October Reading Thread

[Stephen Palmer]

Any good?

So far, idiosyncratic and not a huge amount has been said. A curious book. Not bad, no... but curious.

 

[Toby Frost]

I read this fairly recently and was seriously horrified by the darkness that is revealed in human nature - specifically in the soul of Dr Moreau. It seemed to me that the author himself (as he 'observes' the horrors unfolding) is not particularly revolted. This led me to wonder whether our feelings about ethics have evolved (upwards) since the book was written - or whether he wants us to be horrified by what is within us. I'll be interested to hear your impressions.

I'm a huge fan of The Island of Doctor Moreau, particularly the way it packs so many ideas into such a small number of pages. It doesn't have a strong plot, really, and I suspect that the author's inactivity is a way of presenting the situation and ideas to the reader. Also, of course - as with the narrator of The War of the Worlds - he's seriously outgunned.

If I remember rightly, part of Dr Moreau was inspired by public outrage at the lack of animal cruelty laws. It also clearly wants the reader to think critically about ideas like religion, society and empire-building, so it's trying to have an ethical impact. We're definitely a more moral society than the Victorians, so I think we have evolved. I suppose Dr Moreau is asking the right sort of questions, even though the story doesn't really provide answers.

 

[Randy M.]

I read this fairly recently and was seriously horrified by the darkness that is revealed in human nature - specifically in the soul of Dr Moreau. It seemed to me that the author himself (as he 'observes' the horrors unfolding) is not particularly revolted. This led me to wonder whether our feelings about ethics have evolved (upwards) since the book was written - or whether he wants us to be horrified by what is within us. I'll be interested to hear your impressions.

I think Wells (and, oddly enough, Melville before him -- see "Benito Cereno," particularly its closing pages) learned that a reportorial voice can horrify when detailing events bluntly and dispassionately (see also his "Sea Raiders") and perhaps more so than an adjective-laden near-hysteria screed (looking at you Lovecraft, for all that I enjoy your stories).

So, while ethical considerations have changed with the times, I believe Moreau's satire of both scientific and religious extremism is meant to horrify.

 

[Orcadian]

... I suppose Dr Moreau is asking the right sort of questions, even though the story doesn't really provide answers.

Yes, I suppose my revulsion can be re-cast as questions: what gives us the right to treat animals like this, what is the effect on the human soul of behaving thus; what right do we have to see ourselves as superior to animals; how should we view and treat people who perpetrate such atrocities?

And of course a story that DID provide answers would come over as paternalistic or sanctimonious. (There are a great many films that I find heavy-handed, in that you are being told what right-thinking people shoud feel, think and do. Sometimes I feel like saying "Ok, got that." "No really, I get it." )

 

[Orcadian]

I think Wells (and, oddly enough, Melville before him -- see "Benito Cereno," particularly its closing pages) learned that a reportorial voice can horrify when detailing events bluntly and dispassionately (see also his "Sea Raiders") and perhaps more so than an adjective-laden near-hysteria screed (looking at you Lovecraft, for all that I enjoy your stories).

I agree with you that the remote, reportorial voice has greater impact than the overwrought one of the emotional witness. Less is more. Interestingly, I did sense the narrator's horror (though it becomes eclipsed by fear). But Wells himself seemed coldly dispassionate. Perhaps we should attribute that to his skill as a writer.

So, while ethical considerations have changed with the times, I believe Moreau's satire of both scientific and religious extremism is meant to horrify.

Before reading your remarks I thought of satire as 'cutting but humorous' - and the story seemed too dark for humour of any kind. But I have just looked up the definition of 'satire', which reads 'the use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues'. So satire is spot on.

 

[Toby Frost]

I suppose in Dr Moreau, it's the setup and Moreau's own conversations that form the centre of the book, rather than the plot. The big revelations are probably

Spoiler

"There are human/animal hybrids on the island" and "The hybrids started off as animals, not people"

. Everything falling apart is perhaps inevitable, although a more modern version might have the hero leading the hybrids in a revolt. The ideas do horrify, perhaps more than the action.

The Handmaid's Tale and 1984 are generally seen as satire, and they're pretty low on jokes, but would both work as "exaggerations".

EDIT: Ages ago I did a review of Dr Moreau for Fantasy Faction, HERE

 

[Randy M.]

I suppose in Dr Moreau, it's the setup and Moreau's own conversations that form the centre of the book, rather than the plot. The big revelations are probably "There are human/animal hybrids on the island" and "The hybrids started off as animals, not people". Everything falling apart is perhaps inevitable, although a more modern version might have the hero leading the hybrids in a revolt. The ideas do horrify, perhaps more than the action.

The Handmaid's Tale and 1984 are generally seen as satire, and they're pretty low on jokes, but would both work as "exaggerations".

EDIT: Ages ago I did a review of Dr Moreau for Fantasy Faction, HERE

This novel is unnerving rather than horrific,...

I like that, and it applies to a lot of the horror fiction I like. I think the book remains readable not just because Wells chose a plain, unadorned style of writing, but because his observations of science, religion, and people and their society remains accurate almost one hundred and fifty years later.

 

[Orcadian]

I suppose in Dr Moreau, it's the setup and Moreau's own conversations that form the centre of the book, rather than the plot. The big revelations are probably <>

Just wondering if that bit <> ought to be flagged 'spoiler'?

 

[Toby Frost]

Good point!

 

[Randy M.]

Before reading your remarks I thought of satire as 'cutting but humorous' - and the story seemed too dark for humour of any kind. But I have just looked up the definition of 'satire', which reads 'the use of humour, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues'. So satire is spot on.

Yeah, "satire" is a bit slippery. We're taught early on to view it as a form of comedy, which it is sometimes, like The Great Dictator or Duck Soup, but not always. When the gloves come off, it's often uncomfortable and not amusing.

 

[Danny McG]

Before reading your remarks I thought of satire as 'cutting but humorous

I don't get this fuss over the Scottish flag tbh

 

[AE35Unit]

Finishing the H. G. Wells omnibus with The First Men in the Moon, a book that at first may seem silly yet he seems to be predicting super conductors. A substance that when cooled resists gravity.
Its my favourite of the 4 'books' in the omnibus, because it has that element often missing, fun!

 

[AE35Unit]

I read this fairly recently and was seriously horrified by the darkness that is revealed in human nature - specifically in the soul of Dr Moreau. It seemed to me that the author himself (as he 'observes' the horrors unfolding) is not particularly revolted. This led me to wonder whether our feelings about ethics have evolved (upwards) since the book was written - or whether he wants us to be horrified by what is within us. I'll be interested to hear your impressions.

I wasnt horrified by it at all, in fact I found it rather tedious, like the Time Machine.

 

[Orcadian]

Finishing the H. G. Wells omnibus with The First Men in the Moon, a book that at first may seem silly...

Saw the film aged 10 and thought it was easily the most exciting thing I'd ever seen - even quite tense in places! Ah, we were easily amused in those days.

 

[dask]

Currently reading Carl Jacobi’s collection Revelations In Black. In the story “The Canal” he makes reference to a “matrilated dome.” I’ve google it and yahooed it and consulted several dictionaries (online) and the results are all basically the same:

Anyone know what matrilated means or what word Carl Jacobi might have been striving for?

 

[Dave Vicks]

PAYBACK IN DEATH, 2009,JD Robb
Mystery.

 

[hitmouse]

Currently reading Carl Jacobi’s collection Revelations In Black. In the story “The Canal” he makes reference to a “matrilated dome.” I’ve google it and yahooed it and consulted several dictionaries (online) and the results are all basically the same:View attachment 111528
Anyone know what matrilated means or what word Carl Jacobi might have been striving for?

The only architectural word that springs to mind is machicolated, but that applies to fortifications rather than domes.

 

[Danny McG]

Saw the film aged 10 and thought it was easily the most exciting thing I'd ever seen - even quite tense in places! Ah, we were easily amused in those days.

When I took my missus to watch Titanic years ago she was like swooning over DiCaprio and I was kind of blinking at the screen.
"Why does this seem familiar?"
And then I realised it was similar to First Men in the Moon - explorers find some old evidence and track down an aged person who was there and can give them a backstory.

 

[Toby Frost]

"Matriculated" means to be enrolled at a college or university. Could it be that the dome was part of a college building?

 

[Orcadian]

"Matriculated" means to be enrolled at a college or university. Could it be that the dome was part of a college building?

?? Not with you, @Toby Frost.