Snoozecast Presents: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Tonight, we’ll read the conclusion to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

We first began Twenty Thousand Leagues in April of 2022. Cheers to you if you’ve listened along with us for the entire journey aboard the Nautilus. Each completed novel Snoozecast reads is available as a separate podcast if you’d like to listen through continuously. Just search for “Snoozecast Presents” and the title of the novel wherever you listen to podcasts.

In the previous episode, Captain Nemo, filled with anger and vengeance, prepares to attack a warship that has been pursuing the Nautilus. Unfurling a black flag, he reveals his intent to sink the ship, driven by past personal losses. Despite attempts to dissuade him, Nemo is resolute, seeing the warship as his oppressor. Arronax and his companions, horrified but powerless, witness the tension as the Nautilus nears the ship. Nemo’s attack is swift and destructive, sinking the vessel. Afterwards, deeply affected, Nemo retreats to his room, where he mourns his lost family, leaving the crew in silence.

We will pick up within chapter 22.

— read by 'N' —

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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the previous episode, the Nautilus continues its journey past Newfoundland, Ireland, and England, but avoids the English Channel. Arronax spots an abandoned electric cable on the ocean floor, once meant to transmit telegrams, symbolizing the power of nature over humanity's greatest achievements. Then Arronax sees a distant steam ship, and Captain Nemo cryptically remarks, “It is here.” As the submarine descends, they discover the wreck of the Marseillais, later renamed the Avenger, a ship from 1762, which Nemo praises for its powerful name.

We will pick up within chapter 21.

— read by 'N' —

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In the previous episode, the crew of the Nautilus encounters a swarm of giant cuttlefish, one of which entangles the ship’s screw, preventing it from moving. Captain Nemo leads the crew in a fierce battle against the creatures, using axes and harpoons. Despite their efforts, one of the crew is killed, leaving Captain Nemo grief-stricken, and the Nautilus remains adrift for days before resuming its course through the Gulf Stream.

We pick up at the start of chapter 20.‍

— read by 'N' —

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In the previous episode, the crew of the Nautilus breathes fresh air after a period of being under ice, and Captain Nemo continues their voyage, eventually guiding the submarine through various seas, passing Cape Horn and the Falkland Islands. The group observes a rich variety of marine life along the South American coast, including fish, mollusks, and even encounters with dangerous creatures giant cuttlefish. Despite their desire for escape, they remain prisoners on the Nautilus as it continues its journey, now nearing the Amazon River and beyond.

When we last left off, the Nautilus experiences a shock, “a trembling in every plate”, signaling a possible collision. We’ll pick up as the group tries to determine the cause of the disturbance.

— read by 'N' —

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In the previous episode, the Nautilus became trapped by an impenetrable wall of ice. Captain Nemo explains that they face either being crushed or suffocating, as their air supply will only last two more days. The crew, led by Captain Nemo, attempts to break free by attacking the thinner parts of the ice with pickaxes and screws, but progress is slow. As the air quality worsens, they struggle with lack of oxygen. Nemo devises a plan to inject boiling water to raise the temperature and prevent the ice from solidifying. The crew works tirelessly, and despite the worsening conditions, they finally break through the ice and the Nautilus ascends to the surface, bringing in fresh air. We’ll pick up right as the nautilus surfaces'

— read by 'N' —

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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Captain Nemo informs the crew that the weather is improving and plans to go ashore for observations. The narrator tries to bring Ned Land, but the Canadian refuses. After breakfast, they head to shore, traveling a league inland to a peak with observation instruments. During the journey, they see various southern whales. Reaching the summit after a difficult climb, Captain Nemo takes barometric readings and declares they are at the South Pole. He raises a black banner with a gold "N," claiming the land in his name.

The next day, preparations to depart are made. The Nautilus encounters an iceberg, and after a terrible collision, it becomes trapped at an angle. The crew works to free the submarine, eventually righting it, but still surrounded by ice. As they navigate through the icy tunnel, they are dazzled by the refracted light. After another collision and the realization that all exits are blocked, Captain Nemo confirms they are trapped by shifting ice.

— read by 'N' —

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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Arronax and the crew of the Nautilus reach the South Pole. They encounter a scattered icebergs and various wildlife. Captain Nemo expresses uncertainty about their exact location and decides to take bearings. We pick up right after Arronax’s and Captain Nemo’s last conversation where they discuss the importance of taking observations the next day, as it marks the equinox and the last opportunity for six months to determine their position at the South Pole before the polar night descends. The captain expresses confidence that if they can see the sun exactly cut by the northern horizon at noon, it will confirm their location. Despite potential mathematical errors due to the equinox not necessarily beginning at noon, the captain is optimistic that their bearings will be accurate enough. They agree to reconvene after breakfast to choose a suitable observation post ashore.

— read by 'N' —

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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, Arronax is puzzled over the direction in which the Nautilus is heading, wondering if Nemo is aiming to reach the South Pole. They are so far south that there are only a few hours of darkness per night. The Nautilus navigates through icebergs, and Arronax sees cities in their “surprising” shapes.As the submarine progresses, ice forms over its surface, and Arronax realizes that they have become trapped in a kind of vice. Nemo however, is confident that it will come loose, and that they will be able to go even further south. The Nautilus descends into the icy depths of the sea.

— read by 'N' —

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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

In the last episode, the Nautilus passes through the Sargasso Sea, an underwater lake where currents meet, filled with aquatic plants. During this time, Aronnax wonders if Nemo will ever release them. He sees little of Nemo, and they spend much of their time on the surface.

— read by 'N' —

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Tonight, we’ll read the next part to “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea,” a classic science fiction adventure novel by French writer Jules Verne.

Have you ever wished that a continuing Snoozecast story was easily available as a playlist so you could either start from the beginning, or play multiple episodes from just that story in a row, so that you don’t need to go searching through the catalog? In case you didn’t know, we also produce standalone versions of these stories as its own separate Snoozecast podcasts, for easy listening. Just search for “Snoozecast Presents” to find all the options available. And if you subscribe to Snoozecast+, you get complete access to all these series, ad-free. To learn more, go to snoozecast.com/plus .

In the last episode, the captives aboard the Nautilus awaken one day to learn that they are now underground, inside an extinct volcano. The cave is used by Nemo as a place of refuge, where he sources the elements needed to produce the electricity that makes the Nautilus run. While Nemo spends the day loading up the reserve stock of sodium they keep down there, Arronax, Conseil, and Ned explore the volcanic island. They forage for food including a beehive full of honey, before returning the ship.

— read by 'N' —

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