Rating: 
Summary: A genuine page-turner!
Review: Jules Verne was the master of early Science Fiction. Besides 'Mysterious Island' he also wrote '20,000 Leagues Under The Sea' and 'Around The World in Eighty Days', among others. Here in 'Mysterious Island' he writes a tale of castaways on a Pacific island. I don't know anything about the person he was, but who knows where he got such imagination! It was all so fantastic at the time of his writing and is still fascinating today. 'Mysterious Island' is a great castaway story.My copy of this book was printed in 1962 (before barcodes!). There is no introduction and no pictures to give things away. In this book there are three parts: 'Dropped From The Clouds', 'The Abandoned', and 'The Secret of the Island'. The first part tells of how five prisoners of war, Captain Cyrus Harding, Gideon Spilett, Neb, Pencroft, and Herbert, use a balloon to escape from Richmond, Virgina, during the Civil War. They end up crashing onto an island in the Pacific and proceed to explore it. Strange coincidences start to happen. In the second part they continue to make a home for themselves on the island, and also venture out to another island, where they find a sixth man, Ayrton, whom they bring back to the now-called 'Lincoln Island'. Finally in the third part, there are battles with pirates, and eventually the mystery is solved about the coincidences which have saved them time and time again. Verne's writing not only includes a story, it is full of hard science and facts about nature and animals. The instances where chemical interactions are explained were fascinating. Each of the characters has their own unique approach and offers their specific knowledge: Cyrus is an engineer, Gideon is a reporter, Neb is a servant, Pencroft is a sailor, and Herbert is a budding biologist. This story touches on the fact that man cannot conquer nature. The men transform the island into a paradise for humans, but they do not get to keep it no matter what inventions they come up with. They build corrals and storage areas, but storms disintegrate them. You'll have to read the book yourself to find out the final ravage of nature! It might be hard to accept for some people, but nature really does eventually reclaim everything. Nothing is permanent! I was expecting some kind of giant monsters in 'Mysterious Island'. None of that occurred. The way that the mystery was explained was a bit out of left field, and I felt the story dwelled too much on it. Science fiction fans should appreciate this early classic, as I do. The story captivated me, and the hard science was interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: Fresh, Readable 'Island'
Review: Summer is the season of the beach book; novels are selected because they are fluffy confections to be read on autopilot without a second backward thought. Classics are chunky, pedantic things; something to be read only if a gun is pressed to one's skull and VC Andrews is dangled like fleshpot flashlight at the end of a long dark tunnel. Luckily for us, Jordan Stump dove headfirst into Jules Verne's original French text and emerged with a book that is a happy marriage of the two: all of the melodramatic adventure and none of the tedious language from the original translation.
The book speeds swiftly along, despite its size, and I often found myself reading several hundred pages when I'd only meant to take in a few chapters. The more modern linguistic style lends itself to readability even when some of the story is just pointless listing or telling rather than showing that would normally annoy me. Speaking of which, some things do strain the book's credibility, like the fact that Cyrus can invent everything *except* a way to get off the bloody island (Not unlike the Professor on Gilligan's Island) and there are more than a few fortuitous coincidences that will leave you snorting until you find out later that they're a deliberate part of the plot. Nothing much really actually 'happens' outside of the basic survival story until the pirates show up to provide some much needed conflict in part three where things become suspenseful, fun, and only slightly violent.
Ferat's etchings are wonderful snapshots of the action, with the exception of a few sad reprints with far too much ink that render some scenes nearly unseeable. His portrayal of the castaways battling a whale may not be accurate (In fairness, how many anatomical renditions of sea life were really available for study in the 1800's?) but the spiky-flippered sea monster he creates is awe-inspiring.
Unfortunately, some of these pictures are placed on pages that come before the actual events in the text and they, along with the introductions, often give away major plot points. The chapter sub-headings are equally guilty of spoiling surprises and you have to train yourself not to peek so nothing important is given away. Because of when this was written there is an uncomfortable moment or two where racism and stereotyping come into play i.e.; the black man who remains with his master out of devotion even after being freed and an orangutan's face being described as 'almost human' like 'that of an Aborigine', but they quickly disappear as characters evolve. This book is strangely listed as being abridged but nowhere in the book itself is there any indication that the translator has cut anything.
3 1/2 stars for a literary classic that has finally had justice done to it and now actually begs to be read by all ages. It doesn't bludgeon you over the head with outdated language or force you to overanalyze themes. It's ideal for summer reading but won't turn you brain into jelly. As Pencroft would say 'Hurrah!'
Rating: 
Summary: Swiss Family Robinson meets MacGyver
Review: This is a great adventure tale in which the "castaways" do much better than simply make do on their new island home. Verne keeps you interested in what's going to happen next, what they are going to make or build next, and he has a creative conclusion in store at the end too. Simply a good story that can be enjoyed by all ages.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Ever!!!
Review: This was a wonderful book. It is about five castaways whom have to deal with natural calamities and many hardships. this book is perfect for people who love adventure books. Once you start reading, you can't stop. If you like adventure novels, you'll love this book!!!\ P.S. First read 20,000 Leagues Under The Seas
Rating:
Summary: Wish I would have read it 20 years ago!
Review: My first introduction to Verne's work, was sadly, the b-rate movies on late night TV. Mysterious Island. Giant critters harassing hapless castaways. Forget any visions you have from the movie. This book was inspired on the real life adventures of a castaway. That was also the inspiration for Castaway, Robinson Crusoe, and even Lost in Space and Gilligan's Island. Basically take the Professor from Gilligan's island and multiply the skill a hundred fold. Unlike the campy TV series, these creations are realistic. We don't meet Nemo until the last few chapters. Until then he's an unknown benefactor coming through in the castaways' times of need. It's a big book with small print, so get ready for a long - but worthy - read.
Rating:
Summary: A must for J.V sci-fi lovers
Review: ok, you read all the reviews, you saw the rating - That shows it all. All the commends are true. This book is a 5 stars, a must, or else no book worth 5 stars. The story has it all, courage, adventure, friendship, loyalty, thrilling, mystery, intelligent and creativity. A beautiful novel from Verne.
I agree to most of the reviewers that for some reason the book has not been very well known and that's a big mistake! You read it, and you'll agree.
Rating:
Summary: All Translations Are Not The Same
Review: This review is for ISBN 0819564753, publisher Wesleyan Univ Pr, translator Sidney Kravitz, hard cover. I have read perhaps all Verne's novels. Very few are translated into English. Most translations of Mysterious Island (MI) can only be described as poor. There are versions that abridged 50% of the orininal 190,000 word text. One translator is rumored to have a profession in translating erotic novel. I have been waiting years and years for a decent English version of MI, which is my favorite of Verne's works, and is regarded by quite a few as his best. And here finally is Mr. Sidney Kravitz, who worked 14 years to produce by far the best English translation of MI. The result is a literary jewel, a text with its quaint beauty far beyond any other translations. Not to mention the complete illustrations from Jules Ferat, originally for the first French edition in 1875, that are absolutely unmatched by any later artists attempt. Interestingly, the publisher chose not to mention Ferat's name in the editorial review. A novel costing [this much]? Is it worth it, you ask. Well, what you get is not a just novel, but a project, with Mr. Kravitz's passion, with many scholar's research work, with the beautiful illustrations not found in any other versions, and the elegance of classic science fiction. This is the book you will remember, one that you will re-read in 20 years, and one you will want your children to read. The only comparible translation I know so far is Mr. Stump's (ISBN 0679642366, Modern Library, also with Ferat illustrations). I prefer Mr. Kravitz's. You can safely stay away from other versions. If you are not familliar with but are interested in knowing the story line: a group of people escape Richmond during American Civil War in a baloon, and end up on an island, with virtually no belongings. They build a civilization. Many interesting engineering details are provided. You can find a more thorough introduction somewhere else. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: They don't write adventure stories like this anymore
Review: While I read lots of new fiction, too, I still prefer the old classics. I've read 3 of Verne's books ("20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" and "Journey to the Center of the Earth") and this one was by far the best. I couldn't possibly think of a better group of people to be stranded on an island with. And while I'll acknowledge that the characters seem to be smarter and more resourceful than would be likely, or even possible, it was still a lot of fun reading the story. I realize that many will find the relative lack of fast-paced adventure to be boring, but I found it very interesting. Another of my favorite books is "Robinson Crusoe," and reading these two books makes being stranded on an uninhabited island seem like a vacation (maybe not an easy or relaxing vacation, but a great escape, anyway!). My only complaint was with the strangeness of the ending, but I didn't feel that it detracted from the story enough that I'd lower my personal rating from 5 stars.
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Summary: At Long Last The Real "MYSTERIOUS ISLAND" In English
Review: For over a hundred years now most who know Jules Verne's MYSTERIOUS ISLAND in English have not been aware that they were not quite reading the book that Jules Verne wrote in French.There are numerous differences but two of them will give you an idea.The original French version is longer than most of the English translations and one of the main characters Cyrus Harding in the original is Cyrus Smith. Numerous other changes and omissions are rampant in the previously available English editions. Verne himself made a few minor errors in the original which the present translation keeps with a note indicating them.This fine new translation by Jordan Stump gives us the entire book as well as correcting the various other changes in prior translations. In the end though it is still Verne's grand story that will bring the reader back and for the first time they will be getting more when they do that. Numerous illustrations and a fine introduction by novelist Caleb Carr ("The Alienist")add to enjoyment of this classic.
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Summary: Remember MacGyver?
Review: How he used to make an engine run with duct tape and a shoe string, or make a bomb from bleach and a rusty nail? He kept coming to mind as I was reading this incredible book, as the characters, stranded on an island with absolutely nothing, accomplished such amazing feats as draining a lake, making a home, building a ship, making an elevator, and a great many other things. There is excitement, suspense (what IS going on on this mysterious island??), and wonderful, likeable characters. Not a real well-known Verne book, but fortunately still in print, and one of his best and most entertaining. (Incidentally, if you want a children's version of the same story, try to find "A Long Vacation" by Jules Verne, which is extremely similar in plot, but with younger characters and for a younger audience - very charming!) By the way, please do read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea first, if you have not already done so. Evidently, Verne assumed that everyone had when he wrote this novel. Great reading!
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