Customer Reviews

The Underground City

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I would like to start off by applauding Amazon and the publisher for printing this relatively obscure title. A reader looking for the mainstream works by Verne has multiple options - those of us who want to read a larger selection of his works ...must search!

"The Underground City" is a relatively short but entertaining novel. The first 100 pages read very fast - and reminded me strongly of "Journey to the Center of the Earth". The final 80 pages were a little more hoo-hum... and I was left disappointed in the ending. In fact, the novel was a little disjointed - and I wondered if this was one of the woks that was finished by Verne's son after his death (Which I still do not know).

Some reveiwers find the story unrealistic... well that is to be expected by Verne. While many think of his works as "Science Fiction" I think they have moved to the genre of fantasy. Verne transports you to a time and place where science was seen as having limitless possibilities... now in the 21st century we better understand what is possible and what is just our imagination.

"The Underground City" is a typical work by Verne. Certainly not his greatest work - it really doesn't compare to "The Mysterious Island". Yet, most fans will be satisified that they were able to find and read something that is just "typical" Verne.

This is a poorly formatted edition of the public domain translation available several places on the internet. This translation was heavily edited for the english language edition by Verne's publisher. For a new translation from the original french version, containing three more chapters, try ISBN 1-84282-080-x. It is more enjoyable reading.

With so many formula cookie cutter books being published these days, it's refreshing to find this little known gem by the famous Jules Verne. While not his best book, Verne was still better on his weaker days than many others writers on their best days. Well worth the price. You won't be disappointed.

The story line is a little far-fetched, but somewhat plausible. It is a fun book to read. The characters are fun to read and the plot is pretty good, too. Not the best book in the world, but worth reading if you're bored some winter day.