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emylouise's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.5
erasmios's review against another edition
3.0
This review contains descriptions of important plot developments. Old sci-fi horror classic that didn't quite meet the expectations I had, but there were several things I liked about the book. The depictions of the freakish humanised animals were really creepy—that pink sloth thing might've traumatised me—and also kind of funny. I don't know if it was intentional or not, but I liked the contradiction. I enjoyed the mystery aspects too, despite being familiar with the story beforehand. The protagonist's inner conflict and struggle were well-written and interesting. It's curious how Lovecraftian the novel felt, so I wonder if Lovecraft was possibly inspired by it. Now, well over 100 years since its publication, it's easy to say that the whole premise of the book is just silly since we know that animals can't be made into talking humans through vivisection. If you can let that fact slide, this book is definitely worth reading. My copy (SF Masterworks) starts with Adam Roberts's introduction which provides some very useful ideas regarding the themes and symbolic aspects of the novel.
dmsehnert's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
my third H.G. Wells of the year! i have to say, nothing else is topping the invisible man for me!
corinnab953's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
iulia_marc's review
5.0
those 3 last pages... I would hug Wells!
“My days I devote to reading and experiments in chemistry, and I spend many of the clear nights in the study of astronomy. 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 within us must find its solace and its hope.”
“My days I devote to reading and experiments in chemistry, and I spend many of the clear nights in the study of astronomy. 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 within us must find its solace and its hope.”
dmfw's review
adventurous
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? No
3.0
_drucifer_'s review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
ddeblieck_13's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
My dad picked this up for me at a used bookstore for my birthday. He got a really old/weird edition I can't find on storygraph, and I also can't find the ISBN to add it.
A fun read, although I think it was of an awkward length (~120 pages). Not a short story, but not really fleshed out enough to be a proper adventure novel. The edition I was given also contains a novelized edition of the screenplay (which is based on the actual novel by H.G. Wells). I don't know why the publishers thought I would want a book based on a movie based on the book also included in this edition, but they did. And that novelized screenplay is featured on the front blurb instead of the actual story. So I was expecting a very different book. Somehow the movie directors thought they should add a catgirl love interest. Did not appear in the original but I was very confused on how that was going to be introduced into this story. I probably won't read the screenplay novel thing.
A fun read, although I think it was of an awkward length (~120 pages). Not a short story, but not really fleshed out enough to be a proper adventure novel. The edition I was given also contains a novelized edition of the screenplay (which is based on the actual novel by H.G. Wells). I don't know why the publishers thought I would want a book based on a movie based on the book also included in this edition, but they did. And that novelized screenplay is featured on the front blurb instead of the actual story. So I was expecting a very different book. Somehow the movie directors thought they should add a catgirl love interest. Did not appear in the original but I was very confused on how that was going to be introduced into this story. I probably won't read the screenplay novel thing.
daniem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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? No
3.0
loyloy_bluesky's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
lots of interesting perspectives to look at in this book and makes you question the relationship btwn humans and animals but of course has problematic tones too