Jules Verne, “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, 1864 was the topic of an earlier blog post.
Edgar Rice Burroughs, “At the Earth’s Core”, 1914 also was the topic of an earlier blog post.
The “table of contents” of the book is shown BELOW. There are nineteen (19) titled chapters in the book.
Chapter #. “Title”.
#1. “Contradictory Letters”.
#2. “The Road”.
#3. “The Dochart Pit”.
#4. “The Ford Family”.
#5. “Some Strange Phenomena”.
#6. “Simon”.
#7. “New Aberfoyle”.
#8. “Exploring”.
#9. “The Fire Maidens”.
#10. “Coaltown”.
#11. “Hanging by a Thread”.
#12. “Nell Adopted”.
#13. “On the Revolving Ladder”.
#14. “A Sunrise”.
#15. “Loch Lomond & Loch Katrine”.
#16. “The Final Test”.
#17. “The Monk”.
#18. “Nell’s Wedding”.
#19. “The Leg-End of Old Silfax”.
SUMMARY.
“The Underground City” follows mining engineer James Starr (protagonist) as he receives a letter from an old friend and coworker, Simon Ford (foil character), requesting that he revisit the depleted Aderfoyle coal mine in Scotland that he used to manage.
Upon arriving, Starr finds the entire Ford family living in the mine; and Ford explains that a new coal vein has been located.
Soon after Starr’s return, however, strange events start to occur, which seem to be supernatural (goblins & firemaidens). After a startling discovery, the characters continue to investigate these supernatural occurrences over the course of ten (10) years.
Accompanying Simon Ford are his wife Madge, and adult son Harry. In the cavern system Harry Ford finds an orphan girl named Nell while he was exploring. Eventually, Harry and Nell announce their marriage.
At story end, it become clear that that supernatural happening have been caused by Silfax (former mine employee) who has inhabited the mine since its closures.
