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The Golden Dream by Robert Michael Ballantyne
A young Englishman struck by Gold Fever! He is desperate to travel to California and become part of the great gold rush. He journeys to this remote and unfamiliar place and there he discovers the true value of gold, humanity and God. The Golden Dream by RM Ballantyne is one of more than one hundred books written for young adults by this Scottish author. Published in 1861, the book follows the glorious tradition of Victorian adventure sagas which emerged from the great discoveries that were made during this time, as England began colonizing distant lands. Robert Michael Ballantyne was also a gifted painter whose works were exhibited in some of the most important galleries in Europe and Scotland. He came from an eminent family of journalists and publishers and his uncle James Ballantyne was Sir Walter Scott's publisher. The family's wealth disappeared with the financial crisis that struck England in the late 19th century. Young Robert was compelled to abandon his studies and travel to Canada in search of employment. He wrote long and detailed letters home to his mother to ward off homesickness and this was what probably sparked the writing talent in him. Many of his Canadian and American experiences formed the basis for his writing. He returned to Scotland aged 22 and in the next year itself, his first book, titled Hudson's Bay or Life in the Wilderness of North America was published. It achieved instant success and there was no looking back after that. He published a series of adventure stories which appealed to both young and old. His most famous work, The Coral Island, is still read with great pleasure even today. Ballantyne was a meticulous and painstaking writer, who was extremely particular about getting the details right in his books. In fact, though The Coral Island was such a grand success, he'd made a minor mistake in it while referring to the thickness of coconut shells and this haunted him for years! In future works, he ensured that he researched every single fact thoroughly before putting it down. One writer who owed a deep literary debt to Ballantyne was another famous Victorian adventure story-teller, Robert Louis Stevenson. In fact, he never lost an opportunity to confess how much The Coral Island had inspired his own book, Treasure Island. In his preface, Stevenson writes a laudatory poem praising writers like Ballantyne who provided the vision for such novels. The Golden Dream is packed with authentic details about gold mining and the social milieu of the era. Ned Sinton is a memorable young hero, filled with curiosity and pluck, who follows his dream into an unknown and faraway land. An exciting read!
Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll
If you've read and loved Alice in Wonderland, you wouldn't want to miss reading about her further adventures, the strange and fantastical creatures she meets and the delightful style and word-play that made the first book so appealing. Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll is thematically much more structured and cleverly constructed as compared to the earlier Alice book but still retains its childhood elements of wonder, curiosity and imagination. Lewis Carroll was the pseudonym of Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a gifted mathematics professor at Oxford during the late 19th century. He suffered from lifelong shyness, a debilitating stammer and several physical deformities including partial deafness. Awkward and uncomfortable with adults, he bloomed in the company of children and had a special insight into their world. He portrays Alice as a well-mannered child, brought up in a privileged background. Based on a real little girl whose father was also at Oxford during the time Dodgson was there, Alice and her sisters formed the inspiration for these books which went on to be ranked among the best loved in children's literature. Through the Looking-Glass takes Alice through the mirror hanging on her nursery wall into a realm beyond. Here she finds a mirror image of her own world, but with everything reversed. Books with printing that can only be read when held up to a mirror, animated chess-pieces, memorable characters from nursery-rhymes like Humpty Dumpty, The Lion and the Unicorn, Tweedledum and Tweedledee and a host of strange creatures with even stranger names like the Jabberwock and the Bandersnatch. The Red Queen, the White Queen and the White Knight are other characters who populate the looking-glass world. Poems like Jabberwocky explore the limits of language, while the Walrus and the Carpenter are simply hilarious. Chess forms the framework of the plot, the mirror-world is made up of squares which Alice moves through sequentially in pawn-like moves, symbolizing the dominance of fate in our lives. Funny poems and delightful turns of phrase that Lewis Carroll is justly famous for, continue to sparkle in this book too. The dream-like quality is retained in Through the Looking-Glass, with abrupt changes in location and characters. In the years that followed their publication, Lewis Carroll's books have been intensely studied by literary critics, psychologists, mathematicians and chess enthusiasts. Yet despite all the analysis and study, Through the Looking-Glass remains a charming and innocent portrayal of childhood imagination and creativity.
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H. G. Wells
One of the first instances of science fiction, Wells’ classic tale published in 1986 examines various controversial philosophical issues active at the time of its publication, most notable being the implications of vivisection and degeneration. Narrated by its everyman protagonist Edward Prendick, the novel follows the events of his stay at a mysterious island, home to ghastly secrets, horrors, and incomprehensible experiences. Furthermore, the novel features innovative themes which have become iconic in the modern science fiction genre, including moral and ethical responsibility, evolution, and man’s interference with the course of nature. The novel begins when Edward Prendick, an educated gentleman is shipwrecked in the middle of nowhere, and is taken aboard a passing ship where he is revived by a man later introduced as Montgomery. The man explains to Prendick that he is headed to a private island where he works, along with the animals on the ship. While on board, Prendick also meets a gruesome brute by the name of M’ling, whom he believes to be Montgomery’s manservant. When Montgomery reaches his destination he initially refuses to accommodate Prendick after the captain demands he leave the ship, but later takes pity on his bleak circumstance and agrees to put him up. The protagonist is subsequently introduced to the cold and intense Dr. Moreau, whom Prendick recognizes as a former distinguished physiologist in London, whose horrific experiments in vivisection had been publicly exposed. Prendick is housed in an outer room of the enclosed compound, and is cautiously locked out of the inner part. Conquered by curiosity, he decides to explore the jungle where he comes face to face with a startling figure that marks the beginning of his task to unearth the shocking truth behind the segregated island and its beastly population. The Island of Dr. Moreau brilliantly intrigues readers with its generous serving of ingenuity, abominable imagery and chilling hypothesis of the possible dangers of scientific progression. A literary classic, the novel imposes many ethical questions still relevant to modern society, and certain to provoke reaction.
At the Earth's Core by Edgar Rice Burroughs
This is the first book in the Pellucidar series. Pellucidar is a fictional Hollow Earth milieu invented by Edgar Rice Burroughs for a series of action adventure stories. The stories initially involve the adventures of mining heir David Innes and his inventor friend Abner Perry after they use an “iron mole” to burrow 500 miles into the earth’s crust. (adapted from Wikipedia)
The Sleeper Awakes by H. G. Wells
Originally serialized from 1898 to 1903, Wells later made some crucial changes to the piece to create a flawless dystopian science fiction novel published in 1910 and renamed The Sleeper Awakes. The novel focuses on an Englishman, who falls in a deep sleep lasting two centuries, and sees him wake up in an unrecognizable setting and extremely wealthy. An enthralling tale of dystopian society depicted through a colorful imagination, The Sleeper Awakes concentrates on topics including dystopia, political power, religion, plutocracy, and individual and social awakening. The story opens in London in the year 1897, and introduces its protagonist Graham, who is despondent over his inability to fall sleep. Left without much choice, he turns to medication, which instead of offering temporary relief induces a coma-like trance. Waking up disoriented and in an unfamiliar setting, Graham discovers that he has been in a deep slumber, which has lasted for over two centuries. Moreover, he comes to knowledge that he is extremely rich due to an inheritance, which has been accumulating interest in a trust under his name. The protagonist also finds out that his wealth has been used to run the world, supposedly on his behalf, by the White Council. His awakening not only presents a personal struggle with disorientation, but it also triggers a large-scale revolution which aims to overthrow the current government. Consequently, Graham must not only adjust to the alien futuristic world, but he must also manage his prestigious position in society and produce a much needed leader to guide the revolution. So begins his enlightening journey, as he learns of the troubling regime of the ruling power, and must choose whether to live up to his designation as a savior, or forfeit his voice to the established authority. Interestingly, Wells makes some accurate technological and social predictions about the future, which many will find exciting considering the time of its composition. Some of these forecasts include the vivid descriptions of television, airplanes, windmills and vending machines. The novel presents a model of dystopia, as it revolves around key dystopian elements including a division between social classes, dehumanization, and the realization of the injustice administered under authoritarian rule. Wells’ wild imagination, descriptive imagery, and social critique make the novel a compelling and insightful piece of literature.
Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard
“An Adventurer – He that goes out to meet whatever may come!” This is the credo of Allan Quatermain, the quintessential, swashbuckling protagonist of Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard. Quatermain first makes his appearance as a character in Haggard's most famous bestselling adventure tale, King Solomon's Mines. Published in 1885, this Victorian action novel depicts a group led by Allan Quatermain who travel to a remote region in Africa in search of the missing brother of one of them. It is considered the very first English adventure tale set in what was perhaps disparagingly then called the “Dark Continent.” King Solomon's Mines was also an early example of marketing hype. The book became an instant bestseller following weeks of relentless publicity on billboards, newspaper ads and posters in London. It was also published at a time when expeditions to Egypt and other ancient civilizations were underway, thus generating huge interest in unexplored lands. In Allan Quatermain, the second book in the series, Rider Haggard tells of the further adventures of his cult hero. Quatermain is a professional big game hunter and trader. He is a typical colonialist and imperialist who believes that Africa needs to be “civilized” by the efforts of the White Man. However, he also believes that the native people should have a say in their own affairs. His faithful old servant, a Hottentot named Hans, accompanies him on most of his adventures. The book is set in the years following the King Solomon's Mines episode. The opening chapter, The Consul's Yarn begins with Quatermain's two friends Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good visiting him to condole him on his young son's untimely death. Quatermain is bored with his uneventful life in civilization and plans to return to the Africa. The friends agree to accompany him and this is the start of another fast paced saga, replete with blood thirsty tribal people, Masai warriors, meeting with an old Scottish civil servant and much more. Author of more than 60 books, Henry Rider Haggard was sent to Africa by his relatively wealthy father who felt that the boy would never amount to much. He returned from Africa following a moderately successful career as a government servant and settled down to write about his experiences. His novels did not meet with much initial success, but with the publication of King Solomon's Mines, his name became a byword for adventure. He was also passionately interested in agricultural reform and social uplift of the colonies. Allan Quatermain is a great read and a good addition to your collection of adventure sagas.
Typhoon by Joseph Conrad
First published in 1902 as a serial in Pall Mall Magazine, the adventure novel follows the disrupting events onboard a steamboat after it takes a perilous course at sea, which triggers a state of mayhem onboard the steamer. Furthermore, the incident prompts the crew to gradually reveal their true nature which is brought to light in the time of crisis. Interestingly, the tale is believed to possess some autobiographical elements taken from Conrad’s own experiences at sea, which provide the novel with a strong foundation, as he effectively uses personification, imagery, and descriptive language to accurately illustrate the danger and chaos instigated by a powerful storm at sea. The nautical tale begins with the introduction of Captain John Mac Whirr, a stolid and steadfast man who is the captain of Nan-Shan, a Siamese steamer carrying Chinese workers back to their homeland. Also onboard the ship is its crew including Jukes, the first mate, and Solomon Rout, the chief engineer, both of whom play an important role in the steamer’s journey. Although things seem to be running smoothly, the positive atmosphere is abruptly interrupted when the captain is warned about a looming storm ahead and is advised by his first mate, Jukes to change the steamer’s course. However, determined to stay on schedule and unwilling to follow an alternate course, Mac Whirr disregards the threat, firmly believing in the steamer’s ability to withstand any natural force. Consequently, he steers the vessel right into the eye of the storm, which sets off havoc among the crew and Chinese laborers, as they are hurled into an intense struggle against the ruthless forces of nature. Conrad goes on to effectively portray the numerous shades of human characteristics, as he provides vivid illustrations of the possible reactions brought about in the face of danger. Moreover, Conrad effectively substantiates his distinguished position in literature through his masterful use of language, as his evocative descriptions allow the audience to step aboard the Nan-Shan, and experience the terrible effect and intensity of the storm for themselves. A gripping piece that is sure to enthrall any fan of nautical adventure, Typhoon offers a generous serving of thrills throughout its pages.
Red Shadows by Robert Ervin Howard
Red Shadows is the first of a series of stories featuring Howard’s puritan avenger, Solomon Kane. Kane tracks his prey over land and sea, enters the jungles of Africa, and even faces dark Gods and evil magic — all to avenge a woman he’d never met before.
King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard
King Solomon’s Mines is the story of the leader Allan Quatermain and his adventurous group of followers on their mission to find the lost brother of an aristocrat, Sir Henry Curtis. Considered similar to Robert Louise Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island, Haggard’s book proved to be another must-read adventure novel in the international literary world. The African desert hides underneath its sands myths and legends that lasted for centuries in the minds of the locals. Quatermain has a mysterious map that could lead to the ancient mines of the wise King Solomon. The road to discovery is not easy, and the group of adventurers must pass through dangerous and life threatening situations. They are taken prisoner by a local tribe ruled by King Twala, a violent and cruel person who wove his path to the throne by killing his brother and abandoning his sister-in-law in the hot sun of the African desert. The novel presents a whole series of furious battles between the Englishmen and the indigenous tribes, in the end the road to King Solomon’s mines being revealed by the maleficent Gagool. The mysteries deepen when Quatermain discovers the body of the adventurer who drew the map to these mines in his own blood. But how will they get to the labyrinth of the mines and find the correct route through? This and many mysteries will keep you riveted as you read this book. King Solomon’s Mines is a great book to explore the ancient world and discover wisdom through Haggard's amazing narration.
