A review by mchester24
The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

The third of the HG Wells box set I’ve picked up, and definitely one of his more infamous characters. Even if you didn’t actually know the story, as I didn’t, you know the image of the bandaged, hiding in plain sight invisible man. So fun to think of this “what would YOU do if you had invisibility powers?” thought experiment play out in this way like it is still debated at water coolers and playgrounds today. 

As with the rest of Wells’s invention of this type of sci-fi, I find I really enjoy the matter of fact, reporting, telling of a retelling story. It reminds me of the Sherlock Holmes novels I recently read (interesting mentions of sportsmanship and fairness in the car and mouse chase), as well as the other origination of sci fi in Frankenstein. I think I’m just coming to find I really enjoy the 1800s-early 1900s style of British literature— gothic and tense and mysteriously and serialized! And clearly murderous reigns of terror were on the mind. 

In terms of the story, what I felt I wanted more of is the inner monologue of Griffin. Show me his ethical dilemma, his struggle, earn his ‘breaking bad’ moment more! As he loses accountability and empathy he becomes a truly deplorable figure— I want more of a slow burn there!

But the tense building of action worked well for me— I truly wish I could have read in the original form of chapters published in magazines over time without a preconceived understanding of this invisible man!

In terms of themes while reading this in modern day, it felt like a prescient commentary on things like digital crimes and invasion of privacy in a cyber way: what would you get away with of people wouldn’t know? Is there an equivalent moral quandary of stealing bread to feed your family? How do you deal with reading fantastical, unbelievable accounts in the news? And for sci fi themes that become tropes— just because you can does that mean you should? What are the impacts of unintended consequences when pursuing selfish gain? Who can actually resist the possibility of immense power? And when there’s asymmetry in information, who can you trust and who can trust you?