Are there really people living in the tunnels and sewer pipes under Manhattan?
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
Eugene, Oregon
September 13, 2016 11:58am CST
My wife just read a book titled"Reliquary" by the same authors who wrote "The Relic." They are both in that Stephen King sort of category that are far to scary for me to even think about reading.
But, "Reliquary" seems to be built on the premise that, in the subterranean tunnels of New York City (and maybe other big cities) there are people living on various levels with their own rules and gang-like governance. Surface people, police and the rest of us do not trespass there.
A note in the book talks of up to 4500 people at times living underground in an area near Penn Station.
Have you read either of these books, or like me, do you avoid the darker side of fiction?
19 people like this
21 responses
@celticeagle (166976)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Sep 16
I bet that there is. I don't live anywhere near there but, I know I have heard stories like this for years. I would think that if there were that many and they were gang-like and causing problems up top that authorities would have found a way to eradicate them long ago. But, in the big cities, I would think, a lot goes on we don't know about.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
13 Sep 16
I don't know those books, but have you seen the movie M with Peter Lorre (first flick)? There are groups of people that live by a set of rules, many live in odd places.
By the way, fabulous movie, sad, scary, based on a serial child killer in Germany many years ago. Peter Lorre tour de force.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Sep 16
He was so great! I'll check it out.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Sep 16
@ElizabethWallace It certainly does not seem to me we do. Kevin Spacey is a great one that comes to mind quickly, but look at the past, Cary Grant, Peck, Tracy, Mitchum, Newman, the names just pour out.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
15 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic We don't have as many great actors as in the past, or am I mistaken?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
13 Sep 16
It is hard to believe, but interesting.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223020)
• Chile
13 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic I have seen TV shows about that. And it is perfectly possible.
1 person likes this
@jillybean1222 (6407)
•
14 Sep 16
i used to read darker stuff more often in my youth. nowadays, not as much. life is dark enough.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
7 Oct 16
I definitely AVOID any fiction that Stephen King writes or any other books of that nature. It's NOT my cup of tea.
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
8 Oct 16
@JamesHxstatic Those would probably be worth reading.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Oct 16
The only ones of his I have read are "11/22/63" about the Kennedy assassination and time travel, which was really good and his excellent book called "On Writing."
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Sep 16
The homeless have been living under NYC for 30-40 years or more @JamesHxstatic .
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
15 Sep 16
@nanette64 Wow, under the overpasses?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Sep 16
Fascinating to think of an alternative society like that.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
14 Sep 16
@JamesHxstatic Here in Texas because we don't have any underground anything, the people live under the interstates in Tent Cities.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
13 Sep 16
I have not read either of those but as one who lived thru eviction and spending ten days living in Salvation Hospitality house, and being helped by friends before my son on my behalf as I was 82 then found help for me to come here paid for by social security and SSi as I'm physically handicapped and retired I do not want to read about homeless people ugh too painful
1 person likes this
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
13 Sep 16
I responded to a discussion about 3 days ago regarding urban legends and somebody mentioned about albino aligators living in the sewers of NY, yes albino cause they never saw sunlight and they were escaped pets
This could be another urban legend but humans are more possible to survive down there and form hierarchies since we are a social animal, whatever it is it's the job of your police to serve the eviction notice
This could be another urban legend but humans are more possible to survive down there and form hierarchies since we are a social animal, whatever it is it's the job of your police to serve the eviction notice1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
14 Sep 16
Truly. Is it first come first serve, this is my corner or what?
@RichardMeister (5328)
• Otis Orchards, Washington
13 Sep 16
I have not read these books but I doubt if they are too scary for me (I've read several Stephen King novels). But I have no doubts that there are people living in the subterranean tunnels in NYC and other big cities.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
13 Sep 16
I haven't read them, but they sound kind of cool.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50250)
• United States
13 Sep 16
I like his movies, but don't read his books.
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@Morleyhunt (21744)
• Canada
14 Sep 16
I, like you do not enjoy the darker fiction. I read a wide variety of books, every now and again, I get caught up in a book like that and it gives me nightmares.
@JudyEv (340019)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Sep 16
I don't 'do' these sorts of books - or horror movies - or anything science fiction. I'd need to start taking my teddy to bed with me again if I started watching/reading such stuff.
