How can humans survive and prosper 1500 feet below the earth's surface? Jules Verne successfully weaves a dark yet magnificent story into this equally dark world. The book takes place in a revived and now prosperous coal mine. Amazingly life in the mine has everything that one could desire including a lake fish and attractive homes. Yet there lurks an evil presence: unexplainable malicious and life-threatening occurrences begin. And this evil force could destroy the underground world and everyone in it.