The Island of Dr. Moreau (Bantam Classics)
by H. G. Wells
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Read in April, 2008
(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)
The CCLaP 100: In which I read for the first time a hundred so-called "classics," then write reports on whether or not they deserve the label
Book #16: The Island of Dr Moreau, by HG Wells (1896)
The story in a nutshell:
Along with French author Jules Verne, t...more
The CCLaP 100: In which I read for the first time a hundred so-called "classics," then write reports on whether or not they deserve the label
Book #16: The Island of Dr Moreau, by HG Wells (1896)
The story in a nutshell:
Along with French author Jules Verne, t...more
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Read in May, 2008
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Read in July, 2008
I had to wait a while to review this, because I thought I might have better insight after a couple days. Didn't happen. This book is classic science-fiction, in which Wells tells a story but also poses an ethical problem regarding science. The story is that of Prendick, the narrator, who is forced by circumstances to be the 'unwelcome guest' of Dr. Moreau and his assistant, Montgomery, on a tropical island. Prendick is treated to room and board by Dr. Moreau, but asked not to pry into the 'w...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Kell by:
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die by Peter Boxallrecommends it for: Fans of classics and sci-fi novels
Like Frankenstein almost 80 years before, The Island of Dr Moreau features a man of science playing God and finding that his creations do not act as he would prefer. The themes of human nature, law, religion and society are expertly mixed against the backdrop of a mysterious Pacific island.
Of course, in recent years, many of the issues faced by Moreau have come to the fore in the media, as the advancement of genetics and cloning have begged the question of whether it is ever right for Man to p...more
Of course, in recent years, many of the issues faced by Moreau have come to the fore in the media, as the advancement of genetics and cloning have begged the question of whether it is ever right for Man to p...more
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Read in April, 2008
recommended to Jessica by:
1001 Books To Read Before You Die Listrecommends it for: Classic sci-fi fans
Prendick finds himself on a small island in the Pacific. This island is deserted, except for Dr. Moreau, his assistant Montgomery (who saved Prendick’s life when he was lost at sea), and a few extremely strange and ugly looking natives, according toPrendick. He soon finds out that Dr. Moreau is a recluse, a mad scientist who vivisects animals and gives them human characteristics (physical and mental). The experiments turn bad, and these monsters turn on their creator. Stuck on this island with...more
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Read in September, 2007
I actually read this novel because of a video game. My husband recently bought BioShock for our XBox 360 and has been playing it quite alot. The game is quite creepy and he happened to mention that it reminded him of this movie he'd seen once called, "The Island of Dr. Moreau". In reading a review of the video game, I learned that they'd actually modeled it very loosely after "The Island of Dr. Moreau" by H.G. Wells. That solidified my desire to see what the novel was all...more
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Read in November, 2007
recommends it for:
animal lovers
Something I'll never forget--Wells' favorite adverb in this book is "presently." He makes good use of this word as his character Edward Prendick vividly retells his experience of being stranded on an island with the "mad scientist" Dr. Moreau and his sot of an assistant Montgomery, who's favorite quip is to call everyone "a silly ass." No wonder this one is not frequently taught in most high schools.
Moreau has a gift for surgery, vivisection is the period term...more
Moreau has a gift for surgery, vivisection is the period term...more
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Read in February, 2008
I hadn't read any HG Wells since my late teens; I recently discovered that Wells had been a student of TH Huxley (a friend and protagonist of Darwin). Knowing more of evolutionary biology now than I did as a teenager I was intrigued to take another look at Wells's work.
I had considered the book to be another "Treasure Island" and a work critical of the British Empire at the time (1896), but my views are more bio-political now. There is certainly an element of "God" in...more
I had considered the book to be another "Treasure Island" and a work critical of the British Empire at the time (1896), but my views are more bio-political now. There is certainly an element of "God" in...more
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
No one
This book was very disturbing...but not at all like the movies. In the movies, Dr. Moreau changes the animals with some kind of magic formula or spell, which really isn't that special. In the older movie, I remember that the creatures were human first and changed into animal-type beings. In the book, however, the doctor takes animals and tortures them by literally slicing their bodies up, slowly, day by day, so they can heal from their wounds. With each cut into flesh and bone, he reshapes t...more
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Read in May, 2005
I had seen at least one movie version of this book, and perhaps even read it before as a child, when I picked it up last night. It really is an excellent book, though some of the sentiments are a bit outdated. It addresses the meaning of humanity, religion, scientific progress. At points it is frightening and at others poignant. The description of the screams of animals as Moreau vivisected them is very disturbing. The story reads as both a nightmare and a commentary on man. I’d like to read m...more
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Read in November, 2007
This book is much more compelling than Time Machine. I had to keep reading and wanted to finish the story. As usual, he has some interesting and thought provoking themes which are still relevent to us. Should we be manipulating plants and animals to suit our needs? In our search for understanding, are we losing or ignoring important ethics? I think one of the most interesting questions is why Dr. Moreau thought the image of man was the perfect image. Anyway, like his other books, it is a q...more
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a brief but rather terrifying adventure tale, wells explores, slash-and-burn-style, the wobbly distinctions between beast and animal, and the ethics of experimentation-for-experimentation's-sake. i quite generally and simplistically adore any novel about bioethics, and would precursorily make strong parallels between this and c.s. lewis' 'that hideous strength', which finishes off his space trilogy with an unexpectedly down-to-earth spectacle of corporate biotech at its most disturbing. and ... ...more
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Read in May, 2008
Meh. Like all Victorian sci-fi/fantasy novels, it is revolutionary for its time, challenging ideas of science that are still relevant today. As long as you remember that Wells is far more interested in critiquing ethics and morality than science, you will enjoy the book more. Like most great sci-fi writers, Wells is interested in science not for its own sake, but rather for what it can show us about our own human natures. That, this book does well. On the other hand, it is still a Victori...more
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Read in May, 2008
Another great Wells novel. I love his writing and his imagination. I also admire his works for leaving loose ends. If you like science fiction or (I hate this word) fantasy, and you've never read Wells, you should definitely give him a try. His books are pretty quick reads.
The narrator ends up as an uninvited guest on the island of Dr. Moreau. He quickly learns that Dr. Moreau is performing vivisection on animals in an attempt to make them human. Guess what, things don't work out. You may kn...more
The narrator ends up as an uninvited guest on the island of Dr. Moreau. He quickly learns that Dr. Moreau is performing vivisection on animals in an attempt to make them human. Guess what, things don't work out. You may kn...more
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Read in June, 2008
I decided that I wanted to read this book after reading the crappy young-adult knockoff Dr. Franklin's Island earlier this year. And, as far as knock-offs go...really all Dr. Franklin did was update the technology and terminology.
I'm not sure how to describe this book other than to say, I believe that if I lived during the time it was written...I would have found it super scary. That being said, I would still say this was a good book...not quite a GREAT book, but good. :)
I'm not sure how to describe this book other than to say, I believe that if I lived during the time it was written...I would have found it super scary. That being said, I would still say this was a good book...not quite a GREAT book, but good. :)
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Read in January, 2004
For not liking Sci-Fi much I’ve read a lot of H.G. Wells books. Most of them seem a little silly compared to what science has really become since the books were written, but this one is still pretty interesting to read. Plus I thought it has some interesting philosophical ideas in it under all the sic-fi parts much like many of his other books. Also compared to his other books I found it a little creepier to read, more so than aliens or time travel.
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recommends it for:
Sci-Fi Lovers, and those interested in the human mind
While writing a novel of my own, I thought it be wise to read a book some what related to my own. I was reffered to this book by a family member, promising a good read, and I was not disapointed.
H.G. Wells is one of my favorite authors, and he has done it again with this perfect example of science and man. He reaches in to the ID and explores the human mind so vividly, I am pleased to say that this book has a reserved spot on my book-shelf.
H.G. Wells is one of my favorite authors, and he has done it again with this perfect example of science and man. He reaches in to the ID and explores the human mind so vividly, I am pleased to say that this book has a reserved spot on my book-shelf.
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Read in January, 2008
Catching up with this classic via Project Gutenberg. Once you get comfortable with the style, it's quite gripping. I'm up to the point where the protagonist has learned who Dr. Moreau is & what he's up to.. and must decide whether to throw his lot in with the Dr. or die.
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If you can get past the language (and the gruesome descriptions of the vivisection process), it's a good adventure story that asks what it means to be human.
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If you can get past the language (and the gruesome descriptions of the vivisection process), it's a good adventure story that asks what it means to be human.
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Read in July, 2007
I read this book on my lunch breaks while I was working at the BYU library after I finished all my classes. It's a good book, but don't make the mistake I did and read it while eating. There are some kind of gruesome parts--I can't remember specifically, but just look up "vivisection" in the dictionary, and you'll get the idea.
Oh, and don't watch the Val Kilmer movie version! Especially don't accidentally get the unrated cut. Yuck!
Oh, and don't watch the Val Kilmer movie version! Especially don't accidentally get the unrated cut. Yuck!
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