Worlds in Shadow: Submerged Lands in Science, Memory and Myth

Geography professor Nunn (The Edge of Memory) surveys submerged lands in this unique if flawed outing. Nunn catalogs places that have been covered by water, and the stories that are told about them, in an effort to explore the intersection of “science, memory and myth”: “understanding how our ancestors were affected by comparable changes and how they overcame these is at once a lesson in coping as well as a beacon of hope.” He covers the Yapese people’s stories about a sunken island called Sipin in the Pacific, sailor myths about submerged lands off the northwest coast of England, and well-known tales of Atlantis. The results, though, can become blurred, with little to differentiate the various locales, which end up coming across as something of a generic landmass hidden below the oceans and seas. But the topic’s inherent spookiness helps Nunn maintain momentum and arrive at insights. For instance, when exploring anxiety about climate change leading to the drowning of coastal cities, he writes, “A sense of loss is part of what defines us as sentient beings, able to feel and express emotion.” And the threat of climate change helps Nunn’s tales of submerged lands gain a foreboding tone that prevents the book from falling into the trap of academic theorizing. Full of mystery, this will appeal to nature lovers, though it’s best read in small doses. (Oct.)