The Story of Captain Nemo
by Dave Eggers
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Pub Date Sep 06 2016 | Archive Date Jul 01 2016
Description
In this science-fiction classic - reimagined by Dave Eggers in modern times, and from the point of view of the fourteen-year-old Consuelo - the famous oceanographer Pierre Arronax sets sail from New York to hunt down a mysterious sea-monster which has been terrorizing the oceans, wrecking ship after ship and causing countless deaths. But they discover an even stranger truth: the "sea-monster" is in fact a submarine, captained by Nemo, who is living in self-imposed exile in international waters. Consuelo and Arronax join Nemo on the submarine, and so begin their exciting adventures ...
Dave Eggers says, of the series: "I couldn't be prouder to be a part of it. Ever since Alessandro conceived this idea I thought it was brilliant. The editions that they've complied have been lushly illustrated and elegantly designed."
Advance Praise
• 'A children's book of the year 2013' Time Out London
• 'Deliciously artful... the best kind of story' Times Literary Supplement
• 'Crisply gung-ho' Daily Telegraph
• 'A children's book of the year 2013' Time Out London
• 'Deliciously artful... the best kind of story' Times Literary Supplement
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781782690184 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 12 members
Featured Reviews
Helen M, Bookseller
A reimagining of the story of Captain Nemo, positioning him as a somewhat over-zealous eco-warrior, sinking ships and drowning sailors to preserve life beneath the waves. Wonderfully written by the ever-engaging Eggers, this is a great read for kids and grown-ups alike! Highly recommended.
Zory B, Bookseller
A reimagining of the story of Captain Nemo, positioning him as a somewhat over-zealous eco-warrior, sinking ships and drowning sailors to preserve life beneath the waves. Wonderfully written by the ever-engaging Eggers, this is a great read for kids and grown-ups alike! Beautiful illustrations by Fabian Negrin. I would highly recommended.
Paul M, Reviewer
The ever-versatile storyteller Dave Eggers has taken Jules Verne's classic Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and put a modern twist on it for young readers. In The Story of Captain Nemo, young Consuelo gets to go on an adventure with his uncle, the famous oceanographer Pierre Arronax. Together they will investigate the sinking of fishing boats around the world and the rumors of a giant sea monster that keeps bringing them down.
It's been decades since I read Verne's original story, so I can't authoritatively say how true to the story Eggers stays. It's certainly updated to the context of today. Eggers himself writes that this is not a "definitive distillation" of the original but a "personal and idiosyncratic take on it. . . . meant to intrigue a reader enough to bring them to Verne's inimitable text." On that count, he succeeds.
It's a quick read, with some fun illustrations. The sci-fi element is cool. Just as in Verne's original, Eggers includes enough speculative science to be believable while emphasizing Nemo's mad genius. The message of valuing human life above animal life while respecting the ocean environment fits somewhere between Greenpeace and a free market of the sea. Killing humans on large-scale fishing vessels is not OK, even if they are depleting fish populations and destroying habitats. But it's not OK to kill the offenders.
The Story of Captain Nemo is a satisfying and enjoyable reminder of the literary genius and scientific foresight of Jules Verne. Pick it up!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
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