A sixteenth-century cryptogram spurs modern geologist Otto Liedenbrock to embark on the most remarkable human quest ever taken. With his nephew and guide, he leads the descent from a dormant Icelandic volcano into the unexplored realm beneath their feet. There, a vast subterranean ocean, prehistoric creatures, and natural phenomena are but a few of the wonders hidden from all but the boldest eyes. Journey to the Center of the Earth epitomizes the subterranean fiction genre. Author Jules Verne leads readers deep below the world's surface to the core of his inventive, visionary mind.