The world below

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76352

Title

The world below

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A speculative science fiction novel exploring time travel and future evolution. The narrative follows a protagonist transported to a distant future where humanity has evolved into amphibious beings. Themes of ethics, survival, and the consequences of scientific experimentation are woven into a tense, atmospheric adventure.

Summary up to 500 words

In S. Fowler Wright's *The World Below*, Professor Danby and his associates demonstrate a time-travel device capable of projecting objects forward through time. After two men, Harry Brett and Templeton, vanish into the future and never return, the protagonist, Danby, volunteers to follow Templeton's example. Upon arrival, he finds himself in a cold, misty world inhabited by the 'Amphibians,' a future human race that has evolved to live underwater. Captured and examined by the Amphibian leaders, Danby is eventually released after his people assist the Amphibians in a conflict. He spends years with the 'Seekers of Wisdom,' observing their advanced civilization while reflecting on the moral decay of his own era, including polluted rivers and congested cities. Upon returning to his own time, he discovers that only a few minutes have passed, yet he has changed physically; he is now hairless and appears younger. The narrative explores the ethical implications of time travel and the stark contrast between primitive human society and a future that has transcended violence and environmental degradation. The Amphibians view fire as a forbidden and destructive element, a concept that shocks Danby. He witnesses the tragic fates of his companions: Templeton is dead, and Brett is insane, enjoying his torture. The story concludes with Danby deciding whether to write his account and potentially return to the future with his wife, Clara. The text suggests that while the future offers a utopia free from the 'folly' of his present age, the protagonist remains conflicted about leaving his own time, noting that hair has become a 'useless parasitic growth' in the future. The novel serves as a critique of contemporary industrial society, contrasting it with a future humanity that has evolved beyond the need for violence and the destruction of nature.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Science Fiction