# What was this old SCIFI book? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 10, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116 "2011-01-10T17:37:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/1 "2011-01-10T17:37:50Z")
The book is likely older than 1980 and it is older than 1990. It’s set on an alien ancient abandoned planet sized world construct. The humans go down levels to salvage what they can from the frozen levels. The stuff is better preserved as they go farther towards the core. The main character penetrates farther than has been done in the past and finds stuff is still functioning and it’s getting warmer. They penetrate far enough that the area is warm and has animals and plants living in there. They find there are civilizations living farther down than that in lower levels. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/2 "2011-01-10T19:30:15Z")
I’m pretty sure I read this at some point, but can’t remember the title. I can’t even remember for sure if it was a full novel or more of a novella/short story. But now I want to know, so I’m bumping your thread. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/3 "2011-01-10T19:55:44Z")
I’ve read a lot of “The Big Enormous Alien Thing” stories, but these details do not resonate with me. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/4 "2011-01-10T20:05:59Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > The book is likely older than 1980 and it is older than 1990. It’s set on an alien ancient abandoned planet sized world construct. The humans go down levels to salvage what they can from the frozen levels. The stuff is better preserved as they go farther towards the core. The main character penetrates farther than has been done in the past and finds stuff is still functioning and it’s getting warmer. They penetrate far enough that the area is warm and has animals and plants living in there. They find there are civilizations living farther down than that in lower levels. This bears some resemblance to Greg Bear’s _Eon_, and Robert Reed’s _Marrow_; more details, please! P.S. This list also has some possibilities [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/a594356f3c70b1af?hl=en&&q=megastructure+group%3Arec.arts.sf.written](http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.written/msg/a594356f3c70b1af?hl=en&&q=megastructure+group%3Arec.arts.sf.written) including “Journey to the Centre” by Stableford, which might be your book. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/5 "2011-01-10T20:12:48Z")
I don’t have more details. I read it 30 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/6 "2011-01-10T20:19:21Z")
Journey to the Centre triggers familiarity. Looking at the page I’d say it has to be the story. I only ever read the first book and knew there had to be more. Journey to the Centre Invaders from the Centre The Centre Cannot Hold by Brian Stableford That is the book. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-this-old-scifi-book/567116/7 "2011-01-10T22:03:29Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > Journey to the Centre triggers familiarity. Looking at the page I’d say it has to be the story. I only ever read the first book and knew there had to be more. > > Journey to the Centre > Invaders from the Centre > The Centre Cannot Hold > by Brian Stableford > > That is the book. > > Thanks Glad to help.