Fiction: Under the Seas

The Mysterious Ocean

As the poet Emily Dickenson wrote " My River runs to Thee, Blue Sea, wilt thou welcome Me?".  

My life has been governed by rivers, lakes, and oceans. From being born in a place where three rivers meet, to a childhood spent by the Great Lakes, and (finally) an adulthood spent near the largest of oceans. Because of this, I cannot live landlocked. I long for the waves. 

The ocean itself is powerful. It can be a calm, peaceful place but it can also be a harsh and wild, teeming with life and the deepest of all mysteries.

Our ancestors knew this and created many stories about undersea crea.tures These tales found their way throughout time, throughout many cultures around the world. And now, the Ocean has become the setting for many a work of fiction, specifically in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, and mystery/thriller.

One of the most notable works that takes place under the sea, is Jules Verne's novel "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea".  Jules Verne saw a model of a French submarine at the Exposition Universelle in 1867, and let his imagination run wild with a story that become a classic work of literature. 

Under the Sea Booklist

Here at San Jose Public Library, we have a vast selection of fictional works that take place on the ocean. by the ocean, or under the ocean. Check them out and let your own imagination swim within the watery depths! 

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Dark Life

From Below

Into the Drowning Deep

The Light at the Bottom of the World

To Kill A Kingdom

The Shape of Water

Down

The Deep Range

Shadow Zone

The Deep

Something in the Water

Final Notes:

  1. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is one of my favorite books. I tend to reread it every summer.
  2.  Yes, I do know all the words to the song "Part of Your World" from Disney's "The Little Mermaid".
  3.  Disney karaoke needs to be a thing. I have a whole skill set going to waste here. (laughs)
  4.  I spend most of my time off in the water or by the water. I just might be a mermaid....or a selkie.
  5.  More wonderful Ocean adventures await in my next couple of blogs!

Find out More about the Mysteries under the Sea!

Dive deep into these library resources! Get access to these resources and much more with your San José Public Library library card. 

  • Use Gale Interactive: Science to explore 3D models of bodies of water, the Earth and the water cycle. 
  • Check out our blog on Otter 841, a mischievous otter in Santa Cruz causing issues for surfers.  
  • Find a STEAM Event to attend to learn something new!