The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

Completed January 5, 2011

Reason for Reading: Sci-Fi Experience

'The stranger came early in February ... He was wrapped up from head to foot, and the brim of his soft felt hat hid every inch of his face but the shiny tip of his nose.' After being evicted by his innkeeper, the invisible man reveals his "secret" and escapes without being seen by anyone. This eerie beginning develops into the story behind the "disfigured stranger" as he is hunted through the English countryside.

I think it is the mark of a good book when it is late at night and you should be sleeping, but instead you want to find out what happens next. I think I needed some classic science-fiction in my life because I haven't read nearly as much of it as I would like. H.G. Wells was a good place to start. This was the type of book where you kept thinking 'What happens next?' I am not even sure why. Maybe because The Invisible Man was such a villain-ish character and I don't read enough books with really great egotistical, self-centred, crazy characters. It was a refreshing change and it was written so well. It was also like a mystery because while you knew from the title there was an invisible man involved; it was near the end of the book before everything was revealed.

Most of the science-fiction I read is of the Space Opera variety. I am a huge Trekkie, to be honest, and like to try and read books related to that series. This was different. It was fate that I read this book, though. While I was in the midst of it I paused to read The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Niffenegger and she actually got her inspiration for her story from a H.G. Well story. Then, we were having a movie night and the cc, without knowing what I was reading, decided he wanted to watch War

of the Worlds. It is weird how things line up like that.

Anyway, back to the book. This was a great late night read. It was fast-paced enough to keep me awake way later than I should have been. It caught you from the very first page because you don't know what to expect. A mysterious man shows up at an Inn and then strange things start to happen. They think that he is just severely disfigured, but we know that there is more to it than that. You just don't know how it happened or what to expect from him. You know he is rude from the very first, though. That's about it. Sometimes you can't help loving a villain because he is just so compelling in his personality. The Invisible Man is like that. You want to hate him, but at the same time you really feel for him. It's a strange situation. I was fascinated by his thought process and what lead him to one of the most amazing scientific discoveries out there.

So, without revealing any of the plot to a degree that can be considered spoilerish, I am glad I read this book and I look forward to more from H.G. Wells.