Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
2026 Challenge - Regular
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32 - A book with an underwater civilization
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Some prompts have so few options that it's hard to find anything that looks enjoyable. This has the opposite problem: there are a zillion books about mermaids, Atlantis, etc., and I know nothing about any of them.I've enjoyed some of Axie Oh's contemporary fiction, so I'll likely go with The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea.
It does not say "human" civilization - I have a copy of Pod by Laline Paull and I am trying to read what I have at home or can get from my local library - so there.
Trying to decide if any of these would countA Letter to the Luminous Deep
Into the Drowning Deep
Our Wives Under the Sea
The third book in the Alea Aquarius Series by Tanya Stewner has something to do with an underwater civilization. I'll likely be reading this one.
Britany wrote: "Trying to decide if any of these would countA Letter to the Luminous Deep
Into the Drowning Deep
Our Wives Under the Sea"
I'm planning on using A Letter to the Luminous Deep for this prompt!
Karen wrote: "It does not say "human" civilization - I have a copy of Pod by Laline Paull and I am trying to read what I have at home or can get from my local library - so there."I was thinking the same thing. I think I might read one of my non-fiction about the sea animals!
Britany wrote: "Trying to decide if any of these would countA Letter to the Luminous Deep
Into the Drowning Deep
Our Wives Under the Sea"
I don't think Our Wives Under the Sea would really count without getting into spoilers (unless you count the wife's submarine crew), but I bet Into the Drowning Deep does. Also one I've read and really loved was The Deep by Rivers Solomon.
Ruth wrote: "Britany wrote: "Trying to decide if any of these would countA Letter to the Luminous Deep
Into the Drowning Deep
Our Wives Under the Sea"
I don't ..."
Similarly, Out of the Drowning Deep by A.C. Wise might be able to fulfill this prompt, but the underwater civilization is not the main point of the story. They do add a delicious flavour to it, though.
The Deep looks really good! I'll be reading that one for 42: A book inspired by a real song, album, band, or artist.
I might use A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall for 47: A book told entirely through letters.
Britany wrote: "Trying to decide if any of these would countA Letter to the Luminous Deep
Into the Drowning Deep
Our Wives Under the Sea"
A Letter to the Luminous Deep does not feature an underwater civilization, but it DOES fit the "book told in letters" prompt, and the SEQUEL, A Letter from the Lonesome Shore, DOES have an underwater civilization, so you could knock out both prompts with that duology.
thanks everyone! SUPER helpful feedback.
The Wicked King which is the second book in the Folk of the Air series features an underwater civilization.
Just heard about Landlocked in Foreign Skin- "The Fisherman can't fathom why anyone would want to be human. Small wonder. They've been ripped from their underwater home under Europa's ice, and stripped of their skin..."It's available at my library and is pretty short, so might be going with this one
I just remembered, a couple of years ago, I DNF Out of the Blue. It's about a merman teen who comes ashore to try to live as a human as part of their coming of age tradition. I don't know if he goes back to the sea, but he spoke about their culture, so I think it fits the prompt. It wasn't my cuppa, but maybe it'll work for others.
I think The Swarm by Frank Schätzing could probably be counted? It doesn’t dive too much into the underwater civilization but I mean.. there is one. lol.City of Pearl by Karen Traviss - haven’t read this one personally but I believe it has one also.
A Darkling Sea definitely has one but I don’t know that I’d recommend this book to anyone but a die-hard scifi fan.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
City of Pearl (other topics)A Darkling Sea (other topics)
The Swarm (other topics)
Out of the Blue (other topics)
Landlocked in Foreign Skin (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Frank Schätzing (other topics)Karen Traviss (other topics)
Axie Oh (other topics)
Sylvie Cathrall (other topics)
A.C. Wise (other topics)
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Ooohhh...Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne! I own a copy that I've been meaning to read for years!!
Listopia: A book with an underwater civilization