About this title: Originally published as a short story in 1918, Merrit's classic "The Moon Pool" was later appended with another short story, and appeared in 1919 as the novel, THE MOON POOL. In it, a botanist uses a portal that promises to lead to untold riches, and emerges in a lost world in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Collier
Date Published: 1967
Description: Very Good. Near mint, except for light scratches on front cover. These are visible in the Amazon scan for this edition--a scan of this copy. Unamrked, probably unread. Free, automatic1st class upgrade for books under 14 ounces. Free Priority upgrade to all domestic orders over $20.00. Satisfaction guaranteed. read more
Description: Fine. 0881848913 Like New! ! ! 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed! Fast Shipping! ! ! We are ECO-CONSCIOUS by using recycled packaging materials, when possible, and send order confirmations/receipts digitally via E-mail. Thank you for your consideration. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Avon Book Company, New York
Date Published: 1944
Description: Poor. Name stamped on front endpaper else interior is unmarked with heavy browning. Covers have heavy wear-rubbing, edge & corner wear, creasing, etc. Slit at bottom spine causing front endpaper to become loose, but all pages are intact. Reading copy only! ! (bx 43) read more
Description: Good. 2008-Paperback---Used-Good. Hall Street Books proudly ships from Brooklyn, NY. All orders are processed and shipped within 24 hours, M-F. 100% money back No-Worry guarantee with expedited delivery and delivery confirmation available. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Carrol & Graf
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9780881848915ISBN:0881848913
Description: Mass Market Paperback. Near Fine/None as Issued. Reprint. This is part of a lot of books that I rescued from a local discount store. It is now out of print. All the copies(I have 15-20) have minor sho pwear but are basically unread. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Carrol & Graf
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9780881848915ISBN:0881848913
Description: Mass Market Paperback. Near Fine/None as Issued. Reprint. This is part of a lot of books that I rescued from a local discount store. It is now out of print. All the copies(I have 15-20) have minor sho pwear but are basically unread. read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Carrol & Graf
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9780881848915ISBN:0881848913
Description: Mass Market Paperback. Near Fine/None as Issued. Reprint. This is part of a lot of books that I rescued from a local discount store. It is now out of print. All the copies(I have 15-20) have minor sho pwear but are basically unread. read more
"A sea stretched before us--a crimson sea, gleaming like the lost lacquer of royal coral and the Flame Dragon's blood which Fu S'cze set upon the bower he built for his stolen sun maiden--that going toward it she might think it the sun itself rising over the summer seas. Unmoved by wave or ripple, it was placid as some deep woodland pool when night rushes up over the world. It seemed molten--or as though some hand great enough to rock earth had distilled here from conflagrations of autumn sunsets their flaming essences."
Oh, there's much, much more where that came from.
Turgid, saccharine prose and racist, melodramatic characterization just ruined this one for me. And it's too bad, because there were some moments of genuine high weirdness.
The opening section set in Ponape had all the promise of a great adventure yarn, but then the whole thing unfolded into campy silliness.
The prose is way over the top, and the color palette and setting are second rate DW Griffith mashed up with Maxfield Parish -- it feels that dated. It was published in 1919 and you can sure tell.
And there is also this occasional tone of solemn, Theosophical proto-New Ageiness about the whole thing that seriously bugged me. And bored me to death. Many long passages of pseudo scientific mysticism, mostly clunky exposition dumps by the characters, that explain nothing.
I have to give Merritt points for The Silent Ones (ancestors of the Sleestacks for sure) with their reptile/bird bodies, on a floating dais (pulp novelists from this era loved daises) surrounded by mist, adjuticating the mysteries of the universe. And the Frog people were a nice touch.
I was skimming as quickly as possible for the latter 150 pages. Only my indulgence of SF&F, and my compulsive need to finish every book I start kept me going.
Unless you're a conoisseur of this stuff, you're better off sticking with H.G. Wells, H.R. Haggard, and Conan Doyle."
"I wanted to rate this one higher, but it was something of a chore to finish. Better than three stars, but not four (3 1/2 stars). Oh, it's crammed with great descriptive writing, which is Merritt's strength. And the good stuff includes giant frog people, a dragon, two beautiful women at war, wild weapons, dwarves, an evil Bolshevik scientist (keep in mind this was written in 1919!), and a hidden world beneath the earth's surface. But at its heart the novel is a vampire story -- but with a take I've not encountered before (and I've read a bunch of vampire novels). And there's a not-to-be-missed creation story that gives you a good example of Merritt's wonderful imagination. What didn't I like? A major character named O'Keefe, who is an America-Irish British pilot! This guy switches from tough-guy American slang into a thick Irish brogue per sentence. This got to be annoying in a 400 page book, and reminded me a bit of Kevin Costner (gag) in Robin Hood, though clearly O'Keefe, unlike Costner, is quite good at it. And then there's the whole "Irish" thing (you'll see if you read the book). Hey, I've got Irish ancestors, so it has nothing to do with that. If you're a fantasy fan (as in the history of fantasy and pulp writing), you should read this book, but keep in mind, even though it's Merritt's best known book, it's also his first novel, and to my mind not his best."
"I read this book because it was referenced in Lost and I though it might be along the same lines. It wasn't really, but it was an interesting early (1930's?) science fiction book."
We guarantee every item's condition, as described on Alibris. If you are not satisfied that an item is as described, return your purchase for a refund.
![The Moon Pool [Paperback] By Merritt, a.](http://images.alibris.com/isbn/9781404319295_t.gif)
![The Moon Pool (Bison Frontiers of Imagination) [Deluxe Edition]](http://images.alibris.com/isbn/9780803282681_t.gif)
rating
