Into the Deep

by Ken Grimwood

Making an incredible breakthrough in dolphin communications, a beautiful marine biologist learns from her oceanic friends that an environmental disaster of earth-shattering proportions is imminent. Reprint.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Fiction, Mystery

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Ken Grimwood (1944–2003) worked in broadcast journalism for a number of years before retiring in 1988 to write full-time. He wrote five novels, including the award-winning Replay, Breakthrough, and The Voice Outside.

Reviews

[Evalangui · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story Pamela makes into a movie called Starsea in Grimwood’s novel "Replay", in "Replay" you get a vague description of the plot and a more in-depth one of the effect the movie has, that's to say, a worldwide change in perspective for the viewers. The real story does not quite live up to what I had imagined but I liked it a lot, especially the second half, where events start succeeding one another at a crazy speed and I realised I cared what happened to the characters (human and dolphin)even though they weren't, to be honest, all that tridimensional. The descriptions of graphic violence creeped me out but I can't say they are out of place. Because of the role of imagery and images in it it’s so very prominent it very likely would make a much better movie than novel, fan of words that I am, sometimes you do need a picture.

[Drew · Rating 1 out of 5]

I learned from this book ... that a dolphin ménage à trois is even less erotic than one might imagine.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something about the way Ken Grimwood writes that makes me believe in his stories. The ideas are always strange and very fantasy or science fiction driven, but somehow he always gets me on board and leads me down this winding, bizarre path that inevitably ends with me staring at the book when I finish it and only able to utter a single, "huh".

The story is incredibly strange and yet somehow, believable. It's also an incredibly exciting read. If it weren't for the dolphin aspect, I could easily see it as a Hollywood blocbuster film starring Bruce Willis. I wish Grimwood were still alive and able to regale me with additional stores, and I wish that Elise were easier to get my hands on without costing me a cool $90 on amazon.com. As always, my one and only complaint is that his sex scenes are always so terribly written. Oh, and also, Dolphin Orgies apparently run rampant. So there's that to think about.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your basic dolphin/human communication novel.

I read this because I liked Grimwood's Replay so much.

This is more pedestrian-- doesn't really transcend the too much like regular fiction melodrama of his writing style, takes too long too develop, and then everything ends in a really hasty fashion.

An OK read if you have nothing better to do.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure where to rate this book within the genre of "dolphin fiction" or "dolphin dramas" or even if such a category exists. Naturally it reminds me of David Brin's Startide Rising, which also features dolphin characters interacting with humans. In this work, Grimwood seems to impart to the dolphins very human thought patterns and actions. They work together, they perform research, they have historians, their groups are led by elders, and they are incredibly forgiving of the offenses humanity has commited against their kind. Perhaps in that way they are unlike humans.

This novel is well written, as with all of Grimwood's work. The characters are very believable, but some elements of the story strain that believability to the breaking point. No need to complain about that though. It's a fantasy, so relax and enjoy it.

[Farhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

An average thriller by the gentleman who is known for his World Fantasy Award winner 'Replay.'

Into the Deep is about a marine biologist and a journalist who try to communicate with the dolphins. Initially scorned, eventually their efforts are successful. They discover that the dolphins are trying to warn them about an environmental disaster which is at hand. A very tepid read without tight plotting or interesting characters.

[Cassi]

On hold indefinitely. I just can't read it.

[Caleb Edison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dolphin porn, Greenpeace, adventure and fantasy. I liked it.

[nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

For passages Grimwood hooks me and I remember his greatness in Replay. But the book overall just doesn't have enough to make it worth while. Up until the last 30 pages it felt like setup. Most of the revelations (which are fairly ridiculous wish fulfillment) come out in the epilogue. The oil drilling subplot doesn't really even factor in to the main story - it feels forced in to try and give some action climax.

It's noble that Grimwood gives all the protagonists back stories, but they almost all felt like padding. And I think every human relationship at the start of the book or before the start, was awful. Almost like there is no hope for relationships.

[Anthony C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. It’s not Replay and doesn’t of course live up to the fictional “Starsea” mentioned in Replay but it’s still an enjoyable read. Ken Grimwood has a pleasant way of writing - you can hear his easygoing voice. The book has some fairly kinky dolphin moments so it’s definitely not for kids. It’s also amusing reading eighties and nineties sci fi - sometimes the predictions are accurate and other times they are just way off.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a former dolphin-obsessed kid, this book kind of hit the spot for me, despite its imperfections. Into the Deep is the second book I’ve read by Ken Grimwood, and although I didn’t find this as impactful as Replay, I still enjoyed it. Overall, this was a fun sci fi story that was a refreshingly different from the kind of books I typically read.

[Lindsay]

I really liked replay, but this is his only other available book

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing (and loving!) Replay, I searched for more of Grimwood’s other books. After reading the description of this ocean science fiction novel, I knew I would just adore it. And honestly, running through the back of my mind the entire time I read this, I kept wishing that I had discovered this book when I was younger and even more obsessed with ocean creatures. This would would have been like heaven back then... reading the absolute perfect book! Dolphins, orcas - even a great white - and communicating with people!! I don’t think I could have even imagined of a better concept! I suppose Replay was technically a better novel, but this was just lovely to read and made me feel so nostalgic. I wonder if this book is the dolphin project referenced in Replay... I wish the rest of Grimwood’s books were easier to find!! Although, I must admit, this book did remind me somewhat of The Swarm: A Novel - which just goes to prove that the more you read, the more everything seems connected. I really loved reading this!!

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Into the Deep takes the well-worn concept of sapient dolphins communicating with open-minded humans and plays it completely straight, with pretty much everything happening exactly as one would expect from this kind of story. No interesting twists, no new ways of looking at cetacean intelligence (okay, except for the "Source-Mind" of the whales, that was pretty neat), just comfortable New Age fluff. Yet in spite of plot conveniences, a hasty ending, and a not-so-subtle environmental message, it is written with such earnestness and obvious passion for its subject matter that it is difficult to outright dislike this book. Even if my mind wasn't blown, I still enjoyed myself while reading this. It also doesn't hurt that I'll enjoy pretty much anything involving dolphins...

I like to think of this book as the literary equivalent of comfort food. It's not terribly nutritious, but at least it is made with love.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Replay, it took a little bit to get into it. This one has a my of characters to follow so it's easy to get lost but Grimwood was very good at repeatedly going back to wherever he left the character and picking it up again. About a third in, you start flying through it and can't bear to put the book down for long. It reminded me of Replay in that sense. I understand this book is supposed to be a reference back to Replay. I loved Replay and I loved Into the Deep and I'm going to read all the other Grimwood books I can get my hands on.

[Zee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't hide that I love Ken Grimwood's writing and the incredible diversity in it. All his novels are written and set in a different way. I admire that. In my head I compare his work to that of the filmmaker Tarkovsky.
I have always believed that dolphins are extremely intelligent and I can see that the work of John Lilly has led Grimwood to believe that too. It's funny to see that his 'sci-fi' book foretells dolphins communicating inbetween each other by transmitting images in the forms of sound only that to be recently discovered by scientists. Don.

[Edward Champion · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made the mistake of ordering this muddled turd because I got a little too excited about the premise of REPLAY before reading it. And I am here to tell you that this novel is absolute dogshit, despite some vaguely interesting (but equally disastrous) sections from the vantage point of sealife. Bland, veneer-thin characters, bad storytelling. And how could you fuck up dolphin sex? I'm done with Ken Grimwood, y'all. This guy's a hack.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not too many people know about this book. It is an adventurous story with a romantic element, but my favorite part was about the dolphins. Loved the dialogue that is from first person dolphin. I found it very helpful to keep a little notecard handy with the unusual names of the dolphins with brief identifying comments to keep them straight as I read.

[Ipswichblade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly good story about humans and dolphins, nothing special but ok

[Kathleen Meacham · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a disappointment!!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. It's so great when you discover another author who's works you love.

[Bonnie]

BC