Fiction: The Lost World

Book By Book

Looking for a classic among my huge audio book backlog, I was quite surprised to find The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle. I was surprised because this novel, published in 1912, is not about Sherlock Holmes. In fact, it’s not even a mystery; it’s science fiction. I had no idea that Doyle ever wrote science fiction, but apparently, this book was the start of his Professor Challenger series. The intriguing premise, action, and suspense of this unique novel kept me rapt.

The book is narrated by Ned, a journalist who wants to impress the woman he loves by embarking on some sort of rugged adventure. Just that kind of opportunity presents itself when he attends a scientific conference and hears Professor Challenger talk about his astounding discoveries. While on an expedition to a remote region of the Amazon basin in South America, Professor Challenger claims to have seen prehistoric animals–including dinosaurs–still living and thriving on a huge, isolated plateau. When his scientific colleagues laugh at his claims during the talk and don’t believe him, he proposes another expedition, including another scientist (one of his detractors). Ned jumps at the chance to accompany them as a journalist, to document their findings … and impress his beloved. The small group sets out and once in the region, hires a group of men to accompany them and help them on their journey through the rugged terrain. Following Professor Challenger’s instructions and memories, they do indeed find the plateau, populated by strange and wondrous–and very dangerous–creatures unlike any that exist in modern times elsewhere. Their story is told through Ned’s writings and drawings that he sends back home with native messengers, as they encounter strange beasts and even an entirely new kind of human.

This story was suspenseful and compelling on audio, as the team encounters one challenge after another and Ned documents their astounding findings. There is plenty of action and adventure in the novel, and it’s easy to see how this story–originally serialized in a magazine–captured and held the attention of its 1912 audience. It’s also interesting from a historical perspective, since the prehistoric creatures they encountered were based on the paleontological findings of that time. My one complaint was the racism throughout the narrative, that was, of course, a product of its time but is cringe-worthy nonetheless. The hired helpers on the expedition were referred to as “swarthy half-breeds” and described in unflattering terms, while the one African man hired to help was constantly described as “huge and ever-loyal,” more positive terms, perhaps, but no less stereotyped and cringey. Despite these flaws (which many classics carry), I was engrossed in the action-packed and suspenseful narrative and fascinated by the descriptions of the creatures they encountered.

230 pages, Seawolf Press

FNH Audio

NOTE: While I listened to the audio book and normally recommend using Bookshop, which supports indie bookstores, for book purchases (links to both below), in this case, I recommend the 100th Anniversary edition from Seawolf Press, available from Amazon, which includes 50 original drawings that accompanied the book’s original publication in magazines. From the “Look Inside” feature at that link, the drawings look detailed and gorgeous.

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

Monthly Motif – April – a book adapted into a TV series or movie (but, wow, this one looks so bad, complete with cheesy special effects and a busty, semi-clad woman–there’s no woman on the expedition in the book.)

Back to the Classics Challenge – 20th century classic

2022 Alphabet Soup – L

Travel the World in Books Challenge – Brazil

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Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible.

You can buy the book through Bookshop.org, where your purchase will support the indie bookstore of your choice (or all indie bookstores)–the convenience of shopping online while still buying local!

Or you can order The Lost World from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.