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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

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Subtitle: Direct in Ninety-Seven Hours and Twenty Minutes : and a Trip Round It ; Round the Moon : a Sequel to From the Earth to the MoonGeneral Books publication date: 2009Original publication date: 1905Original Publisher: C. Scribner's SonsSubjects: Fiction / Action ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Remarkable!
With the end of the American Civil War, the Baltimore Gun Club (dedicated to artillery pieces) sinks into depression as its expertise is no longer needed. However, salvation comes when the president of the Club, Impey Barbacane, challenges the Club to use its artillery expertise to launch a manned vehicle to the Moon. It's the kind of challenge that no American can resist, and soon the world is treated to the very first attempt to leave the Earth.

Jules Verne, that master of early science-fiction first published this remarkable book in 1865, and it is amazing how many of Verne's ideas found their echo in the real space program of 100 years later. Verne places his three(!) intrepid explorers in a "cylindro-conical" projectile that was quite close in size to the Apollo Command Module, the launch structure was built in Florida, and more. Indeed, for its time, this book must have been viewed as as much a work of science as fiction - the author went to great lengths to explain the science behind his proposed flight system.

Now, admittedly, the science behind Verne's cannon-fire launch system is HEAVILY flawed, and it never could have worked. But, considering the scientific knowledge of the day, the wonder is that the book is so logical and realistic. And even more, the story is often humorous and always entertaining. If you want to read a really entertaining work of paleo-science-fiction, then get this book, you will not be disappointed!

Great On Kindle
I am a 12-year-old girl and I am really into astronomy and math and science and I'd have to say that this is a great and educational read if you are someone like me. Oh an it's also a great version (inexpensive, too!) to read on my Kindle2.

From the Earth to the Moon - teacher's prespective
This is a terrific book for middle to high school students.It relates directly to aerospace education and provides many cross curricular applications in math, science, and language arts.

Free SF Reader
Unfortunately, From the Earth to the Moon always struck me as being on the rather dull side, so it took me a while to get through it the first time I read it.I can't really recommend this to many, except perhaps those interested in the history of science fiction, or really big Verne fans.The story of the first trip to Earth's satellite.

A Science Fiction Classic
Jules Verne, the father of science fiction, made several predictions
that came true in this book.The book is exciting from cover to cover.
It deserves more credit than it seems to be getting.It was written over
one hundred years ago.I would recommend this book to any science fiction
fan.Danny Fleming, author of How to Prove The Collatz Conjecture. ... Read more

Product Description
Jules Verne (1828-1905) est un écrivain français, dont une grande partie de l'oeuvre est consacrée à des romans d'aventures et de science-fiction (appelés du temps de Jules Verne romans d'anticipation) comme Le Voyage au Centre de la Terre (1864) et Vingt Mille Lieues Sous les Mers (1869). Il fait ses études de rhétorique et de philosophie au Lycée de Nantes, (actuel Lycée Clémenceau) puis des études de droit après le baccalauréat. Il commence à écrire, des poèmes, une tragédie en vers. Il va terminer son droit à Paris en novembre 1848, bien plus intéressé par le théâtre. Il y fait la connaissance d'Alexandre Dumas, qui accepte de monter sa pièce Les Pailles Rompues, en 1850, dans son Théâtre-Historique, où elle y est jouée douze fois. Jules Verne publie ses premières nouvelles dans la revue Le Musée des Familles: Les Premiers Navires de la Marine Mexicaine et Un Drame dans les Airs en 1851. En 1852, Il est engagé comme secrétaire au Théâtre- Lyrique. Il publie Maître Zacharius (1854), Un Hivernage dans les Glaces (1855) et Martin Paz (1874). ... Read more

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Les voyages extraordinaires. ... Read more

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Take a journey of imagination.

In this all-time favorite, Phileas Fogg and his manservant set out to win a wager by travelling around the world in 80 days. They embark on a fantastic, action-packed journey into a world filled with danger and beauty, from India to the American frontier. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Language Itself is a Destination
This book was originally published as episodes in Le Temps in 1873, and they became an immediate sensation.And in a case of life imitating art, the episodes' actual readers wagered on the outcome.The story has protagonist, Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman of comfortably sedentary habits, making a spontaneous wager with other members of his club as to his ability to circumnavigate the globe in eighty days or less.Mind you, the first steam-powered vessel had been launched only thirty years earlier, and steam was still considered auxiliary to sail power.Dependence on the wind for powering ships made the timing of arrival dates quite iffy, and multiple rail and ship connections were a certain source of delay and frustration.For a gentleman to wager what amounted to half of his life savings on the complete avoidance of such delays would have, in those days, amounted to lunacy.It was only with some difficulty that Fogg prevailed on his wagering counterparties to take the bet, since they too were gentlemen.

With twenty-twenty hindsight, many of these late nineteenth century science fiction stories look remarkably droll, and for a modern reader to share the excitement of the original audience, something akin to science fiction is absolutely essential - transporting ourselves back 136 years.Imagine being a resident of a small town anywhere in Europe, and being suddenly hoisted by the power of compellingly written fiction to the back of an elephant in the Indian jungle.Imagine strolling around the streets of Yokohama and joining a band of wandering performers.Imagine fighting off Sioux warriors from the windows of a speeding train.Perhaps imagining being accosted by a Mormon missionary wouldn't be quite so difficult for the modern reader, since that, at least, hasn't changed since the author's day.

But it is not only science, and not only geographic and cultural literacy which has advanced over the intervening century.The craft of fiction has advanced to the point that Jules Verne's narrative in a streaming passive voice makes the book seem antiquarian to a degree that its archaic world view doesn't.The reader willingly suspends disbelief regarding character and plot, but more than an occasional abuse of the passive voice is difficult for the modern reader to accept.It dates the book in a way that the headlining of steam power doesn't.

The reason, though, that the story survives in our imaginations is Jules Verne's exceptional ability to create and maintain tension from page to page.Phileas Fogg gets two days ahead of his schedule, and we eagerly anticipate the setbacks which we know must thwart his program.He gets two days "behindhand," becomes separated from his travelling companions, and we churn with anxiety lest he miss his next critical connection.

The careful reader will find facts and figures which date the book, and only add to its charm, e.g., "Everybody knows...that India has a population of one hundred and eighty million souls."This must have seemed incredible to an England with a population of twenty-two million, but it pales beside the current population, 1.1 billion, a number which science fiction could never have attempted without ridicule.A very brief reference to Chicago, as "already risen from its ruins" places the book one year after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.And while the breadth of Verne's cultural literacy is remarkable for the time, he does manage to get some facts wrong, e.g., the "mangos" he describes are certainly "mangosteens," based on his detailed description.

For a reader of the classics, "Around the World in Eighty Days" is mandatory.For a modern jet-setter, it is a delight.For a student of the history of English literature, the language itself is a destination.

Jules Verne's Guide to Successful Project Management
I just read Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. Besides a great book and a fun read, I found there to be a number of principles in there that are useful for managing and executing any project or undertaking. Without giving away too much of the book if you haven't yet read it, here it goes:

1) Singleness of purpose: Phileas Fogg had one goal in mind. It was not to tour the world and learn about new cultures. It was to win the bet with the Reform Club that he could circumnavigate the globe in 80 days or less. Granted he may have missed out on some chances to learn a new language or receive insight into the way others live, but that was not his goal and he knew it.

2) Availability of resources: It's true that money can't buy you love but it can buy a heckuva lot of other things! Having the cash that he did bailed him and Passapourt out of many a jam throughout their adventure. You should always count the cost before taking on any venture in terms of financial and human resources.

3) Keep a cool head: If Phileas Fogg was nothing else it was unflappable, composed, self-possessed, and cool-as-a-cucumber. No matter what the obstacle, he never lost his composure. Bringing a project in on time and within budget means dealing with all of the issues that come up with coolness, logic, and good decision-making.

4) Openess to risk: Phileas Fogg was willing ot risk his entire venture to save the woman Auoda from death. He was not reckless, however! He was able to work himself into a position to take this risk by getting ahead of schedule where he could afford to try and save the woman. Success in this venture leads to one of the greatest benefits of the entire voyage although he does not know it at the time.

5) Expect the unexpected: Early in the tale when confronted with all the uncertainties involved in his proposed endeavor, Phileas states simply that "The unforeseen does not exist." What he means is that every roadblock can be anticipated with enough foresight. Likewise, we can use careful planning to mitigate many of the possible pitfalls for any given project we undertake.

A great exercise would be to have your young reader (11 or older) read the book and see if they can pull any of these principles out and use it as a discussion starter. Enjoy Jules' fun classic of adventure!!

A TIMELESS CLASSIC


Anyone having seen the movie of the 1950's starring David Niven will be quite familiar with this novel from Jules Verne. None-the-less, the story is a pleasure to read whether one knows the outcome or not.

Jules Verne had wanted to be a writer from childhood but to please his parents (his father was a lawyer) studied to become a lawyer. Trying to combine the requirements of the law and the desires of his heart, he worked for awhile as a lawyer while writing, but eventually switched over to full time writing.

He began to write books of adventure and daring, which led to a string of books some have called 'extraordinary voyages', which include Voyage Around the World, Five Weeks In A Balloon, Journey To The Center Of The Earth, and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.One of the later novels in this long series was the present novel, written from a serious viewpoint but also with touch of comedy, an element previously unknown in the writings of Jules Verne. He confessed to picking up the idea of the story while in a cafe, that it was now possible (1872) to travel around the world in 80 days. With the writing of this novel, Jules Verne, wrote the most popular novel of any of his many books; and to this day, the book remains a classic.One of the unusual features of the story is the manner in which Verne uses, as did Edgar Allen Poe earlier, the international date line to have a major influence on the outcome of the story.

One of the more surprising facts of Jules Verne's life is that he did not travel, even living in Paris amounted to too much noise and busy activity, so he moved north of the city 80 miles or so to his wife's hometown of Amiens, there to live out the remainder of his life in peace and quiet. The closest he got to any travel was the railroad that daily ran past his house.Yes, the author of so many travel and adventure stories never, ever, went traveling himself. So if you read that this most popular novel of his is an armchair adventure book, you can believe it. For its author never ventured forth, with only a couple exceptions, from his armchair either!

Semper Fi. ... Read more

Product Description
This Kindle book includes the complete text of 30 books in the original French: 20,000 Lieues sous les Mers, L'Archipel en Feu, Autour de la Lune, Aventures du Capitaine Hatteras, Un Billet de Loterie, Le Chateau des Carpathes, Cinq Cents Millions de la Begume, Cinq Semaine en Ballon, Le Docteur Ox, Les Enfants du Captaine Grant, Face au Drapeau, L'Ile Mysterieuse, Les Indes Noires, La Jangada, Keraban-le-Tetu, L'Ile a Helice, La Maison a Vapeur, Michel Strogoff, Mistress Branican, Nord Contre Sud, Le Pays des Fourrures, Le Pilote du Danube, Robur le Conquerant, Sans Dessus Dessous, Le Tour du Monde en Quatre-Vingts Jours, Les Tribulations d'un Chinois en Chine, Le Village Aerien, Une Ville Flottante, Voyage au Centre de la Terre.According to Wikipedia: "Jules Gabriel Verne (February 8, 1828 – March 24, 1905) was a French author who pioneered the science-fiction genre. He is best known for his novels Journey to the Center of the Earth (written in 1864), From the Earth to the Moon (1865), Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (1869–1870), and Around the World in Eighty Days (1873). Verne wrote about space, air, and underwater travel before navigable aircraft and practical submarines were invented, and before any means of space travel had been devised. Consequently he is often referred to as the "Father of science fiction", along with H. G. Wells.[1] Verne is the second most translated author of all time, only behind Agatha Christie with 4162 translations..." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

French literature IN FRENCH???
The title says "in French" and the other reviews say it's in French, but I downloaded it, and it's IN ENGLISH. Not sure what happened here, but I don't want it in English - I want it in FRENCH!!! I guess I'll go to Gutenberg.

too many typos
Not worth the purchase. Far too many spelling mistakes (it seems to have been scanned from printed books). Some words are separated with hyphens in the middle of the line. Many ii/iL/LL combinations are wrong, lots of accents missing. Same applies to other editions in the Classic Literature series. Just a rip off. Get all the books free and without the errors on the Gutenberg Project website.

Few typos but so cool
There are a few typos (mostly missing spaces between two words) but otherwise, this is a good buy. Jules Verne is really one of the best French writer and having the possibility to read it in French on the Kindle is very handy.
Please note than though it's one of the most famous novel of Jules Verne, De la Terre à la Lune (From Earth to Moon) is not included even though the second part is. But other than that, it's a must have for all French speakers and fans of early scientific novels!

A great buy!
This is a very good buy if you can read French. For only one dollar you get 30 books by Jules Verne! His books are very good although it gets a wee bit boring at sometimes. The file is very big and 30 books is alot when you think about it!
I recommend everyone who speaks French to buy it! Enchantant! ... Read more

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This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

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This volume includes all of Verne’s earlier stories as he himself thought worth preserving. These he gathered in later years, and had some of them reissued by his Paris publishers.

"A Drama in the Air," was, as Verne himself tells us, his first published story. It appeared soon after 1850 in a little-known local magazine called the "Musée des Familles." The tale, though somewhat amateurish, is very characteristic of the master’s later style. In it we can see, as it were, the germ of all that was to follow, the interest in the new advances of science, the dramatic story, the carefully collected knowledge of the past, the infusion of instruction amid the excitement of the tale.

Similarly we find "A Winter in the Ice" to be a not unworthy predecessor of The Adventures of Captain Hatteras and all the author’s other great books of adventure in the frozen world. Here, at the first attempt, a vigorous and impressive story introduces us to the northland, thoroughly understood, accurately described, vividly appreciated and pictured forth in its terror and its mystery.

"The Pearl of Lima" opens the way to all those stories of later novelists wherein some ancient kingly race, some forgotten civilization of Africa or America, reasserts itself in the person of some spectacular descendant, tragically matching its obscure and half-demoniac powers against the might of the modern world. "The Mutineers" inaugurates our author’s favorite geographical device. It describes a remarkable and little-known country by having the characters of the story travel over it on some anxious errand, tracing their progress step by step.

Thus, of these five early tales, "The Watch’s Soul" is the only one differing sharply from Verne’s later work. It is allegorical, supernatural, depending not upon the scientific marvels of the material world, but upon the direct interposition of supernal powers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Classic is the term
If you are a fan of Jules verne writings, you don't want to miss this classic ... Read more

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THE LITERARY DISCOVERY OF THE CENTURY

In 1863 Jules Verne, famed author of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, wrote a novel that his literary agent deemed too farfetched to be published. More than one hundred years later, his great-grandson found the handwritten, never-before published manuscript in a safe. That manuscript was Paris in the Twentieth Century, an astonishingly prophetic view into the future by one of the most renowned science fiction writers of our time . . . ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Review of Paris in the Twentieth Century
I have so much I want to talk about when it comes to this book I don't even know where to begin.

Paris in the Twentieth Century is, like all Jules Verne's books, a very detailed, scientific story - technology and advancements take first place, with the story coming second. Don't get me wrong though, I love reading Verne's books - but they are dry reading at times.The overflow of information, not only on technological advancements, but Parisian names and places set my head spinning at times.But, like I do with all of his books, I just let the information flow through and - for the sake of my sanity - do not worry about keeping a grasp on it.

Paris in the Twentieth Century is the story of Michele, a teenage boy who wishes to be a poet.Jules Verne depicts 1960 Paris as a place where art has fallen in favor of science and math.The classics are lost, poets are shunned, musicians are encouraged to write pieces that sound as if you are sitting on a piano keyboard (fascinating in itself to me because.. have your heard some of these modern compositions today?).Michele is a long-haired hippy - he struggles living in a home with no imagination (bankers) and longs for a girl he cannot hope to support as a starving artist.

The real marvel of this book is Verne's description of what was to come in the 20th Century.He wrote this book in 1963 and his publisher rejected it as being too radical.His great-grandson found the book in the 90's and submitted it to be published.Reading the book now, as a historical novel, it's a wonder to me that he stopped at 1960 because what he was describing could easily apply to today.

Verne speaks of machines that transmit via telephony entire facsimile's of pages.He speaks of huge department stores, streets lit up as brightly as the son, hotels that can lodge thousands of people.He speaks of train systems prominent in cities today, he envisioned The Eiffel Tower, only as a brightly light lighthouse standing high in Paris (the tower was built 1887 - 1889 - more than twenty years after Verne wrote this book).He even describes a large ledger detailing the banks calculations and sums that stands high and broadcasts them to the bank.

But Verne does not stop at technology.He describes our apathy toward one another, our rush to get things done instead of slowing down to enjoy life. He talks about what little appreciation we have for the wonders around us and tells a tragic story of what life will be like should we lose all that gives us pleasure, art, music, poetry included in these losses.

This book was not a huge investment of time.It's barely 200 pages long.The chapters are short and manageable.Even if you are not a science fiction fan, I encourage you to check it out and to hopefully experience the feeling of wonder I felt as I read about things predicted by a man who must have been a real thrill to speak to.

The Original Editor Had It Right
I don't know which book previous reviewers read (and gave it 4 stars) but this novel is truly awful!!! The original editor buried it and there it should have stayed. Unfortunately, someone has decided to capitalise on Jules Vernes reputation to make a fast buck. Representation of this poor work casts neither in a good light.

Not much positive to say about it other than the fact he got a few predictions right. However, the literary construction around these ideas was very poor. Thankfully a short read.

Intriguing, but flawed narrative
While this work is intriguing in its predictions that have or have not been proven, as an actual story it's weak. Neither the plot nor the characterization is compelling, and it stands as a work that few would read if Verne's name wasn't attached to it. Recommended for a completionist scifi reader who wants to check out an early dystopian reflection, but there are a lot of better books available.

Jules Verne - Visionary Prophet
If you are a Jules Verne fan, this recently (1989) discovered novel, written at the beginning of Verne's career (1863), rejected by his publisher, and found in a locked safe by his great-grandson, is a must read.

Although Verne's later works (Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, Around the World in Eighty Days) contain numerous examples of his uncanny knack for prediction, such as modern space, air, and sea travel in rockets, airplanes, and submarines, no other work of his combines all these elements along with a prophetic description of modern industrial, capitalist society, and its attendant anomie and atomisation of the individual.

Set nearly one hundred years in the future from the date of its writing, the protagonist, 16-year old Michel Dufrenoy, has recently graduated with honors from a Parisian college with a major in classic literature in a world where classic art and literature have been forgotten, and only scientists, engineers, and accountants are valued and can find work.

In this remarkably prescient novel, Verne accurately and in amazing detail foresees a modern, technologically advanced Paris of the 1960's. Its citizens ride in gasoline powered automobiles and pneumatic subways, live and work in modern apartment buildings and skyscrapers, and use electric lights, fax machines, air conditioning, the Internet, television, and calculators. Verne mentions a structure remarkably similar to the Eiffel Tower fourteen years before its construction and, in what must be his most eerily precise prediction, a geometric centerpiece for the courtyard of the Louvre Museum, which would not be added until 1989.

The novel, written when Verne was 35, parallels his own early career. Dufrenoy is obviously based upon Verne himself, and represents Verne's own fears and frustrations as a young writer, when he abandoned the path his father had set for him as a lawyer and took up writing and theater instead.

Perhaps the best aspect of the work is Verne's description of a modern, technologically advanced, materially prosperous and peaceful society plagued by shallow relationships between individuals, trashy and lowbrow mass entertainment, and the marginalization of those whom society has deemed, due to their more romantic and bohemian notions and tastes, unfit for participation in the larger culture.

Interesting, but Unexpected
Jules Verne's Paris in the Twentieth Century, hailed and widely publicized as "The Lost Novel" when it was discovered in 1989 and published in English in 1994, is valuable to the history of science fiction literature, but is not necessarily what one would expect from a Jules Verne novel.This particular text was written in 1863 and submitted for publication following the success of Verne's first published story, Five Weeks in a Balloon.His publisher, Pierre-Jules Hetzel, rejected the novel on the basis that it presented such a pessimistic view of the future that it would only harm the author's growing reputation as the writer of exciting adventure stories.

Paris in the Twentieth Century is certainly dystopic in nature.It presents a future world replete with technology, but devoid of culture.In fact, artists, writers, musicians, and other scholars as we know them today have no place in this highly structured, government controlled society.Our protagonist, the teenaged Michel Dufrenoy, fits into this category.He worships at the altar of the great French writers and philosophers of old, but the names of his gods are virtually unknown and entirely unimportant in the world of the future.Unfortunately, the character of Michel remains relatively undeveloped throughout the text: from his introduction, through his continued disillusionment, and finally his melodramatic "death" in a cemetery, he grows little and entertains less.The plot is also unlike the plots of other Verne works; this book does not have much in the way of action, and doesn't present the sort of adventurous journey that we have come to expect from Verne through his other works, like Journey to the Center of the Earth or Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

However, the text is perhaps unintentionally made more interesting through the accuracy of Verne's predictions of future technology.Among other things, Verne describes gasoline-powered automobiles, a public metro system with elevated trains, computer-like devices, global communication networks similar to the Internet, military weapons, public electric lighting, commercial advertising, global financial markets, fax machines . . . the list goes on and on, even including predictions of modern electronic music.While there are certainly some elements that miss the mark (pianos that convert to both dining tables and commodes?), Verne produces a vision of the future that, from the modern perspective, is largely believable.Overall, Paris in the Twentieth Century is worth a read, not only for Verne fans and science fiction buffs, but also for anyone who is interested in the development of the modern novel and the portrayal of the artist repressed by his society. ... Read more

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Two complete books by Jules Verne: From Earth to the Moon & Round the Moon. Please visit www.PhoenixPick.com for more great sci-fi at great prices. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review of From the Earth to the Moon- Tommy
"From the Earth to the Moon" by Jules Verne was an excellent book.It had many very funny parts, and if you can get past the old language, there were a lot of interesting ideas and actions in the book.In "From the Earth to the Moon," the leader of the Gun Club, Barbicane, had a wonderful idea of sending a cannon ball to the moon.Everything gets crazy though, when adventurous Michael Arden volenteers to ride in the cannon ball to the moon."From the Earth to the Moon" is a well-written book by the popular author, Jules Verne, and I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. ... Read more

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HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.'The sea is everything. It covers seven tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert, where man is never lonely, for he feels life stirring on all sides.'Scientist Pierre Aronnax and his colleagues set out on an expedition to find a strange sea monster and are captured by the infamous and charismatic Captain Nemo and taken abroad the Nautilus submarine as his prisoners. As they travel the world's oceans, they become embroiled in adventures and events beyond their wildest dreams. Visionary in its outlook, Vern's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a legendary science fiction masterpiece. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (197)

"It is not new continents the earth needs, but new men"
20,000 League Under the Sea begins with the world's seas being menaced by an unknown force.After several shipwrecks, the Abraham Lincoln is dispatched to kill what the world believes to be some kind of animal.After a battle with the "creature", the three main characters, Professor Aronnax, his servant/research assistant Conseil, and Canadian "King of the Harpooners" Ned Land are swept overboard. When they awake, they find that they are prisoners aboard the Nautilus, a submersible vessel under the command of the mysterious Captain Nemo and his equally enigmatic crew.

Captain Nemo refuses to allow the three men to leave his ship, but otherwise treats them well.They are allowed the run of the ship and Professor Aronnax soon becomes quite taken with the research opportunities afforded to him by the submarine.His assistant Conseil is happy to do whatever his master wishes, but Ned Land becomes increasingly agitated and determined to escape as the story progresses.Dominating the tale is the figure of Captain Nemo, a man who has forsworn his allegiances to country and humanity to command his own destiny under the world's seas and oceans.

The Nautilus takes the men on many strange and exciting adventures.Verne peppers the story with scientific detail.It's mostly fascinating, although the multiple listings of fish, fauna, and flora can become cumbersome at times.The novel is at its best when Aronnax is wrestling with the mystery of Captain Nemo and his motives, as well as his own conflicting desires to remain on the Nautilus and explore the reaches of the deep or to join Ned Land's quest for freedom.

Stirring in places, the story of Captain Nemo and his amazing undersea vessel shouldn't be missed by any fan of science fiction/fantasy.After all, Verne helped create the genre.The version of the novel I purchased was the Signet Classic series translated by Mendor T. Brunetti, who also provides a foreword.Walter James Miller provides a fascinating afterward concerning the inaccuracies of previous translations.

A disappointing read for the 21st century
This book is a classic. No question. That's why I chose to read it. When it came out in the 1860s, it was science fiction and gripped the imaginations of many. A ship that could travel under the water! But reading it in 2010, much of the novelty of the book has been realized. We have had submarines for nearly a century.

But even aside from that, there is little plot to the novel. It reads as if it were written by a committee at National Geographic. It's a survey of all the unique items and places in the world's oceans. The little plot there is involves the protagonist trying to escape from the ship. And the ending (not to ruin it...) is a total cop-out and disappointing.

I was hoping this book would stand the test of time, like The Time Machine or even Around the World in 80 Days. But I found it a rather boring and drudging read.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Books of Wonder)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (Books of Wonder)is one of my favourite books of all time. Verne has managed to writing an intriguing, invigorating and adventure-filled adventure that also delves into questions morality and religion. Verne's love of science and technology is a leading theme through out the book and one gets a lesson in the marine-life as it was known during his lifetime. The illustrations by the Dillon's are certainly a work of art to bestow and admire. The afterword by Peter Glassman is very well-written and informative. I can highly recommend this book to readers of all ages and I gave this amazing classic a strong 5/5. 5/5.

Can't understand why this is a classic
Started off with a bang, but then got bogged down with endless description of the scenery. I guess no one ever told Verne to show rather than tell.

Captain Nemo went away
Submarines as we know them didn't exist in 1869. But Jules Verne had an almost eerily prophetic knack for knowing what technology would be used in the future -- and he put it to work in "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea," a slow-moving adventure tale with plenty of proto-steampunk and almost fantastical undersea life.

Ships in the middle of the ocean are suddenly seeing -- and being attacked by -- "a long object, spindle-shaped, occasionally phosphorescent, and infinitely larger and more rapid in its movements than a whale."

Eventually the US government sends out a ship to capture the object, and during a sea battle Professor Aronnax, his manservant Conseil and harpooner Ned Land go overboard. Soon they're picked up by the Nautilus, the vast submarine that has been causing all this trouble, and introduced to Captain Nemo -- an intelligent, charismatic man who belongs to no nation.

Aronnax becomes fascinated by Nemo, his ship and his library -- as well as the amazing underwater adventures that Nemo introduces them to, like pearl-hunting and fighting a giant squid. But the captain's free, lawless life has its dark side, and the three men begin to realize that they must get away from the Nautilus no matter what.

It's actually rather amazing that Jules Verne not only dreamed up the idea of a semi-modern submarine long before they existed, but thought out the applications, the stealth, and the vast size. And since nothing like the Nautilus existed at the time, there's a slightly fantastical, steampunk flavor to "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."

And as usual, Verne painstakingly studies everything about his imagined world, filling it with science (although he obviously didn't know about water/air pressure) and lovely descriptions of the Nautilus and the eerie underwater world (giant oysters, forests, Atlantis). The only flaw is that he tends to ramble on about exact measurements and travel details; there are boring patches here and there.

But Captain Nemo is probably one of Verne's most fascinating characters -- a charismatic, embittered man who is a sort of noble sea pirate. He does some stuff that is totally unacceptable (sinking a random warship), but he also has little spurts of kindness and generosity towards poor and powerless peoples of the world. He's scary but fascinating.

Giant submarines, charismatic pirates and an undersea world just waiting to be explored -- "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" is a fascinating sci-fi classic, if you can get past the dull patches. ... Read more

Product Description
An exploration of how Jules Verne used his writings to encrypt important Masonic and Rosicrucian secrets and sacred symbolism

• Investigates Verne’s connections to the prominent secret societies of his time: Freemasons, Golden Dawn, Angelic Society, and Rosicrucians

• Reveals how certain of Verne’s works hold the key to deciphering the Rennes-le-Château mystery

• Explores Verne’s relations with other authors whose works reveal similar esoteric influence: George Sand, Gaston Leroux, Bram Stoker, and Maurice Leblanc

Prolific author and pioneer of the science fiction novel, Jules Verne also possessed a hidden side that was encrypted into all his works--his active participation in the occult milieu of late-nineteenth-century France. Among the many esoteric secrets to be found are significant clues to the Rennes-le-Château mystery, including the location of a great treasure in the former Cathar region of France and the survival of the heirs to the Merovingian dynasty. Verne’s books also reveal Rosicrucian secrets of immortality, and some are constructed, like Mozart’s The Magic Flute, in accordance with Masonic initiation.

The passe-partout to Verne’s work (the skeleton key that is also the name of Phileas Fogg’s servant in Around the World in Eighty Days) lies in the initiatory language he employed to inscribe a second or even third layer of meaning beneath the main narrative, which is revealed in his skilled use of word play, homonyms, anagrams, and numerical combinations. The surface story itself is often a guide that tells the reader outright what he or she should be looking for. Far from innocuous stories for children, Verne’s work reveals itself to be rich with teachings on symbolism, esoteric traditions, sacred geography, and the secret history of humanity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Interesting Book
I found this book to be very interesting, provocative and well written.If you are interested in Jules Verne, Kabala or the Masons, you will want to read this book.

Rennes-le-Chateau relevany
As well as providing an insight into Verne's mind as it changed throughout his life, it provides some useful source information for those of us who are fascinated by the multiple complexity of the Rennes-le-Chateau enigma.

Fascinating Journey into the Interior of Jules Verne
"I've a whale of a tale to tell you, lads," sings Kirk Douglas in the Walt Disney film adaptation of Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea. Most of us, reading Verne's novels for the first time, adored them and thought these whales of tales were simply fabulous adventure stories. Now French researcher/journalist Michel Lamy has come along to tell us that the late 19th century French author carefully structured his novels according to the stages of Masonic and Rosicrucian initiation and action-quest ritual---that, and much more, all of an occult nature. In Michael Strogoff, for example, the hero fights a bear, is tortured, is blinded, then recovers his sight; Mr. Lamy shows us that these acts are strangely consistent with vows made by higher-ranked Freemasons.

In general, Mr. Lamy's thesis is persuasive; but this reader would have liked to learn more about what kind of a queer duck Jules Verne was that he took the trouble of structuring his novels in this way in the first place. Verne doesn't really seem to be proselytizing; it's more like it's all something of a gigantic lark for him. But there surely is no simple answer, and Mr. Lamy introduces a somber note at the beginning of his book, stating that toward the end of his life Verne was "haunted by some incomprehensible mystery that he refused to share with anyone and which sometimes appeared to be suffocating him."

All in all, this beautifully translated book is quite a treat for all lovers of great literature, and especially for those fascinated by the rarer and more occult forms of expression that literature in all of its endless variations can take.

Jules Verne - Initiate and Initiator.
_The Secret Message of Jules Verne:Decoding His Masonic, Rosicrucian, and Occult Writings_ is the first English translation by Destiny Books of the French book _Jules Verne, Initie et initiateur_ by French writer on the occult and esoterism Michel Lamy.This book which attempts to uncover a hidden occult agenda behind the writings of the famous French father of science-fiction Jules Verne is certain to appeal to those who are fans of such books as the novel _Foucault's Pendulum_ of Umberto Eco or the occult writings of Joscelyn Godwin.The French edition of this book has been mentioned in many sources of the occult literature and thus this English edition provides an important work for English readers and students of the occult and the esoteric.Jules Verne (1828 - 1905) was a French author who played an important role in the development of the science-fiction novel.However, according to author Michel Lamy, Verne had another side to him and his stories were frequently meant to be works of initiation.Lamy contends that Verne was a student of the occult as were many of the French literary during his time and that he played an important part in the French occult scene at the turn of the century.This book provides a fascinating account of the freemasonic and Rosicrucian aspects of Verne's work as well as discussing such obscure topics as the Rennes-le-chateau mystery, vampirism, the Bavarian Illuminati, and esoteric Nazism, favored by occultists.This book is certainly a fascinating look into the deeper and hidden aspects of a favorite novelist whose works remain a source of interest, fascination, and entertainment to this day.

In the Introduction to this book, Lamy begins by setting the stage for his esoteric understanding of author Jules Verne, noting the influence of the Rennes-le-chateau mystery on Verne.Lamy next turns to Part 1, "Jules Verne, Initiate and Initiator:An Opus in Service of Freemasonry", where he explains the freemasonic background of Verne.Lamy contends that Verne made use of a secret language, emphasizing the so-called mysterious "language of the birds" of the troubadours, and the secret slang argot used in Verne's novels.Lamy also explains the role of cryptography in Verne's novels, the role of the ouroboros, and the secret message of the circle in Verne's work.Lamy maintains that "the treasure is in the circle", noting the role of the island symbolism and maintaining that this reveals a hidden message behind Verne's work.Following this, Lamy turns to Jules Verne as a freemason.Lamy notes the freemasonic influence on Jules Verne, emphasizing the role of masonic and initiatory symbolism in _The Journey to the Center of the Earth_ and comparing Verne's novel _The Underground City_ to Mozart's masonic _The Magic Flute_.Part 2 of this book is entitled "Jules Verne and the Royal Treasure of Rennes-le-Chateau" and discusses the role of the bizarre Rennes-le-chateau mystery on nineteenth century French occultists and Jules Verne.Lamy begins by discussing the treasure of Father Berenger Saunier and the church of St. Mary Magdelene at Rennes-le-chateau.Lamy explains the bizarre happenings at Rennes-le-chateau and the strange situation concerning Father Saunier and his relationship to the occult as well as the role of the Merovingian kings, the painter Poussin ("ET IN ARCADIA EGO"), and the alleged treasure at Rennes-le-chateau and links to the treasure of Solomon (complete with infiltration by the Israeli secret service in an attempt to uncover this treasure).Lamy then explains how this mystery relates to Verne's novel _Clovis Dardentur_, relating this to the treasure, the Holy Grail, and such heretical groups as the medieval Cathars.Lamy next explains how Jules Verne relates to the mysterious Father Boudet, author of the bizarre _The True Celtic Language and the Cromlech of Rennes-les-Bains_.Lamy relates the writings of Verne to Boudet, the Hapsburgs and the Austrians, and the Rose Cross.Part 3 of this book is entitled "Jules Verne and the Secrets of the Rosicrucians", which explains the relationship of Verne to the mysterious sect of Rosicrucians.Lamy first mentions Verne's relationship to the Rosicrucians, emphasizing the role of the writings of Anatole France, the characters of Robur and Phileas Fogg, the quest for the Holy Grail of Otto Rahn, and other indications of Rosicrucian influence on the writings of Verne.Lamy next turns to Jules Verne and the secrets of Arsene Lupin, emphasizing the role of the countess of Cagliostro, Rennes-le-chateau, and the Merovingians.Following this, Lamy turns to the influence of the Golden Dawn on Jules Verne.Although Verne was likely himself not a member of the Golden Dawn, Lamy maintains that this secret society may have had some influence on Verne.In particular, Lamy traces the influence of Bram Stoker (famous author of the vampire novels featuring Dracula as well as a member of the Golden Dawn) on Verne, emphasizing the role of Verne's own vampire stories in _The Castle in the Carpathians_.Lamy maintains that vampires constitute a secret society based on a blood cult and comes to note the role of vampirism in the stories of Verne.Following this, Lamy turns to a discussion of Jules Verne and the hollow earth.Lamy notes the influence of such authors as Bulwer-Lytton (influenced by Rosicrucianism) and Edgar Allen Poe (who wrote of the hollow earth himself) on Jules Verne, emphasizing the role of Verne's story _The Journey to the Center of the Earth_.Lamy also maintains that Rennes-le-chateau serves as an entrance to the hollow earth.Part 4 of this book is entitled "Once Was a King of Thule", which discusses the esoteric political context of Verne's work.Lamy begins by discussing the role of the Bavarian Illuminati in the categorization of Verne's political beliefs.Lamy notes the contradictory aspect of much of Verne's political beliefs and ultimately concludes that Verne was aristocratic in outlook but also radical and anarchist.He notes the role of his stories and characters in maintaining such an anarchistic outlook though tinged with aristocratic viewpoints.Lamy also discusses "The Chalice in the Fog", noting the role of the Angelic Society, a literary society also called "the Fog", in promoting Verne's anarchistic views.Lamy notes the role of such authors as George Sand and Alexander Dumas as well as such works as the _Hypnerotomachia Poliphilia_ and the writings of H. P. Lovecraft (and his _Necronomicon_) and their relationship to Verne.Following this, Lamy turns to a discussion of "Night and Fog", where he discusses the role of Rudolf von Sebottendorf and his "Thule Society" as well as the influences of esoterism on Nazism and Communism and their relationship to Jules Verne.Lamy also mentions such traditionalist esoteric writers as Rene Guenon and Julius Evola in relation to Verne.Part 5 of this book is entitled "From Sable to the Golden N".Lamy begins by discussing the secrets of Captain Nemo (a name meaning "no one"), revealing the aristocratic anarchism of this character.Lamy finds an image of Verne's political outlook in the figure of Nemo.Lamy ends this book with a discussion of Jules Verne facing God.Here, the author notes the devastating role of the attempted murder of Jules Verne by his deranged nephew Gaston on Verne.Lamy also notes Verne's ensuing melancholy and his eventual turning away from esoterism and towards Catholicism towards the end of his life, where he finally embraced God again.In a brief Epilogue, Lamy once again explains the signifance of Verne's work and its esoteric aspects.

This book offers a fascinating account of the esoteric side to the writer Jules Verne, as well as an interesting history of the various occult movements of the Nineteenth Century.It is certain to interest those who are fascinated by such topics and thus offers an important contribution to the occult literature.As such it comes highly recommended.

An exact discussion and analysis of Verne's language choices reveals his wordplay, anagrams and even numerical combinations
Michael Lamy's THE SECRET MESSAGE OF JULES VERNE: DECODING HIS MASONIC, ROSICRUCIAN AND OCCULT WRITINGS reveals the science fiction writer's active participation in the occult community of his times in France - and how esoteric secrets can be found in his writings, from Rosicrucian secrets of immortality to Masonic initiation rites. An exact discussion and analysis of Verne's language choices reveals his wordplay, anagrams and even numerical combinations in a guide perfect for any interested in Verne's connections with the occult, and recommended for any library strong in Verne literary analysis as well as new age collections. ... Read more

Product Description
A huge and dangerous sea monster is terrifying sailors. But Aronnax and his friends discover that the 'monster' is really the Nautilus, a submarine with a mysterious captain. Captain Nemo takes the three men on a miraculous journey beneath the oceans of the world - but there is no escape from the submarine.

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Customer Reviews (2)

Lost for the English language?
This is a very good adventure book. Captain Grant is lost at sea, and nobody knows where. From a partial, damaged message, his children and friends try to figure out where he may be. This takes them first to South America, the remote parts of Argentina and Chile. They experience wild adventures, but can't find him. Ultimately, they go to Australia and New Zealand, adventure after adventure. Though not one the most famous classics by Verne, this is a very good book, interesting to read, and fun. It is a pity English-speaking youths can not enjoy it.

And old memory and a surprise
I was searching this title for my son. As for myself, I read this book more than 20 years ago. A fascinating adventure, the Grant children searching for their father, lost at sea, with only a partly damaged messagefound in a bottle as amean to find where he is. Verne takes us throughoutthe different parts of the world in an exciting journey, which makes oneoblivious of satellites, GPS, radio, and all that, but revives the not solost instinct of the explorer and adventurer in each of us. But this is anold memory of a book from my childhood. And the surprise, well...It seemsthat I can't find this book in English. ... Read more

Product Description
Classic literature at its best!Chock full of illustrations.Lively adventures from across the literary spectrum.Tried and true tales of some of fiction's most famous risk takers, the adventures we all grew up admiring.Sure to delight young readers and provide them with many hours of exciting fun. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Increible!
Realmente es un libro excelente, narra una historia fascinante que te va envolviendo durante el transcurso de la misma, ademas se aprende acerca de las costumbres rusas y también narra parte de la historia de Rusia viendolotodo desde el punto de vista del protagonista Miguel Strogoff. Recuerdo quelei este libro por primera vez a los 12 años y desde entonces lo he vueltoaleer como 6 veces mas, es simplemente uno de mis libros preferidos. Selos recomiendo, ya que trae aventura, traición, lealtad, etc. Van a quedarencantados del protagonista Miguel Strogoff, que en la historia es elcorreo especial del zar de Rusia que tiene que llevar a cabo una importantemisión al tener que cruzar la estepa siberiana para entregar una carta dela cual depende el destino de Siberia, no les puede seguir contando, asíque leanlo. ... Read more

Product Description
Here at last is the first complete edition and the first English translation of a surprising work by a tremendously popular French writer whose novels continue to delight readers and audiences nearly a century after his death.

Jules Verne (1828-1905), the most translated novelist in the world and best known for books such as TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA and AROUND THE WORLD IN EIGHTY DAYS was also a prolific playwright.JOURNEY THROUGH THE IMPOSSIBLE, a play of fantasy and science fiction, ran 97 performances in Paris in 1882 and 1883.In three acts, the characters go first in the center of the earth, then under the sea, and finally to the planet "Altor."Characters from TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA, FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON, DOCTOR OX, and JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH appear again in JOURNEY THROUGH THE IMPOSSIBLE, including Captain Nemo, President Barbicane, Michel Ardan, Doctor Ox, and Professor Lidenbrock.

Verne wrote this play in the middle of his life, between his optimistic (science helps humanity and is good) and pessimistic (science is dangerous and bad) works; the play is a vehicle for Verne to ask himself and his readers whether science, technology, and the pursuit of knowledge are good or bad.He used the play to pose questions about life and wisdom that are still important to us today.

The script of the play was lost to Vernian scholars for almost acentury, until the text was discovered in 1978 in the archives of theCensorship Office of the Third French Republic.This special editionof JOURNEY THROUGH THE IMPOSSIBLE includes several important featuresthat will enhance the reader's appreciation for the play.EdwardBaxter's compelling English translation is augmented by a revealingIntroduction written by Jean-Michel Margot, president of the NorthAmerican Jules Verne Society, which places the play in historicalcontext and explains its importance to Verne's corpus.Detailedreferences and explanatory notes by Margot expand upon important termsand concepts in the play and provide additional insights into theauthor.Many wonderful illustrations from the original set designsand a reproduction of a page from a lost scene of the play combinewith spectacular original illustrations by artist Roger Leyonmarkcreated specifically for this edition of the work.Leyonmark'sartistry will transport readers to the world of Jules Verne on stage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Jules Verne's Stage Play of Intergalactic Travel
Most science fiction fans think of Jules Verne as the "father" of the genre, but with a rather remote paternity, the genre's modern directions owing more to H.G. Wells.Verne would hardly be suspected of telling a story of cosmic travel to another planet in a distant galaxy.And yet that is among the destinations in this incredible play, staged to acclaim in France in 1882, then lost for over a century until the manuscript's rediscovery in a French archive.This is not only the first English translation, it is also the only version in any language that offers the complete text of the play.With it, and other recent Verne books discovered or translated for the first time, readers of today can gauge Verne's imagination far more accurately than those of the 19th or 20th century.
Verne's editor constantly rejected or toned down his true science fiction, compelling his most inventive author to remain largely earthbound.For instance, 1994 saw the first appearance of Paris in the 20th Century, a book rejected outright by Verne's publisher, who refused to sanction a dystopia set a century in the future.Similarly, Verne's publisher compelled his author to transform his voyage around the solar system on a comet in Hector Servadac into simply a "dream."Journey Through the Impossible goes even further, because Verne found an escape from his publisher's censorship by turning to the theater.
In Journey Through the Impossible Verne takes us to the center of the earth and under the sea, destinations from some of his most popular novels.In the underground realms dwell Troglodytes anticipating the Morlocks of Wells's The Time Machine.On board the submarine Nautilus, a visit is made to the city of Atlantis.The play includes appearances by many of the most famous characters from Verne's novels, including the diabolical scientist Doctor Ox and the Baltimore Gun Club that launched the first projectile to the moon.This time the Gun Club's giant cannon sends a capsule full of explorers to Altor, a newly-discovered distant planet with two sons.
Journey Through the Impossible is published in association with the North American Jules Verne Society, and includes a preface and footnotes by its president, Jean-Michel Margot, one of the leading authorities on Verne today.The background explains the play's many allusions and allows the reader to readily imagine how its presentation might have appeared.Further visual embellishment is provided by lavish illustrations, including several originals by Roger Leyonmark that evoke the style of the engravings that were a trademark of the early French editions of Verne's books.Edward Baxter, translator of the play, has already earned approbation for his previous translations of Verne into English, including several novels.
This is an incredible book, one that is full of both Verne's imagination and Vernian scholarship.It will forever change the way readers think of Verne, and will re-establish his foundation as the originator of modern science fiction. ... Read more

Product Description
pubOne.info thank you for your continued support and wish to present you this new edition. En l'année 1872, la maison portant le numéro 7 de Saville-row, Burlington Gardens — maison dans laquelle Sheridan mourut en 1814 — , était habitée par Phileas Fogg, esq. , l'un des membres les plus singuliers et les plus remarqués du Reform-Club de Londres, bien qu'il semblât prendre à tâche de ne rien faire qui pût attirer l'attention. ... Read more