The People of the Pit
The People of the Pit is a science fiction novel by American author Abraham Merritt, first published in 1918. The novel follows the adventures of a group of people who find themselves in a strange underground world populated by a race of ancient, mysterious creatures known as the People of the Pit. The group, led by the protagonist, Dr. Goodwin, must battle the creatures and their mysterious leader, the Dweller, in order to escape the world and return to the surface. Along the way, they discover the secrets of the People of the Pit and the strange powers they possess. The novel is a classic example of Merritt's blend of science fiction and fantasy, and is considered one of his best works. It has been adapted into several films and television shows, and has been praised for its imaginative world-building and thrilling action sequences.
By Abraham Merritt · First published 1943 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Horror · 6,621 words
First lines
NORTH OF us a shaft of light shot half way to the zenith. It came from behind the five peaks. The beam drove up through a column of blue haze whose edges were marked as sharply as the rain that streams from the edges of a thunder cloud. It was like the flash of a searchlight through an azure mist. It cast no shadows.
What this Textopian page supports
The People of the Pit is listed on Textopian as a short story by Abraham Merritt, dated 1943 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Abraham Merritt
- Date: 1943 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Horror, Science Fiction
- Length: 6,621 words
- Structure: 1 section, 199 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The People of the Pit by Abraham Merritt
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The People of the Pit?
- How does this short story by Abraham Merritt fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Face In The Abyss by Abraham Merritt
- The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
- The Gods Of Bal Sagoth by Robert E. Howard
- Out Of The Silence by Erle Cox
- Anthem by Ayn Rand
- The War Of The Worlds by H. G. Wells
Genres
- Fantasy — The People of the Pit is a fantasy novel by Abraham Merritt, featuring supernatural elements such as a mysterious race of people living in a pit beneath the earth.
- Adventure — The novel follows the adventures of protagonist Jack Stewart as he attempts to uncover the secrets of the mysterious people living in the pit.
- Horror — The novel contains elements of horror, such as the mysterious and dangerous creatures that inhabit the pit, as well as the dark and sinister atmosphere of the underground world.
- Science Fiction — The novel contains elements of science fiction, such as the advanced technology used by the people of the pit and the mysterious forces that power their civilization.
Tags
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