler. "The Reference Library," Astounding Science-Fiction, August 1955, p.152.
  4. "Galaxy's 5 Star Shelf", Galaxy Science Fiction, October 1957, p.123