HarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.'It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out,
"From the classic novel by Mary Shelley. Victor Frankenstein is a brilliant student of natural sciences. Traumatised by his mother's death, he attempts to create life, but flees in horror from the mon
Here is the classic novel of supreme horror that has held readers spellbound since its publication in 1816. This new edition will also feature an examination of the films inspired by Shelley's groundb
Your favorite characters are now part of the Who HQ library!One of the most iconic monsters of all time comes to life in our What Is the Story Of? series.From his origins in Mary Shelley's 1818 novel, through his many movie portrayals in the twentieth century, Frankenstein is one of the most recognizable characters in the world. His iconic look is a go-to Halloween costume for kids and adults alike. But how did the mad scientist and his creation become so popular? Author Sheila Keenan explains his spooky origin story, the history of the movies, and what lies ahead for this monstrous creature.
「但凡人能想像到的事物,必定有人能將它實現。」 他的幻想建立在有限的科學知識上,煥發出新的光芒 假說言地球空心,他寫出《地心歷險記》 有人嘗試開發潛水艇,他寫出《海底兩萬里》 一句玩笑話「把人打到月亮」,他寫出《從地球到月球》 不少當時天馬行空的幻想,時至今日已經司空見慣 他被稱為「預言家」,用筆推動科學的齒輪 他是科幻小說的濫觴──朱爾‧凡爾納! ▎出生海港,探索與冒險成為人生基調 凡爾納出生海港城市,神秘的海洋牽動他無所顧忌的幻想,他一生鍾愛探索未知以及思考未知中的可能性,在大量的思考與求證中,推敲出看似天馬行空實際可行的科學新觀點,終其一生熱愛航海,遊遍歐洲,甚至寫出《海底兩萬里》(Vingt mille lieues sous les mers),揮灑他的海洋幻想。 ▎闖蕩巴黎,文學就是終身職志 失戀的凡爾納離開家鄉這片傷心地來到巴黎尋找新世界,他遇見了許多文學名流,認識了小仲馬,結識了扶持一輩子的出版商好友,他也更加堅定:雖然為讓父親開心不得不攻讀法律,但他最終將投身文學的懷抱! ▎初試啼聲一炮而紅,科幻的道路拓寬者 邁入婚姻的凡爾納為了家計不得不進入金融業,利用上班餘剩的時間刻苦創作,幸虧碰上一心為他著想的妻子,他的處女作《氣球上的五星期》(Cinq semaines en ballon)大獲成功。在凡爾納之前,科幻作品還有當時尚未成熟的《科學怪人》(Frankenstein),而凡爾納的作品宣告著全新的文學體裁已經成熟,他完美地結合科學與文學,成為開創與拓寬者。 ▎科幻的成功,是一點的科學加上嚴謹想像 成名後的十年間,凡爾納創造了生命中的重要作品: 他採用地球空心假說,創造出電影改編寵兒《地心歷險記》(Voyage au centre de la Terre);潛水艇剛被發明沒多久,技術仍不成熟,他寫出《海底兩萬里》,鸚鵡螺號變成所有潛水艇的致敬對象,催生潛水艇的技術成熟;他請數學家朋友一起蒐集大量資料,計算引力與發射角度,寫出把人送上月球的《從地球到月球》(De la Terre à la Lune),火箭發射的角度與回到地球的落點與1960年代登上月球的阿波羅13號相差無幾,火箭的座艙與高度甚至一模一樣。 凡爾納成功預言了火箭的誕生,或者可以說──是他啟發了人類創造火箭的思想。 ▎終身創作,科學與文學的完美結合 《環遊世界八十天》(Le tour