L'Home invisible (1897)

Another of H. G. Wells' impressive run of original and influential science-fiction novels, The Invisible Man sits somewhere between The Time Machine and The War of the Worlds, not only chronologically, but in the level of enjoyment it brings. The Time Machine was, in my opinion, an excellent read and a perfectly concise novella, whereas The War of the Worlds was a dry reading experience in spite of its cornucopia of prescient ideas. All three books presented inventive and original concepts that have deeply influenced pop-culture in the century-plus since.

If The Invisible Man doesn't quite charm to the extent the storytelling of The Time Machine does, it is at least fascinating to watch the titular invisible man, Griffin, descend into bitterness, alienation and madness. The book is a page-turner and it does well to trace the limitations of Griffin's dubious gift: he needs to eat but undigested food betrays his presence, he feels the cold weather, and dogs can sniff him out. One method proposed for his capture is to lay powdered glass, because of course the man is walking around barefoot. The evident thought Wells put into his concept, and the air of plausibility he gives to its scientific rationale, helps sell the story to the reader.

The Invisible Man shares some of The War of the Worlds' dryness and provincialism (its plot is basically an invisible man causing mild havoc in an English countryside village), but it is saved by its surprising levels of comedy. Wells recognises the absurdity of his main character's dilemma and has plenty of people bumbling around perplexed at the invisible shenanigans. And then there's the unspoken hilarity of the fact that the invisible man is technically stark-bollock-naked through it all. The book generates such a goodwill that the reader glides over its bumps without really feeling them, and is left with a definite sense that Wells' place in the hearts of his readers, and in the minds of his imitators, was well-earned. ( )

The title made me intrigued, when the introduction mentioned sciencey aspects, I was excited.
While reading, I was uninterested.
Here's the reason:
The Book was boring.
It was short but boring.
Thank goodness it was so short, the plot is small, it's just an invisible man running around scaring people. I do struggle with classics and find them very slow and boring.
I did like the background we were given on the author's life.

( )

3.5 stars. Good novel, but needs more...color? Metaphorically speaking. It's got a lot going for it, but it's still kind of dull. ( )

Molto più umoristico all'inizio, vira improvvisamente per il drammatico, e nella parte umoristico Wells mi è sembrato più bravo. D'altronde essere invisibili nell'inverno britannico non è certo cosa da prendere sottogamba...

Niente male il modo con cui il protagonista è stato tratteggiato, l'avevo preso in simpatia all'inizio, pensando "poveretto, ci credo che è arrabbiato con il mondo, visto come deve vivere", poi niente, diventa uno scienziato pazzo vero e proprio, ma lo stereotipo è quasi passato in secondo piano.

Letto per le sfide
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3. Alphabet 2021 per Un libro di un autore il cui cognome inizi per W
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There isn't a lot of plot in this one its mostly just a character study. But the invisible man is quite a character. I really like the fact that he's pretty crazy even before he becomes invisible. Not the best of Wells but good enough. ( )