Otto Lidenbrock is a German professor who believes that
there are several volcanic tubes spread across the Earth which lead directly to
its core. Searching for irrefutable
proof of his new theory, Otto takes his nephew Axel and their guide Hans deep
into the caves beneath Snaefellsjokull, an active volcano in Iceland. There, much to their disbelief, the three explorers
encounter a number of natural hazards and even some prehistoric creatures!
Mr. Verne first published this book in 1864, and I think
that one of the reasons behind its longevity is its outlandish plot. Of course it was written back in a golden age
of science and exploration, when academics were making major leaps of progress
in all fields of study. Most of Mr.
Verne’s books have strong elements of science and discovery worked into the
plot, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of them to readers of all
ages. Upon reading “Journey to the
Center of the Earth” for a second time, however, I found myself marveling at our
modern levels of scientific progress.
Could it be possible that today’s generation might have its own young
Jules Verne among us, a budding author who’s already hard at work writing
stories about genetic engineering or deep space exploration?
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