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地底世界地圖：隕石坑、螢光蟲洞、皇陵、古城、隧道、防空洞、地下鐵、藏寶庫……探訪埋藏人類歷史與記憶的地下殿堂
從謎般難解的洞穴壁畫，到滿坑滿谷散發藍光的螢火蟲；從銅牆鐵壁足以抵擋核彈的地堡，到僅容一人通過的走私隧道……地理學家克里斯・費區的驚人之作《地底世界地圖》，帶我們穿過蜿蜒曲折的地下迷宮，探索地表下令人歎為觀止的神祕世界，挖掘人類的歷史藝術，與大自然的鬼斧神工。
「1964年10月，星期六晚上，東柏林，一小群年輕人緊張卻堅定地走在街上。他們努力表現得不引人注意，無視狂跳的心臟，以免引來在這區巡邏的邊防人員懷疑。他們一面數著房屋號碼，一面快速巡視周遭。一抵達目的地55號建築，就迅速進入裡頭，遠離窺探的目光。『東京』，他們低聲對著等在裡面的人說。一個點頭後，他們脫掉鞋子，被領著走過一條走道，進入外頭的庭院。不久，這群中的第一個人肚子貼地趴下，垂下目光望向一條細窄且令人畏懼的隧道，它能帶領所有人奔向自由。」
——〈隧道57〉
地表下的世界還藏著很多從未被發現的祕密和未解的謎題。幾千年來，在許多文化和國家都可以找到以地表下的世界為創作來源的文學與藝術。人類將最神聖珍視的寶物與最黑暗的祕密都埋在地下。我們可以在地下找到過去人類生活的證據與足跡，那，有沒有可能，我們能在地下找到未來的避難所？我們又有哪些神奇的發現呢？
《地底世界地圖》介紹了發著美麗藍光的螢火蟲洞、土耳其的地下城市、死海古卷的發現洞窟、秦始皇的陵墓、美墨邊境的走私通道、住著神祕盲螈的洞穴、北極圈裡的「末日種子庫」、以及為了躲避核子末日而建的地下城等，種種我們知道或從來沒聽過的「地下故事」，讓我們看見腳下的世界和我們目前身處的地上世界一樣生動有趣。
有些隧道，是為了保護人們免於因衝突衍伸出的暴行和恐懼而建立，此外也有些人抱著樂觀心態，將珍貴的寶物儲存在地下空間，為了未知的未來保存起來。從謎般難解的洞穴壁畫，到抵擋核彈的地堡；從會說話的樹，到充滿未來感的地下設施。由古至今，地底世界能喚起無限想像，又令人敬畏。現在，就讓我們透過書中收錄的豐富地圖和照片，一窺那些無人之境吧。
本書特色
- 四十個神祕地景，包括自然景觀、人為建物、歷史場景、科技碉堡。
- 橫跨全球七大洲，穿越史前、古代、當代，一直到現代。
- 五十餘張詳實地圖，滿足探勘的好奇心。
- 震撼人心的實景照片，讓人身歷其境，深入難以到達的洞穴。
名人推薦
胡川安 國立中央大學中文系教授
馬雅人 馬雅國駐臺辦事處大使
作者/譯者簡介
作者：克里斯．費區（Chris Fitch）
很會講故事的克里斯・費區住在紐西蘭，是一位作家及地理學家，及皇家地理學會發行的《地理》雜誌的資深撰稿人。他的足跡遍及世界各地，希臘、澳洲、肯亞、加拉帕戈斯群島，挖掘荒野、文化、保護等方面的故事。此前，他也待過所羅門群島、韓國，並曾在台灣旅居四個月。他的處女作《蠻荒地圖》（Atlas of Untamed Places）獲得了2018年愛德華・斯坦福旅行寫作獎的提名。 他的第二本書《全球化地圖》（Globalography）也頗受好評。
譯者：林琳
淡江大學英文系畢。
偽台北人，浮沉出版業。
喜歡黑貓、慢跑，以及一人旅行。
「1964年10月，星期六晚上，東柏林，一小群年輕人緊張卻堅定地走在街上。他們努力表現得不引人注意，無視狂跳的心臟，以免引來在這區巡邏的邊防人員懷疑。他們一面數著房屋號碼，一面快速巡視周遭。一抵達目的地55號建築，就迅速進入裡頭，遠離窺探的目光。『東京』，他們低聲對著等在裡面的人說。一個點頭後，他們脫掉鞋子，被領著走過一條走道，進入外頭的庭院。不久，這群中的第一個人肚子貼地趴下，垂下目光望向一條細窄且令人畏懼的隧道，它能帶領所有人奔向自由。」
——〈隧道57〉
地表下的世界還藏著很多從未被發現的祕密和未解的謎題。幾千年來，在許多文化和國家都可以找到以地表下的世界為創作來源的文學與藝術。人類將最神聖珍視的寶物與最黑暗的祕密都埋在地下。我們可以在地下找到過去人類生活的證據與足跡，那，有沒有可能，我們能在地下找到未來的避難所？我們又有哪些神奇的發現呢？
《地底世界地圖》介紹了發著美麗藍光的螢火蟲洞、土耳其的地下城市、死海古卷的發現洞窟、秦始皇的陵墓、美墨邊境的走私通道、住著神祕盲螈的洞穴、北極圈裡的「末日種子庫」、以及為了躲避核子末日而建的地下城等，種種我們知道或從來沒聽過的「地下故事」，讓我們看見腳下的世界和我們目前身處的地上世界一樣生動有趣。
有些隧道，是為了保護人們免於因衝突衍伸出的暴行和恐懼而建立，此外也有些人抱著樂觀心態，將珍貴的寶物儲存在地下空間，為了未知的未來保存起來。從謎般難解的洞穴壁畫，到抵擋核彈的地堡；從會說話的樹，到充滿未來感的地下設施。由古至今，地底世界能喚起無限想像，又令人敬畏。現在，就讓我們透過書中收錄的豐富地圖和照片，一窺那些無人之境吧。
本書特色
- 四十個神祕地景，包括自然景觀、人為建物、歷史場景、科技碉堡。
- 橫跨全球七大洲，穿越史前、古代、當代，一直到現代。
- 五十餘張詳實地圖，滿足探勘的好奇心。
- 震撼人心的實景照片，讓人身歷其境，深入難以到達的洞穴。
名人推薦
胡川安 國立中央大學中文系教授
馬雅人 馬雅國駐臺辦事處大使
作者/譯者簡介
作者：克里斯．費區（Chris Fitch）
很會講故事的克里斯・費區住在紐西蘭，是一位作家及地理學家，及皇家地理學會發行的《地理》雜誌的資深撰稿人。他的足跡遍及世界各地，希臘、澳洲、肯亞、加拉帕戈斯群島，挖掘荒野、文化、保護等方面的故事。此前，他也待過所羅門群島、韓國，並曾在台灣旅居四個月。他的處女作《蠻荒地圖》（Atlas of Untamed Places）獲得了2018年愛德華・斯坦福旅行寫作獎的提名。 他的第二本書《全球化地圖》（Globalography）也頗受好評。
譯者：林琳
淡江大學英文系畢。
偽台北人，浮沉出版業。
喜歡黑貓、慢跑，以及一人旅行。
240 pages, ebook
First published September 3, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 11, 2023
An interesting read on all the strange and wonderful underground spaces around the world, from caves to sinkholes to lost cities of ruins.
Fitch provides a good level of interesting facts about each chosen location and there are some brilliant colour photographs, drawings, illustrations and maps.
The book is fairly short and so I got through it pretty quickly but it was a quirky, interesting read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Just one disappointing thing was a few editing errors which had crept in. Using subsistence instead of subsidence in a sentence?! Proofreading??? Think on Mr Fitch.
Fitch provides a good level of interesting facts about each chosen location and there are some brilliant colour photographs, drawings, illustrations and maps.
The book is fairly short and so I got through it pretty quickly but it was a quirky, interesting read which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Just one disappointing thing was a few editing errors which had crept in. Using subsistence instead of subsidence in a sentence?! Proofreading??? Think on Mr Fitch.
October 21, 2021
This is a fascinating look at cities under cities, or under mountains; at vast underground reservoirs and water tunnels; at gas-powered eternal underworld flaming pits; at limestone caverns unexplored until recent equipment allowed; at ancient cave paintings; at minings and delvings, escape routes and particle accelerators.
Just enough science of geology and cryology and hydrology is imparted, so you can look up terms if you wish but can take in the sense of the text easily. The brightly coloured photos reveal incredible landscapes, formations and habitations.
We have to be glad that others are brave enough to explore, or inspired enough to create, or educated enough to design and build. This book will provide you with facts to amaze and tourism sites to bookmark. We also learn about climate changing and what it may mean for our future.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
Just enough science of geology and cryology and hydrology is imparted, so you can look up terms if you wish but can take in the sense of the text easily. The brightly coloured photos reveal incredible landscapes, formations and habitations.
We have to be glad that others are brave enough to explore, or inspired enough to create, or educated enough to design and build. This book will provide you with facts to amaze and tourism sites to bookmark. We also learn about climate changing and what it may mean for our future.
I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
October 17, 2021
This book combines amazing pictures with the history behind each location. We get to explore different subterranean manmade and naturally occurring areas all over the planet.
I loved how it was separated by Creation, Ancient History, Modern History and Today. It gives an interesting timeline of the worlds history.
Archaeology and history are so fascinating to me! I also loved geology in college as a elective. It's so amazing how you can see so much when you dig.
The pictures alone would be worth the look into this book but it also gives a great insight and history into each and the amazing creatures that can exist in some of the caves out there.
Thank you timberpress and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
I loved how it was separated by Creation, Ancient History, Modern History and Today. It gives an interesting timeline of the worlds history.
Archaeology and history are so fascinating to me! I also loved geology in college as a elective. It's so amazing how you can see so much when you dig.
The pictures alone would be worth the look into this book but it also gives a great insight and history into each and the amazing creatures that can exist in some of the caves out there.
Thank you timberpress and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.
September 21, 2022
Beautiful book visually covering some fascinating underground spaces.
July 7, 2022
Why is it that some people are fascinated by what lies under the surface of the earth.....or more to the point what MIGHT lie under the earth. Maybe it really harks back to our prehistoric ancestors and their ilk who wormed their way into pitch black caverns to draw animals in charcoal and oche on the walls of caverns. The association of the underworld with a spirit world ...and with hell.
Anyway, I confess, I am one of those people who are fascinated with this underworld. I track my own fascination back to adventure stories (especially those written by Enid Blyton) where an intrepid group of kids (and a dog) found their way into long abandoned or secret caves/tunnels to foil smugglers or gangsters or kidnappers.
My actual experience of the underworld is pretty limited, though I have been deep underground in coal mines in Asturias (Spain) and in Australia....and I must confess....some of the mystery and glamor wore off very rapidly when I heard and saw part of the walls of coal collapsing under the weight of a kilometre of rock above...with an almighty crack. At that moment, I reckoned that the coal miners deserved all the pay they were getting and then some.
But back to Chris Fitch's book. He's produced a fascinating grab-bag of examples of interesting stuff happening underground. A lot of it relates to caves or tunnels but there is also discussion of other curious things; trees in the Pando Forest in Utah that have cloned themselves and are linked underground by a root system into an area of 43 hectares ...a single tree in effect that may be 14,000 years old. Aztec buildings and ruins buried under modern Mexico City ...and an incredible flaming gas crater in Turkmenistan, accidentally created by Soviet gas explorers. You've just gotta love the story of the miners finding the ground collapsed into a crater which was burping methane and somebody thought it would be good idea to drop in a match and "burn it off in a few weeks". Half a century later, it's still burning fiercely. It's a good collection of stories ...and it's supported with some great diagrams and location maps. Many of the locations, I already knew about but many of them were totally new to me......the deepest high altitude cave for example....in Uzbekistan near to the Afghan border with a top to bottom depth of 939 metres....and still 2651 m above sea level.
Unfortunately, with many collection like this there is a limit (usually about 4 pages...and that includes pictures and a map) on the details about the places. Sometimes I found myself wishing for a bit more information but on the whole, I think Fitch has done a workman (should that be work-person)-like job and it's easy reading. Happy to give it four stars.
Anyway, I confess, I am one of those people who are fascinated with this underworld. I track my own fascination back to adventure stories (especially those written by Enid Blyton) where an intrepid group of kids (and a dog) found their way into long abandoned or secret caves/tunnels to foil smugglers or gangsters or kidnappers.
My actual experience of the underworld is pretty limited, though I have been deep underground in coal mines in Asturias (Spain) and in Australia....and I must confess....some of the mystery and glamor wore off very rapidly when I heard and saw part of the walls of coal collapsing under the weight of a kilometre of rock above...with an almighty crack. At that moment, I reckoned that the coal miners deserved all the pay they were getting and then some.
But back to Chris Fitch's book. He's produced a fascinating grab-bag of examples of interesting stuff happening underground. A lot of it relates to caves or tunnels but there is also discussion of other curious things; trees in the Pando Forest in Utah that have cloned themselves and are linked underground by a root system into an area of 43 hectares ...a single tree in effect that may be 14,000 years old. Aztec buildings and ruins buried under modern Mexico City ...and an incredible flaming gas crater in Turkmenistan, accidentally created by Soviet gas explorers. You've just gotta love the story of the miners finding the ground collapsed into a crater which was burping methane and somebody thought it would be good idea to drop in a match and "burn it off in a few weeks". Half a century later, it's still burning fiercely. It's a good collection of stories ...and it's supported with some great diagrams and location maps. Many of the locations, I already knew about but many of them were totally new to me......the deepest high altitude cave for example....in Uzbekistan near to the Afghan border with a top to bottom depth of 939 metres....and still 2651 m above sea level.
Unfortunately, with many collection like this there is a limit (usually about 4 pages...and that includes pictures and a map) on the details about the places. Sometimes I found myself wishing for a bit more information but on the whole, I think Fitch has done a workman (should that be work-person)-like job and it's easy reading. Happy to give it four stars.
September 4, 2021
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Subterranea is a fascinating and seldom-seen look at amazing caves, underwater rivers, lakes, excavations, and other subterranean locations worldwide curated by Chris Fitch. Originally published in 2020, this reformat and re-release from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint is due out 15th Sept 2021. It's 240 pages and will be available in hardcover format.
This was a much more comprehensive and information dense volume than I was expecting. It *is* a graphically amazing book, full of clear, breathtaking photography of the secret underground places, but more than that, it's also full of ordnance survey maps showing the different cave systems and locations as well as interesting cultural and physical background for each place covered.
Each entry (there are 40) contains location, description, maps, background, and color photos of the sites and the features of each. The descriptions are well written and accessible. The author doesn't shy away from descriptions which include insalubrious details such as some caves' previous use in human sacrifice and other rituals, so it might be distressing to some readers. The photographs are clear and the layout is graphically simple and impactful. The author has included a nice selection of links and resources for further reading.
Five stars. This would be a good selection for library acquisition as well as for readers who enjoy travel writing, natural history and the natural world.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Subterranea is a fascinating and seldom-seen look at amazing caves, underwater rivers, lakes, excavations, and other subterranean locations worldwide curated by Chris Fitch. Originally published in 2020, this reformat and re-release from Workman Publishing on their Timber Press imprint is due out 15th Sept 2021. It's 240 pages and will be available in hardcover format.
This was a much more comprehensive and information dense volume than I was expecting. It *is* a graphically amazing book, full of clear, breathtaking photography of the secret underground places, but more than that, it's also full of ordnance survey maps showing the different cave systems and locations as well as interesting cultural and physical background for each place covered.
Each entry (there are 40) contains location, description, maps, background, and color photos of the sites and the features of each. The descriptions are well written and accessible. The author doesn't shy away from descriptions which include insalubrious details such as some caves' previous use in human sacrifice and other rituals, so it might be distressing to some readers. The photographs are clear and the layout is graphically simple and impactful. The author has included a nice selection of links and resources for further reading.
Five stars. This would be a good selection for library acquisition as well as for readers who enjoy travel writing, natural history and the natural world.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
June 23, 2021
A Great, Surprising Informative, Collection
Going back to Benson Bobrick's 1981 subway history, "Labyrinths of Iron", I have been a fan of books that take us underground. This volume is wide ranging, steps beyond the usual subjects, offers just enough photos and maps to illustrate the text and whet the appetite, and entertains with an engaging, congenial, but crisply informative, narrative. In short, it is a success across the board.
The books is loosely organized by topic - natural caves and underground rivers, ancient structures, and modern subterranean projects. You'll get caves and cenotes - longest, deepest, weirdest, and most mysterious. As to the ancients, you'll travel from the mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor, to the Qumran Caves, to Cappadocia. Modern times bring us from the London Underground to Cooper Pedy to the Kolwezi cobalt mines. In all there are 40 different chapters.
Apart from the photos and maps, which are fine but easy enough to find online, the other appeal here is our author's stylistic approach. The text is engaging, but not jokey or breezy. Descriptions, background, and history are truly informative, and even familiar sites, (those terracotta soldiers), get a fresh treatment.
So, this was a fine, entertaining, and informative find that fit quite nicely on my underground adventures shelf. A great armchair find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
Going back to Benson Bobrick's 1981 subway history, "Labyrinths of Iron", I have been a fan of books that take us underground. This volume is wide ranging, steps beyond the usual subjects, offers just enough photos and maps to illustrate the text and whet the appetite, and entertains with an engaging, congenial, but crisply informative, narrative. In short, it is a success across the board.
The books is loosely organized by topic - natural caves and underground rivers, ancient structures, and modern subterranean projects. You'll get caves and cenotes - longest, deepest, weirdest, and most mysterious. As to the ancients, you'll travel from the mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor, to the Qumran Caves, to Cappadocia. Modern times bring us from the London Underground to Cooper Pedy to the Kolwezi cobalt mines. In all there are 40 different chapters.
Apart from the photos and maps, which are fine but easy enough to find online, the other appeal here is our author's stylistic approach. The text is engaging, but not jokey or breezy. Descriptions, background, and history are truly informative, and even familiar sites, (those terracotta soldiers), get a fresh treatment.
So, this was a fine, entertaining, and informative find that fit quite nicely on my underground adventures shelf. A great armchair find.
(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
May 7, 2021
This was fun. What we get are short snapshots of subterranean environments, with relevant schematics, diagrams, maps and photos, all designed to alert us to intriguing pockets of our world we too often don't think about due to their being underground. Starting with natural cave systems, we scatter all over the world looking at superlatives, and I will admit the entries sometimes frustrated with how brief they were. Wanting more from a book can be a sign of it being a good as well as a bad one, mind – and this is certainly not a bad one.
We do leave the natural cave systems of note behind, for other indications of humanity from prehistory, and any date since then. So come on board prepared to have a look at the Dead Sea Scroll Caves, and the Large Hadron Collider both. Compare and contrast the wildlife on French cave walls with that stored in freezers under Svalbard in the Global Seed Vault. Get dwarfed by Tokyo flood relief systems, and squeeze through Vietnam's Cu Chi tunnels. Yes, the entries generally are over and done with after four pages of text at most (Cappadocia getting a lot more content than anything else, I think), and some times you do doubt the worth of all the artwork included, but if you are happy with these being just postcard-sized introductions, then this will be an enjoyable read. A perfect book would have perhaps told me more at times, and I did find this one best dipped into in bite-sized pieces, even when other books can be devoured A-Z, but this generally does what it set out to do.
We do leave the natural cave systems of note behind, for other indications of humanity from prehistory, and any date since then. So come on board prepared to have a look at the Dead Sea Scroll Caves, and the Large Hadron Collider both. Compare and contrast the wildlife on French cave walls with that stored in freezers under Svalbard in the Global Seed Vault. Get dwarfed by Tokyo flood relief systems, and squeeze through Vietnam's Cu Chi tunnels. Yes, the entries generally are over and done with after four pages of text at most (Cappadocia getting a lot more content than anything else, I think), and some times you do doubt the worth of all the artwork included, but if you are happy with these being just postcard-sized introductions, then this will be an enjoyable read. A perfect book would have perhaps told me more at times, and I did find this one best dipped into in bite-sized pieces, even when other books can be devoured A-Z, but this generally does what it set out to do.
November 2, 2021
Subterranea is an incredible book that looks at underground spaces. This might bring to mind caves, but there are so many other spaces that we never even consider. Most of the ones in this book are ones I had never heard of. I have long been a fan of caves and speleology, so I thought this book would be a fascinating look at caves. I was pleasantly surprised to find chapters on wonders of the world like ancient structures, caves, underground waterways, manmade structures, and more.
This book covers everything. One section looks at my favorite, caves! Each featured location has a map of the underground space, as well as coordinates and an little globe showing where in the world that particular feature is located. The text tells you the story of the featured place. Then, you get photos of it to round out each account. Some of these places are unbelievable! The glow worms were just mind-boggling!
It’s not an in-depth look at any single place, but rather an overview of a selection of locations that are of interest. If you want more in-depth coverage, you have to find it elsewhere. But, that is not a negative thing. I liked that the book covered so many places. I enjoyed learning about the incredible variety of places that can be found under the surface! I do want to learn more about some of these, since they were just that interesting. Everything from ancient history to modern history is featured. I loved this book.
I recommend it as both a coffee table book full of excellent photographs, and an introduction to pique your interest in the subterranean world.
This book covers everything. One section looks at my favorite, caves! Each featured location has a map of the underground space, as well as coordinates and an little globe showing where in the world that particular feature is located. The text tells you the story of the featured place. Then, you get photos of it to round out each account. Some of these places are unbelievable! The glow worms were just mind-boggling!
It’s not an in-depth look at any single place, but rather an overview of a selection of locations that are of interest. If you want more in-depth coverage, you have to find it elsewhere. But, that is not a negative thing. I liked that the book covered so many places. I enjoyed learning about the incredible variety of places that can be found under the surface! I do want to learn more about some of these, since they were just that interesting. Everything from ancient history to modern history is featured. I loved this book.
I recommend it as both a coffee table book full of excellent photographs, and an introduction to pique your interest in the subterranean world.
August 15, 2021
This is a seriously cool book! I learned so many new things and was in my true nerd happy place reading this one.
Broken into 4 parts, Subterranea starts with Creation and covers cool places like the Waitomo Caves, home of millions of Glow-worms, Veryovkina Cave, the world's deepest cave and the Palaeoburrows, tunnels believed to have been dug by extinct Mega Sloths!
The Ancient History section has locations such as Chauvet-Pont d'Arc boasting some of the earliest figurative cave drawings, and Herculaneum a coastal party town buried by the ancient eruption of Vesuvius.
Modern History has the more well-known locations like the London Underground and lesser known places like Coober Pedy, a city built underground to deal with the extreme temperatures of Australia.
The Today section features the Los Angeles Tunnels, Hellisheidi and the Jerusalem Cemeteries plus many other important scientific locations.
With pictures, coordinates, detailed maps and historical data, Subterranea is sure to be a home-run hit with history buffs, science lovers and curious people all over the world! Buy this as a gift for an inquisitive loved one and make sure you buy one for yourself as well. It's definitely worth having around and kids can learn about some really cool places!
Thank you to #TimberPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Broken into 4 parts, Subterranea starts with Creation and covers cool places like the Waitomo Caves, home of millions of Glow-worms, Veryovkina Cave, the world's deepest cave and the Palaeoburrows, tunnels believed to have been dug by extinct Mega Sloths!
The Ancient History section has locations such as Chauvet-Pont d'Arc boasting some of the earliest figurative cave drawings, and Herculaneum a coastal party town buried by the ancient eruption of Vesuvius.
Modern History has the more well-known locations like the London Underground and lesser known places like Coober Pedy, a city built underground to deal with the extreme temperatures of Australia.
The Today section features the Los Angeles Tunnels, Hellisheidi and the Jerusalem Cemeteries plus many other important scientific locations.
With pictures, coordinates, detailed maps and historical data, Subterranea is sure to be a home-run hit with history buffs, science lovers and curious people all over the world! Buy this as a gift for an inquisitive loved one and make sure you buy one for yourself as well. It's definitely worth having around and kids can learn about some really cool places!
Thank you to #TimberPress and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 1, 2021
Subterranea is absolutely breathtaking in its riches of information, other-worldly photography and useful maps. The sheer amount of information is staggering. I live part time in the karst region of Europe and am besotted with underground lakes, rivers and caves, especially those in Slovenia and Croatia. One of the most stupendous sights I have ever experienced is Postojna Cave and its miraculous olms. Exploring beneath ancient cities such as Naples and Split is one of my favourite things to do. But this book really opened my eyes to treasures in other parts of the world, too, such as the dazzling glow-worms in New Zealand, gaping cenotes and unique fish living in acid in Mexico, fascinating paleoburrows in Brazil and the stunning cistern beneath Istanbul,
After reading so much about it, Tunnel 57 is the next on my list. Not only does the author include natural wonders and creatures but also fascinating things/occurrences such as perfectly-round and deep sink holes, mines and ice core storage!
Books such as this are pure inspiration and soul stirring. Nature is truly remarkable. Reading this book makes me feel more knowledgeable. I like that. If you are even just remotely interested in the underground, this book should be priority. It is THAT good. Regardless of what you have and haven't yet seen, you will learn something.
My sincere thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wondrous book. I absolutely loved it!
After reading so much about it, Tunnel 57 is the next on my list. Not only does the author include natural wonders and creatures but also fascinating things/occurrences such as perfectly-round and deep sink holes, mines and ice core storage!
Books such as this are pure inspiration and soul stirring. Nature is truly remarkable. Reading this book makes me feel more knowledgeable. I like that. If you are even just remotely interested in the underground, this book should be priority. It is THAT good. Regardless of what you have and haven't yet seen, you will learn something.
My sincere thank you to Timber Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wondrous book. I absolutely loved it!
May 6, 2021
This book was a lot more than I was expecting. I was expecting photographs with brief descriptions, but this book went so much farther including maps and diagrams and thorough explanations of the site’s history, geological and cultural significance, and current condition. The book is divided into four sections: Creation – natural phenomena, Ancient History – man-made structures of the past, Modern History – 1900s, and Today – 2000s, each with 10 locations across the globe. I loved the geographic representation in the book including locations from all seven continents. Unlike a lot books that can feel very euro/western-centric this book struck a good balance of locations and cultures. I am ashamed to admit that I’ve been to a few of the locations in Europe, while I have not been to the Panda Aspen Tree which is literally 2.5 hours from my house. I felt like I learned a lot about each location without there being an overwhelming amount of information. I liked that the author didn’t shy away from controversial issues, especially in the today section, with the inclusion of smuggling tunnels along the U.S./Mexican border and cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. With my love of geography, geology, history, and geopolitics this was the perfect book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2021
Subterranea is surprisingly informative and enjoyable to read. The focus is on things below ground and includes lots of colorful photos, maps and diagrams. The book is broken into four sections. Creation (things in nature) which includes many caves and even a chapter on Pando, an ancient forest of cloned trees that are connected underground, in my home state of Utah. Ancient History, man made structures like terra-cotta soldiers or the buried city of Herculaneum. Modern History and Today cover the 1900s and 2000s respectively. The Large Hadron Super Collider is covered, Helsinki's Underground City and Jerusalem's, modern-day underground cemetery. Each site chosen was interesting and not always what I was expecting. The writing gives information about the site, history and cultural importance. The book includes places on every continent and is not western centric. The is a genuinely interesting coffee table book. Thank you to NetGalley and Timber Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2021
Chris Fitch’s Subterranea: Discovering the Earth’s Extraordinary Hidden Depth is a deeper look at the Earth beneath the surface. From recreational to geographical and scientific exploration, Fitch explains underground wonders. With full color photographs and detailed diagrams, the book is visually appealing while simultaneously providing a plethora of accurate information for the casually interested. Introductory information is included for subterranean caverns around the world, along with historical uses, explorations, and evolution.
This book is geared to those with a burgeoning interest in cave systems. While it does have full color photos, this is not a book for those just looking for gorgeous pictures of caverns. The photos included are nice but are not the focal point of the book and are limited compared with the larger information given.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by Timber Press. Originally posted at Novel Obsession.
This book is geared to those with a burgeoning interest in cave systems. While it does have full color photos, this is not a book for those just looking for gorgeous pictures of caverns. The photos included are nice but are not the focal point of the book and are limited compared with the larger information given.
Disclaimer: An advance copy was provided by Timber Press. Originally posted at Novel Obsession.
January 22, 2022
My schedule flew right out the window when I opened this book! I came home with a lengthy to-do list for the evening and thought I'd just read the introduction before I got to work on the laundry and dishes. -But then the first chapter on Waitomo Caves looked so fascinating and was only a few pages. I'd just read that. It was just a few pages, and it was fascinating, and it was quickly done. I just turned the page to see what was coming next. Oo, cenotes! -And it's just a few pages. So was Kazamura Cave, and Pando, and Dark Star, and paleoburrows, which led to the underground city of Derinkuyu, and Qin Shi Huang's tomb, mass burials in the London Underground, sinkholes, gas craters, tunnels, bunkers, and seed vaults. I just couldn't stop. Yes, despite my intentions, it turned into a one-sitting read. The laundry it still there and I'll have to address that tonight - but it was so worth it!
May 18, 2021
SUBTERRANEA by Chris Fitch
This has beautiful pictures of beautiful places, complete with a few pages that tell about what each place is when it was discovered and what if any, humans used it for. As a former caver, I have a great appreciation for the subterranean world.
I am sure I did not appropriately appreciate the splendor of this book since I had an electronic version. A hard or softcover version would be coffee table worthy, to awe family members and visitors, alike.
Highly recommend.
I consider myself fortunate to have received a complimentary copy of #subterranea from #netgalley I was under no obligation to post a review.
This has beautiful pictures of beautiful places, complete with a few pages that tell about what each place is when it was discovered and what if any, humans used it for. As a former caver, I have a great appreciation for the subterranean world.
I am sure I did not appropriately appreciate the splendor of this book since I had an electronic version. A hard or softcover version would be coffee table worthy, to awe family members and visitors, alike.
Highly recommend.
I consider myself fortunate to have received a complimentary copy of #subterranea from #netgalley I was under no obligation to post a review.
November 19, 2021
I have recently noticed I have developed a deep and strong fascination with maps and also with the wonders that lie underground. After reading the fabulous Underground by Will Hunt a spark was ignited and I was hooked. This was another amazing adventure into a world that is far too often overlooked. Both wonderfully narrated and lavishly illustrated I couldn't have been happier with this read. Highly recommended to anyone with a sense of adventure or anyone with a natural curiosity about the world around and sometimes under us. 10/10
November 21, 2021
Subterranea by Chris Fitch is a really neat book with beautiful color photos highlighting natural, historical, and modern underground spaces. I was surprised at how little I know about what lies below. Some of the spaces include a sunken palace, a cave filled with glow-in-the-dark worms, and the longest lava tube in the world.
I highly recommend this book for those interested in history, science, travel, and art.
I am a library paraprofessional and received an advance copy from #NetGalley. Opinions are my own.
I highly recommend this book for those interested in history, science, travel, and art.
I am a library paraprofessional and received an advance copy from #NetGalley. Opinions are my own.
January 7, 2022
I love that this is essentially a tribute to underground and subterranean architecture, both natural and man-made. While this may not be a resource for geologists and similarly practicing scientists, I hope everyone gets a kick out of his zingers and enjoys the recreated maps of areas for each location mentioned. Plus, this could be a great conversation starter if you run out of things to talk about.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2021
NB: free ARC received for honest review
A fine collection of introductory essays about a wide variety of subterranean locations around the world - some natural, some manufactured by humans or animals. Almost every entry includes at least one interesting fact, and many fascinating images accompany the text. My only real complaint was the brevity of each entry. In many cases I was left wanting to know much much more about the location being described.
A fine collection of introductory essays about a wide variety of subterranean locations around the world - some natural, some manufactured by humans or animals. Almost every entry includes at least one interesting fact, and many fascinating images accompany the text. My only real complaint was the brevity of each entry. In many cases I was left wanting to know much much more about the location being described.
August 12, 2021
Chris Fitch delivers Subterranea, a book bursting with gorgeous photographs and astounding information. I was expecting just photographs, but Fitch includes vivid descriptions of the formation of the caves as well as the people and creatures who inhabit them. The photos are so vibrant, they take your breath away. Get this book for the photos then dive into the narrative. Thanks so much to Net Galley for the chance to read an ARC.
May 21, 2021
This book is a lot more than I expected. I requested it thinking it was going to be some pretty Instagram spots but it's a great book with lots of informations and history. I haven't been to any of those places yet but I added some to my list. I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review
May 29, 2021
Subterranea was filled with facts and pictures of the worlds underground spaces. It gives the location, name, and a brief description. The pictures are stunning. Everything from New Zealand glow worm caves to cave paintings in France. The places included are a good balance between natural and man made. There are ancient and modern caves. It is interesting and beautiful.
November 15, 2021
Subterranea is a beautiful book with outstanding, tantalizing photos of what lies beneath our feet, and crisp and clear writing about the forming and exploration of these places: caves, sinkholes, tunnels. It's an ideal book to give as a gift to anyone interested in spelunking, hiking, urban exploration, and similar activities.
August 19, 2021
This book truly took me on an adventure. I was able to get a first hand exploration of caves, tunnels, and places to explore. I lived reading about each place, having a map of the location and a map of the area underground. The pictures right there were amazing. Truly travel in a book.
March 6, 2023
Chris Fitch explores the mysterious world that lies beneath our feet. I found this book to be a captivating read. The book covers a wide range of underground spaces, from natural wonders like caves and sinkholes to man-made structures like tunnels and bunkers.
One aspect I particularly appreciated about this book is how it highlights the interconnectedness between the underground and the world above. Fitch touches on how underground spaces have been used for everything from mining and transportation to hiding and preserving important artifacts. He also explores the impact that human activity has had on the underground environment, both positive and negative.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
One aspect I particularly appreciated about this book is how it highlights the interconnectedness between the underground and the world above. Fitch touches on how underground spaces have been used for everything from mining and transportation to hiding and preserving important artifacts. He also explores the impact that human activity has had on the underground environment, both positive and negative.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 2, 2023
The book was okay. Overall, it is a pretty accessible book to people who have a casual interest in science. As someone in the field I found that I already knew about a lot of the contents and that the author reflected the topics well. I gave this a lower rating because I truly did not like the narrative from the author. It feels painfully obvious that they’re a white millennial. The side comments and jokes made in the book came off as slightly ignorant to me. He calls ancient Central American ceremonies “horrifying” and says he’s thankful that some Hawaiian words have been shortened down. To me it feels as if he’s trying to make these topics more palatable to Americans and it came off as shallow to me. The scientific aspects seem sound, but I couldn’t see myself reading from this author again.
May 9, 2021
I could spend hours and hours lost in the secret places unearthed in this book. Each chapter provides vivid photographic images with an informative description of the location, history, and significance. Each chapter merely provides an intro, hardly enough to satiate any interest in any one particular location, and compels me to study and learn more. Igniting a desire for further research is a clear indication of a great book! I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.
December 27, 2024
This is sort of a short book. It has a couple of pages for each underground place it discusses. No place is discussed in depth, but just enough to learn about all these interesting places. The photos and illustrations are really the best part in my opinion. The illustrations and photos really allow you to understand the underground location.
June 20, 2021
Subterranea is a +200 pages long travel through the depths of the Earth, courtesy of Chris Fitch. After donning a rock-climbing helmet, Chris takes us on a worldwide tour featuring both natural and artificial caves, with an eye for the lesser-known ones.
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
[Keep reading @ Bookshelves & Teacups]
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