40.
Author(s): H. G. Wells
Title: The Island of Doctor Moreau
Publication: Paperback
Pages: 131
Genre: Scientific Romance (according to the original publishers, of course)
Acquisition: Work Text
Date Completed: April 30, 2011
Rating: *****

By sheer dumb luck Edward Prendick survives the sinking of the Lady Vain, and again by dumb luck manages to lose his two lifeboat companions, increasing his chances for survival with his limited supplies. Luck once again intervenes when, after several days without water, Prendick is pulled back from the point of death by a strange dark face and an eternally blond doctor, and these figures again save his rather hopeless existence when the captain of the savior boat casts Prendick overboard.

In the coming months Prendick comes to doubt that luck, however, as he finds himself isolated on an isolated island with the white Moreau, his scalpel, and the unfortunate results of eleven years of experimental vivisection.

Although authors such as Jules Verne predate Wells by decades, the creator of The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, and countless other famous tales is often credited with being the father of the science fiction genre. Originally called "scientific romance" for its emphasis on scientific theories and the fantastic, the genre was immediately successful, and Wells right along with it, despite a number of challenges for its occasionally questionable content.

The introduction to the Penguin Classics edition by Margaret Atwood provides a fantastic guide to moving through the work. As part of her introduction, Atwood introduces "Ten Ways of Looking at The Island of Doctor Moreau," which include everything from Darwinism, to religious implications, to an exploration of the New Woman, racism, and literary allusions. Her explanations are well-developed without being overly assertive, allowing the reader to make up his own mind as opposed to the validity of each argument. The introduction is particularly useful as I introduce Wells' novel in our introductory course, and I look forward to seeing how they respond once we open up the dialog.