The Island of Dr. Moreau

Written in 1896,The Island of Dr. Moreauis one of the earliest scientific romances. An instant sensation, it was meant as a commentary on Darwin's theory of evolution, which H. G. Wells stoutly believed. The story centers on the depraved Dr. Moreau, who conducts unspeakable animal experiments on a remote tropical island, with hideous, humanlike results. Edward Prendick, an English-man whose misfortunes bring him to the island, is witness to the Beast Folk's strange civilization and their eventual terrifying regression. While gene-splicing and bioengineering are common practices today, readers are still astounded at Wells's haunting vision and the ethical questions he raised a century before our time.

<b>Peter Straub</b> is the bestselling author of fourteen novels, including <i>Black House</i> (with Stephen King), <i>Ghost Story</i>, <i>Koko</i>, and <i>Mr. X</i>. He has won three Bram Stoker Awards, two World Fantasy Awards, and the British Fantasy Award. He lives in New York City.