A. E. Merritt - The Moon Pool Apr 2026

: The central threat is the Shining One (or the Dweller), a beautiful yet malevolent entity made of light that lures people into a hypnotic, unholy stasis to feed upon them.

: eBook versions are often available for around $3.99 .

“One of the earliest examples of the Lost World genre... it tells the tale of Dr. Walter T. Goodwin's adventure in the South Pacific...” TV Tropes Available Editions A. E. Merritt - The Moon Pool

: Beneath the ruins lies a subterranean world called Muria, filled with advanced technology, such as anti-gravity vehicles and "atomic" power.

: Standard modern reprints typically range from $8.00 to $16.00 . : The central threat is the Shining One

A. E. Merritt’s (1919) is a foundational "lost world" adventure that bridge the gap between Victorian exploration tales and modern cosmic horror. Originally a "fix-up" novel combining two serialized stories, it is celebrated for its "purple prose" and an extraordinary richness of imagination that influenced titans of the genre like H.P. Lovecraft. Core Narrative & World-Building

: Merritt's band of adventurers—including a gallant Irish pilot, a vengeful Norse sea captain, and a treacherous Russian spy—served as early templates for the diverse "party" structures later seen in tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons. Readers' Perspectives it tells the tale of Dr

: The ruins of Nan Madol in the book are widely cited as the inspiration for Lovecraft’s lost city of R’lyeh in "The Call of Cthulhu".