In the mean time...
Got a chance to do some reading over the past few weeks. I'm not one to read the latest trendy novels, mostly because I just don't care enough. There are lots of classics that I never read, so I usually choose them first.
This time around I read 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. From what I've read, this story has been butchered through the last century and a half. It seems there was a bad translation, making Mr. Verne's descriptions and predictions egregiously incorrect. Also, the older translations were missing nearly a quarter of the original story. I read the Signet Classic version, which seems to have been translated correctly and in full.
While reading through the story, I was amazed at how the concepts and technical details remained true to today's standards. His design for a steel submarine, his ideas of travelling under the ice caps, the technique of submerging underwater to weather a hurricane - all of these things came true after the writing of this story. I can't even begin to comprehend the vision Verne had. And the details of the undersea flora and fauna were so rich and exhausting you would have thought he spent decades as a marine biologist. Simply amazing.
Besides the technical wonderment of the story, the characters and main storyline were gripping in their own right. I'm thoroughly convinced that characters make the story, and this one doesn't disappoint. Arronax, the learned professor, has no qualms about remaining imprisoned undersea for months at a time, as long as he's rewarded with the opportunity to view the depths of the sea not attainable by any human (other than his shipmates). Conseil, the loyal servant to Arronax, intrigued me by his unwavering devotion to his master. I identified with the harpooner Ned, who appreciated the view and the scrumptious seafood, but wanted nothing more than to be free from his imprisonment.
If you've never read this book, shame on you. If you have, make sure you read the proper version. This needs to be made into a modern movie-era film. I haven't seen the 50's version yet, but I think if a little care is taken, this could be a great epic. As long as Hollywood doesn't try to show off by adding unnecessary computer-generated thrills, and stays true to Verne's story, I would actually pay to see the movie. And I don't do that very often.
This time around I read 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne. From what I've read, this story has been butchered through the last century and a half. It seems there was a bad translation, making Mr. Verne's descriptions and predictions egregiously incorrect. Also, the older translations were missing nearly a quarter of the original story. I read the Signet Classic version, which seems to have been translated correctly and in full.
While reading through the story, I was amazed at how the concepts and technical details remained true to today's standards. His design for a steel submarine, his ideas of travelling under the ice caps, the technique of submerging underwater to weather a hurricane - all of these things came true after the writing of this story. I can't even begin to comprehend the vision Verne had. And the details of the undersea flora and fauna were so rich and exhausting you would have thought he spent decades as a marine biologist. Simply amazing.
Besides the technical wonderment of the story, the characters and main storyline were gripping in their own right. I'm thoroughly convinced that characters make the story, and this one doesn't disappoint. Arronax, the learned professor, has no qualms about remaining imprisoned undersea for months at a time, as long as he's rewarded with the opportunity to view the depths of the sea not attainable by any human (other than his shipmates). Conseil, the loyal servant to Arronax, intrigued me by his unwavering devotion to his master. I identified with the harpooner Ned, who appreciated the view and the scrumptious seafood, but wanted nothing more than to be free from his imprisonment.
If you've never read this book, shame on you. If you have, make sure you read the proper version. This needs to be made into a modern movie-era film. I haven't seen the 50's version yet, but I think if a little care is taken, this could be a great epic. As long as Hollywood doesn't try to show off by adding unnecessary computer-generated thrills, and stays true to Verne's story, I would actually pay to see the movie. And I don't do that very often.
posted by Bill at 9:59 AM
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