The A to Z Challenge asks bloggers to post 26 articles on a themed topic. It’s supposed to be every day except Sundays during the month of April but I found that way to busy and decided to post mine ‘about’ once a month. Yes, it’ll take me a couple of years. Sigh.
My topic, like the last two times I did the conventional approach, is writing genres.
This genre:
sUbterranean Fiction
Definition
a subgenre of adventure fiction or science fiction and focuses on fictional underground settings,
Tips
- Because this genre is influenced by the Hollow Earth concepts, incorporate those into the story.
- Focus on life either at the center of the Earth or well below the surface.
- These are first, adventure stories. It just so happens that the setting is well beneath the planet’s surface.
- The science should be accurate and where it differs from reality must be believable enough to satisfy readers. This genre isn’t fantasy.
- Because this genre is fiction about science, incorporate that often and in detail. Readers will look for that.
- Because of #4 and #5, spend sufficient time researching what you’re writing. If you don’t like research, this isn’t your genre.
- The plot should be fast and prominent.
Popular Books
- Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
- Orpheus in the Underworld by Jacques Offenbach (a book but originally an opera)
- Divine Comedy–Dante’s poem, Inferno
- Subterranean by James Rollins
- The Lightning Stones by Jack DuBrul
- The City of Ember by Jean DuPrau
- At Earth’s Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Tam, Son of the Tiger by Otis Adelbert Kline
- Indiana Jones and the Hollow Earth by Max McCoy
Click for complete list of these 26 genres
Click for a complete list of all genres I’ve written about
More U Genres:
Jacqui Murray is the author of the popular Building a Midshipman, the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy, the Man vs. Nature saga, and the Rowe-Delamagente thrillers. She is also the author/editor of over a hundred books on integrating tech into education, adjunct professor of technology in education, blog webmaster, an Amazon Vine Voice, a columnist for NEA Today, and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. Look for her next prehistoric fiction, Laws of Nature Fall 2021. You can find her tech ed books at her publisher’s website, Structured Learning
That’s some good digging to come up with this genre Jacqui, lol. Rock on! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehee. I see what you did there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Jacqui – love Offenbach … and what a great post you’ve made of U for Subterranean … enjoy your fortnight and Thanksgiving – stay safe – Hilary
LikeLiked by 1 person
Orpheus in the Underwood is iconic, isn’t it? I wish you a wonderful holiday season, Hilary!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another genre I was not aware of. I could totally see this work, creating a subterranean world, but… I don’t like research. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wait a second, Liesbet, I’m reading your book. I am awed by how many problems you solve that you’ve never faced before. Isn’t that ‘research’?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Uhm… if you call intuition and impulsiveness and real-life experience “research,” then… “yes”! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s amazing…
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea, Jacqui. I’m a huge fan of ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely a lot of fantasy in that story and I loved every word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
To be honest, I never even knew there was a genre for subterranean fiction. It makes sense as there are quite a few stories that fit this mold. By the way, I think it’s great that you maintain this section of your blog once a month. I frequently learn something new here.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The subgenres have becomes almost like tags, to help readers find books quickly. There are a surprising number of subterranean fiction books and readers of that genre are rabid about the topic!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love this idea! What an unusual genre too. I think for me, the best book(s) I’ve ever read that could be classed as subterranean would be the R. A. Salvatore series about the underground living Drow (dark elves), with the hero, Drizzt Do’Urden. An exceptionally brilliant series. Thanks for making me think back on it 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
That would count! They can be fantasy or scientific fiction. I’ll have to check out that series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s brilliant if you’re into fantasy 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never heard of this as a genre, but of course it is! What fun. 🙂 I enjoy these genre ideas. They make me want to explore as a reader.
LikeLiked by 2 people
When I’m on my third set of A to Z genres, I am definitely digging for the unusual!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funny thing is, I thought straight away of your goblins in Unraveling the Veil, D 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I thought of that too, Lol. It was fun creating a subterranean cave system as well as the buried city, but they weren’t particularly scientific. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Maybe not yet, but give them a century or two and they’d be more advanced than WE are!
LikeLiked by 2 people
That definitely counts. We’ll have another subgenre–fantasy subterranean. There’s something about being underground that adds mystery to any story–I don’t need to tell you that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! It does create some logistical challenges for humans that goblins don’t need to worry about.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s definitely not a genre I knew existed. Perhaps writing in that genre is an… underground movement. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehee–clever girl. You can see how it differs distinctly from other genres, with a focus on underground. Interesting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely. You could do interesting things with world-building there. Reading my kids The Silver Chair from the Chronicles of Narnia series. Much of it takes place in an underground world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Didn’t know that. Hunh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How interesting! I’d never heard of subterranean fiction. Would Dostoevsky’s Notes from the Underground qualify?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think not. It could be clever to include underground societies but I think this particular genre focuses on the physical underground. Happy for someone who knows more to weigh in!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Well, it’s been I long time since I read it. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love research, maybe I should write something below ground.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hehee
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely, Jacqui, Dante’s Divine Comedy is a favourite of mine. You could also include H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never read Divine Comedy but I read a lot about it. Good addition to the list.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating. There’re some classics in this genre. Hope your day is productive and filled with research:) I’m waiting for my next fix.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The classics I haven’t read. I do like the more modern ones.
BTW, I’m still excited about what I learned from you yesterday. Yeah, I know–it doesn’t take much…
LikeLike
I’ve read that another Indiana Jones movie is on the drawing board. That’s an enduring franchise.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d love that. No lack of action in those movies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You certainly didn’t make it easy on yourself, Jacqui. Great take on the letter/subgenre.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had to fudge the U. I don’t have a U for my next list either!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting subgenre, Jacqui and one I’d never heard of. Thanks for the introduction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do like reading this genre and all of the authors but there aren’t a lot of books to pick from. Sigh.
LikeLike
Who knew this was it’s own sub-genre. Makes sense I guess, but as it’s not my cuppa tea I guess that’s why i hadn’t thought about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of these stories end up as fantasy because even wild imaginations can’t accept them as truth. Rollins and DuBrul come the closest IMO (I’ve read all of theirs).
LikeLiked by 1 person