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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-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
Unsettling meditation on the relationships between humanity, nature, and science
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Colonisation
Moderate: Slavery
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is fascinating in conversation with other horror works that deal with the blurry lines between humans, animals, and monsters. and what makes people “civilized,” like Frankenstein, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and perhaps Animal Farm. It’s interesting to think about how authors in different time periods and from different social backgrounds attacked this concept.
In my mind the book is split into two horror “tactics” - the first half deals with the horror of the unknown. The narrator doesn’t understand the creatures he’s seeing, and the unknown pain of vivisection he hears behind closed doors is more terrifying because he doesn’t know what’s happening. The second half deals with the horror of losing control and being alone, trying to adapt on an island where the consequences of trying to stay human and sane might be as dangerous as the alternative. Ultimately, it’s a short thrill, but an interesting piece in the horror canon.
In my mind the book is split into two horror “tactics” - the first half deals with the horror of the unknown. The narrator doesn’t understand the creatures he’s seeing, and the unknown pain of vivisection he hears behind closed doors is more terrifying because he doesn’t know what’s happening. The second half deals with the horror of losing control and being alone, trying to adapt on an island where the consequences of trying to stay human and sane might be as dangerous as the alternative. Ultimately, it’s a short thrill, but an interesting piece in the horror canon.
This is my favourite Wells novel so far. I loved the theme and and the omnious setting, as well as the narrators place in the story. It was a perfekt mix of sci-fi and horror, and i am puzzled that this story hasn't found it's way to the big screen yet, even with the history of catastrophic attempts.
I adore this book, and find myself a bigger fan of H. G. Wells than ever before.
I adore this book, and find myself a bigger fan of H. G. Wells than ever before.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Well, it’s a classic. The writing is good, the characters annoying and the plot (especially for the time) interesting enough. It’s quite short though, so quite a lot is left to the imagination, but I didn’t mind in this one.
Only read if you’ve read the trigger warnings though!
Only read if you’ve read the trigger warnings though!
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An interesting thing about the HG Wells books I've read are that the main character, from who's perspective the story is being told, could be the same person in all of them. A rather nondescript and opinion-less man that is just an empty vessel to view a fantastical story from. This book is similar, Prendick is an uninteresting character in-of-himself but he experiences the absurdity of Dr. Moreau's creations. The book makes you question whether your sense of humanity is really just a sense of familiarity and how extendable/malleable this familiarity could be.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was pretty weird. It's language is dated but that's no surprise because of its age. I enjoyed some parts of it a bit but the whole vibe I got from it was just bizarre.
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes