A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

This is a wondrous and strange story told in letters, journal entries, the equivalent of email, poems, and archives. It reads like historical fantasy, but it might not be. Most people live on or under the sea, with an archipelago of islands the only land around. Two of our characters, Sophy and her sister E. grew up in the Deep House, the only residence built deep underwater, designed by their mother, an architect. E. has anxiety and rarely leaves home. She is affronted when her artist brother arrives unannounced with his fiancée to study a structure that has appeared nearby. E. corresponds with Scholar Henery. Later Henery’s brother Vyell also corresponds with Sophy.

This marine world is described beautifully, as are scientific explorations on and far beneath the surfaces. Most of the characters are scholars, and descriptions of their colleagues and academic departments delight. Emails are known as automated posts. The language is a bit flowery, as of another era, though women are equal with men in academia and gay marriage is common. There are hints of a calamity and plenty of excitement, along with mystery, humor and some gentle romance. Book Two of The Sunken Archive is planned.

Brenda