Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Beehive Books (2019), Edition: Illustrated, 156 pages
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. Science Fiction. HTML: Another visionary novel from the great science fiction writer H. G. Wells, The Island of Doctor Moreau tackles the thorny issues thrown up when humankind plays God and explores notions of society and identity, bringing the mythical chimera - part human, part animal - into the age of science..
User reviews
LibraryThing member veilofisis
‘The study of Nature makes a man at last as remorseless as Nature.’
The Island of Dr. Moreau is a relentlessly disturbing novel—and probably more disturbing to a modern reader (given our dubious ‘progress’ in the fields of genetic modification, cloning, etc.) than to its first audience of
The plot of The Island of Dr. Moreau involves a man named Prendick who has, at novel’s start, been shipwrecked. He is taken aboard a passing vessel and eventually finds himself isolated on the private island of a scientist named Moreau who has been experimenting with animals: namely, dissecting the creatures and ‘reassembling’ them, giving them the semblance of men (in both intellect and physical form). His experiments in vivisection, questionable though they are, seem to be a kind of horrific success…until the ‘men’ begin to devolve into their former bestiality. Up until the beginning of what is to become an absolute mess, the Beast Folk (as Moreau has termed them) have retained their ‘humanity’ through a semi-elaborate system of what are half Moreau-imposed and half self-imposed laws: not to eat flesh or blood, not to bend down like an animal to drink, etc. As the delicate veil of humanity commences to rend under the inherent predilections and instincts of the Beast Folk’s natures, however, things begin to spiral out of control. I won’t ruin the conclusion of the novel—for it is a very thoughtful one—but needless to say, nobody emerges from this story quite unscathed (and how could they?).
It is easy to imagine all this talk of sub-humanity and slippery scientific rationalizations as a kind of moral parable, and that is because that is precisely what The Island of Dr. Moreau is. As much as science fiction about chemical warfare or nuclear holocaust is a hot-button topic in a certain niche of the genre for today’s readers, The Island of Dr. Moreau held the same ‘ripped from the headlines' status in its own day. That there are laws in many countries restricting the practice of vivisection and related sciences is due in no small part to the impact of this novel, which has horrified readers for over a hundred years. What we leave with, however, is not solely a definite condemnation of the scientific ego run amok, but also an uneasy correlation between the story of ‘created men’ living under the ironically animalizing control of their creator and the status of cross-cultural relations as practiced under the imperialistic system present at the time of Wells’ writing.
The idea of reforming through ‘civilization’ the ‘savage’ lies at the heart of the notion of Empire—from the British Raj to the American war in Iraq; and it is the timelessness of this social quandary that continues to render The Island of Dr. Moreau one of the more important pieces of science fiction written in the last two centuries. Read it and reread it, both for entertainment’s sake and more pressing examinations; the novel seems to demand each of the two approaches: the first to lay a foundation for the exposition and the second to nail home several very lucid, practical, and unavoidably important arguments. In my opinion, this is the strongest of Wells’ fictions—engaging and germane, grotesque and nightmarishly thorough in its examination of the darker shades of the human instinct to go ‘where no man has gone before.’
The Island of Dr. Moreau is a relentlessly disturbing novel—and probably more disturbing to a modern reader (given our dubious ‘progress’ in the fields of genetic modification, cloning, etc.) than to its first audience of
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1896. Like Brave New World, the sheer plausibility of The Island of Dr. Moreau lends the novel a layer of social commentary that is difficult to ignore: for this is much more than run-of-the-mill science fiction or Gothic horror masquerading behind the veneer of quiet plausibility—it’s a searing exploration of nothing less than the very essence of what makes a human being a human being, a topic perhaps more relevant to the modern reader (who has familiarity with concentration camps, ethnic cleansing, and mass genocide) than, again, to those thrill-seeking readers of the fin de siècle. H. G. Wells has always been considered something of a visionary, but his politics are often ignored by readers of The War of the Worlds or The Invisible Man: but not so The Island of Dr. Moreau: from the very beginning, it seems, any discussion of this novel has also included an analysis of the theories expounded within, from reproach of a caustic hierarchy of social (especially racial) interactions to a deep questioning of the cold justification of what we might call ‘science for science’s sake.’The plot of The Island of Dr. Moreau involves a man named Prendick who has, at novel’s start, been shipwrecked. He is taken aboard a passing vessel and eventually finds himself isolated on the private island of a scientist named Moreau who has been experimenting with animals: namely, dissecting the creatures and ‘reassembling’ them, giving them the semblance of men (in both intellect and physical form). His experiments in vivisection, questionable though they are, seem to be a kind of horrific success…until the ‘men’ begin to devolve into their former bestiality. Up until the beginning of what is to become an absolute mess, the Beast Folk (as Moreau has termed them) have retained their ‘humanity’ through a semi-elaborate system of what are half Moreau-imposed and half self-imposed laws: not to eat flesh or blood, not to bend down like an animal to drink, etc. As the delicate veil of humanity commences to rend under the inherent predilections and instincts of the Beast Folk’s natures, however, things begin to spiral out of control. I won’t ruin the conclusion of the novel—for it is a very thoughtful one—but needless to say, nobody emerges from this story quite unscathed (and how could they?).
It is easy to imagine all this talk of sub-humanity and slippery scientific rationalizations as a kind of moral parable, and that is because that is precisely what The Island of Dr. Moreau is. As much as science fiction about chemical warfare or nuclear holocaust is a hot-button topic in a certain niche of the genre for today’s readers, The Island of Dr. Moreau held the same ‘ripped from the headlines' status in its own day. That there are laws in many countries restricting the practice of vivisection and related sciences is due in no small part to the impact of this novel, which has horrified readers for over a hundred years. What we leave with, however, is not solely a definite condemnation of the scientific ego run amok, but also an uneasy correlation between the story of ‘created men’ living under the ironically animalizing control of their creator and the status of cross-cultural relations as practiced under the imperialistic system present at the time of Wells’ writing.
The idea of reforming through ‘civilization’ the ‘savage’ lies at the heart of the notion of Empire—from the British Raj to the American war in Iraq; and it is the timelessness of this social quandary that continues to render The Island of Dr. Moreau one of the more important pieces of science fiction written in the last two centuries. Read it and reread it, both for entertainment’s sake and more pressing examinations; the novel seems to demand each of the two approaches: the first to lay a foundation for the exposition and the second to nail home several very lucid, practical, and unavoidably important arguments. In my opinion, this is the strongest of Wells’ fictions—engaging and germane, grotesque and nightmarishly thorough in its examination of the darker shades of the human instinct to go ‘where no man has gone before.’
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LibraryThing member baswood
"What could it all mean?. A locked enclosure on a lonely island, a notorious vivisector and these crippled and distorted men These are the thoughts of Edward Prendick: Well's anti-hero who is in effect a castaway on the island of Doctor Moreau. Most readers would be able to tell Prendick exactly
Suddenly the Puma howled again, this time more painfully. Montgomery swore under his breath. I had half a mind to attack him about the man on the beach. Then the poor brute within gave vent to a series of short, sharp cries.......I found myself that the cries were singularly irritating, and they grew in depth and intensity as the afternoon wore on. They were painful at first, but their constant resurgence at last altogether upset my balance. I flung aside a crib of Horace I had been reading, and began to clench my fists, to bite my lips, and to pace the room. Presently I got to stopping my ears with my fingers.
The emotional appeal of those yells grew upon me steadily, grew at last to such an exquisite expression of suffering that I could stand it in that confined room no longer. I stepped out of the door into the slumberous heat of the late afternoon, and walking past the main entrance - locked again, I noticed - turned the corner of the wall. The crying sounded even louder out of doors. It was as if all the pain in the world had found a voice. Yet had I known such pain was in the next room, and had it been dumb, I believe - I have thought since - I could have stood it well enough. It is when suffering finds a voice and sets our nerves quivering and this pity comes troubling us
There are over 100 of the man-beasts still alive on the island who have all undergone days of surgery in the house of pain. They live as best they can according to a ritual of law imposed by Doctor Moreau in an attempt to stop them reverting to mindless beasts.
It is an adventure story as well as a horror story but the sickness of the life on the island is never far away from our thoughts as we read on to discover what happens next. Wells has used the literary device of the story being discovered amongst Prendicks papers after his death and so it is told by him in the first person. This adds immediacy to the writing and we witness the fear, the degradation, and the pain at first hand, it also allows for a certain amount of tension and mystery especially in the first part of the novel. Prendick believes that he might be a subject for vivisection and his escape from the compound and headlong flight amongst the man-beasts on the tropical island is exciting and vividly told.
There is more to Well's novel than an adventure/horror story. At the time of the novel's publication 1896 there was a debate raging about the morality of vivisection and Wells story pitches right in with the horrors that medical science can and will inflict if it remains unchecked. Evolution through natural selection or Darwinism was also much in the minds of the late Victorians and Thomas Huxley was seen as a propagator of Darwin's theories. Prendick in the novel says that he spent some years studying under Huxley, whose views that morality is determined independently of the biological origins of humanity is another key theme explored by Wells. The man-beasts must be indoctrinated by a set of rules, chanted by them at frequent intervals to help arrest their degeneration back into wild animals.
Man as a social animal is another theme fully explored by Wells in his novel. The three characters that feature on the island are Prendick, Doctor Moreau and Montgomery, they are all in their way outcasts and it is typical of Wells to make his main character very much an anti-hero. Prendick finds himself sent to the island after an altercation with the ships captain, he is not welcome on the island despite his knowledge of biology, Montgomery calls him a prig, because of his standoffish behaviour and refusal to drink alcohol. Prendick himself although appalled by what is going on in the laboratory, has no thoughts of intervening, he would rather run away from the cruelty than challenge it. His practical knowledge is almost non-existent and when he is called upon to show courage or take action he always demurs. When he returns to civilisation he becomes again "the man alone," who would rather be with his books and papers than mix with other people. Doctor Moreau is an obsessional scientist whose moral code one might think is typical of such a man. Montgomery is a born follower, under the spell of the Doctor, but who has some sympathies with the beast-men, but takes solace in his alcoholism.
Other themes that might easily be read into the novel are colonialism and religion, but care should be taken not to read to much from our 21st century perspective. As is usual with H G Wells there is much going on; I sometimes get the feeling that so many questions about the human condition are raised that it would take a much longer novel than this to deal with them all, however all power to Well's elbow for raising them here in a novel that is both original and looks forward to realisable horrors that would take place in the century following the novels publication. Nothing should get in the way of the fact that this horror story is genuinely creepy, certainly horrible, superbly well paced and reads like an adventure story. A great read 4.5 stars.
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what it means, because there has been at least three film versions and the story has been widely imitated. This is a horror story and the horror is palpable: if vivisection is the stuff of your nightmares then this novel will not be easy reading. Doctor Moreau is obsessed with his theories of being able to create men from beasts and has set up his laboratory on an island in the Pacific ocean far from any shipping lanes. He spends his time slashing and cutting away at live animals in an attempt to create something recognisable in human form and Wells makes us feel the pain and the degradation of his cruelty. In the chapter "The crying Puma" Prendick is given a room on the other side of a locked door leading into the laboratory and Doctor Moreau is operating on the puma:Suddenly the Puma howled again, this time more painfully. Montgomery swore under his breath. I had half a mind to attack him about the man on the beach. Then the poor brute within gave vent to a series of short, sharp cries.......I found myself that the cries were singularly irritating, and they grew in depth and intensity as the afternoon wore on. They were painful at first, but their constant resurgence at last altogether upset my balance. I flung aside a crib of Horace I had been reading, and began to clench my fists, to bite my lips, and to pace the room. Presently I got to stopping my ears with my fingers.
The emotional appeal of those yells grew upon me steadily, grew at last to such an exquisite expression of suffering that I could stand it in that confined room no longer. I stepped out of the door into the slumberous heat of the late afternoon, and walking past the main entrance - locked again, I noticed - turned the corner of the wall. The crying sounded even louder out of doors. It was as if all the pain in the world had found a voice. Yet had I known such pain was in the next room, and had it been dumb, I believe - I have thought since - I could have stood it well enough. It is when suffering finds a voice and sets our nerves quivering and this pity comes troubling us
There are over 100 of the man-beasts still alive on the island who have all undergone days of surgery in the house of pain. They live as best they can according to a ritual of law imposed by Doctor Moreau in an attempt to stop them reverting to mindless beasts.
It is an adventure story as well as a horror story but the sickness of the life on the island is never far away from our thoughts as we read on to discover what happens next. Wells has used the literary device of the story being discovered amongst Prendicks papers after his death and so it is told by him in the first person. This adds immediacy to the writing and we witness the fear, the degradation, and the pain at first hand, it also allows for a certain amount of tension and mystery especially in the first part of the novel. Prendick believes that he might be a subject for vivisection and his escape from the compound and headlong flight amongst the man-beasts on the tropical island is exciting and vividly told.
There is more to Well's novel than an adventure/horror story. At the time of the novel's publication 1896 there was a debate raging about the morality of vivisection and Wells story pitches right in with the horrors that medical science can and will inflict if it remains unchecked. Evolution through natural selection or Darwinism was also much in the minds of the late Victorians and Thomas Huxley was seen as a propagator of Darwin's theories. Prendick in the novel says that he spent some years studying under Huxley, whose views that morality is determined independently of the biological origins of humanity is another key theme explored by Wells. The man-beasts must be indoctrinated by a set of rules, chanted by them at frequent intervals to help arrest their degeneration back into wild animals.
Man as a social animal is another theme fully explored by Wells in his novel. The three characters that feature on the island are Prendick, Doctor Moreau and Montgomery, they are all in their way outcasts and it is typical of Wells to make his main character very much an anti-hero. Prendick finds himself sent to the island after an altercation with the ships captain, he is not welcome on the island despite his knowledge of biology, Montgomery calls him a prig, because of his standoffish behaviour and refusal to drink alcohol. Prendick himself although appalled by what is going on in the laboratory, has no thoughts of intervening, he would rather run away from the cruelty than challenge it. His practical knowledge is almost non-existent and when he is called upon to show courage or take action he always demurs. When he returns to civilisation he becomes again "the man alone," who would rather be with his books and papers than mix with other people. Doctor Moreau is an obsessional scientist whose moral code one might think is typical of such a man. Montgomery is a born follower, under the spell of the Doctor, but who has some sympathies with the beast-men, but takes solace in his alcoholism.
Other themes that might easily be read into the novel are colonialism and religion, but care should be taken not to read to much from our 21st century perspective. As is usual with H G Wells there is much going on; I sometimes get the feeling that so many questions about the human condition are raised that it would take a much longer novel than this to deal with them all, however all power to Well's elbow for raising them here in a novel that is both original and looks forward to realisable horrors that would take place in the century following the novels publication. Nothing should get in the way of the fact that this horror story is genuinely creepy, certainly horrible, superbly well paced and reads like an adventure story. A great read 4.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member TadAD
I found this a rather compelling novella-length story. If you suspend judgments about 19th century biological theories, it's an exciting adventure story with a lot more atmosphere than I expected. There is also a great deal of social commentary. I can't help but wonder how the Victorian readers
I think this would make a fascinating Book Club read—quick, yet raising questions ranging from colonialism to cloning.
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reacted to the body shots on the effects of a class system, the unflattering parodies of religion, and the warnings about equating pure scientific advances with true progress. The issues he touched upon are, perhaps, even more pertinent today than they were then.I think this would make a fascinating Book Club read—quick, yet raising questions ranging from colonialism to cloning.
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LibraryThing member MusicMom41
H.G. Wells “scientific romances” have remained popular for over 100 years for a very good reason. They are exciting adventures that also give the reader something to think about and The Island of Dr. Moreau is one of the better ones. In some ways it reads like a horror version of Robinson
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Crusoe with a touch of Gulliver’s Travels thrown in for good measure. In other ways it reveals the effects of the hubris of a scientist who goes beyond even Dr. Frankenstein in his quest to become a god creating his own life forms. This is a ripping good tale in a small volume that provides plenty of suspense and horror in addition to some moral issues to think about. Highly recommended Show Less
LibraryThing member steadfastreader
I don't know if H.G. Wells was an atheist or not, but if this was the only writing he had left behind, I would have thought he was.
Slow start, but the last 25% of the book more than makes up for it. A fabulous parody of the Christian creation myth and the myth of Jesus.
EXCELLENT.
Slow start, but the last 25% of the book more than makes up for it. A fabulous parody of the Christian creation myth and the myth of Jesus.
EXCELLENT.
LibraryThing member norabelle414
It has recently come to my attention that I am a huge H. G. Wells fan. Not that I have a problem with that, it just some how managed to not come to my attention. But I do really love his books, and this one is no exception. I found it to be the perfect balance between action and introspection. The
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subject matter is horrifying (and sometimes gory), but very realistic and similar to what is currently being done with modern medicine and surgery. As usual, Wells shows himself to be almost creepily psychic. The science in this book would be a little off if it had been written 50 years ago, but it was written in 1896!!! Whereas so many science fiction authors have pictured the future with unisex silver bodysuits and hovercars and anthropomorphic robots, H. G. Wells is the only one who ever seems to get close to where the future is actually going, and all from 115 years ago. Show Less
LibraryThing member marcoguarda
Through vivisection, Moreau evolves animals into far cries of men and women. He makes them stand up and walk like humans and refines their throats so that they can talk. He succeeds so well in his latest experiments that Prendick, unwilling witness of all this, can hardly tell the servants from the
But Moreau hasn’t always been as successful, and the whole island he has found refuge on, reeks with the half-experiments and failed attempts he’s carried out in the last ten years in an abominable show of horrors.
Moreau’s ultimate goal is immediate evolution at all costs and one wonders if, in his mind, even human beings have a place for further development.
Wells’ theme in this story goes beyond the mere portrayal of a crazed scientist who uses torture. In many ways, Moreau is Wells’ attempt to look into the obscure abyss that is our subconscious. For the chasm from where Moreau draws his talking animals is also mankind’s abyss of unknown, where our past and our common fears and hopes dwell.
Prendick's escape from Moreau’s madness brings him to the “huts,” where these creatures live in a half-human state. Never fully civilized, they live in a twilight between their former nature and the human they are supposed to mimic.
Even if Moreau has forced them into a religion which only enforces his undisputed powers of a god, his best experiments are short-lived. The more he perfects his creations, the more the trouble he has at controlling them until, in one last attempt to bring order, Moreau is killed. As soon as the driving spark of the mind that is Moreau vanishes, his experiments revert to being the animals they were in the first instance.
In the attempt of confronting the animal which lies within the human lies Wells’ most exceptional modernity.
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animals Moreau has used as building matter.But Moreau hasn’t always been as successful, and the whole island he has found refuge on, reeks with the half-experiments and failed attempts he’s carried out in the last ten years in an abominable show of horrors.
Moreau’s ultimate goal is immediate evolution at all costs and one wonders if, in his mind, even human beings have a place for further development.
Wells’ theme in this story goes beyond the mere portrayal of a crazed scientist who uses torture. In many ways, Moreau is Wells’ attempt to look into the obscure abyss that is our subconscious. For the chasm from where Moreau draws his talking animals is also mankind’s abyss of unknown, where our past and our common fears and hopes dwell.
Prendick's escape from Moreau’s madness brings him to the “huts,” where these creatures live in a half-human state. Never fully civilized, they live in a twilight between their former nature and the human they are supposed to mimic.
Even if Moreau has forced them into a religion which only enforces his undisputed powers of a god, his best experiments are short-lived. The more he perfects his creations, the more the trouble he has at controlling them until, in one last attempt to bring order, Moreau is killed. As soon as the driving spark of the mind that is Moreau vanishes, his experiments revert to being the animals they were in the first instance.
In the attempt of confronting the animal which lies within the human lies Wells’ most exceptional modernity.
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LibraryThing member The_Hibernator
Summary: Mr. Prendrick is stranded on a strange island with two people – the drunken and uncaring Montgomery and the enigmatic, violent Doctor Moreau. As Prendrick begins to discover the mysteries of the island, he feels more and more danger to his life.
My thoughts: Wells’ stories are so deep
My thoughts: Wells’ stories are so deep
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and thoughtful. He explores his unique belief system in a way that is inspiring and energetic. I love his allegory, I love the plot, and I love how much this book made me think. Show Less
LibraryThing member StephLaymon
For such a short book, it packs a powerful punch. Simply as a story it is fascinating enough, but it is what Wells was trying to convey, and the time in which he so boldly dared do it.
The story deals with vivisection, the practice of performing operations on live animals in the name of science,
"The Island of Dr. Moreau is an exercise in youthful blasphemy. Now & then, tho I rarely admit it, the universe projects itself towards me in a hideous grimace. It grimaced that time, & I did my best to express my vision of the aimless torture in creation." ~H.G. Wells
I am glad that I finally read The Island of Dr. Moreau. Beyond it's interesting history, there is so much more. It is a thought provoking story, especially today as we make advances in science that come into moral question. Also, and probably one of the most impressive things to me is just how well the story is developed and how well the characters are defined for such a short book. Mind you, it would have been so much better if it had been longer and more developed, but it's a nice little drink of classic science fiction / fantasy.
The story deals with vivisection, the practice of performing operations on live animals in the name of science,
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but that's not all. Wells writes of a mad scientist who uses no anesthetic during the procedures, and who is creating something quite sinister in the name of science. But it is what Wells intended to convey through the storyline that made the book so controversial, and considered blasphemy among many who read it."The Island of Dr. Moreau is an exercise in youthful blasphemy. Now & then, tho I rarely admit it, the universe projects itself towards me in a hideous grimace. It grimaced that time, & I did my best to express my vision of the aimless torture in creation." ~H.G. Wells
I am glad that I finally read The Island of Dr. Moreau. Beyond it's interesting history, there is so much more. It is a thought provoking story, especially today as we make advances in science that come into moral question. Also, and probably one of the most impressive things to me is just how well the story is developed and how well the characters are defined for such a short book. Mind you, it would have been so much better if it had been longer and more developed, but it's a nice little drink of classic science fiction / fantasy.
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LibraryThing member Stevil2001
As a novel about a Victorian scientist, of course I had to read this. Moreau is second only to Frankenstein in the mad scientist rankings of the nineteenth century, and second in the rankings of fictional scientists generally. (Because who remembers the sane ones?) Moreau is a "wantonly" cruel
Moreau's rationalizations of his own research are probably the most interesting part of this horrific book (early Wells was so good at evoking sensation), as he argues that his lack of sympathy for those in pain makes him superior: "So long as visible or audible pain turns you sick, so long as your own pains drive you, so long as pain underlies your propositions about sin, so long, I tell you, you are an animal, thinking a little less obscurely what an animal feels" (73). The human being, Moreau argues, is distinguished by his ability to choose not to feel, because when you are more intelligent, you can see after your own welfare without the need of the pain stimulus. Moreau argues that he is after knowledge only, that his only passions are intellectual: "You cannot imagine the strange colourless delight of these intellectual desires. The thing before you is no longer an animal, a fellow-creature, but a problem to be solved" (75). I'm interested in the vision of the scientist, but The Island is more about the feelings of the scientist, so there's not as much here for me as I might have imagined-- though the two do cross over occasionally, as in the preceding quote, where Moreau's lack of "sympathetic pain" means he sees animals differently than other humans.
In traditional Wells fashion, The Island also uses its set-up to do some doubling: like how in Frankenstein the creature's plight is also the plight of all humans, so too do some of the narrator's comments about the abandoned animal experiments resonate with the human condition: "they stumbled in the shackles of humanity, lived in a fear that never died, fretted by a law they could not understand; their mock-human existence began in an agony, was one long internal struggle, one long dread of Moreau -- and for what?" (95). Substitute "God" or any other source of law/morality for "Moreau," and I'm not so sure we're much better off. And I know Wells thought we weren't.
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vivisectionist, exiled from the scientific community, so there's a different sort of flavor to him to Frankenstein: Frankenstein pursues knowledge into areas man was not meant to know, but his goals are amoral at worst. Moreau, on the other hand, is immoral. Suffering is not an incidental byproduct of his researches, but their goal. (This was a common critique of vivisectors in the Victorian period; I've seen it in Wilkie Collins's Heart and Science, Sarah Grand's The Beth Book, and Florence Fenwick Miller's Lynton Abbott's Children.)Moreau's rationalizations of his own research are probably the most interesting part of this horrific book (early Wells was so good at evoking sensation), as he argues that his lack of sympathy for those in pain makes him superior: "So long as visible or audible pain turns you sick, so long as your own pains drive you, so long as pain underlies your propositions about sin, so long, I tell you, you are an animal, thinking a little less obscurely what an animal feels" (73). The human being, Moreau argues, is distinguished by his ability to choose not to feel, because when you are more intelligent, you can see after your own welfare without the need of the pain stimulus. Moreau argues that he is after knowledge only, that his only passions are intellectual: "You cannot imagine the strange colourless delight of these intellectual desires. The thing before you is no longer an animal, a fellow-creature, but a problem to be solved" (75). I'm interested in the vision of the scientist, but The Island is more about the feelings of the scientist, so there's not as much here for me as I might have imagined-- though the two do cross over occasionally, as in the preceding quote, where Moreau's lack of "sympathetic pain" means he sees animals differently than other humans.
In traditional Wells fashion, The Island also uses its set-up to do some doubling: like how in Frankenstein the creature's plight is also the plight of all humans, so too do some of the narrator's comments about the abandoned animal experiments resonate with the human condition: "they stumbled in the shackles of humanity, lived in a fear that never died, fretted by a law they could not understand; their mock-human existence began in an agony, was one long internal struggle, one long dread of Moreau -- and for what?" (95). Substitute "God" or any other source of law/morality for "Moreau," and I'm not so sure we're much better off. And I know Wells thought we weren't.
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LibraryThing member London_StJ
By sheer dumb luck Edward Prendick survives the sinking of the Lady Vain, and again by dumb luck manages to lose his two lifeboat companions, increasing his chances for survival with his limited supplies. Luck once again intervenes when, after several days without water, Prendick is pulled back
In the coming months Prendick comes to doubt that luck, however, as he finds himself isolated on an isolated island with the white Moreau, his scalpel, and the unfortunate results of eleven years of experimental vivisection.
Although authors such as Jules Verne predate Wells by decades, the creator of The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and countless other famous tales is often credited with being the father of the science fiction genre. Originally called "scientific romance" for its emphasis on scientific theories and the fantastic, the genre was immediately successful, and Wells right along with it, despite a number of challenges for its occasionally questionable content.
The introduction to the Penguin Classics edition by Margaret Atwood provides a fantastic guide to moving through the work. As part of her introduction, Atwood introduces "Ten Ways of Looking at The Island of Doctor Moreau," which include everything from Darwinism, to religious implications, to an exploration of the New Woman, racism, and literary allusions. Her explanations are well-developed without being overly assertive, allowing the reader to make up his own mind as opposed to the validity of each argument. The introduction is particularly useful as I introduce Wells' novel in our introductory course, and I look forward to seeing how they respond once we open up the dialog.
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from the point of death by a strange dark face and an eternally blond doctor, and these figures again save his rather hopeless existence when the captain of the savior boat casts Prendick overboard. In the coming months Prendick comes to doubt that luck, however, as he finds himself isolated on an isolated island with the white Moreau, his scalpel, and the unfortunate results of eleven years of experimental vivisection.
Although authors such as Jules Verne predate Wells by decades, the creator of The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and countless other famous tales is often credited with being the father of the science fiction genre. Originally called "scientific romance" for its emphasis on scientific theories and the fantastic, the genre was immediately successful, and Wells right along with it, despite a number of challenges for its occasionally questionable content.
The introduction to the Penguin Classics edition by Margaret Atwood provides a fantastic guide to moving through the work. As part of her introduction, Atwood introduces "Ten Ways of Looking at The Island of Doctor Moreau," which include everything from Darwinism, to religious implications, to an exploration of the New Woman, racism, and literary allusions. Her explanations are well-developed without being overly assertive, allowing the reader to make up his own mind as opposed to the validity of each argument. The introduction is particularly useful as I introduce Wells' novel in our introductory course, and I look forward to seeing how they respond once we open up the dialog.
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LibraryThing member trilliams
What if we're all just man-beasts?
LibraryThing member JCO123
Very interesting and well written. I guess Wells must have been the Crichton of his time.
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
Funny thing about getting my husband’s hand-me-down iPad means that I can download lots of classics from Project Gutenberg. This is one I’ve wanted to read for a long time. I remember being surprised by The Invisible Man and really enjoyed it so I figured this one would be equally good and I
If you can let go of the fact that it could never happen and immerse yourself in the straightforward prose, it’s a gripping tale and I was pretty shocked at how affecting it was. I felt revulsion and real tension as I read about Moreau’s experiments and Pendick’s pursuit through the nighttime jungle by the islands grisly inhabitants. I was thrilled in more way than one; by the writing and the story and that it could be so damn compelling and exciting. I didn’t expect that for a 100+ year old novel. If you can overlook the fact that there’s no way in hell those creatures would be possible and some of the other signs of its time it’s a pretty terrific story. Mysterious, creepy and with an ending and general circumstances that don’t give you all the answers.
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wasn’t disappointed. Without knowing it would do so, this novel serves pretty well as foreshadowing for our current potential for genetic monstrosities. It’s also a sharp commentary against science for science’s sake and the role of morality in scientific research.If you can let go of the fact that it could never happen and immerse yourself in the straightforward prose, it’s a gripping tale and I was pretty shocked at how affecting it was. I felt revulsion and real tension as I read about Moreau’s experiments and Pendick’s pursuit through the nighttime jungle by the islands grisly inhabitants. I was thrilled in more way than one; by the writing and the story and that it could be so damn compelling and exciting. I didn’t expect that for a 100+ year old novel. If you can overlook the fact that there’s no way in hell those creatures would be possible and some of the other signs of its time it’s a pretty terrific story. Mysterious, creepy and with an ending and general circumstances that don’t give you all the answers.
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LibraryThing member tony_landis
HG Wells delivers again, I love his ability to write a short novel that grips the attention.
LibraryThing member themulhern
This is the first book I'm certain I've read by H.G. Wells. His writing is not exceptional. But when I had done with the book I had much the same feeling as when I have awoken from a very bad dream. It is a hard book to get out of your head, but I'm not really sure what it is about.
LibraryThing member theokester
I knew the high level concept of this book from allusions in other stories and movies, but I'd never read the original novel. It was a bit different from what I expected.
The writing style is very accessible and fluid while also being jam-packed with very vivid and detailed descriptions as well as
The story is presented as a written report from the point of view of a narrator who finds himself stranded on the island for a time after some disasters at sea. The narrator has some scientific background which lends to very analytical and in-depth commentary.
Without adding any real spoilers, the summary is this: Doctor Moreau, after being chased out of London for his practices, is living on an island in the pacific conducting outrageous experiments. Our narrator, Pendrick, finds the island populated with creatures that are neither completely human nor completely bestial...they are aberrations....creatures partially human and partially beasts....the face of a man with almost snout-like nose and lips, pointed hairy ears, elongated torso and shorter than normal legs, etc., etc., etc. The horrors and grotesque nature of the experiments are explored in depth and naturally progress to some rather disturbing conclusions.
I rather enjoyed the story and found myself immersed in the plot and the concepts. My only real complaint by the end of the book was that it all ended too quickly. I would have loved another 50 or 100 pages. Still, it is a tightly woven tale with a lot of meet in it to leave you thinking.
Wells presents a thoughtful narrative addressing some of the social concerns of his day through this science-fiction story. At that point in history (late 1800s), this was all seen as fiction but based on the fears people had of experiments in the medical community. It's even more potent now, since some 30-50 years after the book, the Nazis engaged in similar "scientific" experimentation during the Holocaust (not with the same results, but with a similar type of horror upon society).
I really liked the way the book finished up. In the last few pages, we find our narrator trying to sort through everything he's witnessed and come to terms with it. I really enjoyed the way Wells shows him trying to recognize "humanity" in people and distinguish between the "human" and the "animal."
A great read.
*****
4.5 stars (out of 5)
The writing style is very accessible and fluid while also being jam-packed with very vivid and detailed descriptions as well as
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some in-depth scientific and moralistic discussions. The first few pages were a little slow, but the rest of the book, except for a paragraph here and there, flew by and kept me very hooked.The story is presented as a written report from the point of view of a narrator who finds himself stranded on the island for a time after some disasters at sea. The narrator has some scientific background which lends to very analytical and in-depth commentary.
Without adding any real spoilers, the summary is this: Doctor Moreau, after being chased out of London for his practices, is living on an island in the pacific conducting outrageous experiments. Our narrator, Pendrick, finds the island populated with creatures that are neither completely human nor completely bestial...they are aberrations....creatures partially human and partially beasts....the face of a man with almost snout-like nose and lips, pointed hairy ears, elongated torso and shorter than normal legs, etc., etc., etc. The horrors and grotesque nature of the experiments are explored in depth and naturally progress to some rather disturbing conclusions.
I rather enjoyed the story and found myself immersed in the plot and the concepts. My only real complaint by the end of the book was that it all ended too quickly. I would have loved another 50 or 100 pages. Still, it is a tightly woven tale with a lot of meet in it to leave you thinking.
Wells presents a thoughtful narrative addressing some of the social concerns of his day through this science-fiction story. At that point in history (late 1800s), this was all seen as fiction but based on the fears people had of experiments in the medical community. It's even more potent now, since some 30-50 years after the book, the Nazis engaged in similar "scientific" experimentation during the Holocaust (not with the same results, but with a similar type of horror upon society).
I really liked the way the book finished up. In the last few pages, we find our narrator trying to sort through everything he's witnessed and come to terms with it. I really enjoyed the way Wells shows him trying to recognize "humanity" in people and distinguish between the "human" and the "animal."
A great read.
*****
4.5 stars (out of 5)
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LibraryThing member Ambrosia4
A little too grizzly for my tastes...the narrator of the story does nothing to garner my sympathies and all in all it was not a book that made me want to keep turning the pages...
LibraryThing member othersam
That Wells was a visionary, and one of the most far-sighted and innovative writers of imaginative literature the human race has ever produced… well, everyone says that, and it’s a bit of a cliche. What’s worth knowing about his stuff (and a lot of critics seem to underplay this) is that lots
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of his books are just REALLY GOOD FUN - and folks, this is a fine example. For a novel written more than a hundred and ten years ago it goes at a cracking pace: by just five pages in, the characters are stranded at sea, starving and drawing lots over who’s going to be cannibalized -- and, amazingly, the book never really lets up from there. It’s like a fever hallucination full of vivisection and mutants and horror, filtered through a contagious atmosphere of shimmering jungle heat. The ideas are great, sure, but the real triumph, it seems to me, is in how sure-footedly punchy and unpretentious the writing is: it’s wild and mad and deliriously evocative, but in its understated way it’s also real, it’s fierce, and it’s all over-and-out in just a hair under two hundred pages, without ever having lost its initial intensity. This was the second time I’ve read the book now and - like malaria - I fully expect to face bouts of reading it again and again every so often for the rest of my life. All I can say is, lucky me. And if you haven’t read The Island of Doctor Moreau yet, lucky /you/. Show Less
LibraryThing member DabOfDarkness
Dr. Edward Prendick finds himself on a plane that is crashing into the sea. Luckily, he survives and is eventually found on his little raft by a passing ship. Dr. Angela Montgomery nurses him around and eventually the ship drops all passengers and their cargo at a little know island. There,
This story is told as a series of flashbacks. Prendick lies in a hospital bed recounting his tale to his insistent daughter. Prendick is a mathematician who did some classified work during WWII. He’s a Brit who is still highly respected in his field by both the British and the Americans. Too bad his plane went down. He was believed lost to the world by all but Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Moreau. I was a little surprised by how much of a delicate flower Prendick was. He was usually freaking out about something or making rash decisions. He was a right nuisance on the island, even if he was the only one with what society would call normal morals. Still, he was a great character for Dr. Montgomery to stand beside and appear very reasonable and I think this made the story more intriguing. As a reader, it forced me to slow down on making a judgement and to truly consider the merits of the work of Moreau and Montgomery.
I was surprised how few lines and appearances Dr. Moreau had in this story (or, at least, this rendition of it). After all, he is the master mind behind all this. So while we see little of him, his large ego leaves a lasting impression. He’s playing God with his experiments and he doesn’t hesitate to say so.
As a biologist, I have long been both repulsed and fascinated by the experiments in this story. When Prendick first meets a few of these talking experiments, he thinks they are merely odd, deformed people. Later, he mistakenly believes that Moreau took living men and experimented on them, bringing out animal characteristics. Once he finds out the truth, that Moreau took animals and gave them human characteristics, he calms down a little, at first. The final step in the experiment is a pretty gruesome, painful one, requiring the chosen animal to remain awake and aware. Not all those who live through the experiment appreciate the gifts they have been given.
As you might guess, things start to spiral out of control shortly after Prendick arrives on the island. Part of the reason is that he goes mucking about in a very excitable manner. But, then, Montgomery and Moreau don’t treat all the living experiments with respect either. Then there is the basic nature of the experiments and what will out in time. It was like the perfect storm.
And then we quickly come to the ending which was rather anticlimactic for Moreau and a bit drawn out for Montgomery and Prendick. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get more from Moreau over all for the entire story and I was definitely a little sad to have his part of the story come to a swift end. After all, he is the reason, the driving force, for this tale, right? But then I enjoyed having more time with Montgomery and Prendick. From the flashbacks, we obviously know that Prendick makes it off the island alive somehow. It was fun to see how that came about.
While I have enjoyed other HG Wells stories, this was my first time listening to a version of his book The Island of Doctor Moreau. I was not disappointed. All the drama associated with the moral conundrums of the tale was there. Also, I enjoyed the divided loyalties of Dr. Montgomery, who was saved by Dr. Moreau back during WWII, who loves the science of their work, but also has questions. Prendick was somewhat of a spazzing butterfly much of the time, but this personality trait went well with his sheltered, well mannered, bookish mathematician air. I look forward to future Mondello Publishing performances.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the publisher (via the GoodReads Audiobooks Group) in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: The performance all around was pretty worthy. Ms. Boltt had a spot on German accent for Montgomery that I really enjoyed. Posner did a great job as the highly excitable Prendick, sounding disturbed throughout the entire performance. I want to say that Jeff Minnerly had a great disgruntled voice for the ship captain and also a perfect mesh of human and monkey for Monkey Man. Bob De Dea did an awesome Hyena Man. There were plenty of animal sounds (screeches, grunts, cries, hyena laughs, etc.) throughout the performance and my hat’s off to that – well done! There was some exciting music in between scenes that I enjoyed, keeping the scene shifts clear to me as the listener. Most of the sound effects were great. There were a handful that took me an extra second or two to identify, but that is my only little quibble on the performance.
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Prendick is pulled into a world of animal experiments that will push the boundaries of his moral compass.This story is told as a series of flashbacks. Prendick lies in a hospital bed recounting his tale to his insistent daughter. Prendick is a mathematician who did some classified work during WWII. He’s a Brit who is still highly respected in his field by both the British and the Americans. Too bad his plane went down. He was believed lost to the world by all but Dr. Montgomery and Dr. Moreau. I was a little surprised by how much of a delicate flower Prendick was. He was usually freaking out about something or making rash decisions. He was a right nuisance on the island, even if he was the only one with what society would call normal morals. Still, he was a great character for Dr. Montgomery to stand beside and appear very reasonable and I think this made the story more intriguing. As a reader, it forced me to slow down on making a judgement and to truly consider the merits of the work of Moreau and Montgomery.
I was surprised how few lines and appearances Dr. Moreau had in this story (or, at least, this rendition of it). After all, he is the master mind behind all this. So while we see little of him, his large ego leaves a lasting impression. He’s playing God with his experiments and he doesn’t hesitate to say so.
As a biologist, I have long been both repulsed and fascinated by the experiments in this story. When Prendick first meets a few of these talking experiments, he thinks they are merely odd, deformed people. Later, he mistakenly believes that Moreau took living men and experimented on them, bringing out animal characteristics. Once he finds out the truth, that Moreau took animals and gave them human characteristics, he calms down a little, at first. The final step in the experiment is a pretty gruesome, painful one, requiring the chosen animal to remain awake and aware. Not all those who live through the experiment appreciate the gifts they have been given.
As you might guess, things start to spiral out of control shortly after Prendick arrives on the island. Part of the reason is that he goes mucking about in a very excitable manner. But, then, Montgomery and Moreau don’t treat all the living experiments with respect either. Then there is the basic nature of the experiments and what will out in time. It was like the perfect storm.
And then we quickly come to the ending which was rather anticlimactic for Moreau and a bit drawn out for Montgomery and Prendick. I was a little disappointed that we didn’t get more from Moreau over all for the entire story and I was definitely a little sad to have his part of the story come to a swift end. After all, he is the reason, the driving force, for this tale, right? But then I enjoyed having more time with Montgomery and Prendick. From the flashbacks, we obviously know that Prendick makes it off the island alive somehow. It was fun to see how that came about.
While I have enjoyed other HG Wells stories, this was my first time listening to a version of his book The Island of Doctor Moreau. I was not disappointed. All the drama associated with the moral conundrums of the tale was there. Also, I enjoyed the divided loyalties of Dr. Montgomery, who was saved by Dr. Moreau back during WWII, who loves the science of their work, but also has questions. Prendick was somewhat of a spazzing butterfly much of the time, but this personality trait went well with his sheltered, well mannered, bookish mathematician air. I look forward to future Mondello Publishing performances.
I received a copy of this book at no cost from the publisher (via the GoodReads Audiobooks Group) in exchange for an honest review.
The Narration: The performance all around was pretty worthy. Ms. Boltt had a spot on German accent for Montgomery that I really enjoyed. Posner did a great job as the highly excitable Prendick, sounding disturbed throughout the entire performance. I want to say that Jeff Minnerly had a great disgruntled voice for the ship captain and also a perfect mesh of human and monkey for Monkey Man. Bob De Dea did an awesome Hyena Man. There were plenty of animal sounds (screeches, grunts, cries, hyena laughs, etc.) throughout the performance and my hat’s off to that – well done! There was some exciting music in between scenes that I enjoyed, keeping the scene shifts clear to me as the listener. Most of the sound effects were great. There were a handful that took me an extra second or two to identify, but that is my only little quibble on the performance.
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LibraryThing member RBeffa
When I was a lad I found many scientific romances such as "The Island of Dr. Moreau" rather interesting and enchanting. All these years later, reading Moreau, now I find the storytelling manner rather naive even if it still entertains quite a bit. The story didn't really begin to engage me until
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perhaps a quarter of the way through, or more, and then I became much more caught up in the story. This isn't a bad book by any means, it just isn't the sort of thing that entertains a middle-aged me like it would have a 12 year old me. There are, however, some interesting adult issues to consider when reading this book, regarding the morality of man and scientific research. This is a cautionary tale with rather timeless issues. Show Less
LibraryThing member P_S_Patrick
This is a harrowing memoir of a castaway's time on a small island off South America, inhabited by a mad scientist and his creations. Inspired in part I would guess by Frankenstein, it raises some of the same questions as to the ethics of experimentation, and the philosophical notion of personhood,
In its turn, it must have been an inspiration for Jurassic Park in some of its peripheral details, though again, that raises a different set of ethical questions and doesn't tread into the territory of the man-beasts of Dr Moreau. Though the plausibility of the science aspect of this novel suffers slightly from it being written quite a while ago, it is quite possible to see how similar ends could be brought about in the future with the wacky misuse of genetic engineering.
I really enjoyed this novel, and despite it being relatively short (160 pages), it is complete in its plot and makes for a page-turning read. A really good introduction to H G Wells, and a clever and exciting novel, though some people will find it too creepy to enjoy.
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though in this case on the boundary between the human and the animal, as opposed to the living and the dead.In its turn, it must have been an inspiration for Jurassic Park in some of its peripheral details, though again, that raises a different set of ethical questions and doesn't tread into the territory of the man-beasts of Dr Moreau. Though the plausibility of the science aspect of this novel suffers slightly from it being written quite a while ago, it is quite possible to see how similar ends could be brought about in the future with the wacky misuse of genetic engineering.
I really enjoyed this novel, and despite it being relatively short (160 pages), it is complete in its plot and makes for a page-turning read. A really good introduction to H G Wells, and a clever and exciting novel, though some people will find it too creepy to enjoy.
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LibraryThing member yougotamber
This book surprised me. I think everyone has heard of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" whether it be from the book, the movie or just the concept or reference. I knew what the book was about before reading it but really had no idea how creepy and detailed the book would be.
Looking at the history of it,
Without giving too much away, I wanted to mention my connection with the main characters thoughts and feelings about humans after his experience. I related so well to his reactions at being back in civilization that I find myself questioning how human I am, or how human any of us are. Why do we feel aggravated by other people so easily? Is evolution connected to this or just a coincidence?
I really connected with this book and enjoyed reading it quite a bit. I’m not sure if I’m in love with Wells or just his writing but I’d really like to use his time machine to travel back and meet him… and maybe swoon a bit. :)
Looking at the history of it,
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I found out this was a banned book that most found “appalling” because of the subject matter. According to Wikipedia, “When the novel was written in 1896, there was much discussion in Europe about degeneration and animal vivisection. Interest groups were formed to address the issue: the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection was formed two years after the publication of the novel.” This just shows you how powerful this novel was back in that time period. What surprised me is how H.G. Wells came up with this advanced science, technology and psychology back then. He wasn’t just a writer but an inventor through his writing. He has a way of connecting with things that people don’t yet understand or can even wrap their minds around. I find his writing to be extremely thought provoking, and would have loved the chance to have read it back in its time period. Without giving too much away, I wanted to mention my connection with the main characters thoughts and feelings about humans after his experience. I related so well to his reactions at being back in civilization that I find myself questioning how human I am, or how human any of us are. Why do we feel aggravated by other people so easily? Is evolution connected to this or just a coincidence?
I really connected with this book and enjoyed reading it quite a bit. I’m not sure if I’m in love with Wells or just his writing but I’d really like to use his time machine to travel back and meet him… and maybe swoon a bit. :)
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LibraryThing member Kaethe
I really don't know why I keep thinking that Wells' stories aren't any good. Before much reading time had passed I was talking to the Spouse about how much more plausible and realistic the story was than I thought it was going to be. And also, his structure is good, how he brings the reader in, how
Who anticipates being surprised by a hundred year old story that's been adapted to film I don't know how many times? An interesting read, entertaining, but also, one that doesn't raise issues and try to pass off easy answers.
Personal copy.
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information is revealed, how our narrator changes his opinion as he understands more. The story never went where I expected it to, either.Who anticipates being surprised by a hundred year old story that's been adapted to film I don't know how many times? An interesting read, entertaining, but also, one that doesn't raise issues and try to pass off easy answers.
Personal copy.
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LibraryThing member ScribbleKey
I was extremely surprised at how much I liked this book. Other reviews say it better than I do, so I'll just throw in my recommendation.
Subjects
Awards
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1896
Physical description
156 p.; 14.7 inches
ISBN
1948886030 / 9781948886031
Local notes
Signed Limited