In this twenty-first century rendition of Jules Verne's classic 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, Nemo is an American defense contractor who holds the U.S government responsible for the murder of his family. He turns to a solitary life beneath the waves, but that alone cannot quench his need for vengeance. Alicia Petit-Smith is the journalist who is determined to find the person responsible for a series of mysteriously sunken ships. Drawing from Verne's characters, Alicia combines the intelligence of Professor Pierre Aronnax with the toughness of the irascible Ned Land. She challenges Nemo's ethics even as he moves her to examine her own values and actions. In keeping with Verne's masterpiece, the reader experiences the thrill of diving wrecks and encountering giant squid while travelling in the submarine Nautilus.