10 books about underground civilizations
There’s a world beneath our feet, a realm of shadows and secrets, where ancient cities lie hidden in caverns and forgotten tunnels. Underground civilizations have long captivated our imaginations—places where time is suspended, cultures evolve in isolation, and mysteries run deep beneath the earth. These subterranean worlds are often magical, dangerous, and ripe with discovery. Here are 10 books where underground civilizations offer glimpses into the dark and alluring mysteries that lie below.
1. Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
One of the most iconic stories of subterranean adventure, Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth takes readers on an unforgettable expedition beneath the earth’s crust. The protagonist, Professor Lidenbrock, and his companions embark on a daring voyage to discover an underground world full of wonders and dangers. What they find below—an ancient sea, bizarre creatures, and caverns glowing with mysterious light—makes for one of the most legendary underground civilizations in literature. This classic tale ignites our imaginations, making the thought of a lost world hidden beneath our feet both thrilling and terrifying.
2. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
In The City of Ember, an underground civilization struggles to survive in a city built to last for only a limited time. The city, hidden from the outside world, is powered by a massive generator, but it’s slowly failing, and the lights are beginning to flicker out. The protagonist, Doon, and his friend Lina must decipher long-forgotten clues and solve ancient puzzles to escape their crumbling underground world. DuPrau’s dystopian setting is a haunting portrayal of a forgotten city, where survival means uncovering the hidden truths of the world beneath the surface.
3. The Descent by Jeff Long
In The Descent, an expedition to an unexplored cave system uncovers a world that’s both ancient and terrifying. Beneath the earth lies a hidden civilization of humanoid creatures—an entire race living in isolation for thousands of years. These subterranean beings are more than just creatures of myth—they are a complex society with their own beliefs, systems, and way of life. Long’s thrilling narrative plunges the reader into the heart of darkness, where every step forward into the cave’s depths brings new dangers and revelations. This book explores the chilling possibility that civilization may exist where we least expect it.
4. The Mole People by Peter A. McCullough
In The Mole People, a seemingly abandoned underground civilization is discovered beneath the streets of a modern city. A group of explorers stumbles upon a hidden society of people who live in the subterranean world, and they quickly realize that this strange society is both mysterious and unnerving. McCullough’s novel offers an intriguing glimpse into a world forgotten by time—one where the people who dwell below the surface have created their own complex and isolated culture. As the explorers venture deeper, they uncover not just physical mysteries, but dark truths about humanity’s capacity for survival in isolation.
5. The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
Before Suzanne Collins captivated readers with The Hunger Games, she created The Underland Chronicles, a thrilling series set in an underground world. The story follows Gregor, a young boy who falls into a hidden world beneath New York City and discovers a civilization of creatures living in the darkness: giant rats, cockroaches, bats, and even humans who have been living below the surface for generations. The Underland is a world full of danger, intrigue, and magical possibilities, and Gregor’s journey through its many layers offers an exploration of family, destiny, and survival.
6. Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams
In Tunnels, a young boy named Will and his friend Chester discover a vast network of tunnels beneath their town. What begins as an innocent curiosity soon leads them into a forgotten world—a sprawling, underground civilization hidden for centuries. The subterranean world they uncover is filled with dangers, intrigue, and a dark history that has been kept secret by a mysterious group called the Styx. Gordon and Williams create an immersive world of wonder and suspense, making readers feel the claustrophobic thrill of navigating an unknown world beneath the surface.
7. At the Mountains of Madness by H.P. Lovecraft
H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness takes readers to the frozen wastes of Antarctica, where a scientific expedition uncovers the remains of a long-lost underground civilization. This ancient race, known as the Elder Things, once thrived before falling into ruin, leaving behind a series of alien structures buried deep beneath the earth. Lovecraft’s horror and science fiction blend beautifully as his characters uncover the horrifying secrets of the underground city and its otherworldly inhabitants. This novella is a masterful exploration of how uncovering a hidden civilization can unlock both awe and terror.
8. The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip
In The Forgotten Beasts of Eld, the protagonist, Sybel, lives in a mysterious, isolated tower surrounded by magical beasts. The story weaves through enchanted, forgotten realms and ancient civilizations, including hidden underground sanctuaries that are key to unlocking the power of the world around her. McKillip’s lyrical writing brings the underground landscapes to life, offering readers a hauntingly beautiful view of ancient civilizations that have been lost to time, where magic and mystery still flourish beneath the earth.
9. The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin
While not entirely set in an underground civilization, Le Guin’s Earthsea Cycle presents an intricate world where buried realms and hidden places hold significant meaning. The earth itself is alive with magical energy, and the labyrinthine caverns and forgotten places beneath the surface play a vital role in the ancient magic that shapes the world. A Wizard of Earthsea introduces Ged’s journey into these deep places, and as the series progresses, Le Guin’s exploration of hidden worlds beneath the earth becomes more central to the characters’ quests, revealing an interconnectedness between underground places and the magic that flows through them.
10. The City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
In The City of Bones, the first book in The Mortal Instruments series, Clare introduces readers to a hidden world beneath New York City—a place teeming with demons, Shadowhunters, and a complex society that operates in the dark corners of the city. The Shadowhunter’s hidden realm beneath the city is both a refuge and a battleground, where a long-forgotten magical civilization waits to be unearthed. As Clary Fray embarks on her journey, she delves deeper into the mysteries of this underground world, uncovering truths that change her life forever. Clare’s urban fantasy brings the lost and magical world of the Shadowhunters to life in a thrilling and unforgettable way.
Final Thoughts
Underground civilizations offer an irresistible pull, inviting us to explore what lies beneath the surface—hidden worlds where magic, mystery, and danger thrive in the shadows. These 10 books transport readers to subterranean realms, where ancient secrets, lost cities, and magical cultures await discovery. Whether it’s a forgotten society beneath the earth’s crust or an otherworldly realm buried in darkness, these stories capture the thrill and wonder of exploring hidden places, drawing us deeper into the heart of imagination.
