The Moon Pool

"The Moon Pool" by Abraham Merritt is a speculative fiction novel set around a botanist named Dr. Walter T. Goodwin whose life takes a turn when he is caught up in a dangerous mystery involving his friend, Dr. David Throckmartin, and a chain of disappearances all connected to a strange place called the "Moon Pool." Stories of science, the unexplained, and possible supernatural events begin to surface as the novel questions the line between reality and fantasy. The story begins with Goodwin returning from his botanical work in the South Pacific only to meet Throckmartin, who is disturbed by the disappearance of his wife, Edith, and Dr. Charles Stanton during an expedition to the Nan-Matal ruins in the Caroline Islands. Throckmartin thinks that the disappearances are related to the Moon Pool, an old structure with odd properties. As Goodwin finds out more about Throckmartin's experiences, like the marks from whatever took his companions, the story prepares for a thrilling exploration of a lost civilization and the dark powers within it.