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SYMZONIA: Voyage of Discovery
Symzonia: Voyage of Discovery is a breath taking adventure story that follows Captain Seaborn's expedition to the North Pole and his discovery of the entrance to the hollow earth. But first Seaborn must survive many exciting seafaring adventures including a mutinous crew.
104 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1820
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 16, 2022
I read that this book as a fictional travelogue of a journey to the center of the Earth, and visiting a utopian country. In truth, it is much more than that; especially because its author is too subtle to be caught red-handed by the average reader.
If not taken at face value, it is a clever combination of satire and psychological fiction.
Caution: The following text could be considered a massive spoiler. It is not a spoiler in the traditional sense, because it does not follow the order of events as presented in the novel, but it does give the meaning of the story away.
The highly unreliable narrator of the story is a typical greedy colonialist who, after having gone bankrupt (probably due to being defrauded by someone else, but that's not certain) is incarcerated and goes crazy. There, he imagines a utopian world in which the vices of our world are nonexistent. In order to procure the money to pay his debts, he writes a book about his real journey to the south pole, but embellishes it with the fantastical account of his imaginary journey to a utopian world at the center of the earth. Despite abhorring the wrong ways of his society, he clings to his depraved old ways and keeps doing the things that he has implicitly condemned. E.g. In the end, he even tries to swindle the (implied) reader.
If not taken at face value, it is a clever combination of satire and psychological fiction.
Caution: The following text could be considered a massive spoiler. It is not a spoiler in the traditional sense, because it does not follow the order of events as presented in the novel, but it does give the meaning of the story away.
The highly unreliable narrator of the story is a typical greedy colonialist who, after having gone bankrupt (probably due to being defrauded by someone else, but that's not certain) is incarcerated and goes crazy. There, he imagines a utopian world in which the vices of our world are nonexistent. In order to procure the money to pay his debts, he writes a book about his real journey to the south pole, but embellishes it with the fantastical account of his imaginary journey to a utopian world at the center of the earth. Despite abhorring the wrong ways of his society, he clings to his depraved old ways and keeps doing the things that he has implicitly condemned. E.g. In the end, he even tries to swindle the (implied) reader.
July 29, 2017
Every now and then I get a hankering to read some really old science fiction. I mean really old, as in 1820. It's interesting to see what was considered scifi back then and compare to today.
Symzonia is a hollow Earth story of the extreme. The way the planet is can best be compared to a ball of yarn - a shell with large holes at both the top and bottom that the sea opens into. The inside is occupied by other people, one of them being Symzonians. Because of the polar ices, communication between these people (inworlders) and the rest of us (outworlders) is non-existent. Neither knows the other exists.
Captain Seaborn builds the ultimate vessel to take on the challenge of visiting the inner world. The first part of this novel is really quite good. It follows the travels of the ship and the many difficulties in travelling afar - food shortages, unruly weather, treasonous crew members, and some excellent sea charting and sun positioning noted by the captain. I really enjoyed the details and the glimpse of life on a long voyage of uncertain destination.
Sadly, once inside the planet, the story falls flat. Once the Symzonians are discovered what follows is an incredibly long comparison of what the captain (and obviously the author) believed to be a utopian society versus the corrupt one currently underway in the outer world. A close examination of the details of Symzonian society is akin to Marxism. Think extreme socialism, communism, or some variant.
The science is, obviously, terribly flawed, but considering when it was written, one can forgive the author. What cannot be forgiven is the decision to spend half the book debating politics.
Symzonia is a hollow Earth story of the extreme. The way the planet is can best be compared to a ball of yarn - a shell with large holes at both the top and bottom that the sea opens into. The inside is occupied by other people, one of them being Symzonians. Because of the polar ices, communication between these people (inworlders) and the rest of us (outworlders) is non-existent. Neither knows the other exists.
Captain Seaborn builds the ultimate vessel to take on the challenge of visiting the inner world. The first part of this novel is really quite good. It follows the travels of the ship and the many difficulties in travelling afar - food shortages, unruly weather, treasonous crew members, and some excellent sea charting and sun positioning noted by the captain. I really enjoyed the details and the glimpse of life on a long voyage of uncertain destination.
Sadly, once inside the planet, the story falls flat. Once the Symzonians are discovered what follows is an incredibly long comparison of what the captain (and obviously the author) believed to be a utopian society versus the corrupt one currently underway in the outer world. A close examination of the details of Symzonian society is akin to Marxism. Think extreme socialism, communism, or some variant.
The science is, obviously, terribly flawed, but considering when it was written, one can forgive the author. What cannot be forgiven is the decision to spend half the book debating politics.
November 6, 2015
Convencido de que en el Polo Sur hay un espacio cóncavo, un inteligente Capitán construye un barco apto para viajar a estos lares, superando la latitud 70º S, hasta la fecha no superado. Tras largas narraciones en primera persona de islas en las que va fondeado, y como estas están plagadas de animales y vegetación más pura. Consigue llegar a su objetico, descubriendo lo imaginable. Aquí el punto de partida en el que comienza temas filosóficos y políticos, tras la aventura y lo descriptivo.
Esta principal historia muestra lo estúpidos que somos, insertando estos hachazos mediante lo ameno de la intriga y aventuresca.
Finaliza el libro con 3 ensayos-minirelatos del famoso Poe enfocados al tema de la tierra hueca, que hace bajar y bastante la calidad de este.
Esta principal historia muestra lo estúpidos que somos, insertando estos hachazos mediante lo ameno de la intriga y aventuresca.
Finaliza el libro con 3 ensayos-minirelatos del famoso Poe enfocados al tema de la tierra hueca, que hace bajar y bastante la calidad de este.
April 13, 2009
A terrible book, but historically fascinating.
August 23, 2017
Meh...
So this is a utopian Hollow Earth novel with some elements of satire. Although due to the age of the book its a little hard to tell who exactly he's satirizing at times.
Its relatively short, which is good but doesn't have a lot to it. A couple of elements of interest but thats about it.
It uses the basic Hollow Earth theory, to-wit, that the earth is completely hollow and the interior can be sailed (or walked) to through openings at both poles.
I've read a few of these books now and one, The Goddess Of Atvatabar i think but i could be wrong, had this wonderful description of sailing into the globe.
As they went the gravity adjusted with them so they appeared to be going in a straight line and the only way they could tell they were headed into a tunnel was that the waves in the distance kept getting higher until eventually they were directly overhead, like 'Inception' or something.
This has nothing like that descriptive style. In fact the sailors don't even realize they are inside the earth. Only the captain knows, who by the way completely lies about trying to find the polar openings. His crew think they're on a seal hunt. Its similar to Vernes' Captain Hatteras; except in that case it actually had a reason why he lied. But no explanation is given in this, the implication being simply that Hollow Earth theory was such obvious crap even when this book was written that no one would voluntarily go on a voyage to try and prove it.
The book also uses a lot of references about angles of light and astronomical stuff about the position of the sun at different times of the year none of which meant anything to me.
The utopia stuff is fairly standard and most of the books philosophical ideas are pretty ridiculous, which is at least mildly entertaining. Not a complete waste of time is about all the enthusiasm i can muster :) .
So this is a utopian Hollow Earth novel with some elements of satire. Although due to the age of the book its a little hard to tell who exactly he's satirizing at times.
Its relatively short, which is good but doesn't have a lot to it. A couple of elements of interest but thats about it.
It uses the basic Hollow Earth theory, to-wit, that the earth is completely hollow and the interior can be sailed (or walked) to through openings at both poles.
I've read a few of these books now and one, The Goddess Of Atvatabar i think but i could be wrong, had this wonderful description of sailing into the globe.
As they went the gravity adjusted with them so they appeared to be going in a straight line and the only way they could tell they were headed into a tunnel was that the waves in the distance kept getting higher until eventually they were directly overhead, like 'Inception' or something.
This has nothing like that descriptive style. In fact the sailors don't even realize they are inside the earth. Only the captain knows, who by the way completely lies about trying to find the polar openings. His crew think they're on a seal hunt. Its similar to Vernes' Captain Hatteras; except in that case it actually had a reason why he lied. But no explanation is given in this, the implication being simply that Hollow Earth theory was such obvious crap even when this book was written that no one would voluntarily go on a voyage to try and prove it.
The book also uses a lot of references about angles of light and astronomical stuff about the position of the sun at different times of the year none of which meant anything to me.
The utopia stuff is fairly standard and most of the books philosophical ideas are pretty ridiculous, which is at least mildly entertaining. Not a complete waste of time is about all the enthusiasm i can muster :) .
October 23, 2022
An odd maritime adventure tale with science fiction trappings, this anonymously published novel recounts the voyage of one Captain Adam Seaborn, who ostensibly set out on a whaling expedition, with the secret agenda to explore the South Pole, and to there find an entrance into a Hollow Earth. Seaborn deflects a threat of mutiny as he discovers a passage through "the icy hoop" which is the visible Antarctic ice, and finds that the seas closer to the South Pole is actually basked in extremely hot weather. At the outskirts of the Pole, the crew encounter a tribe of dark-skinned savages, but further south they come upon the land of Symzonia, which is inhabited by a delicate, light-skinned people living in a highly evolved, chaste and pacifist society. Finally Seaborn sets out to explore the actual Pole, hoping to find the entrance to the Hollow Earth. He abandons his expedition before he reaches his destination, making for a rather disappointing ending of the book.
The idea of the Hollow Earth presented in this novel was based on that of John Cleves Symmes, who in 1818 declared his theory that the Earth was constructed out of five concentric spheres, all accessible through giant holes at the Poles. In the novel Seaborn gives a thorough explanation of Symmes' theory and hails him as a genius, which has led to speculation that Symmes himself wrote the novel. However, it does makes some satirical jabs at Symmes' theory, which would rule him out. Several scholars have suggested maritime author Nathaniel Ames as the writer of the book, as his familiarity with Jonathan Swift and the similar subtle satirical style of his books and "Symzonia" would make this likely. The book was highly influential on Edgar Allan Poe's 1838 novel "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym".
The idea of the Hollow Earth presented in this novel was based on that of John Cleves Symmes, who in 1818 declared his theory that the Earth was constructed out of five concentric spheres, all accessible through giant holes at the Poles. In the novel Seaborn gives a thorough explanation of Symmes' theory and hails him as a genius, which has led to speculation that Symmes himself wrote the novel. However, it does makes some satirical jabs at Symmes' theory, which would rule him out. Several scholars have suggested maritime author Nathaniel Ames as the writer of the book, as his familiarity with Jonathan Swift and the similar subtle satirical style of his books and "Symzonia" would make this likely. The book was highly influential on Edgar Allan Poe's 1838 novel "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym".
August 18, 2023
As a somewhat bland precursor to more well known classics such as 'Journey To The Centre of the Earth', Symzonia seems fated to be more talked about than read.
It's interesting as an example of early adventure sci-fi, but that's pretty much all there is to say. Only recommendable to those searching for literature essay references.
Symzonia's legacy is apparent, hoisting the sail so later works in the 19th century canon could break the waves, but as a whole it misses the boat by lacking the timeless quality of its contemporaries. The protagonists feel more like cardboard cutouts than characters, with little to no dialogue or detailed description to flesh them out. The satire is, pun intended, surface level at best (outmatched by earlier works in the genre such as 'Gulliver's Travels'). Finally, the past tense style of the novel, combined with poor editing, drain any ounce of engaging tension; such a daring voyage feels moot since the characters come across very few meaningful obstacles, which are done away with via hand-wave explanations, leaving little reason to remain attached to the narrative.
It's interesting as an example of early adventure sci-fi, but that's pretty much all there is to say. Only recommendable to those searching for literature essay references.
Symzonia's legacy is apparent, hoisting the sail so later works in the 19th century canon could break the waves, but as a whole it misses the boat by lacking the timeless quality of its contemporaries. The protagonists feel more like cardboard cutouts than characters, with little to no dialogue or detailed description to flesh them out. The satire is, pun intended, surface level at best (outmatched by earlier works in the genre such as 'Gulliver's Travels'). Finally, the past tense style of the novel, combined with poor editing, drain any ounce of engaging tension; such a daring voyage feels moot since the characters come across very few meaningful obstacles, which are done away with via hand-wave explanations, leaving little reason to remain attached to the narrative.
January 21, 2013
The first American utopian story, written (presumably) by the Ohio man who originated the 'Holes-in-the-Poles' Hollow Earth theory. It more interesting to those of an academic persuasion rather than anyone looking for an engaging narrative.
August 14, 2023
Çevirmenin, yandan çarklı geminin çarklarını 'kürek (paddle)', sancak-iskele terimlerini 'liman (starboard-port)' olarak tercüme yapması, buharlı gemiyi kadırgaya çevirmiş dahası bütün kitap boyunca anlaşılmaz garip bir makine haline getirmiş. Barış Timur biraz araştırma yapsaymış keşke. Editör Pelin Ünen'in çeviriyi okuduğunu sanmıyorum, okusaydı 'fihrist standartlarında üretilmiştir' mottosu havada kalmazdı. Kesme işareti (') yerine kitabın sonuna doğru (>) kullanımı ve tuhaf 'son' (S N / O / S N) yazısı ilginç olmuş.
November 26, 2020
about 60% seafaring adventure, the 0ther 40% being a socialist utopia, the seafaring part being the better of the two even though its not exactly the most thrilling. some glimpses of early use of future war machines and weird hollow earth physics make it a little easier to get through than more overt social satire traveller narratives
March 20, 2021
Dated, hollow earth book that has some interesting pseudoscience and political thought. The verbiage is, of course, a bit stilted but easy to get through. This a good example of thought during the early 1800’s.
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September 9, 2017This funny little travelogue, with its utopian society in the center of a hollow earth, is actually a really good exploration of white supremacy in the 19th century, and its relationship to mercantile economics.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews