The Invisible Man
H.G. Wells
I had to read this book in installments, and it truly is a shame. This book ties into itself incredibly well and its greatest strength is its vivid imagery. The book reads like a movie running through the reader's brain, which is particularly interesting given that its subject is an invisible man. Wells scores once again with his science fiction that seeks to wow his audience but which also provides interesting social commentary that is relevant and intriguing a century later.
At its core, the novel is the story of a man gone crazy at the thought of his own power. At first he is mysterious, and it is only towards the end of the novel that Griffin's true madness is revealed. Wells does a great job of creating an ambiguous narrative that does not force conclusions until it is sufficiently demonstrated that the man is indeed crazy. The only thing left to true ambiguity in the book is the cause of the madness- is Griffin mad because of the effects of his experiments or is he simply a power-hungry egoist, bent on destruction all along? Either way, he is compelling and it is sad when he eventually succumbs to his own evil desires.
Another quite interesting aspect of the narrative is its point of view. The narrator is first-person but occasionally exhibits omniscience. This makes the story accessible and lends to its aura of mystery. Had the story been told by an omniscent Wells, the plot would not have moved so deftly nor would it have stirred the senses so well. The fact that the narrator does not know the whole story makes the events seem more believable and puts the reader into his own position.
The most remarkable thing about Wells is his ability to be spot-on through the ages. Despite its age, The Invisible Man is still a compelling story. Tweak a few aspects of setting and language, and the story could take place today. The potential for expansion in the imagination of the reader is limitless. Wells's portrayal of a man driven mad by the scope of his own power and newfound ability is one we would be wise to look to today, as science crosses ever receding frontiers and threatens to make monsters and control-freaks of us all.
Grade: A
H.G. Wells
I had to read this book in installments, and it truly is a shame. This book ties into itself incredibly well and its greatest strength is its vivid imagery. The book reads like a movie running through the reader's brain, which is particularly interesting given that its subject is an invisible man. Wells scores once again with his science fiction that seeks to wow his audience but which also provides interesting social commentary that is relevant and intriguing a century later.
At its core, the novel is the story of a man gone crazy at the thought of his own power. At first he is mysterious, and it is only towards the end of the novel that Griffin's true madness is revealed. Wells does a great job of creating an ambiguous narrative that does not force conclusions until it is sufficiently demonstrated that the man is indeed crazy. The only thing left to true ambiguity in the book is the cause of the madness- is Griffin mad because of the effects of his experiments or is he simply a power-hungry egoist, bent on destruction all along? Either way, he is compelling and it is sad when he eventually succumbs to his own evil desires.
Another quite interesting aspect of the narrative is its point of view. The narrator is first-person but occasionally exhibits omniscience. This makes the story accessible and lends to its aura of mystery. Had the story been told by an omniscent Wells, the plot would not have moved so deftly nor would it have stirred the senses so well. The fact that the narrator does not know the whole story makes the events seem more believable and puts the reader into his own position.
The most remarkable thing about Wells is his ability to be spot-on through the ages. Despite its age, The Invisible Man is still a compelling story. Tweak a few aspects of setting and language, and the story could take place today. The potential for expansion in the imagination of the reader is limitless. Wells's portrayal of a man driven mad by the scope of his own power and newfound ability is one we would be wise to look to today, as science crosses ever receding frontiers and threatens to make monsters and control-freaks of us all.
Grade: A
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