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Journey to the Centre of the Earth

by Jules Verne

3.67 · rating details · 20,903 ratings · 988 reviews

The intrepid Professor Lindenbrock embarks upon the strangest expedition of the nineteenth century: a journey down an extinct Icelandic volcano to the Earth’s very core. In his quest to penetrate the planet’s primordial secrets, the geologist—together with his quaking nephew Axel and their devoted guide, Hans—discovers an astonishing subterranean menagerie of prehistoric p...more

Mass Market Paperback, 240 pages

Published April 25th 2006 by Bantam (first published January 1st 19)

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Dec 27, 2011

Stephen rated it

Shelves: easton-press, lost-my-world, 1800s, science-fiction, classics-european, quests, classics

Gawd dim it, bollocks, ShazBot and shit snacks...I am so, SO bummed that I didn’t experience Jules Verne’s novels for the first time as a young man, rather than as an aging manolescent. Reading them now, as a 41 year old, I still find myself carried away in the rollickingness of his well crafted adventures, but part of me knows deep down in my nethers that there’s a warm, gooey nostalgia that will always be missing. This giant load of empty in my core, if filled, would likely have elevated this ...more

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Jul 26, 2011

Shovelmonkey1 rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: old skool sci-fi fans

Recommended to Shovelmonkey1 by: 1001 books list

Shelves: 1001-books, bookcrossing-books, travel-books

I've tried to make The Journey to the Centre of the earth myself people, and let me tell you, it is fraught with danger! It should be a warning to you that I'm writing this from the bed of a Burns unit by typing with two chargrilled finger stumps, because the centre of the earth is not some wonderfully hollow, sparkly geode, oh no! In reality its a burning hot ball of lava, so hot that it makes the centre of a Pop Tart feel like a skinny dipping spree at the North Pole. You have been warned. Geo...moreI've tried to make The Journey to the Centre of the earth myself people, and let me tell you, it is fraught with danger! It should be a warning to you that I'm writing this from the bed of a Burns unit by typing with two chargrilled finger stumps, because the centre of the earth is not some wonderfully hollow, sparkly geode, oh no! In reality its a burning hot ball of lava, so hot that it makes the centre of a Pop Tart feel like a skinny dipping spree at the North Pole. You have been warned. Geology may rock but it can also get bloody warm as well!

If you don't believe me, and are still prone to believe the Jules Verne school of geological thought, I'm backed up by the Wikipedia page :(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Journey_t...)
where the person who wrote the entry for the book clearly states that Verne's description of the fantastical middle earth has been "soundly refuted". Let's face it, if the centre of the earth really was some kind of lost world of wonders, Disney would have sunk a two and a half mile deep elevator shaft down there sometime in the 1960s and we'd all be queuing at the edge of a lava tube to pay £500 per ticket to get down there.

If on the other hand you are still tempted to make a journey to the centre of the earth from the comfort of your own armchair then I'm sure you'll be charmed and thrilled by the subterranean world of wonders which await. Lava tubes (like dried out waterflumes)provide direct access to the labyrinthine maze of geological fun. Middle-world primordial seas (which would have left modern day scientists to ponder the fact that the earth really resembles a partly filled laundry detergent ball), filled with giant fishes the likes of which would have had Hemingway weeping for mercy. Dinosaurs wander through ancient primeval forests of petrified wood and giant mushrooms and barren shores of bleached bones reveal the true nature of humanities origins. Essentially Verne has gathered together all the best and most interesting bits of Early World Prehistory (the bits that you loved as a kid) and created a memorable if scientifically confused master piece. Ok, it's now a bit dated and yes the centre of the earth really is not quite a Verne would have us believe but this is old school story telling at its best. (less)

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Dec 29, 2010

Chris rated it

· review of another edition

What sounds more adventurous than taking a journey to the center of the earth? Not much can compare. Although this novel is fiction, there is so much detail in the description of the journey and the characters that you are willing to go along with all the impossible trips they make under our lands and oceans and really hope that the characters succeed. Axel, the narrator, is not very excited about taking this trip and believe me, you’ll figure that out right away from the way he narrates. His u...more

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Nov 17, 2008

Werner rated it

Recommends it for: Fans of 19th century fiction (esp. science fiction), and of adventure fiction

Shelves: science-fiction, classics

This book suffered, at the hands of the older English translators, many of the same indignities and mutilations that I mentioned in my review of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (for instance, in the version I read, the Professor's name was Hardwegg, not Lidenbrock!), and this no doubt produces a reading experience much inferior to the one Verne actually intended; but even reading it in one of these impaired translations, it came across to me as one of Verne's better books, and one of those...more

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Jul 24, 2008

Qt rated it

Shelves: action-adventure, science-fiction

Great book--a fun tale of Professor Lidenbrock's determined attempt to reach the center of the earth, as narrated by his nephew in often-amusing language. Plenty of traces of geology, anthropology, and archaeology, but without getting bogged down. It was a surprisingly easy and fun read, and descriptive too. Good adventure story!

P.S. My version was published in 1954 and translated by Willis T. Bradley.

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Apr 16, 2008

Francis rated it

I'm not going to go into a description of the plot because the title says it all. I will only give my overall opinion.

In picking this book up from the library I had fantastic preconceived images burned into my mind of what I might expect to read (prehestoric animals, humanoids, battles, escapes, etc.). I was more than a little disappointed to find it lacking most of those mentioned. I have read books like "Snowcrash" that blow my preconceived notions away with more than ...more

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Jan 05, 2008

Chris rated it

Recommends it for: calm someone down.

Recommended to Chris by: previous book by author

When I go on a Great Adventure, I like to bring a book with me which also chronicles a great adventure. This is for two reasons; first, to urge me on in my own adventure and push the boundaries of what is expected on said adventure, and second, to give me something entertaining to read about a great adventure should mine turn out less than spectacular. After reading From The Earth To The Moon by Verne and finding it totally awesome, I figured another Verne story couldn’t go astray to satisfy t...moreWhen I go on a Great Adventure, I like to bring a book with me which also chronicles a great adventure. This is for two reasons; first, to urge me on in my own adventure and push the boundaries of what is expected on said adventure, and second, to give me something entertaining to read about a great adventure should mine turn out less than spectacular. After reading From The Earth To The Moon by Verne and finding it totally awesome, I figured another Verne story couldn’t go astray to satisfy these criteria.

I was wrong on all accounts this time; the trip I took with Jess’s family to Podunk, Wisconsin to go canoeing and partying was a dismal failure, mainly because her hick family couldn’t get their act together and spent the majority of the time shuttling to and fro between our campsite and her relatives about 45 minutes away. An hour and a half round trip, and in 3 days we made that trip about 5 times, once simply to bring her dad some fricking lunch since her recently-divorced parents weren’t speaking. That was ridiculous. So, during these drives, and while sitting alone in a canoe on a placid lake smoking roughly a carton of cigarettes, I killed off Journey to the Centre of the Earth. And it was about as fulfilling as the Wisconsin trip was turning out. Wonderful, stuck in Wisconsin, bored as hell, reading a clearly inferior book. Just what I needed.

In comparison to From The Earth To The Moon, this book falls very short of the high quality I expect from my main man Jules. There’s almost nothing even remotely humorous in Journey, a complete deviation from Earth To Moon. The trek that narrator Axel and his wise uncle Professor Lindenbrock embark upon is unbearably tedious, both to the daring, dauntless pair and to the reader. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that it actually begins rather promisingly, as some ancient Icelandic runes confirm to the pair that there is a route to the Earth’s core, previously explored by some Scandinavian lunatic, and they prepare at once to follow in his footsteps by entering the mouth of the volcano Snafell. Believe me, the investigative wit they display and their academic tedium is actually pretty awesome, and all is going well when they enlist the help of a local maniac named Hans (who, throughout the story never wavers as the most solid and majestic character) but it isn’t long after descending down the path described previously by Arne Saknussemm that this story completely hits a brick wall. This is partially understandable, there really isn’t many ways you can make a trio of dudes crawling through the earth’s mantle very exciting, as sci-fi laureate Kim Stanley Robinson (author of a pretty good Mars trilogy) points out in the introduction; the repetition of them going deeper and deeper can put the brain to sleep. There are more references to going down than in most erotic literature, and they never quit; until the big pay-off; the discovery of a giant ocean they find over a hundred miles below the earth’s surface, and after sailing across it, discovering what can only be described as the Land of The Lost. While you would think that the conclusion at least offers some satisfaction, this isn’t the case. After dropping monikers involving their own names on everything they come across and skirting around the subterranean forests and fossils, the mighty ‘Snafell’ erupts, ejecting them into the Mediterranean, where they discover they were headed the wrong direction the whole time. Nothing but clowns and spelunkers.
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Oct 18, 2011

g rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-on-ipod

You have three characters in this novel: Professor Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel, and their trusty Icelandic guide, Hans. Hans is like Andre the Giant's character in The Princess Bride--strong, capable, there for the heavy lifting, but doesn't really drive the plot. Admiring his single-minded devotion and cool head, we can put him aside. Professor Lidenbrock is the unhinged scientist willing, at the drop of a hat, to believe some coded marginalia about the attainability of the center (or "cen...moreYou have three characters in this novel: Professor Lidenbrock, his nephew Axel, and their trusty Icelandic guide, Hans. Hans is like Andre the Giant's character in The Princess Bride--strong, capable, there for the heavy lifting, but doesn't really drive the plot. Admiring his single-minded devotion and cool head, we can put him aside. Professor Lidenbrock is the unhinged scientist willing, at the drop of a hat, to believe some coded marginalia about the attainability of the center (or "centre," if you will) of the earth. Axel is his beleaguered nephew and assistant, reluctantly along for the ride, which takes them to a volcano in Iceland.

Axel is like Scully in early X-Files episodes: he constantly doubts his uncle, always reciting the party line about physics and geology, how none of this is possible, even when he sees it with his own eyes. You want to smack him for his constant interruptions and return to your wistful adoration of the unshackled genius of Lidenbrock/Mulder. Thinking more on it, though, a writer needs an Axel/Scully whipping boy character in any story that features a Lidenbrock/Mulder type for the purposes of triangulation: s/he voices--even preempts--the readers' own skepticism. The author then gets to contradict, and sometimes even shame, the character within the framework of the narrative--without ever having directly to engage or convince the reader. Let's face it: who wouldn't, in reality, react as Axel does to Lidenbrock's crazy talk? But who are you going to identify with: whiny Axel, who passes out and gets himself lost and is, in general, pretty useless, or the fearless, mad genius Lidenbrock? Axel is Verne's get-out-of-jail-free card. (Scully's not nearly as bad as Axel, not only because of Gillian Anderson's ethereal loveliness and the makeup artist's demonstrated ability with her lipstick.)

Anyway, the writing remains remarkably vivid and fresh: it's easy to see why this story remains popular in its original form. Verne's imaginative creations even overshadow his unfortunate tendency to obsessively catalog the group's scientific equipment and how each piece works, and what befalls each piece along the way, etc. (less)

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Apr 12, 2011

Ruth rated it

· review of another edition

First off, this edition has some issues with the names. The cover names the characters from the original French version while the text itself changes them (which they did when they translated it into English for some reason). So not only was that confusing, but the narrator is sometimes called Henry and sometimes Harry. So if you're going to read this or buy it, get a better edition.

The story was drier than I expected. I grew up watching the Pat Boone, James Mason movie of the book ...more

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Jan 13, 2011

David Shaw rated it

· review of another edition

Before reading this book, I had taken a glance at some of the reviews posted by others. To my surprise, there had been a lot more negative reception than I had expected, even though at some time or another, any novel will find its detractors.

One of the criticisms I came across was that of this novel "being too descriptive, and long-winded", and comments of that nature.

Now, after having just finished the book, I feel at liberty to respond to these statements as b...moreBefore reading this book, I had taken a glance at some of the reviews posted by others. To my surprise, there had been a lot more negative reception than I had expected, even though at some time or another, any novel will find its detractors.

One of the criticisms I came across was that of this novel "being too descriptive, and long-winded", and comments of that nature.

Now, after having just finished the book, I feel at liberty to respond to these statements as being misguided or unwarranted. By reading only a fraction of Jules Verne, it shouldn't take too long to recognize that his style of writing is of the 'hard-science fiction' approach. That is to say he has a greater focus on approach of scientific explanation, theorem and objective analysis of the conditions to which the characters are exposed.
Rather than having a storyline more driven by plot and a character's reactions and observations. In other words, this "long-windedness" that people are criticizing is more of a self-deflecting mechanism of their inability to accept and/or comprehend this style of writing.

I will sound biased by saying this, but I truly believe there is nothing you can criticize of this book or Verne's style and approach. He was ahead of his time and is just as impressive and remarkable 145 years later. To criticize him is really to ignore criticism of yourself for having found incompatible material to your liking, or for having little patience.

ALL OF THIS, is to stress to others who may be interested in this to definitely give 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' a chance, at least once in your lifetime. It is 'science-fiction' that deals with extraordinary situations that occur to characters during their time periods which they lived in. Not during some futuristic-imagined reality
(not to say those books aren't good either).
It's all the more reason to be fascinated, in addition to the fact that the adventures within deal more with the past than with the future.
I would venture to say this is 'historic-science-fiction'. It involves the history of the world, and having said that, it is relevant to everyone existing.

I for one am humbled to have had the experience, not to mention it has opened new doors for learning and discovery.

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Apr 25, 2008

Kristen rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classics

It had been many years since I had read a Jules Verne novel, and to be honest, I couldn't recall his skill as a writer at all. When I dug this book off of my bookshelf I admit, I was simply bored and looking for something mindless to read while the children fought over gluing cotton balls to construction paper.

I admit that it took my mind a while to re-acclimate to the writing style of the time, not that it was difficult to read, it was just far too easy to skim. So, bringing my min...moreIt had been many years since I had read a Jules Verne novel, and to be honest, I couldn't recall his skill as a writer at all. When I dug this book off of my bookshelf I admit, I was simply bored and looking for something mindless to read while the children fought over gluing cotton balls to construction paper.

I admit that it took my mind a while to re-acclimate to the writing style of the time, not that it was difficult to read, it was just far too easy to skim. So, bringing my mind to a screeching halt, I sat down and began to truly read this wonderful novel. Let me begin with saying that the science in the novel is extremely outdated but at the time of it's writing, was plausible. If you can get your mind past the huge hurtle of your current scientific knowledge, you can appreciate this book for what it is: a brilliant science fiction/adventure novel. The conventions of the time include misunderstandings of the makeup of the earth, and the propensity to marry one's own cousins.

The book is written in the form of a diary at times, and a retelling at times, of events that had passed previously. The voice of the book is the character Harry, nephew and assistant to Professor Von Hardwigg. The novel begins with the professor's discovery of a secret parchment which when decoded gives the location that a previous explorer used to enter the bowels of the earth. The immediately set out to follow in the footsteps of this great explorer of centuries before. Joining them is Hans, the apparent superman of Iceland. He never complains, rarely talks, and saves the lives of those around him on a regular basis. I cannot help but to believe that this is Verne's ideal man, his "Adonis" if you will. The Professor, though he loves Harry, is a closet ADHD case hidden behind a brilliant and stubborn mind. There is great adoration for his nephew, on those occasions when he stops moving or talking long enough to notice him. Harry, who is telling the story, is easily written off as a coward; however he is so much more than that if you take into account the beliefs of the time. He is following his uncle on a dangerous journey into the unknown to a place he does not even believe exists. (Harry's beliefs are far closer to the reality that we understand, however in this novel they are all completely incorrect)

Upon entering the depths of the earth many hardships and terrors await the three, ranging from dehydration, starvation, dinosaurs, many falls, getting separated, raging storms on underground seas and volcanic eruptions. I won't go into great detail suffice to say that the movie, though highly entertaining, does no justice to this story. Spray painted iguanas with horns are far from what is described in this book. If you have spare time on you hands, this is an excellent read and I would highly recommend it to anyone. There is a reason that this is considered "Literature."
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Mar 11, 2009

Darshan Elena rated it

Verne's discussion of scientific discoveries and knowledge in the 1860s was fascinating. In addition, the novel's professor was brilliant - and I say that as a former professor. His quirks, his speaking patterns, his anxieties. Spot on perfect. A wonderful book made all the more wonderful by its impeccable historical details.

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Nov 24, 2008

Svitlana rated it

Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Svitlana by: My friend

This book was amazing! I enjoyed the way the author interpreted science and how many mysteries could be hidden behind a single puzzle. At first I thought it was crazy for professor to reach the center of the earth. But the struggle the professor and his nephew experienced actually brought them closer together in terms of understanding. I believe it is awesome to accomplish something so big!!!!!!!!!!! All those traps and the way professor outsmarted them made me really wonder what it is that the ...more

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Mar 31, 2009

Shauni added it

It was AWESOME I want to go to the center of the Earth now!!

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Sep 28, 2011

Dhe rated it

· review of another edition

la mia non sarà un'opinione con tanto di trama, anche perchè penso che sia un libro di quelli che tutti, chi più chi meno, sappiano di cosa si sta parlando. la mia opinione sarà solo il mio punto di vista, soprattutto considerando che questo è per ora l'ultimo dei libri di verne che ho intenzione di leggere, gli altri che mi ispiravano aspetteranno, non perchè non mi piaccia l'autore ma perchè, purtroppo, l'ho conosciuto con un'opera che mi ha a tal punto impressionata positivamente che qualunqu...morela mia non sarà un'opinione con tanto di trama, anche perchè penso che sia un libro di quelli che tutti, chi più chi meno, sappiano di cosa si sta parlando. la mia opinione sarà solo il mio punto di vista, soprattutto considerando che questo è per ora l'ultimo dei libri di verne che ho intenzione di leggere, gli altri che mi ispiravano aspetteranno, non perchè non mi piaccia l'autore ma perchè, purtroppo, l'ho conosciuto con un'opera che mi ha a tal punto impressionata positivamente che qualunque altro suo scritto non mi entusiasma allo stesso modo e quindi rimango un po' delusa.

la storia è decismente fuori dagli schemi sia nell'epoca in cui è stata scritta che nell'epoca odierna, un viaggio al centro della terra è qualcosa di inimmaginabile, molto interessante l'idea, meno, a mio modesto parere il modo in cui è stata congeniata. pochi i colpi di scena, la lettura, per quanto mi riguarda è andata avanti a rilento fino alla fine del libro, non c'è stato un momento di vero interesse in cui non vedevo l'ora di vedere cosa sarebbe accaduto divorando le pagine, è stata piuttosto una lettura lenta, un po' forzata in alcuni punti, in cui ciò che sarebbe accaduto era piuttosto prevedibile. immagino però che la stessa lettura in mano a un bambino o a un ragazzo sia qualcosa di completamente diverso: verne ha il potere di far volare la fantasia, su questo non ci sono dubbi. io sono rimasta piuttosto fredda rispetto allo stupore e allo stato d'animo del protagonista, poco colpita dallo zio che lo trascina in questa avventura, forse sono rimasta affascinata dall'islandese che fa loro da guida, dal suo sangue fredfdo e il suo sapersi adattare perfettamente ad ogni situazione. il loro viaggio ha dell'incredibile, e proprio perchè è così incredibile il libro mi ha appassionata poco. la presenza di dinosauri e uomini primitivi al centro della terra è un'idea che ormai è stata presente al cinema, in molti libri, insomma un'idea che ormai non riesce a stupirmi, ecco perchè dico che lo stesso libro in mano ad una mente più giovane, che magari certi film e certi libri ancora non li ha incontrati sicuramente si rivela un altro tipo di lettura, decisamente più piacevole.
altro aspetto che non mi ha particolarmente entusiasmata (ma mi rendo conto che è inevitabile considerando l'autore) è la capacità di questi uomini di cambiare il mondo a loro gusto. per riuscire ad arrivare a questo fantomatico centro della terra riescono a creare un'eruzione senza precedenti del vulcano di stromboli! da una parte mi piace molto questa assoluta fiducia da parte di verne nelle capacità umane e nel riuscire in ogni caso a tirare fuori dalle risorse naturali a disposizione ciò di cui si ha bisogno, ma dall'altra questa idea (che il mondo sia a nostra disposizione) è quanto di più lontano ci sia rispetto alla mia idea di rapporto fra uomo e risorse naturali...

non mi rimane che consigliarne la lettura, sebbene, a mio parere altri libri di verne siano molto più appassionanti.(less)

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Jul 03, 2010

Bryan added it · review of another edition

An Enjoyable and Charming Read that has Earned its Place Among the Classics: When Professor von Hardwigg discovers an ancient parchment suggesting a journey to the center of the Earth is possible, he wastes no time dragooning his dubious nephew and ward, Harry, into an expedition, first to Iceland, and then into the Earth. Harry, a young man, sees no good that can come of this expedition, but dutifully agrees.

So begins one of the most beloved classics of science fiction ever published, Jules V...moreAn Enjoyable and Charming Read that has Earned its Place Among the Classics: When Professor von Hardwigg discovers an ancient parchment suggesting a journey to the center of the Earth is possible, he wastes no time dragooning his dubious nephew and ward, Harry, into an expedition, first to Iceland, and then into the Earth. Harry, a young man, sees no good that can come of this expedition, but dutifully agrees.

So begins one of the most beloved classics of science fiction ever published, Jules Verne's "A Journey to the Center of the Earth". I'm hardly a Verne expert, but I've read many of his other classics. "Journey" is unique among his work. It's one of the few books to feature a first person narrator in the form of Harry. Moreover, unlike his other books, "Journey" is less grounded in science and more interested in the fantastic. Verne, through his various characters, slyly implores his readers' indulgence, reminding us that there is plenty about the center of the world we don't know.

Verne was an author who dealt in archetypal characters. From "20,000 Leagues Under the Seas" on, Verne generally concentrated on three types of characters as his protagonists: the brilliant and calm professor; the professor's loyal apprentice, and; the non-scientific, cantankerous, pragmatic, but steadfast man of action. Here, Verne mixes and matches these traits, making for a more interesting cast. Hardwigg is a brilliant scientist, but he's also a ball of barely restrained emotion and energy, demanding his fellow travelers press on, perhaps beyond all reason. The man of action, the Icelandic Hans, is loyal, but by no means cantankerous. He simply does what must be done, and is steadfastly loyalt. Finally, Harry, rather than the unquestioning apprentice, is quite skeptical of this expedition. Hardly steadfast, he proves to be quite cowardly and panics at inopportune times. Thus, with these interesting characters in the mix, the plot of the novel proves frequently unpredictable.

While the premise is fantastic, the action of the novel is far less concerned with monsters that might be found at the center of the earth than the more realistic, albeit more mundane, threats of natural disaster. Rather than being chased by dinosaurs or hidden cave-men, our heroes must deal with being lost, the threat of starvation, underground lakes, exhaustion, and exposure. Naturally, just as all hope seems lost for our heroes, fortune takes a hand. Obviously, if Harry is narrating, they probably get out okay. Still, there are some moments of true white knuckle tension, as Harry is lost in the caverns, or the trio finds itself on a raft with only a piece of jerky as their food-supply.

Wisely, Verne lets the scientific explanations he used as the basis of his other novels go here. He's less interested in giving his reader an education in the latest discovery, and concentrates instead on a great rip-roaring read. Admittedly, the conventions of Victorian-era fiction don't always allow the book to rip or roar. The first third of the book is actually dedicated to getting Harry and the Professor to Iceland and recruiting an expedition. It's more of a travelogue than an adventure tale, which makes the book more realistic, although not consistently exciting. Once our heroes are underground, however, the book takes off.

In the grand scheme of things, "A Journey to the Center of the Earth" is probably not my favorite Verne book. It lacks a remarkable character, like Captain Nemo. It also lacks some of the sharper satire Verne brought to his other books, like "From the Earth to the Moon." It doesn't quite have the pacing of "Around the World in 80 Days." Nonetheless, it is an enjoyable and charming read, and certainly has earned its place among the classics.(less)

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Jan 06, 2009

Dusty Folds rated it

· review of another edition

Seriously, what is this book? Is it a sci fi novel, is it a travel manual, is it a textbook? The only redeeming quality it had was that the narrative was written in such a way to make the reading rather quick.

With that being said, though, I was more than a little disappointed. I thought I would be reading a fantastical story about a mystical journey and what I got was a lesson on geology, geography, history, science, and more. Verne's narrator is not sympathetic at all. His pe...more

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Jan 20, 2012

Charisma rated it

It was a nice experience to finally read the book. (I've seen numerous movies on the subject and they've all been fun to watch, but I don't remember myself ever reading the book.) I liked reading about the journey and all the unexpected things that happened to the main characters. I absolutely loved the character of professor Lidenbrock and was constantly frustrated with his nephew Axel. What I didn't expect was a very short story. The name of the book suggests a full-blown longer-than-a-lifetim...more

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Jan 18, 2012

Kat Scoggin rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-sci-fi-fantasy, own-kindle

It's fantasy so of course the reader must suspend disbelief to enjoy. However, the attempt to scientifically explain many things but failing to do so with large, obvious points like how does plant life subsist without sun (and therefore without photosynthesis), weakens the ability to suspend disbelief.

Some passages "caught me up" in the excitement of the characters' discoveries, but mostly I found the characters themselves irritating and several passages dull and tedious. ...more

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Jan 08, 2012

S. Bell rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: iceland, adventure, deadly-peril, sci-fi, 1800s, explorers, travel

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude. For serious. I AM SO GLAD I READ THIS!!!! It was absolutely incredible from start to finish, such a wonderfully unexpected joy to read - I only grabbed it off readitswapit in order to swap out one of my books, and I figured this was a classic that it couldn't hurt to have sitting on my shelf. Took it with me to Stuttgart so I could read it and leave it... and then was quite sad to have to leave it :P

I just loved the fun and wit of the writing and noted down SO ...more

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Dec 21, 2011

سارہ سادیا =D rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: classic, old-fashioned-times, own-it, recommended, survival, jules-verne

As irascible scholar Professor Lidenbrock pores over a rare Icelandic tome, he discovers a scrap of parchment with cryptic writing tucked away between the ancient pages. And when his nephew, Axel, finally breaks the writing's secret code, he learns of a hidden underground passageway that may lead deep into the center of the earth.

Despite Axel's misgivings, he and the obsessed Lidenbrock travel to Iceland and, with a guide named Hans, set out on a perilous expedition in the course of ...moreAs irascible scholar Professor Lidenbrock pores over a rare Icelandic tome, he discovers a scrap of parchment with cryptic writing tucked away between the ancient pages. And when his nephew, Axel, finally breaks the writing's secret code, he learns of a hidden underground passageway that may lead deep into the center of the earth.

Despite Axel's misgivings, he and the obsessed Lidenbrock travel to Iceland and, with a guide named Hans, set out on a perilous expedition in the course of which the trio will encounter an extraordinary new world of extinct yet living species, an underground sea, and gigantic, battling monsters.

Filled with the authentic detail and startling immediacy Jules Verne labored to bring to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth is the fantastic adventure that secured Verne's reputation as the premier writer of speculative fiction.

My Review:

Well in my opinion there are a few ways you can view the characters, Axel and Professor Lindonbrock.
1- You can see Professor Lindonbrock as a selfish, over confident man who is ignorant and rude.
And you can see Axel as extremly logical and sensible. Or
2- You can see Professor Lindonbrock as an extremely intelligent scientist, with a great sense for adventure, but has a slight temper.
And you can see Axel as a big baby who whines too much and gets on your nerves. Or
3- You can see them both as wonderful characters, in their own ways with their own strengths that amaze you.

Now that we have that cleared I should say that this book was very well and beautifully written, but could be confusing with it's um sophisticated, let's call it, writing. This made me read a few pages over a few times before understanding what was going on. Which is why it took me a while to finish this book. But still I loved it. It's really hard to describe this book accuratly. All I can tell you that Jules Verne really is the amazing author people make him to be. His writing style, plot, characters, twists and turns, and just the whole story were amazing. Though the ending could have been a bit better.
I would recommend this book to lovers of science fiction and classics. Journey to the Centre of the Earth was extremly enjoyable and fun to read. (less)

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Nov 19, 2011

Tony rated it

Shelves: science-fiction

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH. (1864; this ed. 2001). Jules Verne. ****.
This edition was published by the Folio Society in 2001, with the translation by William Butcher, an introduction by Michael Crichton, and illustrations by Grahame Baker. I last read this in 1960 in a Heritage Club edition, and thought it was about time to re-read this famous thriller by Verne. We all know the story, about an ancient manuscript being found by Professor Otto Lidenbrock that contained a coded ...more

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Nov 15, 2011

Kate rated it

· review of another edition

Jules Verne’s “Journey to the Center of the Earth” is one of my favorite science fiction masterpieces. Written in first person point of view, the story reads like an eye witness account, almost in journal form, with dates provided at the beginning of some chapters. An interesting aspect of Verne’s writing is the intricate scientific descriptions throughout the story. His detail is precise and often lengthy, but matches the tone of the narrator. While some may find his attention to detail overwhe...more

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Oct 31, 2011

Greg F rated it

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The 150 year old tale, Journey to the Center of the Earth, written by world renowned author Jules Verne, is a literary classic which survived the test of nearly one and a half centuries. The book was a landmark for both Jules Verne and for the genre of science fiction. The story itself is an ingenious mixture of science and fiction. It revolves around a young man, apprentice to his uncle, a witty scientist, discovering a passage to the center of the globe. It flaunts Verne’s knowledge of scienti...more

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Sep 12, 2011

Manny rated it

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Shelves: science-fiction

Why does Jules Verne often remind me of Monty Python? I mean, it's not funny or anything. Perhaps I was struck by the fact that Robur-le-conquérant doesn't just feature a flying machine called the Albatross, but also gives you a precise figure for the speed of a swallow. Anyway, with further apologies:

Dead Parrot

Me: I wish to register a complaint about this novel, which I purchased not 45 years ago in this very boutique.

John Cleese: Oh yeah? What's wrong wiv it?

...more

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Aug 31, 2011

San Gregorio added it · review of another edition

Shelves: ciencia-ficci-n, literatura-francesa

Sinopsis de la novela.
Asombros y aventuras capa por capa

La historia comienza en Hamburgo, en la casa de Otto Lindenbrock, un verdadero sabio profesor de mineralogía en el Johannaeum, en donde junto a su sobrino encuentran un pergamino escrito por Arne Saknussemm, un sabio islandés del siglo XVI, que se desliza del libro. El pergamino contenía un mensaje casi incomprensible pero su sobrino logra deducirlo: se trata de un mensaje con las instrucciones para llegar al centro de la tie...moreSinopsis de la novela.
Asombros y aventuras capa por capa

La historia comienza en Hamburgo, en la casa de Otto Lindenbrock, un verdadero sabio profesor de mineralogía en el Johannaeum, en donde junto a su sobrino encuentran un pergamino escrito por Arne Saknussemm, un sabio islandés del siglo XVI, que se desliza del libro. El pergamino contenía un mensaje casi incomprensible pero su sobrino logra deducirlo: se trata de un mensaje con las instrucciones para llegar al centro de la tierra. El profesor Lindenbrock no duda en lo más mínimo en emprender viaje hacia donde indica el pergamino: el cráter de un volcán ubicado en Islandia.
Antes de las calendas de julio, es decir, los últimos días del mes de junio el profesor, su sobrino y el guía Hans, un cazador de patos islandés de personalidad insensata, se introducen por el cráter del volcán que indica Saknussemm para descubrir los misterios que encierra la Tierra en su más profundo interior. A partir de ese momento nada podrá detener a ellos de su objetivo, cuya finalidad es llegar al centro del planeta. Transcurren situaciones de sed, hambre, dolor, extremado calor pero eso no significa una traba para ellos. Pasan por diversas aventuras, experimentan paisajes y situaciones nunca imaginadas por un ser humano pero al fin y al cabo la expedición termina siendo…

Selección de dos frases de la novela.
“Baja por el interior del cráter del Yocul de Sneffeels, que la sombra del Scartaris acaricia, antes de las calendas de julio, viajero audaz, y llegarás, al centro de la Tierra. Lo que yo he hecho. Arne Saknussemm.”
“A mediodía la sombra del Scartaris cayó suavemente sobre los bordes de la chimenea central. Loco de entusiasmo mi tío chilló:
¡Allí es! ¡Al centro del globo!

Opinión personal de la novela:
La novela “Viaje al centro de la Tierra” de Julio Verne me gustó porque, principalmente, prefiero el género de ciencia ficción, pero no solo esa es la razón por la cual me agradó sino también influyó la fascinante y atrayente historia que se desata de la mano del profesor Lindenbrock, su sobrino y el guía Hans en busca de lo que solo una persona había podido hacer: llegar al centro de la Tierra. Los hechos que se suceden generan en el lector una atracción que hace que necesite de seguir leyendo y seguir disfrutando de tan maravillosa aventura.
Le recomendaría esta novela a quienes les guste la ciencia ficción ya que éste es un gran ejemplar dentro de éste género. También se la recomendaría a quienes les interese puntualmente las historias de Julio Verne, que es sin duda uno de los mejores dentro de la ciencia ficción. Claramenteno se arrepentirán de leer esta novela ya que es verdaderamente fascinante en cuanto a su contenido y por otra parte a la forma de desarrollarse el mismo.

Gastón Gabadian(less)

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Jul 29, 2011

Ugh rated it

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Jun 01, 2011

Stephanie rated it

Shelves: science-fiction, classic

This review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com

Having recently ventured around the world with Mr Verne, I decided that a journey into its depths with the same author might be in order. After all, Around the World in 80 Days, while flawed in many ways, was an immense amount of fun, and it’s hard not to feel fondly towards it despite its shortcomings. So it was in an adventurous frame of mind (cue image of hard hat, goggles, and spelunking gear) that I began Journey to th...moreThis review originally appeared at www.readinasinglesitting.com

Having recently ventured around the world with Mr Verne, I decided that a journey into its depths with the same author might be in order. After all, Around the World in 80 Days, while flawed in many ways, was an immense amount of fun, and it’s hard not to feel fondly towards it despite its shortcomings. So it was in an adventurous frame of mind (cue image of hard hat, goggles, and spelunking gear) that I began Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Unfortunately it seems as though travelling around the world is rather more interesting than travelling through it. In this novel, Verne takes us along on a psuedo-scholarly journey through the earth’s mantle, stopping frequently to tell us all about different geological materials and the equipment by which they might be assessed. And while I have an appreciation for rocks and stalactites and sedimentary and igneous what-have-you, I admit to needing a bit of plot or character to make this educational meal more palatable.

Verne’s characterisation seems to be a recurring weak point in his work, but it’s painfully apparent in this book. Brusque and snarky Professor Liedenbrock is, well, brusque and snarky, and engages in all manner of shenanigans for utterly incomprehensible reasons. Upon by chance finding in a newly purchased book a cipher he’s unable to crack, he locks up everyone in his household. When his (no doubt hungry and cabin-feverish) nephew Axel cracks the code (a process that is depicted in thoroughly excruciating detail–Mr Verne, if I wanted to read about tedious cryptography and steganography, I’d pick up a Dan Brown book), which tells in poor Latin of the truth of the centre of the earth, Liedenbock suddenly sets off to Iceland, dragging a few hapless others in his wake. And Liedenbock continues in such a manner throughout the rest of the book (with the exception of a few scenes in which he’s forced to show his oh-so-human colours). It’s with a Terminator-esque determination that he sets out on his journey. But curiously, it seems less that he’s motivated by the geological side of things–which might be the case given his preferred area of study–but by a boyish need to conquer stuff.

While a larger-than-life character can be good fun, their presence needs to be balanced by the other characters with whom they interact. But Verne gives us wimpy Axel, who’s roughly as useful as Bella Swan, and who has a similar propensity for tripping over his own feet, and a guide called Hans, whose role is limited to occasional ejections in Danish: “water!”, “help!” and so forth. In fact, the most interesting character is Axel’s betrothed, a young lass who’s an academic in her own right and might well have made for some interesting reading. Of course, being a young woman she’s unsuited to such things, and is left behind to undertake some needlework in the parlour or somesuch.

Needless to say, all of this makes for a rather bumbling effort when it comes to determining whether or not the centre of the earth is molten.

But perhaps what’s most frustrating about this book is its potential–and the fact that that potential goes unrealised. There’s so much room here for this book to be a fabulous, rollicking adventure. We get dinosaurs! Underground waterspouts! Humanoid life! But Verne’s characters utterly ignore these in their efforts to effectively plant a flag in that all-essential central part of the earth. And, of course, once they meet their destination they’re vomited up back on to the earth’s surface (after a few random flashbacks about skulls and academic lectures). I understand that there’s a statement being made here: the human tendency to fixate on one outcome or objective to the point that our myopia stops us from so much as noticing those other astonishing things around us. Given that Verne’s main character is a scientist, this is no doubt a commentary on the nature of scientific practice and research. But while that’s all fine and dandy, one can’t help but feel that this insight might be better served with a dinosaur scene or two.

In all, Journey to the Centre of the Earth makes for a fabulous elevator pitch: “three guys journey to the centre of the earth!”, but there’s little more to it than that.(less)

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May 03, 2011

Andy_s (Soulja Boy) added it

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Mar 25, 2011

Ppussppiittaa rated it

Sebuah Perjalanan ke Pusat Bumi

Suatu hari pada 1863 di Amerika, Trevor Anderson bermimpi bahwa saudaranya, Maxwell Anderson dikejar oleh tirrect dan jatuh ke lubang magma. Lalu, ia bangun dan pergi untuk bekerja sebagai usuall, adalah seorang instruktur tingkat universitas dan pergi ke laboratorium warisan oleh Max. Pada malam hari, Trevor pulang ke rumah. Sesaat kemudian, Elizabeth, kakaknya dalam hukum dan Sean, keponakannya datang. Elizabeth datang di rumah Trevor untuk memperc...moreSebuah Perjalanan ke Pusat Bumi

Suatu hari pada 1863 di Amerika, Trevor Anderson bermimpi bahwa saudaranya, Maxwell Anderson dikejar oleh tirrect dan jatuh ke lubang magma. Lalu, ia bangun dan pergi untuk bekerja sebagai usuall, adalah seorang instruktur tingkat universitas dan pergi ke laboratorium warisan oleh Max. Pada malam hari, Trevor pulang ke rumah. Sesaat kemudian, Elizabeth, kakaknya dalam hukum dan Sean, keponakannya datang. Elizabeth datang di rumah Trevor untuk mempercayakan kepada Sean waktu liburan.Kemudian, Elizabeth memberikan hal warisan Max untuk Trevor.Ada sebuah buku "Perjalanan ke Pusat Bumi". Dalam buku itu, Trevor menemukan catatan Max yang memiliki kesamaan dengan catatan Trevor di laboratorium dan kondisi saat ini sama dengan kondisi pada tahun 1997 ketika Max hilang. Dalam computare, Sean dan Trevor menemukan 1 sensor yang tidak terlihat oleh Trevor dalam terakhir. Bahwa sensor di Islandia.
Trevor memutuskan untuk mencari sensor. Dalam pesawat, Trevor menemukan catatan baru dari buku, bahwa catatan adalah nama seorang profesor di sebuah lembaga. Trevor dan Sean sesat, tapi itu benar. Mereka tiba di sebuah institut dan mencari Sigurbjorn Asgeirsson, tapi sayang. Sigurbjorn Asgeirsson sudah mati 3 musim dingin lalu. Mereka hanya bertemu putrinya, Hannah. Ini apears, Max dan Sigurbjorn Asgeirsson memiliki banyak kesamaan yang keduanya adalah Vernian, yang adalah orang yang percaya karya Jules Verne's. Hannah membantu mereka untuk menemukan sensor oleh komisi / jam. Akhirnya, mereka pergi untuk mendirikan sebuah sensor, mungkin ada catatan aktivitas seismik dalam 10 tahun terakhir dan kejadian ketika Max hilang.
Tidak lama setelah bangsal mendaki gunung, mereka menemukan sensor. Trevor mencoba mengambil sensor, tapi menarik minat halilintar. Trevor melemparkan sensor dan meledak. Mereka bersembunyi di gua, tetapi atas gua dilanda petir dan menutup mulut gua. Mereka mencoba mencari cara untuk keluar, tapi mereka acara terasa sampai tambang tua pergi ke arah ke tengah batu-batu berharga. Tapi mereka di atas batu muskovit, yang sangat batu tipis yang menyeluruhl sekecil itu bisa membuatnya retak. Berlian dipoles diambil oleh Sean jatuh sampai muskovit rusak. Mereka merasa ribuan pabrik dan tiba di luncur air. Di sana, mereka menemukan burung listrik yang membawa mereka ke tempat tertentu. Tempat itu disebut bawah bumi. Rupanya, Max dan Sigurbjorn Asgeirsson benar bahwa ada dasar bumi itu disebut "Dunia di Dunia".
Perjalanan mereka tidak berhenti di sini. Mereka terus berjalan sampai menemukan tempat sebagai hutan. Di sana, mereka menemukan indikasi bahwa Max pernah tinggal di tempat ini. Di luar tempat ini, ada sebuah samudera. Selain samudra, ada makam Max dan kemudian Trevor memberikan warisan Max kompas untuk sean. Kemudian, mereka berpikir cara untuk pergi keluar. Setelah mereka membaca buku itu, mereka menemukan cara untuk keluar. Cara itu menyeberangi laut masuk arah utara, yang geyser. Mereka membuat perahu layar. Dan kemudian, mereka menyeberangi lautan. Namun dalam perjalanan, banyak ikan raksasa telah menyerang mereka. Untungnya, hewan lain seperti ular raksasa yang tiba sebuah ikan diburu raksasa.
Pada saat ini, Sean melihat tali akan telah patah. Dia membuat setiap usaha, namun apa yang dilakukan Sean?. Sean diekstraksi berlayar dan terbang. Jadi, ia dipisahkan dengan Trevor dan Hannah. Akhirnya, Sean kandas di sebuah pantai. Di sana, Sean bertemu kembali dengan burung LISTRIK. Ini membantu Sean untuk menemukan air, karena Sean haus. Sean tiba di batu magnet berbahaya. Akhirnya, Sean bisa bertahan hidup. Namun, keberadaannya dikenal oleh Tirrect, dan diburu Sean. Dalam anotherside, Trevor dan Hannah tidak putus asa. Mereka tiba di tempat yang tidak jauh dari keberadaan Sean. Mereka mencari sungai dan mencoba menemukan air mancur panas itu. Di perjalanan, mereka hampir dimakan tanaman omnivora tetapi mereka adalah tabungan dan kemudian mereka datang di sungai.Di sana Trevor kiri Hannah untuk mencari Sean.
Bukan waktu yang lama, Trevor mendengar bahwa Sean dalam bahaya. Kemudian, Trevor dapat ditemukan Sean dan selamatkan dia tapi dia mengejar juga. Dan kemudian, Trevor jalankan cara lewat muskovit dengan tujuan untuk tirrect itu jatuh. Akhirnya, Trevor dan Sean bisa sukses dan tiba mereka di sungai. Tapi mereka tidak bisa accrosed karena air itu mendidih. Bukan waktu yang lama, Hannah datang mengendarai sebuah fosil Dinosaurus bahwa ia digunakan untuk perahu. Mereka bagan perjalanan ini lagi dan tiba di akhiran dari sungai dan tidak ada air. Hal ini membuat mereka jatuh dalam saluran untuk magma. Dengan menggunakan sinyal kebakaran, Trevor membakar dinding yang mengandung magnesium dan perairan kembalinya. Kemudian, dinding rusak dan air keluar sampai adalah peledakan yang bisa mengangkat mereka sampai keluar dari gunung. Perjalanan tidak berhenti di sini, mereka menyelinap ke dalam plantacion di lereng gunung. Mereka rusak yang plantacion dan pemilik plantacion membuat marah. Tapi Sean bisa hening kemarahan bahwa dengan memberikan berlian dipoles yang mereka ambil dari tambang tua di mana mereka tersesat. Akhirnya, mereka keluar gunung Vecuveus terletak di Italia. Setelah itu mereka pulang dan kemudian Trevor datang ke laboratorium untuk melaporkan bahwa akan sebuah lembaga baru, yaitu Asgeirsson-Anderson. Lembaga ini meneliti tentang "Tidewater mengangkat perahu". Akhirnya, Elizabeth datang ke rumah Trevor lagi setelah 10 hari untuk mengambil Sean dan membawanya ke Kanada dan mereka bahagia.

AKHIR
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About Jules Verne

Jules Gabriel Verne (February 8, 1828 – March 24, 1905) was a French author who pioneered the science-fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Journey to the Center of the Earth (written in 1864), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (written in 1870), and Around the World in Eighty Days (written in 1873). Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before navigable aircraft and pra...more

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“We are of opinion that instead of letting books grow moldy behind an iron grating, far from the vulgar gaze, it is better to let them wear out by being read.” — 1,231 people liked it

“Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.” — 73 people liked it

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