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nmorse80's review against another edition
4.0
Shipwrecked man is found and brought to an island filled with biological experiments. On the surface it is a story about man trying to survive this horror island filled half animal/half man creatures and the mad scientist who created them. Below the surface I think it is about religion, but i'm not sure yet and have to think more about it.
Wells is a great writer though and it was a good read.
Wells is a great writer though and it was a good read.
sarahbc93_'s review against another edition
1.0
Oh, I did not like this story at all. I have never experienced this while reading a book, but I actually felt icky whilst reading it. How unnerving.
The main premise of the book is that man can interfere with the natural order of things, and force animals to bend to his will whilst changing the very fabric of their beings. It’s all a bit much really. Dr Moreau is well known for his “vivisection experiments” where he takes animals and tries to make them human. But every time he thinks that he’s succeeded, they revert back to their animal nature.
You’d think he would get the hint eventually. Apparently not.
I don’t know what it was about this book but I instantly didn’t like it. I didn’t like the feel of it and I didn’t like the content of it. All in all, not an enjoyable experience and one that I’m not likely to recreate any time soon.
The main premise of the book is that man can interfere with the natural order of things, and force animals to bend to his will whilst changing the very fabric of their beings. It’s all a bit much really. Dr Moreau is well known for his “vivisection experiments” where he takes animals and tries to make them human. But every time he thinks that he’s succeeded, they revert back to their animal nature.
You’d think he would get the hint eventually. Apparently not.
I don’t know what it was about this book but I instantly didn’t like it. I didn’t like the feel of it and I didn’t like the content of it. All in all, not an enjoyable experience and one that I’m not likely to recreate any time soon.
aubins's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dbroebuck96's review against another edition
5.0
This was such an action-packed and thought-provoking read. Wells's descriptions of the 'Beast-Men' are disturbing, so twisted from the torment of being experimented upon by the titular doctor that I came away feeling they were the victims in this book; the true villain instead being the irresponsible pursuit of knowledge and science, embodied here by Dr. Moreau. It is purely instinct that dictates how beasts behave, they are only acting as nature intended, but the same cannot be said of man:
"There is, though I do not know how there is or why there is, a sense of infinite peace and protection in the glittering hosts of heaven. There it must be, I think, in the vast and eternal laws of matter, and not in the daily cares and sins and troubles of men, that whatever is more than animal in us must find its solace and hope".
One of Wells' best.
"There is, though I do not know how there is or why there is, a sense of infinite peace and protection in the glittering hosts of heaven. There it must be, I think, in the vast and eternal laws of matter, and not in the daily cares and sins and troubles of men, that whatever is more than animal in us must find its solace and hope".
One of Wells' best.
mark_von_oink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lanid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Blood, Medical trauma, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Gun violence, Racism, Violence, and Murder
margaux_s's review against another edition
dark
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 don't know how to rate this book. the story was good and the advocacy for animal rights was pleasant to see especially for a book from the late 1800s, but i can't get past the racism.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
harveyhorse321's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
This is a classic sci fi horror, not actually keep-you-up-at-night scary but just unsettling enough to give me some shivers. Most haunting part is when the Beast Folk begin to revert back to the beasts within, and Prendick’s reflection on this at the end is particularly interesting.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
meecespieces's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death