I've heard of Jules Verne and his many adventure/sci fi novels forever, but since sci fi has never really been a genre I've warmed to, I've steered clear of them. However, I decided to rise to the challenge of the Back to the Classics challenge for 2016 and try to read something in both the adventure and sci fi categories. And, since 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea figured so prominently in All the Light We Cannot See, which I enjoyed so much in January, I decided to tackle it as my next classic.
I wish I could say that it has converted me to Victorian sci fi, but alas that is not the case. I found it tedious. Maybe I'm not just a creature of the deep, but hearing Professor Aronnax describe the weirdness under the sea, from Atlantis to giant attack squids to coral cemeteries to underwater volcanos, just didn't float my boat, so to speak.
What I really wanted was backstory and character development. I was so frustrated at the end to not hear why Captain Nemo abandoned land for the sea--we caught a tantalizing glimpse of a wife and children, but I have no idea what happened to them and how he first came to build the Nautilus, the submarine in which he and his crew circumnavigate the world under water. Who built it, when was it launched, who were the crew?
And then there's Ned Land--yes, he's a harpooner on whaling ships, but apart from being from Quebec and missing it, who is he? And Conseil, the professor's slavish servant--what's his story? Why is he so devoted to Aronnax?
It's a really a one-note story--we see another world, there are some adventures, and then Aronnax, Conseil, and Ned Land escape from the Nautilus. Talk about a let down!
While I was reading this, I kept on thinking that a really good annotated version might have made this more enjoyable. I think I would have enjoyed reading about what Verne got right with regards to his science and what was completely fabricated and off base. However, I'm not tempted to do another run-through with an annotated version. Too many other great books out there unread to do that.
I had been toying with the idea of reading Around the World in Eighty Days, but I think I've had my fill of Jules Verne.
Sorry to hear you weren't thrilled with this, but there's a plethora of sci-fi and fantasy novels out there. I hope you find something more to your liking. (Would recommend Margaret Atwood, she does good sci-fi too.)
ReplyDeleteI have never read this but I have wanted to for a long time.
ReplyDeleteToo bad that, based upon your commentary it is shallow. I think that a vague sense of this has kept me from actually reading Verne.
I love H.G. Wells and his early attempts at this genre. I have found that his novels were well worth it.
I couldn't get through this one either, I had an audio version a couple of years ago and it really dragged -- so many lists of undersea flora & fauna. It was as if Verne was determined to include EVERYTHING he found in his research.
ReplyDeleteAnd I quite enjoyed "Around the World in Eighty Days," which is really an adventure novel. I find adventure novels much better than early sci-fi. The adventure parts of "Journey to the Centre of the Earth" were much more interesting than the pseudo-science.
Just so you know, my education was as a marine biologist and I could barely get through this one! I don't think Verne is a good measuring stick for the genre because his books are so detailed and laborious to read. I wish I knew more Victorian sci-fi/adventure stories so I could recommend a better one! Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
ReplyDeleteIt's gratifying to know that I wasn't alone in finding 20,000 Leagues tedious. I read Dr. J and Mr. H a year or so ago and liked it somewhat.
ReplyDeleteUh-oh sounds like Jules Verne sank with you. I don't recall reading this one, though I've probably seen some parts of the old movie, with James Mason as Capt. Nemo and the Giant Squid. Apparently it's being re-made into a new movie in 2017. I kid you not.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the movie will have the backstory on the characters that I felt was missing from the book.
DeleteAround the World in Eighty Days was actually enjoyable, interesting, and humorous. Maybe you need to give Verne a rest, but don't pass up Eighty Days. Nothing sci-fi about it, that I recall.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I read this last year with my son Kile, but we read the "illustrated children's classics" edition. He loved the adventure, but I agree that there was not much character development. I have From the Earth to the Month on my classics list to read soon. It will be my first "real" Jules Verne that was not watered down for the kids.
ReplyDeleteWhile I was reading the book, I kept on wishing I was reading an illustrated children's classic. I think it would have been more fun with pictures!
DeleteWhile I was reading the book, I kept on wishing I was reading an illustrated children's classic. I think it would have been more fun with pictures!
DeleteI actually enjoyed the story itself, but the pages upon pages of the sea life descriptions really got to me.
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