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    The Island of Dr. Moreau
    The Island of Dr. Moreau
    The Island of Dr. Moreau
    Audiobook5 hours

    The Island of Dr. Moreau

    Written by H. G. Wells

    Narrated by B. J. Harrison

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    After many days at sea, Edward Prendick is picked up by a schooner transporting exotic animals to an undisclosed location. On this secret island he is forced to disembark, catching faint glimpses of creatures born from nightmares.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherB.J. Harrison
    Release dateOct 30, 2014
    ISBN9781937091217
    Author

    H. G. Wells

    H.G. Wells is considered by many to be the father of science fiction. He was the author of numerous classics such as The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The War of the Worlds, and many more. 

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    Reviews for The Island of Dr. Moreau

    3.5/5

    1,854 ratings99 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I can understand why this is a classic. This really has it all. Megalomaniac, monsters, isolation, ethics.
    • 5/5
      I never gave this book the attention it deserved. Being H.G. Wells, I was easily bored in the longer-winded parts, and so remained content getting the summaries laid out by pop culture and movies. Sadly, this leaves the book bereft of it’s true meaning. The main character goes through a striking internal transformation with the reader. From the perspective of the island beasts, he also makes great outward transformations. I was surprised to learn that the popular points regarded in the book have least to do with the true horrors of the true nature of “civilized man,” as revealed by the author. Read this novel completely, to the end.
    • 3/5
      Entertaining with plenty of ethics questions. I’m still wondering how the author survived, knowing less than Moreau about the crested beasts.
    • 4/5
      Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
    • 3/5
      Entertaining bizarre tale. I like how he brushed over the fact that the main character hooks up with some of the beast women and that is ok even though he considers them inferior to him and also how they are supposed to be monogamous, "that is the law", but what? Not him? He doesn't have to be monogamous?
      Also he is horrified with Moreau's experiments and ideology but just kinda goes along until he is about to die.
      Moreau's character is so bizarre and unapologetic I kinda like him, don't get me wrong, he is the devil for sure, but he is like: new devil who dis? Not giving a crap, loved it.
      The whole story reads like a diary and that format tends to be a bit boring for me, you know he survives if he is telling you the story right?
      I am more intrigued about that puma woman and how she actually did what she did.
      It was an OK quick read.
    • 5/5
      Some short novels are really just extended short stories and could have been wrapped up in half the pages. THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU could easily have been much longer. It is a tight little novel—every moment is devoted to tipping the scales, finding where we are on the line of humanity. At the very start our main character is dehumanized by being lost at sea…long enough to have abandoned reason. When found, he is nursed back to health by someone who is constantly losing his reason to alcohol. Even Dr. Moreau is never as savage as when imparting science to his creations. The narrator Prendick says toward the end of the novel, “An animal may be ferocious and cunning enough, but it takes a real man to tell a lie.” This includes of course lying to oneself—Moreau has made this into an art form. The Man-Beasts that Moreau creates are not static either—there is a constant tug and pull between animal and man. They are created during an act of brutality and it is largely the fear of it’s return that keeps them human. Once that fear is gone, they revert to a form of their animal selves. Not a favorable critique of humanity. There is a point where Prendick (what can that name possibly mean?) drifts into a stasis with the Man-Beasts—for some weeks there is relative peace on the island. But any form of man will eventually fail to keep the peace. Much is written about H G Wells seeing the future—here forecasting genetic engineering. But really he was just a keen observer of his own times—extrapolating off the world around him. He saw the great acceleration of change at the end of the 19th century and realized it would not slow down. In the midst of a world becoming more mechanical, Wells writes here to ponder just what it is to be human. He discovers just how intangible that can be and how quickly it can elude us.
    • 3/5
      The concept of melding humans and animals through physical surgery, incuding organ transplants, has given way to genetic engineering now, but at the time it probably looked like a feasible notion, if you were insane enough to want to do it, and Dr. Moreau was. This was the second major work of fiction by Wells.The Introduction by "Charles Edward Prendick" is a fictional framing device common in the 19th Century.Style It was a slap-bang, horror-filled, mad-scientist hit when published, but seems over-the-top and has many plot holes now.Note: my reading dates are because of just doing a chapter a night; it can be read in a single sitting of a couple of hours.
    • 4/5
      "An animal may be ferocious and cunning enough, but it takes a real man to tell a lie."Edward Prendick, a private gentleman and naturist is shipwrecked and on rescue is taken to an island where a once eminent English vivisector, Dr. Moreau, has made his retreat and on which hideous misfits are living. Dr. Moreau was forced to leave England his experiments were exposed by the press but hidden away on his private island he is able to work in his laboratory called the House of Pain to continue his attempts to manufacture 'humanised' animals known as the the Beast People. When Moreau's experiments fails he releases them to live on the island ruling them by fear. Prendick's time on the island becomes a nightmare as he spends his time running from Moreau's experiments and uncovering the truth about the crazy doctor. First written in 1896 some 40 or so years after Darwin published the 'Origins of Man' this on the face of it appears to be a science fiction novel that deals with vivisection, a section of science that was very popular at the time of writing. However, this is H.G.Wells and things are never that straight forward.Obviously science and in particular the idea of science for science sake is central to this book as is the distinction between man and animals but much of Well's writing also deals about social inequality and this is no different. This book can be seen as a social critique where a relatively useless aristocratic protagonist (Prendrick) finds himself ill-equipped to deal with the circumstances that he finds himself in and must throw himself onto the mercy of the Beast Man. Similarly this book can be regarded as having Marxist elements and is a pretty harsh indictment on authoritarian rule, where Moreau is a dictator and the animals the underclass who eventually manage to overthrow and expel their rulers. "It is when suffering finds a voice and sets our nerves quivering that this pity comes troubling us."Another theme of this novel is religion or to put it more accurately some readers will see this as a parody of organised religion. Moreau's teaching the beasts the Law in turn leads to a deification of himself with his assistant Montgomery as one of his emissaries. Given that this book was written in excess of a hundred years ago the real genius of Well's is that it can still can be seen as relevant today. We live in an era where GM food is seen by some as the salvation of the human race and where scientists are looking at breeding cloned animals to deal with transplant shortages, similarly we live in an age where social media has led to an almost cult following of some participants. Overall, despite its brevity, this book covers a number of important themes and as such deserves to be widely read however I feel that Frankenstein explores the themes covered here far better..
    • 4/5
      Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
    • 5/5
      "Wells saw history as a race between education and catastrophe."

      Published in 1896, the novel could be read as a cautionary tale of the consequences of science for science's sake. There is foreboding throughout - beasts! madmen! danger!

      Yet there are also many layers of meaning. In the edition I read Margaret Atwood describes ten interpretations of the novel - from a social commentary on the class system of the age to a religious allegory. Don't read it before the novel, though, as there are spoilers. Wells, himself, described his book as a "science romance," a dark, sinister adventure story. It's a great book!
    • 5/5
      An amazing novel. Gripping from start to finish and it is one of the finest science fiction stories that I have come across. A great tale to read.
    • 4/5
      Classed as "scientific romance" at the time, this is on the surface an adventure novel. The protagonist Prendick survives a shipwreck and finds himself on an island filled with curious creatures. Pendrick, like Wells himself, studied biology under Darwinist Thomas Huxley, and this forms the scientific backdrop. Like Lord of the Flies, The Island of Dr. Moreau has many layers. There's an underlying mockery of organized religion, a blurring of lines between human and inhuman, suggestions of a link between ethnicity and culture. The characters are flawed and malleable, changing with their environment. Their interaction represents the base around which the story revolves.A couple of possible influences, suggested by Margaret Atwood in her 2005 introduction, are The Tempest and Treasure Island. If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy Atwood's own MaddAddam Trilogy.
    • 5/5
      I found this to be quite a fun read. That's a great compliment since I'm not really a fan of science fiction. However, I thought I'd give this story a go since I had previously found The Invisible Man, by the same author, very entertaining, In The Island of Dr. Moreau, a man named Prendick, ends up on an island inhabited by only two other men, one of who is a doctor intent on making animals into humans by vivisection. The results of his experimentation abound on the island as well as a rule of order known as The Law. Circumstances happen which change the status quo. It's interesting to follow along on this man-animal continuum to see how everything plays out and to learn if there us any chance that Prendick would make it off of this strange island alive.
    • 4/5
      This was a good book. It was pretty interesting, but there were a few parts where the story lagged and I found my mind wandering. This is my third Wells book, and I honestly found it not to be as good as the other two I've read so far (The Time Machine and The First Men in the Moon).
    • 4/5
      For such a short book, it packs a powerful punch. Simply as a story it is fascinating enough, but it is what Wells was trying to convey, and the time in which he so boldly dared do it. The story deals with vivisection, the practice of performing operations on live animals in the name of science, but that's not all. Wells writes of a mad scientist who uses no anesthetic during the procedures, and who is creating something quite sinister in the name of science. But it is what Wells intended to convey through the storyline that made the book so controversial, and considered blasphemy among many who read it."The Island of Dr. Moreau is an exercise in youthful blasphemy. Now & then, tho I rarely admit it, the universe projects itself towards me in a hideous grimace. It grimaced that time, & I did my best to express my vision of the aimless torture in creation." ~H.G. WellsI am glad that I finally read The Island of Dr. Moreau. Beyond it's interesting history, there is so much more. It is a thought provoking story, especially today as we make advances in science that come into moral question. Also, and probably one of the most impressive things to me is just how well the story is developed and how well the characters are defined for such a short book. Mind you, it would have been so much better if it had been longer and more developed, but it's a nice little drink of classic science fiction / fantasy.
    • 3/5
      Boring and forgettable.
    • 4/5
      Summary: Mr. Prendrick is stranded on a strange island with two people – the drunken and uncaring Montgomery and the enigmatic, violent Doctor Moreau. As Prendrick begins to discover the mysteries of the island, he feels more and more danger to his life.My thoughts: Wells’ stories are so deep and thoughtful. He explores his unique belief system in a way that is inspiring and energetic. I love his allegory, I love the plot, and I love how much this book made me think.
    • 5/5
      This is one of the most terrifying classics I’ve ever read. Wells builds the tension beautifully as he unveils the island’s true monster.
    • 3/5
      Published in 1896, The Island of Doctor Moreau by H. G. Wells is a classic novel of science fiction that still captures the imagination of today’s audience. It has been made into several films and has become widely known in popular culture. Combining elements of both science fiction and horror, the story is based on one of Well’s favorite themes – that reckless meddling in science results in unspeakable horrors being unleashed.The story is told by Edward Prendick, who through a series of unfortunate events arrives on a mysterious island inhabited by horrible beasts. These beasts are half animal and half human, and the horrified Prendick fears for his life and his sanity, as he learns about the strange Doctor Moreau and the experiments he is conducting. Of course the science in this book is improbable, a fact that has become more apparent as the book ages but The Island of Doctor Moreau is a quick and fairly light read with some serious undertones about the qualities that separate animals from humans. While Doctor Moreau shows Prendick that beasts can be turned into men, it is also made very clear how easy it is for men to become vicious and beast-like themselves.
    • 4/5
      Even though the science behind Moreau's animal experimentation will seem ridiculous from a 21st century perspective, Wells's 1896 horror sci-fi still has the power to terrify. We can mentally substitute the possibility of modern day gene and cloning experimentation as a current day proxy and the increased awareness and appreciation of animal rights adds an extra layer of chills to the mix.I listened to the 2011 Recorded Books/Audible Audio edition read by Simon Prebble which was very well done.
    • 3/5
      "You cannot imagine the strange colourless delight of these intellectual desires. The thing before you is no longer an animal, a fellow-creature, but a problem."Edward Prendrick is rescued after being shipwrecked, but unfortunately gets on the captain's bad side and abandoned on a remote island where Doctor Moreau and his assistant Montgomery conduct their experiments away from the disapproval of the scientific establishment.The dated style stopped me from empathising with any of the characters and only the screams of the leopard on the operating table drew me in towards them. I think I have read at least one story based on The Island of Doctor Moreau, and they did a much better job of getting the readers to empathise.
    • 3/5
      I vaguely knew what this book was about and I knew I wouldn't really care for it so I avoided reading it for a long time. However, the audiobook was available from my library as a free download and it was on the 1001 list so I decided to give it a try.A survivor of a ship wreck, Edward Prendrick, is picked up by a ship which is returning with supplies to the Island of Doctor Moreau. On board is Dr. Montgomery who assists Moreau and he restores Prendrick to consciousness. When the ship reaches the island the captain refuses to take Prendrick any further so he is forced on Moreau and Montgomery. Prendrick learns that Moreau creates human animal hybrids by performing vivisection (i.e. surgery while the animal is conscious) on various animals. Prendrick is sickened by this but, given his circumstances, he is unable to interfere. He wonders if he will ever leave the island or will he go insane as Moreau and Montgomery seem to have done.Very disturbing subject matter. I suppose Wells meant it to be as antivivisectionism was quite a movement in the late 1800s.
    • 4/5
      This is a harrowing memoir of a castaway's time on a small island off South America, inhabited by a mad scientist and his creations. Inspired in part I would guess by Frankenstein, it raises some of the same questions as to the ethics of experimentation, and the philosophical notion of personhood, though in this case on the boundary between the human and the animal, as opposed to the living and the dead.In its turn, it must have been an inspiration for Jurassic Park in some of its peripheral details, though again, that raises a different set of ethical questions and doesn't tread into the territory of the man-beasts of Dr Moreau. Though the plausibility of the science aspect of this novel suffers slightly from it being written quite a while ago, it is quite possible to see how similar ends could be brought about in the future with the wacky misuse of genetic engineering.I really enjoyed this novel, and despite it being relatively short (160 pages), it is complete in its plot and makes for a page-turning read. A really good introduction to H G Wells, and a clever and exciting novel, though some people will find it too creepy to enjoy.
    • 4/5
      Pendrick landet nach einem Schiffsunglück zusammen mit seinem Retter auf einer kleinen abgeschlagenen Insel.Die Menschen dort verhalten sich seltsam und wecken in Pendrick ungeahnte Ängste. Bald erfährt er, dass ein gewisser Moreau auf der Insel arbeitet, der vor einiger Zeit schon in den britischen Medien durch biologische Experimente auffällig geworden war.Pendrick bekommt ein ihm eigens zugewiesenes Zimmer, doch hinter verschlossenen Türen bahnen sich unmenschliche Schreie ihren Weg in seinen Geist. Er flieht, doch was er dann sieht, lässt ihn den Glauben an das Gute im Menschen verlieren.H. G. Wells gilt als Begründer der modernen Science Fiction.Der Schauplatz hier: eine kleine verschlagene Insel mitten im Nirgendwo. Ein Arzt, der es sich zum Ziel gemacht hat, biologische Prozesse außer Kraft zu setzen und zu verändern. Pendrick erzählt als Überlebender diese unglaubliche Geschichte, die ihm niemand glaubt. Und doch ist er der einzige Zeuge eines Wahnsinns, der nicht nur Tiere, sondern auch Menschen leiden lässt. Er lebt in ständiger Angst vor den Wesen der Insel, versucht sie zu beherrschen, sie zu verstehen, sich anzupassen und endet schließlich wieder in der Angst vor ihrer wahren Natur.Ein wunderbarer Roman über den Größenwahn eines einzigen Menschen, der sich in seinen Experimenten ergeht und dem Moral und Anstand nichts bedeuten. Er stellt die Wissenschaft über alles. Wells ist ein großartiger Geschichtenerzähler, der den Leser mitnimmt, ihn durch die Geschichte trägt und ihn hier und dort zu einer Stellungnahme zwingt.
    • 5/5
      I really don't know why I keep thinking that Wells' stories aren't any good. Before much reading time had passed I was talking to the Spouse about how much more plausible and realistic the story was than I thought it was going to be. And also, his structure is good, how he brings the reader in, how information is revealed, how our narrator changes his opinion as he understands more. The story never went where I expected it to, either.

      Who anticipates being surprised by a hundred year old story that's been adapted to film I don't know how many times? An interesting read, entertaining, but also, one that doesn't raise issues and try to pass off easy answers.

      Personal copy.
    • 4/5
      In it's entirety, The Island of Dr. Moreau definitely kept my interest. But I don't think I would have rated it as highly as I have if it weren't for the last chapter (CH. 22: The Man Alone). I just fell for how aptly Wells was able to capture the results of Prendick's "adventure." Also, the very basis for the story, is infinitely intriguing. What really makes these 'beasts' monsters? The experiments, the pain, or the simple fact of the yoke of humanity being cast upon them? And, depending on your perspective, who is the real monster? The animalistic traits of the creations or the person trying so grotesquely to suppress/change them? As we see with Prendick, it's a bit more relative in a moment of human peril than most of us would tend to think. His monsters are formed by what's unknown to what seems the most dangerous at present. But the idea of monsters isn't extinguished in the escaping, they simply live on in new ways.
    • 4/5
      Audiobook performed by Robin Lawson This classic is set on a remote island somewhere in the South Pacific. The island is inhabited by Dr Moreau, a “mad” scientist bent on experimenting with the human / animal form, his assistant Montgomery, the stranded traveler Edward Prendick (who is our narrator), and a variety of strange creatures. I remember a commercial in the 1960s or ‘70s with the tag line “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” I cannot think of a more succinct way to describe the basic theme of this book. And yet, it is so much more – a strong, philosophical and ethical argument both for and against vivisection and experimentation. A moral tale of one man’s descent as a result of his ego, and how he is able to draw others into his twisted way of thinking. And yet, Wells clearly points out that Nature will have her way; that despite man’s meddling, Nature will win out. The journey on which Wells takes the reader to arrive at this conclusion is twisted, compelling, dark, and horrific. The tension is lessened by the story’s premise – a telling of what happened by the only survivor. Wells used a similar device in The Time Machine. Despite this, however, there is still considerable suspense. I was struck by some of the descriptions of procedures – at least one of which I know is currently performed by plastic surgeons specializing in facial reconstruction. In fact, I read such an operative report just a week before picking up this book!Robin Lawson does a fine job performing the audiobook. He has good pacing, and gives life to Edward Prendick’s telling of the story.
    • 2/5
      I didn't enjoy this book.

      But then, much like Lord of the Flies, I don't think it's a book you're supposed to enjoy.

      Suffice to say, I'm prepared to acknowledge that this probably was not the best book to start with on my foray into Well's writing.

      I thought it would be more appealing to me but it's more or less a white guy getting shipwrecked on an island plus the usual white scientist goes mad with power, island becomes a microcosm of the world, and so on, and so on.

      And I have to admit that it's getting difficult for me to read books that are as cold, as clinical and as masculine as this one is. It doesn't feel like a novel it just feels like a really long allegory.

      Of course this book is one of many written by Wells that has made a huge contribution to science fiction, but this book just isn't my thing. Doesn't mean I'm not willing to read other books by Wells, I just didn't like it.
    • 4/5
      The use of vivisection (experimentation on live animals) to create animal-human hybrids and the consequence of this. Not my favourite Wells. Book looks at our ability to create our own destruction and the inevitable degeneration of 'beasts' when not supervised by white men.
    • 4/5
      This is the first book I'm certain I've read by H.G. Wells. His writing is not exceptional. But when I had done with the book I had much the same feeling as when I have awoken from a very bad dream. It is a hard book to get out of your head, but I'm not really sure what it is about.