I read THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU while on a plane over the Atlantic, and by the end, I was very, very pleased to be on the ground again because nobody wants to crash land on any of the tiny islands in literature.

I haven't read classics lately, so reading Wells was like reacquainting myself with an old room. All the tropes were just where I left them: the Romantic, fainting male protag, the gruesome science born out of isolation, the wondering about the role of compassion in scientific study, and post-Industrial Revolution man's struggle with nature. It was lovely to see them all used again. Almost comforting. That being said, nothing sparkled or stood out with me. Sure, as a writer, I understand how big an impact THE ISLAND and other of Wells' work was for scifi literature. I have a better idea of what's been done with island stories too. However, for me, living in a post-Wells world, nothing super revolutionary happened.

Wells' ability to fascinate, horrify, and ensnare readers doesn't change when the reader is out of high school though. If you're looking for a cozy, deft Victorian read, THE ISLAND OF DOCTOR MOREAU is a great choice, along with anything else by this master of scifi.