They Found Atlantis
Posted: Sun 7 Jan, 2007 18:50:52
This was my first reading of the first book in the 'Lost World' series.
The other two being, Uncharted Seas and The Man who missed the War.
The book is based on an expedition led by Herr Doktor Herman Tisch to find and if possible recover some of the remains and treasures of the lost city of Atlantis, which was (according to this book) located in the mid Atlantic.
Atlantis had supposedly been destroyed by a cataclysmic disaster unparalleled in the history of the world.
The case for the actual existence of Atlantis before the disaster rests principally on certain passages in Plato's, criteritias and Timoeus' which was based in 450BC.
The capital of Atlantis was a mighty city beneath a great mountain in the northern part of the island. (This point becomes more relevant as you get to the end of the book)
In addition to Dr Tisch the expedition party consisted of six other intrepid explorers
(4 male and 2 female).
One of the females being Camilla Hart; The ex Duchess da Solento Ragina.
Page 10 - Arrow. Her ex husband; The Duke used to beat the duchess with his braces. (A familiar pastime in DW books it seems)
It continues;
'Camilla doesn't seem to have had any bones broken and lots of girls enjoy a playful hiding sometimes?? Just picture the little dark Duke chasing her around the room to give her a leathering.
Page 53 - I've often thought that Camilla wanted her bottom smacking but I'll give it to her that she's a darn brave kid!!!!!
On with the story!
With Camilla's financial backing the expedition goes ahead with the aid of a Bathysphere with fused quartz for windows. The Bathysphere trials go well and they prepare for the first proper dive.
Then come the baddies!!
A group of gunmen seize their boat and 'Oxford Kate' (the male leader) informs them of his plan to become Camilla's heir after her 'accidental death' during one of the expedition dives.
The Navy intervene following some clever work by Captain Andy Mackay (one of the four male explorers) and the threat to Camilla's millions is removed.
Subsequently however, the group find themselves nearly 6,000 feet under the Atlantic!!
"The blue beam from the Doktors torch focused on a pothole, penetrated the inky blackness no more than a foot, but into it there swam a new snake-like creature from above. Dead black, no more than 3 inches thick, and seemingly endless, it passed through the beam in graceful looping curves.
The Mackay stared at it with sudden horror. He knew that it was no living thing but the cable coiling down from above as it sank in great festoons about them. It had snapped, and they were trapped here, 900 fathoms down, where no human hand could ever bring them aid."
I won't give away anymore of the story suffice it to say that the group do eventually find their way into Atlantis.
Whilst on a trip in St Jacut de la mer in Normandy, DW met a delightful character,
Captain Magee, who he later portrayed as Captain Mackay.
They Found Atlantis was regarded by Dennis Wheatley as one of the best novels he had ever written. (The memoirs of Dennis Wheatley 'Drink and Ink').
Ralph Strauss praised it highly in the Sunday Times and 'Torquemada' gave DW the title of 'Public Thriller writer no. 1' in the Observer.
In July 1933, DW joined the PEN club predominately for the benefit of Writers (well known or otherwise).
HG Wells happened to be the Chairman at the time.
Then a coincidence struck me.
'The Fish people' that DW introduces into 'They Found Atlantis' reminded me very much of 'The Morlocks' which HGW used in 'The Time Machine'. (i.e. a lesser breed of being that were blind and survived on instincts).
I enjoyed this book. In fact I felt that it could have been quite an epic (almost worthy of a TV series) but it didn't go far enough unfortunately. It was reminiscent of many of DW's books that have a very comprehensive build up and a very rapid finish.
Perhaps the publishers were pushing him to get another best seller out.
Having said all this, TFA is certainly worth a read if you haven't already done so.
The other two being, Uncharted Seas and The Man who missed the War.
The book is based on an expedition led by Herr Doktor Herman Tisch to find and if possible recover some of the remains and treasures of the lost city of Atlantis, which was (according to this book) located in the mid Atlantic.
Atlantis had supposedly been destroyed by a cataclysmic disaster unparalleled in the history of the world.
The case for the actual existence of Atlantis before the disaster rests principally on certain passages in Plato's, criteritias and Timoeus' which was based in 450BC.
The capital of Atlantis was a mighty city beneath a great mountain in the northern part of the island. (This point becomes more relevant as you get to the end of the book)
In addition to Dr Tisch the expedition party consisted of six other intrepid explorers
(4 male and 2 female).
One of the females being Camilla Hart; The ex Duchess da Solento Ragina.
Page 10 - Arrow. Her ex husband; The Duke used to beat the duchess with his braces. (A familiar pastime in DW books it seems)
It continues;
'Camilla doesn't seem to have had any bones broken and lots of girls enjoy a playful hiding sometimes?? Just picture the little dark Duke chasing her around the room to give her a leathering.
Page 53 - I've often thought that Camilla wanted her bottom smacking but I'll give it to her that she's a darn brave kid!!!!!
On with the story!
With Camilla's financial backing the expedition goes ahead with the aid of a Bathysphere with fused quartz for windows. The Bathysphere trials go well and they prepare for the first proper dive.
Then come the baddies!!
A group of gunmen seize their boat and 'Oxford Kate' (the male leader) informs them of his plan to become Camilla's heir after her 'accidental death' during one of the expedition dives.
The Navy intervene following some clever work by Captain Andy Mackay (one of the four male explorers) and the threat to Camilla's millions is removed.
Subsequently however, the group find themselves nearly 6,000 feet under the Atlantic!!
"The blue beam from the Doktors torch focused on a pothole, penetrated the inky blackness no more than a foot, but into it there swam a new snake-like creature from above. Dead black, no more than 3 inches thick, and seemingly endless, it passed through the beam in graceful looping curves.
The Mackay stared at it with sudden horror. He knew that it was no living thing but the cable coiling down from above as it sank in great festoons about them. It had snapped, and they were trapped here, 900 fathoms down, where no human hand could ever bring them aid."
I won't give away anymore of the story suffice it to say that the group do eventually find their way into Atlantis.
Whilst on a trip in St Jacut de la mer in Normandy, DW met a delightful character,
Captain Magee, who he later portrayed as Captain Mackay.
They Found Atlantis was regarded by Dennis Wheatley as one of the best novels he had ever written. (The memoirs of Dennis Wheatley 'Drink and Ink').
Ralph Strauss praised it highly in the Sunday Times and 'Torquemada' gave DW the title of 'Public Thriller writer no. 1' in the Observer.
In July 1933, DW joined the PEN club predominately for the benefit of Writers (well known or otherwise).
HG Wells happened to be the Chairman at the time.
Then a coincidence struck me.
'The Fish people' that DW introduces into 'They Found Atlantis' reminded me very much of 'The Morlocks' which HGW used in 'The Time Machine'. (i.e. a lesser breed of being that were blind and survived on instincts).
I enjoyed this book. In fact I felt that it could have been quite an epic (almost worthy of a TV series) but it didn't go far enough unfortunately. It was reminiscent of many of DW's books that have a very comprehensive build up and a very rapid finish.
Perhaps the publishers were pushing him to get another best seller out.
Having said all this, TFA is certainly worth a read if you haven't already done so.