Jules Verne Books

In A Family Without a Name and A Family Without A Name: Into the Abyss (1889), Jules Verne's Canadian novels dealing with the vexed problem of Quebec, which the book shows he had thoroughly researched, the dramatic adventures of the hero, Jean, in his fight for freedom, have caused the work to be compared to that of the great J. Fenimore Cooper.

The title to the review may seem a bit harsh, but that is the situation that Joam Dacosta faces while on trial: he has been condemned to death, the judge isn't very friendly, and Joam has no real material proofs in his hands. However, a document turns up from a villain, Torres, in the form of a challenging cryptogram that leaves the judge, a expert on and lover of word puzzles, completely at a loss for a solution, and the only two people who can solve it are dead! Regardless of how the judge tries, he can't solve it. It wouldn't be wise, however, to tell if the judge finally gets a solution, so I won't.

As an admirer of Verne's works, I must say that this one (this is only part two of _The Giant Raft_, though) is very impressive at how he creates suspense by putting the characters through a harrowing experience where there are no obvious ways out, such as the legal system. Joam Dacosta is a man who will do anything to make sure that the right thing gets done to prove his innocence--even facing death. As for the judge, he is obviously Verne's man of knowledge, being the analytical puzzle expert. The thing I most like about the judge is that he at first may seem crusty, but he really is not as you get to see him.

One last recommendation: this is Part Two of _The Giant Raft_. Read part one first; usually the first part is called _Eight Hundred Leagues on the Amazon_ or _Down the Amazon_. Also, while reading, try your hand at solving the cryptogram yourself. Good luck (will you ever need it).

NOTE: "Niger" is pronounced "N-eye-gur."

Also, some immature Mormon has been slamming my reviews because I wrote some negative reviews about books attempting to prove the Book of Mormon.

So, your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks, and note that a good review (in this case more of a recommendation) doesn't have to be long to be good if it leads you to read a great novel.

I still own a copy of this same book, which I purchased back in my college days. The "FitzRoy" cover spoke to me, and this novel was among the first books that I began collection for their covers. I really enjoyed the novel--the first of three in a series ("The Astonishing Adventure of the Barsac Mission").

A group of men embark on an expedition into an unexplored region of Africa, and gradually many strange things begin to happen. Because we know so much about Africa today, these 19th century adventures require a suspension of belief. Just sit back and enjoy the world as seen by the adventurers.

If you like African adventures, then I highly recommend the modern author Wilbur Smith--especially his novel "Cry Wolf" (set Ethiopia in the 1930s).
Cry Wolf

Another must read is "The Sapphire Sea"(set in Zanzibar in modern times), by Ben Robinson.
Sapphire Sea Trade Paper

Jules Verne explores a realm of fantastical possibilities deep within the bowels of the earth. The journey starts in the professor's study in Germany where an ancient parchment leads him and his nephew on an expedition to a remote mountain on Iceland. There they discover a deep chasm which leads the explorers to an amazing string of discoveries. There are vast oceans of water, giant mushrooms, storms, strange weather patterns, and a wide assortment of extinct creatures. This was Jules Verne's first dive into science fiction. A must read for any science fiction or fantasy lover.
This was a great read, and possibly one of the most updated translations of the original French work. Loved the illustrations.

While many know British actor Tom Baker best for his long-running portrayal of the title character in the BBC's "Doctor Who" series, Baker's credentials are far broader than that. Thanks to his unique and well-trained voice, Baker's audio work easily matches his visual acting abilities, as this reading of Jules Verne's classic "Journey to the Center of the Earth" demonstrates.

Faithful to the original, with only a few subtle sound effects - such as occasional echoes - Baker's reading brings Verne's story to life without competing with the author's skillfully drawn mental pictures. Truly gifted in his craft, Baker convincingly presents each character's voice in a natural and undistracting way.

If this audiobook became available in CD or downloadable format I would purchase a copy, as cassettes are relatively fragile and my copies have been played many times over the years, both for my children and for my own enjoyment. However, fans both of Jules Verne and of Tom Baker will be pleased with this recording, and would do well to acquire it while they can.

( 80 Days Around the World)...... I completely suggest reading this book! It is a thriller of all classics. At school, I have been trying to get a lot of my friends to read it and only one has-- she LOVED it. She loved the misfortunes, the mix-ups, the trials, and ingenuity of the characters, and characters, the romance, the race against the clock, the sheer suspense of it all. If you ever want a book that once you get into to you'll never put it down-- READ THIS BOOK!!!! I promise it to be a good read by an excellent author.

What noted readers might have said: "Such a book as this has great relativity" --Einstein "This book is creating a cultural revolution" --Mao "This book contains information that even I did not know about myself" --Verne "Alas, the authors of this book know Verne well" --Shakespeare "Finally, a book on Verne for everyone to share" --Marx (Karl) "How this book got in my pajamas I don't know" --Marx(Groucho)

As far as I know the only film-book about Jules Verne on film in english language. The Filmography is almost complete (I only found one german-TV-Movie about "Mathias Sandorf" missing)and lists even west- and easteuropean Films from the silent movies of Georges Méliès till today (1997). Sometimes the author lists films which are "influenced" by Jules Vernes that goes for my taste a little bit too far: "The Black Hole" by "20'000 Leagues Under The Sea". Still this book is definitively an important reference-work an belongs in every serious filmbook-collection!

Three angels, or "daimons," or maybe neutrinos--who may also have been the Three Wise Men--"drop" into several of these stories via their steam balloon, the Jules Verne. They bring messages from the "Consiliarii," but who are they? A council of heavenly spirits? The Force? A code name for God? And what might their message be? Could it be as simple as "All you need is love"? Maybe. Davenport ranges from ancient Greece to a somewhat contemporary Denmark; from Christian theology and ancient philosophy to pubescent phallocentrism and drug overdose. "The Jules Verne Steam Balloon" is perplexing and enlightening, humorous and melancholy, and vibrant with life and the joy of living it. These stories move as only Davenport's fiction does, as full of "fact" as of "fiction," as full of life in the body and in the world as of philosophical discourse and natural science. And--oh,yes! be warned--accompanied by much doffing of undergarments.

This book includes index of titles & addenda; the books; collected works; works about Verne; notes; source editions and is an expansion and emendation of the work originally published in 1988. The Myers' work was the first organized attempt to describe Verne first editions and first printings in English from a collector's perspective, written by collectors for collectors. To make it, Edward and Judith Myers drew on the experiences of other collectors, of the Library of Congress, and of the Lilly Library at the University of Indiana. Throughout the bibliography are notes which touch on issues important to collectors, such as what makes a book truly rare, and what makes it beautiful and desirable? What even constitutes a Verne "first edition" and how can it be identified? When is a later edition a more valuable acquisition? The bibliography is an in-depth examination, as it were, of a smaller cross section of the Verne oeuvre.