I loved this. There's not much underwater sci-fi out there and this is great - informative, exciting, and with some cool tech' (the sub' the Aronnax is almost Tethyan in its coolness). The characters are well rounded, not at all your typical competent martyr mum, hapless dad, and clever kids. Mum Keiko is an expert pilot, dad Will is a myth-hunting marine expert, their (younger) son Ant is a genius with a remarkable pet fish, and their (older) daughter Fontaine is sassy and sceptical. The kids in particular are both likable in their different ways and also annoying (when they bicker). The plots are always more than you think they will be, with just enough hard science in the mix to ensure that there are no easy ways out, and here and there just a sprinkling of the supernatural. The bad guys also deserve a mention, the pirate crew of the Dark Orca (another brilliant conception) with Hammerhead, Mad Madeleine (his daughter), Smiling Finn (his somewhat reluctant son) and Danny Boy. Excellent. Roll on series 2!
Review of The Deep
