Life underground seems to be a terrible thing—unless you’re a dwarf. It’s dark, damp, and the constant threat of being buried alive tends to quickly sour even the mere idea of it.
Still, we humans seem to have an enduring curiosity for what’s deep within the earth. We mine it for resources, explore its cracks, and write subterranean fiction.
What is Subterranean Fiction?
Subterranean fiction is any writing that focuses on underground settings. It’s largely based on the Hollow Earth theory, a concept that suggests Earth is hollow and can support life.
It’s a popular concept that frequently shows up in literature. Some common elements include mole men, lizard people, proto-humans, lost civilizations, cryptids, and extinct animals living under the surface.
However, for a story to fall under subterranean fiction, the underground has to be a major element of its narrative. As such, most books that fall into this category happen deep below the surface, sometimes even at the center of the Earth.
Best Subterranean Fiction Books
Here are some of the best stories that delve into the mysteries below the Earth’s surface.
1. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
A coded note from an ancient manuscript sends a geologist, his nephew, and their guide deep within the bowels of the earth. Inside, they find a hidden world complete with its own ocean, giant mushrooms, and living dinosaurs.
2. At the Earth’s Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Two men pierce through the earth’s crust, finding an entire world within, lit by its own sun and inhabited by creatures both undiscovered or believed extinct.
The inhabitants are intelligent and civilized, but still in the Stone Age. The two must then navigate this new world, encountering lost wonders and escaping its primal nature.
3. Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins
11-year-old Gregor is at home watching over his sister when she falls through an air duct in the basement. Diving after her, he finds himself in the Underland—home to sentient bats, rodents, insects, and humans with near-translucent skin.
Caught up in a brewing war, Gregor is reluctant to fulfill a prophecy naming him a warrior. That is until he learns that his father, long disappeared, may still be alive and held prisoner.
4. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
12-year-old Artemis Fowl is a genius, millionaire, and criminal mastermind. And right now, he’s scheming to steal a ton of fairy gold.
Only, these fairies aren’t the ones people read about in folklore. Because deep beneath the surface—unknown to humanity— lies an entire civilization equipped with cutting-edge technology and magic.
5. City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
For 200 years, the city of Ember has served to house the last of humanity. But now it’s starting to fall apart.
As lights flicker and supplies run out, Lina Mayfleet finds an ancient message that might hold answers to Ember’s problems. With her friend Doon, they must figure out the clues and find a way to save the city and those in it.
6. Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
14-year-old Will Burrows shares a strong passion for archeology with his father. So when the latter disappears, Will and his friend Chester immediately set out in search of him.
In their search, they stumble upon an underground civilization called The Colony. And though they learn surprising truths, they must descend further into the Deeps if they ever want to see Will’s father again.
7. Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky
A nuclear war forces much of Moscow’s surviving population into the city’s metro system. They eventually settle there, forming factions and establishing cities.
Artyom has never ventured outside the limits of his Metro Station-City. However, an event spurs him to travel deep within the metro system, warning what’s left of humanity about an impending threat.
8. The Descent by Jeff Long
Driven by his obsession with what’s beneath the surface, a billionaire assembles a team to explore a seemingly bottomless cave system in the Himalayas.
There, they discover a hostile world inhabited by creatures that thrive in the darkness and hunger for human flesh. Amidst these creatures’ relentless pursuit, the surviving members of the expedition uncover shocking truths that will redefine humanity’s existence.
9. Wool by Hugh Howey
In the future, the outside world has become toxic and uninhabitable, forcing humanity to live in an underground silo. In this structure, society survives through a rigid class system and a strict set of rules.
Juliette Nichols, a mechanic, unexpectedly becomes sheriff after the previous one meets a suspicious death. And as she dives deeper into the case, she learns more about the outside and a web of secrets carefully hidden from the rest of the population.
10. Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Richard Mayhew’s ordinary life is derailed when he stops to help a bleeding girl on the sidewalk. Little did he know that his act of kindness would plunge him deep into London Below—a world of darkness, labyrinths, and angels.
There, he meets Door, the mysterious woman he rescued in London Above. The only way home is by accompanying her on a dangerous quest to uncover her family’s killers and save her world.
Reading Books With Underground Settings
There’s a special kind of wonder in discovering the secrets of the world. This carries into subterranean fiction, where the protagonist and the reader set out on a journey into hidden realms, whether literal or symbolic.
The possibility of a hidden world just below the surface tickles the explorative child within you. It takes away the ordinariness of everyday life, letting you have fun by delving into imaginative landscapes and alternate realities.
What subterranean fiction did you enjoy? Share it in the comments below!
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Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
