Books Like The Underdwelling
Caves have always been a primal fear for many due to the darkness, isolation, and danger of predators lurking inside. Those brave enough to venture inside caves know that accidents can be fatal, and help, if any, will be slow to arrive if something goes wrong. These fears have served as the inspiration for many authors who use subterranean settings for their stories. For example, in The Underdwelling by Tim Curran, an immense cavern from prehistory is discovered deep beneath the lowest level of a mine. The protagonist, Boyd, only took the job because he had a child on the way but finds himself and a few others trapped in this prehistoric graveyard after a cave-in. This is just the start of their troubles, though, as something ancient, terrible, and coldly intelligent has woken too.
Subterranean
by James Rollins
James Rollins used his experience as an amateur spelunker to write his 1999 novel, Subterranean. When a magnificent subterranean labyrinth is discovered beneath the ice at the bottom of the Erath, archaeologist Ashley Carter is hand-picked to lead a team of specialists to investigate. Their mission is to uncover its riches, but those who ventured into the depths before them never returned. Ashley and her team soon discover that they are not alone in the caverns and that it is home to an entire subterranean ecosystem of primitive mammals.
The Land Below
by William Meikle
The Land Below by William Meikle sees a man named Ed organizing a small expedition to try and find the hidden treasure of the Teutonic Knights. Along with his brother, Tommy, and a retired soldier named Danny, Ed sets off to a cave in Austria where they believe the treasure can be found. Once they arrive at the cave, they are joined by a shepherd named Stefan, who, along with his dog, decides to join the expedition. Unfortunately, things take a turn for the worse when the group becomes trapped in the dark deep and, instead of treasure, discovers that the deep cave system is home to things with teeth and claws.
The Anomaly
by Michael Rutger
The Anomaly by Michael Rutger is the story of Nolan Moore, a rogue archeologist whose documentary series is beloved by conspiracy theorists but derisively dismissed by the experts. For his latest adventure, Nolan has set his sights on the Grand Canyon, where he believes a secret cave is embedded in the wall. Despite the 100-year-old record of the cave Nolan has discovered, this is the first time anyone else has been able to find its location since. Against all odds, Nolan and his crew manage to retrace the steps of an explorer from 1909 and find the mysterious cavern. However, their journey of discovery turns into one of survival when the cave begins turning against them in mysterious ways, and it becomes clear why the last visitor attempted to seal it forever.
Extant
by Michael McBride
Extant by Michael McBride is set beneath the dunes of Egypt, where a team of scientists hope to discover the fate of a lost army that vanished during a sandstorm in 524 BCE. Historical records show that 50,000 soldiers marched into the desert by orders of Cambyses II, King of Peria, but none were ever seen again. Using satellite archeology, the scientists were able to locate ancient runes beneath the dunes, and upon excavation, it turned out to be a temple devoted to the warrior goddess of destruction, Sekhmet. However, as the scientists begin exploring the buried tomb, they find themselves being hunted by a creature that has evolved to live in complete darkness.
Beneath the Dark Ice
by Greig Beck
Beneath the Dark Ice is the first book in the Alex Hunter series by Greig Beck. Captain Alex Hunter and his highly trained commandos are sent to investigate a plane that crashed into the Antarctic ice. The crash exposed an enormous cave system, but the rescue and research dispatched to the site vanished. A team of scientists accompanies Alex and his team, but on arrival, they cannot find any survivors or even a trace of their remains. However, What they find down in the caves is an ancient terror that hunts and kills to survive.
The Deep Zone
by James M. Tabor
The Deep Zone by James M. Tabor takes a brilliant microbiologist named Hallie Leland to the bottom of the deepest cave on Earth. Her goal is to find an ultrarare organism needed to create the antidote to a mysterious epidemic. Unfortunately, the supercave where she and her team of experts must venture is filled with flooded tunnels, acid lakes, bottomless chasms, and mind-warping blackness. To make matters worse, Hallie must also deal with a cunning assassin who has orders to ensure she does not succeed in her mission.
Cavern of the Damned
by Russell James
Cavern of the Damned is the first novel in The Grant Coleman Adventures series by Russell James. Grant Coleman is a broke and desperate paleontologist who jumps at the chance of a lifetime to explore a long-sealed cave. The cave is said to be the home of gigantic creatures, and Grant heads there with a film crew to uncover the truth. However, when they arrive, they encounter NPS Ranger Mkinley Stinson, who is looking for whatever killed a rancher's prize bull. McKinley is about to arrest the trespassers at the cave when the roof collapses, and they are all trapped inside. The only way is at the cave system's far end, but standing between them and safety is a slew of monstrous cave creatures.
The Cavern
by Alister Hodge
The Cavern by Alister Hodge sees a man named Sam joining an expedition to explore the subterranean passages uncovered when a sinkhole opened up near the Australian outback town of Pintalba. Sam's job is to offer paramedic support, hoping he can stay at base camp without being needed. However, when one of the cavers is injured, Sam has to overcome his paralyzing claustrophobia and rush to assist. Unfortunately, a savage predator stalks the abandoned mines and caves beneath Pintalba, leaving Sam and his friends fighting for their lives.
