The Island of Dr. Moreau is a short novel by H. G. Wells.  The narrator is a man named Edward Prendick.  As the story begins, we learn that Prendick was a victim of a shipwreck.  He is eventually rescued and brought to a remote island.  On the island he meets Dr. Moreau, a scientist specializing in a practice called vivisection.  Vivisection is a type of surgery conducted for experimental purposes, typically on animals, to view their living internal structure.  Prendick comes to learn that Dr. Moreau’s experiments are not just for scientific research, but that something mysterious is happening on the island.

This book is a quick read, but worthwhile.  This is classic science fiction.  We have a mad scientist who has been ostracized by the scientific community because of his unconventional ideas.  He flees to an island where he can conduct his crazy experiments without interference.  Even though this is a short novel, I think the characters are well-developed.  The author creates an ominous feeling as we discover the extent of Dr. Moreau’s madness.  I enjoyed reading about Dr. Moreau’s wild creations, even though the details are somewhat grotesque and disturbing.  The chilling tone of this novel might be a bit unsettling for some people, but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a thrilling classic.

-Oliver H

The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells is available for checkout from the Mission Viejo Library.