The Moon Pool
#6613.33 of 664 ranked universes · full ranking
Books 1 book Status Complete 1919 Reading commitment Low by A. Merritt Last reviewed 2026-08-26
Overview
A standalone 1919 pulp-era lost-world fantasy novel, originally serialized in two magazine parts (1918-1919) before being combined into one novel for its book release. An expedition to a ruined Pacific temple uncovers a portal to a hidden underground world ruled by an ancient, alien intelligence.
Mythic fantasy · For Adult
Core Canon: Reading Order (1 work) counts toward ranking
The Moon Pool A. Merritt
| Work | Year | Canon | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Moon Pool | 1919 | core | 3.33 (1,204 ratings) |
The two original 1918-1919 magazine serials were reworked into one novel for its 1919 book publication.
Quick answers
- How many books are in The Moon Pool? The Moon Pool's Core Canon is 1 book.
- Is The Moon Pool finished? Complete (1919).
- How much reading does The Moon Pool take? Low reading commitment (estimated from 1 Core Canon book).
- How is The Moon Pool ranked? #661 of 664 ranked universes on this site, based on 1,204 reader ratings across 1 Core Canon book. See the full ranking for how this is calculated.
Why is it ranked #661?
Ranked #661 of 664 ranked universes.
- Average reader rating of 3.33 across 1 core book.
- A smaller readership (1,204 ratings), so the score carries less weight of numbers.
- 0.02 behind #660, Trouble the Saints.
- Below the top-10 average of 4.45.
- A single standalone novel: ranked on that one book alone.
Why explore this universe?
Modestly rated · 1 book · Complete · 1k ratings · Ranks #661 overall
Good choice if you want a quick, low-commitment mythic fantasy universe that's already finished, so there's no wait for the next book.
Reading order
A single Core Canon work: no sequencing question to resolve.
Awards (verified)
- No awards found for this universe.
You might also like
Suggestions computed from what The Moon Pool and each of these worlds have in common on record (subgenre, audience, shape, reading commitment and score), not a documented narrative connection.
- The Master and Margarita Mythic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.28
- The Wood Wife Mythic fantasy / Urban fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.20
- Kaikeyi Mythic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.17
- The Everlasting Mythic fantasy · Complete · Low commitment · 4.16
Official resources
Research details
Ranking metrics: weighted average 3.33 across 1,204 ratings on 1 Core Canon book. See Why is it ranked here? above for the full breakdown, or the full ranking.
How do we know this?
Admission: Admit The Moon Pool (A. Merritt) accepted 2026-08-26
Sources: (see source tier definitions)
Last reviewed: 2026-08-26
Rule: Core Canon is the single 1919 novel, combining the two original serial halves. A recurring character reappears in a later, separate novel by the same author with its own distinct setting, which is not catalogued here.