I don’t know what attracted me most during ’97, the title that I came
across for the 1st time or the appealing price tag so much
encouraging as to coax my parents easily into buying this for me. At that point
of time Conan Doyle, to me, was the creator of Sherlock Holmes and a few spine chilling
terrifying anecdotes. What I didn’t know was that he was equally brilliant
in the realms of science fiction and when it comes to merge the limitless
imagination that science offers in literature, none other than Sir Arthur will
come as one of the greatest in the British literature.
Professor Challenger had been a creation of Conan Doyle whose brain
matched Holmes (both Sherlock and Mycroft) and whose curiosity in the field of
science seemed to match none than his own enterprising soul. On one hand his
pride prevented him from mixing with the common man on the other hand a logical
brain was all welcome for him. All these combined, we start with this brilliant
professor as he guides an apparently odd crew of the adventurous and ever cool
Lord John Roxton (very much reflecting in appearance and mannerism to Sherlock
Holmes), the apprehensive professor of Comparative Anatomy, Summerlee and the
young and daring Edward D. Malone of the Daily Gazette in their epic
exploration of The Lost World near
the perilous seclusion of the Amazon that seemed to crawl in the Jurassic Age
with the pre-historic dinosaurs and the missing links abound. The plateau built
on the remains of a dormant volcano offered adventure of the highest degree
that gives the readers a glimpse to the age so remote that we can only imagine
in our dreams. The narration was so vividly exciting and the descriptions of
the flora and fauna so realistically done that one can only crave for more once
the narrative ends. Mixed with the usual humour of Conan Doyle’s, the novel
uses Edward Malone’s views of the adventure. This bold young man’s exploits as
he discovers the new land and also his true self is most enjoyable in the sense
that the readers – the new beholders in the strange land – discovers the
uniqueness right with him and thus the surprises and awes that is felt by
Malone transmits well to the readers. Though this had been a second read by me
but still surprises blossom once more as if I was reading it anew.
The next in the series is one of the peaks of imagination in which the
author so easily dwells that exposes the Earth in a shroud of The Poison Belt which pervades the world
and all that is living causing apparent death to the entire living race except
amoebas which though promises life in a future million year. The ingenuity of
Challenger seems to delay the onset to his friends but that too for a few hours
before which their living self seemed sure to perish. But the ultimate
revelation of the story is sure to bring relief from a sheer tension that
gradually builds to its maximum by the classic penmanship of the writer.
Another important aspect of the narrative is the introduction of Mrs.
Challenger in the proper sense that her personality had come to fore. Mixed
with the same feeling of awe and wander the narrative once more promises an
adventure of a different type that though is curious but surely enjoyable.
Following these two adventures is another most curious and more
convincing in The Land of Mist where
spiritualism challenges the erudite Challenger. The adventures begin with
Malone as he delves as the representative of the press into the realms of
various spiritual circles, both at home and abroad. Challenger, obviously is
irritated at this but Malone, after being convinced of the truthfulness of the
afterlife tries to persuade the professor on the path of spiritualism. Lord
Roxton, a sympathizer to the cause, also joins in. Romance also is a part of
the novel that goes hand in hand with the adventure. Conan Doyle has added some
significant incidents in the Appendices that, along with the story itself, will
no doubt, convert many a non-believer to a believer. The patient but firm way
is which several of the supernatural events have been established bears the
fact that the author was not only a believer but also participant in several of
the rescue circles, séances and experiments concerning spiritualism. It is also
noted that his wife was a medium and along with her, he had joined in several
sessions of séances that helped clearing out any doubts that he may have felt.
Some very remarkable experiences and evidences are being shared that will also
help in establishing the truth that lies behind the misty land where the traditional
scientific brain hesitates to traverse.
The fourth in the series is The
Disintegration Machine, where we find Professor Challenger less as a
scientist than a dutiful citizen. Requested to investigate a seemingly
fantastic yet dangerous scientific invention, prudence prevails till the climax
and a classic twist reflects a part of his character yet unknown to the
beholders of his exploits.
But the best, at least my favourite, is When The World Screamed that at once tells us the height of
fascinating imagination that the author was capable of. Truly a marvelous work
of fiction this piece alters the perspective of the reader about the nature of
our very own earth. The rationale seemed a little simplified and a bit less
elaborate to convince the critical reader but its style of presentation is
quite wonderful. Narrated from the perspective of an artesian boring expert,
Peerless Jones with Malone enjoying the show as the genius’s sidekick, the
adventure is aimed to find out the true nature beneath the earth’s crust.
Scattered with humour the piece is a classic that I cherish fondly though I’ve
read it more than once.
The entire compilation is a revelation of Conan
Doyle’s versatility as several, including me before going through it, of the
readers always associate him with Sherlock Holmes only. In fact, after reading
Holmes I was a fan of the detective but reading this I became a fan of the
author.
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