The Island of Dr. Moreau (Barnes & Noble Library of Essential Reading) »

"Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe," H. G. Wells once said. Widely revered as the father of science fiction, the English novelist, journalist, sociologist, and historian penned ominous -- and educated -- glimpses at humanity's possible future, including The Time Machine (1895), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).

When first published, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) shocked and horrified most of its readers and reviewers. Wells effectively employs disturbing elements to explore both the implications of evolutionary theory and to satirize modern society's religious institutions and its pride in its "civilization" - all through a story filled with suspense and adventure, capable of being read in a single page-turning sitting.

As with the other early "scientific romances" that initiated Wells' literary career, The Island of Dr. Moreau successfully integrates serious ideas into a story driven not only by fast-paced action but also by Wells' gift for placing the fantastic parts of the story in the realistically depicted world of his audience. Thus Wells offered the growing field of science fiction an important model as well as one of its most highly regarded examples.

About the Author:
H. G. Wells is most famous for being one of the godfathers of science fiction. His masterpieces include The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and The War of the Worlds. Born in 1866 in the small town of Bromley, England, to an impoverished family, Wells never forgot the hardships of his origin and wrote with the common man in mind.