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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, with eBook
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, with eBook
by Jules Verne
French professor Pierre Aronnax and his servant join the Abraham Lincoln, an American frigate, on a mission to find and destroy a "sea-unicorn of colossal dimensions, armed not with a halberd, but with a real spur, as the armored frigates." The undersea monster is thought to be responsible for the disappearance of over 200 ships. When they encounter the "gigantic cetacean," it disables the Abraham Lincoln and knocks Professor Aronnax, his servant, and the hot-tempered harpooner Ned Land overboard. The three must cling to the beast or drown; however, they soon realize that the "beast" is really a man-made underwater vehicle.
Captain Nemo captures the men and holds them prisoner on the Nautilus, his incredible submarine. The captain and his unwilling passengers thus embark on a deep-sea odyssey that stretches from the palm-strewn Indian Ocean to the frozen peril of the South Pole. But the enigmatic Nemo has a darker purpose for his voyage: revenge on humanity.
Not just a suspense-ridden drama, this classic novel, written in 1873, predicts with astonishing accuracy the advanced technology and inventions of the twentieth century, and it has inspired generations of science fiction writers.
Captain Nemo captures the men and holds them prisoner on the Nautilus, his incredible submarine. The captain and his unwilling passengers thus embark on a deep-sea odyssey that stretches from the palm-strewn Indian Ocean to the frozen peril of the South Pole. But the enigmatic Nemo has a darker purpose for his voyage: revenge on humanity.
Not just a suspense-ridden drama, this classic novel, written in 1873, predicts with astonishing accuracy the advanced technology and inventions of the twentieth century, and it has inspired generations of science fiction writers.
French professor Pierre Aronnax and his servant join the Abraham Lincoln, an American frigate, on a mission to find and destroy a "sea-unicorn of colossal dimensions, armed not with a halberd, but with a real spur, as the armored frigates." The undersea monster is thought to be responsible for the disappearance of over 200 ships. When they encounter the "gigantic cetacean," it disables the Abraham Lincoln and knocks Professor Aronnax, his servant, and the hot-tempered harpooner Ned Land overboard. The three must cling to the beast or drown; however, they soon realize that the "beast" is really a man-made underwater vehicle.
Captain Nemo captures the men and holds them prisoner on the Nautilus, his incredible submarine. The captain and his unwilling passengers thus embark on a deep-sea odyssey that stretches from the palm-strewn Indian Ocean to the frozen peril of the South Pole. But the enigmatic Nemo has a darker purpose for his voyage: revenge on humanity.
Not just a suspense-ridden drama, this classic novel, written in 1873, predicts with astonishing accuracy the advanced technology and inventions of the twentieth century, and it has inspired generations of science fiction writers.
Captain Nemo captures the men and holds them prisoner on the Nautilus, his incredible submarine. The captain and his unwilling passengers thus embark on a deep-sea odyssey that stretches from the palm-strewn Indian Ocean to the frozen peril of the South Pole. But the enigmatic Nemo has a darker purpose for his voyage: revenge on humanity.
Not just a suspense-ridden drama, this classic novel, written in 1873, predicts with astonishing accuracy the advanced technology and inventions of the twentieth century, and it has inspired generations of science fiction writers.
Reviews-
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Taken prisoner aboard the rogue submarine Nautilus in 1873, a French professor of marine biology travels an underwater world with his captors, while discovering the philosophy and technical knowledge of the vessel's strange Captain Nemo--Latin for "no one." Battling giant sea creatures, collecting sunken gold, sinking enemy ships, and eating unknown aquatic delights provide nonstop adventure for all ages. Michael Prichard's deep, pleasant voice does no accents for the three languages involved but, nevertheless, captures the action and drama of this classic novel, which is guaranteed to entertain and surprise listeners with its prescient predictions of modern know-how. One would never suspect that such eloquent English was translated from French. J.A.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine
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January 2, 2012
Verne’s classic journey into the ocean follows professor Pierre Aronnax and his two companions as they are captured by Capt. Nemo and find themselves trapped aboard the Nautilus, a high-powered submarine that traverses about the world revealing the mysteries of the sea. James Frain provides clear and crisp narration. His intonation and tone are good, but not good enough to overcome the tedious cataloguing of every crustacean, fish, and shell that Verne includes. Equally problematic, Frain stumbles through some of his reading and has trouble maintaining the voices he provides for the different characters, particularly Nemo, whose voice is quite inconsistent. This, at times, can lead to listener confusion. While this audiobook is, on the whole, enjoyable, it doesn’t stand up to other Listening Library productions. -
The music is grand, uplifting, and often epic, especially in undersea and open ocean scenes. An organ is used effectively for the interior of the submarine, and one can almost see Captain Nemo caressing the keys. This is a full-cast recording of Verne's classic. The narrating professor is cleverly articulated with a slight foreign edge to his English. The harpooner is snappily portrayed, and Captain Nemo's voice is adamant and slightly sinister, as the character requires. Only the professor's servant is unconvincing--too young, to this reviewer's taste. Still, this is a vivid reminder of Jules Verne's narrative grandeur. D.R.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine
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Jules Verne's fascinating novel takes the listener on a journey beneath the sea to the far reaches of the world. The figure of Captain Nemo provides a dark undercurrent to the optimism of Verne's narrator, Pierre Aronnax. Bill Homewood's narration is truly delightful. His melodic cadence delivers the descriptive prose engagingly, and his vocal characterizations are also convincing. As Professor Aronnax, he enthusiastically expounds upon scientific explanations, adding excitement to what could be dry bits of text. Ned Land has a gruff, burly voice, while the mysterious Captain Nemo speaks in a slightly foreign accent. Homewood's narration invites the listener onto the NAUTILUS and a world of undersea adventure. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine
