This is the second edition of The Hollow Earth, which was replaced in 2018 by a new, third edtion that fits with Rucker's sequel, Return to the Hollow Earth . In 1836, Mason Algiers Reynolds leaves his family's Virginia farm with his father's slave, a dog, and a mule. Branded a murderer, he finds sanctuary with his hero, Edgar Allan Poe, and together they embark on an extraordinary expedition to the South Pole, and the entrance to the Hollow Earth. It is there, at the center of the world, where strange physics, strange people, and stranger creatures abound, that their bizarre adventures truly begin.

"Return to the Hollow Earth" is Rucker's second steampunk novel featuring Mason Reynolds. In 1850, Mason and his wife Seela embark upon a perilous trip around Cape Horn to San Francisco. Their ship sinks, but they're saved by a tentacled, flying nautilus—who carries them to meet Edgar Allan Poe. Poe leads them on a return voyage to the Hollow Earth, passing through the throat of a thousand-mile-deep maelstrom at the North Pole. Within the Hollow Earth, they learn that the god-like woomo sea cucumbers mean to send them them on a epic mission across space and time. The initial stage of this mission brings them to Santa Cruz, California—in the year 2018. And then things get gnarly... (To read as an ebook, get the two-in-one ebook for The Hollow Earth & Return to the Hollow Earth .)

Rudy Rucker's book length color-illustrated writing notes for his novel "Return to the Hollow Earth." A fun, giddy insight into the mind of an author. And a a practical introduction into the process of writing a novel. Illustrated with 50 drawings, color photos, and color paintings. Why are sea cucumbers like gods? What if white people turn black? What kind of person writes novels about the Hollow Earth? Was Eddie Poe a good guy? How can you travel into the future? Are flying saucers alive? How do you write a book? Is Mason Reynolds real? What does the tunnel to MirrorEarth look like? Professor Rucker explains all!