Journey to the Center of the Earth by Edward Morris

As part of Interzone’s 25th anniversary celebrations, we are offering free PDF download of this incredible novella with a cast list including Walter Munk, Howard Hughes, Rod Serling, Isaac Asimov, Ursula Le Guin, Jim Henson and others.

“In the Fifties, the top scientists of the day wanted a clear picture of the structure of the Earth from core to outer crust. They wanted to see the precontinental layer of the planet, upon which the continents slide like chunks of butter across a skillet, and sense for themselves the days when the oceans were still oozing up from the central fire and there were a few more planets in the solar system with no asteroid belt between them.

They wanted to know so much about the origins of earthquakes and storms, how old the planet really is, and how we evolved the way we did. They wanted to track the building and erosion of land, and chart the Earth’s history the way a botanist sees fire and famine and feast spelled out in the rings of ancient redwoods; the rise of mountains, erosion of soil, motion of deep rocks and deposition of the remains.

The idea came together on a sunlit patio over breakfast. It was to be the first of many, and did not presume to answer all its own questions at one go. It was a scientific version of oil wildcatting which became, in effect, a dry hole.

It was a beginning that only got to begin, and never got to be.”

Enjoy the read, then go back and explore the ‘invisible’ links in the text.

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