The Moon Pool

The Moon Pool:

The Moon Pool was first published in 1919. As we now close in on it's hundredth year, time has added a time capsule aspect to the work which, obviously, wasn't present when first published.

This is the world that was. It's just after the first world war and there were still corners of the world strange and unknown to the sciences of the white man. We are at the tail end of the gentleman explorer era (grave robbing and murdering aside), where university backing is still not completely necessary for field work. We're caught up in an exploration that went very very badly. White men, with their university learning, arrogantly disregard the native lore, which is thought to be mere superstition and fear and not carefully crafted survival strategies. And, of course, all hell breaks loose when the taboos are then violated.

What strikes me first about this novel is that it's initial stage is set in a place in the south pacific, which is just a creepy as described in the novel. (Nan-Matal of the novel equals the real place Nan Madol.) In fact, if you hang out with the Ancient Aliens crowd, Nan Madol is one of those places on Earth which is just inexplicable. When those same arrogant white men (of the past or current century) really start paying close attention to the logistics of building the place, current technology, could barely, barely do it, and you'd have to throw Bill Gates kind of money at it. So how in the world could an ancient "primitive" culture do it? No rational answer to that one, comes out of mainstream science. Hence the interest by ancient alien theorists.

From this spooky, actual, backdrop, comes an inexplicable being: the dweller, the shining one, the shining devil. Something composed of Moonlight and madness, that seeks out victims during the three day full moon; filling it's victims with a combination of horror and bliss, heaven and hell. Something otherworldly vampiric, without the usual cliches from the Dracula model.

So, in the usual fashion, an expedition is mounted to get to the bottom of this mystery. White men want to know; think of the boost to their scientific reputation. Very quickly, the novel then turns into an adventures underground novel, with lost civilizations, high priestesses, lost, bizarre, and unknown technology, all combined with the roots of this mystery: the thing which feeds when the moon is full.

As I sit and think of this novel in comparison to Verne or Burroughs, this novel stands up very well. When considering the scientific side of Verne and the rock 'em sock 'em adventure side from Burroughs, this novel has them both. The time capsule aspect, how it was written, the language used, gives it a definite feel for that era. This helps immensely, tying it to a by gone time, when the world was a more mysterious place.

The lands and peoples inside the Earth is a fascinating sub-genre with includes both classic works and SF silliness run loose. This entry is a endearing classic with well wrought places, ingenious civilizations, nonhuman denizens, loves, conquests, and a Shining One which has tangible creepiness.

I think the Moon Pool could be a major Hollywood movie. The only reasons why it hasn't been already, might be lack of vision on Hollywood's part, and Merritt's vision which require today's FX to match.

Highly recommended.