The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells Narrator: Scott Brick
Published by Tantor Media on 2006 (first published 1897)
Source: Library
Genres: Classic, Science Fiction
Length: 6 hrs 14 mins
Format: Audiobook
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With his face swaddled in bandages, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses and his hands covered even indoors, Griffin the new guest at The Coach and Horses is at first assumed to be a shy accident-victim. But the true reason for his disguise is far more chilling: he has developed a process that has made him invisible, and is locked in a struggle to discover the antidote. Forced from the village, and driven to murder, he seeks the aid of an old friend, Kemp. The horror of his fate has affected his mind, however and when Kemp refuse to help, he resolves to wreak his revenge.
I expected The Invisible Man to be a horror novel, turns out it’s more science fiction. He’s not a monster, he’s just a man. Griffin is a genius scientist who used chemicals and electricity to turn himself invisible. However, after the years of research, when he finally figures out how to do it, it’s winter. Does he wait? No, he goes ahead and does it to himself, after testing the solution on a cat, and becomes invisible. Mind you, to not be seen, he has to be naked – in the cold – in England. While he may be brilliant, he is not the best planner.
I think I enjoyed The Invisible Man in part because I had no expectations. I knew it was about an invisible man, but I didn’t know anything about the plot. Needless to say, life as the invisible man is not easy. He’s isolated, often hungry and tired, he can’t trust anyone. When he finally finds someone he thinks can help him, he’s betrayed. But you can’t really feel sorry for him, because he is not a nice guy, even before he becomes the invisible man. After he turns invisible, he’s worse. He has a violent temper and is disdainful of other people. He seems to view the world as him versus the rest of society and is sure that he is better.
I do wonder if an invisible man who wasn’t psychotic would fair better these days than in the 1890s. The world is louder and more anonymous. You can have nearly anything delivered to your house without even needing to sign it and can make money on-line. You could still wreak terror if you so desired, but could be safer than he was and maybe even part of a mad scientist group chat.
About H.G. Wells
Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer. He was prolific in many genres, writing dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, satire, biography, and autobiography. He is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called a “father of science fiction”, along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback. During his own lifetime, however, he was most prominent as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. A futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of airplanes, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons, satellite television and something resembling the world wide web. His science fiction imagined time travel, alien invasion, invisibility, and biological engineering. His most notable science fiction works include The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898). He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.
H.G. Wells sure has written a lot of very strange books, especially The Island of Dr. Moreau. Very creepy!
This is the first of his I’ve read. I may have to pick up another next year.
This story is always so interesting to me.
I’m a bit embarrassed to say this is the first time I’ve read it, or any of his books.
I’ve never read this classic by Wells. I’m not fond of his books, but I can see how going into a book with no expectations can make the reading experience more enjoyable.
I’ve loved a few of his others but this wasn’t a favorite. Like you said he wasn’t all that likeable!