The Invisible Man
Author: H.G. Wells
Genre: Science Fiction
Year: 1897
Rating: 9 of 10
I think that I read this book as a kid but I could not remember and figured that it would be worth a reread, and boy was I right. I have always considered Wells to be a top notch storyteller but had forgotten just how beautiful his prose can be. Although he is often criticized for largely skirting over the science in his science fiction I found his inclusion of science in this story satisfactory, especially considering the year that this book was published. Despite the issues with science, Wells is also adept at characterization and story, much more so than Verne who tends to wallow in technical details. What I found most thrilling in this story is the way in which the Invisible Man finds that his discovery leads to more problems than good and ultimately interferes with his sanity. This essence of the tale makes it feel accurate and I attribute this masterful device to the longevity of this book and others by Wells. If you are interested in proto-science fiction, or more accurately scientific romance, then I highly recommend this book and Wells’ other classics of the genre.
Purchase: Buy!