Tunnel Through the Deeps
Encyclopedia
Tunnel Through the Deeps (also published as A Transatlantic Tunnel, Hurrah!) is a 1972 alternate history/science fiction
novel by Harry Harrison
. It was serialized in Analog magazine beginning in the April 1972 issue.
, the (abortive) United States
lost the American Revolutionary War
, George Washington
was shot as a traitor, and America is still under control from an ascendant but benevolent and utopian British Empire. However, this world's divergence point from our own occurred far earlier, when the Moors
won the battle of Navas de Tolosa on July 16, 1212 on the Iberian peninsula
. Thus, it was John Cabot
who discovered America, as Spain
was unable to become unified due to the survival of an Islamic presence on its territory, and therefore could not finance the expedition of Christopher Columbus
in 1492. The protagonist, Augustine Washington, is a direct descendant of George Washington and labors in his 'traitorous' shadow.
The title refers to the construction of a submerged floating-tube pontoon bridge
/tunnel
across the Atlantic Ocean
in the novel.
Captain Augustine Washington and Sir Isambard Brassey
-Brunel (descendant of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
) get together to link the heart of the British Empire
with its far-flung Atlantic colony in North America
, although they fall out over Gus' wooing of his young daughter, Iris, and disputes over engineering
the Transatlantic tunnel
. However, the two are reconciled on Sir Isambard's deathbed, and the lovers marry afterwards.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel by Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison is an American science fiction author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! , the basis for the film Soylent Green...
. It was serialized in Analog magazine beginning in the April 1972 issue.
Plot summary
In an alternate historyAlternate history (fiction)
Alternate history or alternative history is a genre of fiction consisting of stories that are set in worlds in which history has diverged from the actual history of the world. It can be variously seen as a sub-genre of literary fiction, science fiction, and historical fiction; different alternate...
, the (abortive) United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lost the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
was shot as a traitor, and America is still under control from an ascendant but benevolent and utopian British Empire. However, this world's divergence point from our own occurred far earlier, when the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
won the battle of Navas de Tolosa on July 16, 1212 on the Iberian peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
. Thus, it was John Cabot
John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian navigator and explorer whose 1497 discovery of parts of North America is commonly held to have been the first European encounter with the continent of North America since the Norse Vikings in the eleventh century...
who discovered America, as Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
was unable to become unified due to the survival of an Islamic presence on its territory, and therefore could not finance the expedition of Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
in 1492. The protagonist, Augustine Washington, is a direct descendant of George Washington and labors in his 'traitorous' shadow.
The title refers to the construction of a submerged floating-tube pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
/tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in the novel.
Captain Augustine Washington and Sir Isambard Brassey
Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey
Thomas Brassey, 1st Earl Brassey GCB, JP, DL, TD , was a British Liberal Party politician, Governor of Victoria and founder of The Naval Annual.-Background and education:...
-Brunel (descendant of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, FRS , was a British civil engineer who built bridges and dockyards including the construction of the first major British railway, the Great Western Railway; a series of steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic steamship; and numerous important bridges...
) get together to link the heart of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
with its far-flung Atlantic colony in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, although they fall out over Gus' wooing of his young daughter, Iris, and disputes over engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
the Transatlantic tunnel
Transatlantic tunnel
A transatlantic tunnel is a theoretical tunnel which would span the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe and would carry mass transit of some type—trains are envisioned in most proposals.Using advanced technologies, speeds of are envisaged....
. However, the two are reconciled on Sir Isambard's deathbed, and the lovers marry afterwards.