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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As I’ve been diving deeper into science fiction lately, I wanted to revisit some of the genre’s foundations - and that, of course, led me to H.G. Wells. Originally published in 1897, The Invisible Man tells the story of Griffin, a brilliant but unstable scientist who discovers the secret to invisibility. However, rather than ushering in a life of wonder or triumph, his transformation leads to isolation, paranoia, and violence.
While the novel doesn’t quite match the modern scope or layered character depth we often expect today, it still delivers a strong and surprisingly sophisticated SciFi punch. Considering its time of publication, Wells’ exploration of scientific experimentation gone wrong feels remarkably ahead of its time. The descriptions of how Griffin achieves invisibility - grounded in surprisingly plausible pseudo-science - captivated me, and I found myself impressed with the level of thought that went into the technical details.
I can’t say I particularly liked any of the characters - Griffin himself becomes increasingly unhinged, and most others behave in ways that feel odd or frustrating by today’s standards, with the exception perhaps of Dr. Kemp, who emerges as a more reasonable counterpart. Still, the heart of the story - the mystery of who the Invisible Man is, how he became that way, and the gradual unfolding of his tragic backstory - kept me intrigued throughout.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was seeing Griffin reflect on his own downfall: how something that initially seemed like an extraordinary achievement quickly devolved into a prison of his own making. That thread - the dream-turned-nightmare - felt especially powerful and timeless. Even though I didn’t love every aspect of the book, I finished it with a real appreciation for how deeply The Invisible Man influenced the sci-fi genre we know today.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this book engaging and enjoyable. The character of Griffin was an unusual and disturbing villain, and while the science in this book was questionable, it did not take away from the overall reading experience.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Someone manages to turn himself into the Cloak of Invisibility from Harry Potter.
A classic that still can stand on it’s own. Part thriller and part mystery.
Boooooring. The least successful of Wells's early sf. If you're looking for a good introduction to Wells, I recommend War of the Worlds.
dark
tense