20,000 Leagues under the Sea (Mass Market Paperback)

The authors excellent prose reads poetically and easily even after translation from it's original language, the translation in this issue is brilliantly done, and the fact that the original story was serialised means that uniform length chapters - each describing its own adventure - make for a pleasantly easy going read.

However, this is also the downfall of the book and the reason for only awarding it four stars. The chapter formula is repeated again and again and again, each one being slowed down by scientific lists of the species of life (fish, molluscs, seaweed) both in laymans terms and scientifically categrosied that appear too frequently throughout the novel. Whilst Vernes obvious enthusiasm for nature and science carry the reader along for the first half of the book, the repetitiveness of these lists not only began to bore me in the second half but added unnecessary weight to a book that I was ready to finish.

I wouldn't like to be too harsh, as it was originally intended for serialisation and thus the format is designed to be that way, but, unless you are particularly interested in reading long lists of fish (and if so I know a good fishmonger you can pester) then an abridged version of this book may enthrall you slightly more.

The characters, conseil, Ned Land, the author himself and of course the fantastic anti hero - Nemo, posess all the ingredients for a great story, and the Nautilus itself is still awe inspiring even in these days of nuclear subs and raising of (bits of) the Titanic.

There's no denying that this is a tour de force, and I highly recommend it, but be warned about the fish.

The story in itself is great, and the characterisation could be worse, you certainly do develop a sense of the protagonists and their plight. My problems are with the writing. In its day this was hailed as a cross of fiction and popular science. Whenever anything happens Verne uses a paragraph or two to explain it and then waffles for a page or three on the aquatic life. The majority of the time the plot is lost as I guess the author is trying to build a sense of wonder at all the strange fish. This is fine if you like reading descriptions of dorsal fins, but for me it spoils a perfectly good short story.

It was also originally written in french, and so the translated english used is of the french variety, which just makes it wordy.

I hope this doesn't sound like diatribe. I use these reviews to get a feel for when something is genuinely good. But everybody seems to love this book and I dislike it immensely. I wanted to read the reviews of this and compare them to journey to the centre of the earth to see if that was any better. So i feel agrieved I'm the only man alive who doesn't rate this book.

I guess it's fine if you like the sea and fish! I'll stick to me Dickens!