From a father of science fiction—a perilous and astonishing adventure into the earth's core that details encounters with natural hazards, 40 foot mushrooms, and prehistoric beasts  After decoding a scrap of paper in runic script, the intrepid Professor Lidenbrock and his nervous nephew Axel travel across Iceland to find the secret passage to the center of the earth. Enlisting the silent Hans as a guide, the trio encounter a perilous and astonishing subterranean world of natural hazards, curious sights, prehistoric beasts, and sea monsters.