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Undercurrents: An Anthology of What Lies Beneath
Fear is primal. Instinctive. Unavoidable. And right now, there is something you fear—and you can feel it. Creeping up behind you. Lurking in the darkness that lives under your bed, or in your closet. A nameless dread.
In An Anthology of What Lies Beneath, twenty-three talented authors, including New York Times bestsellers Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, and Jody Lynn Nye, have stood on the shores of their psyches and looked out over the ocean of possibility and wondered “What lies beneath?”
The sea creatures and sea monsters that answered their calls range from a giant kraken that rules the deepest ocean to the smallest puffer fish that creates intricate works of underwater art. Creatures of classic mythology—mermaids, sirens, and sea serpents—swim alongside more unusual beasts—underwater cats and singing whirlpools. These stories dive deep into the fears many of us face, including loss, abandonment, death, and physical, mental, or emotional danger. When the fears we keep buried beneath the surface rise up and threaten to consume, we must make a conquer or be conquered.
This anthology is the fourth volume produced by the alumni of the Superstars Writing Seminar, and all royalties benefit the Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship Fund.
In An Anthology of What Lies Beneath, twenty-three talented authors, including New York Times bestsellers Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, and Jody Lynn Nye, have stood on the shores of their psyches and looked out over the ocean of possibility and wondered “What lies beneath?”
The sea creatures and sea monsters that answered their calls range from a giant kraken that rules the deepest ocean to the smallest puffer fish that creates intricate works of underwater art. Creatures of classic mythology—mermaids, sirens, and sea serpents—swim alongside more unusual beasts—underwater cats and singing whirlpools. These stories dive deep into the fears many of us face, including loss, abandonment, death, and physical, mental, or emotional danger. When the fears we keep buried beneath the surface rise up and threaten to consume, we must make a conquer or be conquered.
This anthology is the fourth volume produced by the alumni of the Superstars Writing Seminar, and all royalties benefit the Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship Fund.
- GenresFantasyAnthologies
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2018
About the author
Lisa Mangum
27 books901 followersLisa Mangum has loved and worked with books ever since elementary school, when she volunteered at the school library during recess. Her first paying job was shelving books at the Sandy Library. She worked for five years at Waldenbooks while she attended the University of Utah, graduating with honors with a degree in English. An avid reader of all genres, she has worked in the publishing department for Deseret Book since 1997.
Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello.
Besides books, Lisa loves movies, sunsets, spending time with her family, trips to Disneyland, and vanilla ice cream topped with fresh raspberries. She lives in Taylorsville, Utah, with her husband, Tracy. She is the author of the Hourglass Door trilogy and After Hello.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 15, 2026
3.5 stars ⭐️
Some of the stories were pretty mediocre, but many of them were enjoyable. The nice thing about short stories is that you’re never stuck reading a meh one for long. Because they’re short. It’s in the name.
Some of the stories were pretty mediocre, but many of them were enjoyable. The nice thing about short stories is that you’re never stuck reading a meh one for long. Because they’re short. It’s in the name.
April 27, 2026
This was a really good anthology. Enjoyed almost every story. Very well written and entertaining. (Only reason it took as long as it did was because I generally read kindle books on my commute from work).
My favorites were ‘The Kraken’s Story’, by Robert J. McCarter, ‘The Sirens’ Song’, by Aubrey Pratt, ‘Eat Me’, by Lauren Lang, and ‘Teens Teach Tech’, by Terry Madden. 4.5 ⭐️
My favorites were ‘The Kraken’s Story’, by Robert J. McCarter, ‘The Sirens’ Song’, by Aubrey Pratt, ‘Eat Me’, by Lauren Lang, and ‘Teens Teach Tech’, by Terry Madden. 4.5 ⭐️
June 21, 2018
What an entertaining read of horror, prickling your senses and creeping me out. One of my favorites is Mandeville's Bookend. What a creepy tale of a bookend searching for its mate. An entertaining read and highly recommended.
May 3, 2019
I am currently swept up in books about the sea, so this anthology of short stories was right up my alley. There really are no bad stories in the book. My favorites follow:
"Four Billion Years of Solitude" by Alex Berg, this hard science fiction story about an expedition to one of the moons of Jupiter stands out both because it is science fiction in a mostly fantasy collection and because its message is so hopeful and joyous.
The first story, "Sea Wind" by Kevin J. Anderson is a richly detailed story set in Lisbon during the age of discovery.
"All Yours” by Melissa Koons from Undercurrents. Is a chilling horror story set in an imagined sea where the mermaids are deadly. I couldn’t sleep after reading it.
“In the Garden of the Coral King” is a light fable perfect for the time we live within. It asks what choices matter for our time and for the time of our descendants.
"Sea Dreams" by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson is touching, hopeful and leaves one questioning the barriers between the worlds of magic and our practical world.
All in all, a very good collection and one I would recommend.
"Four Billion Years of Solitude" by Alex Berg, this hard science fiction story about an expedition to one of the moons of Jupiter stands out both because it is science fiction in a mostly fantasy collection and because its message is so hopeful and joyous.
The first story, "Sea Wind" by Kevin J. Anderson is a richly detailed story set in Lisbon during the age of discovery.
"All Yours” by Melissa Koons from Undercurrents. Is a chilling horror story set in an imagined sea where the mermaids are deadly. I couldn’t sleep after reading it.
“In the Garden of the Coral King” is a light fable perfect for the time we live within. It asks what choices matter for our time and for the time of our descendants.
"Sea Dreams" by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson is touching, hopeful and leaves one questioning the barriers between the worlds of magic and our practical world.
All in all, a very good collection and one I would recommend.
February 26, 2019
An awesome and haunting read
I love a well-crafted anthology and sea monsters, so this collection of shorts was right up my alley! All the stories were excellent, and there was great variance in the selection so I never felt bored with the concept and theme. My favorites were probably Heroes of the Russian Federation and Teens Teach Tech, but they were all great reads. If you like things lurking in the deep, you’re sure to find a story you like in this collection!
I love a well-crafted anthology and sea monsters, so this collection of shorts was right up my alley! All the stories were excellent, and there was great variance in the selection so I never felt bored with the concept and theme. My favorites were probably Heroes of the Russian Federation and Teens Teach Tech, but they were all great reads. If you like things lurking in the deep, you’re sure to find a story you like in this collection!
May 11, 2019
The variety of authors included combines a lovely balance of well-known authors and new authors, filled with imaginative world building and imagination which makes this book difficult to put down. If you love sea monsters and brilliant stories you should check out this anthology.
March 27, 2018
What Lies Beneath? I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology about sea creatures. Short stories from a variety of talented creative minds, edited by a genius. Highly recommended!
May 18, 2018
A fantastic collection of short stories about the fear that lies beneath.
July 1, 2018
I really liked this anthology. I think every story in it was well-written, unique, and fresh. It was interesting to see how people interpreted the theme of “what lies beneath” and what they did with it. Many of the stories were more “classic” and involved krakens and sea monsters and sirens. But none of them were exactly conventional. Other stories took the theme of “what lies beneath” to thoroughly unexpected locales like Europa, one of Jupiter’s moons. The stories also covered a range of genres from horror to sci-fi to fantasy and even contemporary fiction. There was only one story in this anthology I couldn’t really get into, but I think its style just didn’t appeal to me.
This anthology is a great one to have on your shelf and if you’re a person who is obsessed with the sea or sea monsters, you will definitely want to add this one to your collection!
This anthology is a great one to have on your shelf and if you’re a person who is obsessed with the sea or sea monsters, you will definitely want to add this one to your collection!
March 27, 2018
UNDERCURRENTS explores not just the terrors of the deeps, by the terrors and fears that each of us experiences in life.
You get to see stories told by sailors and princesses and why the seas frighten them. You get to see stories told by the "monsters" and what it is about what is not part of the seas that is a horror to them.
A fantastic mix of myths and legends, hopes and fears, and altogether an enjoyable read.
You get to see stories told by sailors and princesses and why the seas frighten them. You get to see stories told by the "monsters" and what it is about what is not part of the seas that is a horror to them.
A fantastic mix of myths and legends, hopes and fears, and altogether an enjoyable read.
November 1, 2022
Yra pora tikrai gerų (vienos iš autorių knygą parsisiunčiau, nes patiko jos apsakymas, toks pilnas vilties - bet praėjo pora dienų ir nebeprisimenu, apie ką ten buvo), bet dauguma tiesiog mėh. Net Lituanicone nesužibėtų.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews