
The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. The War of The Worlds, Anthem, Frankenstein, The Lost World, Iron Heel, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde…By Jules Verne, Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allan Poe, William Hope Hodgson, George MacDonald, Jack London, Arthur Conan Doyle, Ayn Rand, David Lindsay, Edward Bellamy, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Abraham Merritt, H. G. Wells, H. Rider Haggard, Mary Shelley, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Edwin A. Abbott, Hugh BensonLength182h 16m
About this audiobook
The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics gathers foundational works that chart the imaginative territory of science fiction from Gothic speculation to scientific romance, utopian critique, cosmic adventure, and proto-modern dystopia. Its range embraces voyages to unknown worlds, experiments in social organization, technological marvels, haunted psychologies, and encounters with the alien or sublime. Read together, these narratives reveal the genre's early versatility: philosophical allegory, adventure fiction, satire, horror, and political prophecy converge in a tradition still shaping contemporary speculative literature. The contributors represent a remarkable cross-section of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century literary culture, including pioneers of scientific romance, masters of adventure, Gothic innovators, social reformers, and writers attentive to empire, industry, gender, and modernity. Their varied backgrounds illuminate science fiction's emergence from multiple movements: Romanticism, Victorian exploration, fin-de-siècle anxiety, socialist and feminist utopianism, and the rise of popular magazines. The anthology shows how different national and intellectual traditions transformed speculation into a vehicle for cultural diagnosis. This volume is recommended for readers seeking a concentrated education in the origins and breadth of science fiction. It offers not merely famous names, but a dialogue among competing visions of progress, peril, freedom, and human destiny. Students, scholars, and general readers alike will find in these pages a rich opportunity to compare styles, historical assumptions, and enduring questions within a single indispensable collection.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- An Introduction draws the threads together, discussing why these diverse authors and texts belong in one collection.
- Historical Context explores the cultural and intellectual currents that shaped these works, offering insight into the shared (or contrasting) eras that influenced each writer.
- A combined Synopsis (Selection) briefly outlines the key plots or arguments of the included pieces, helping readers grasp the anthology's overall scope without giving away essential twists.
- A collective Analysis highlights common themes, stylistic variations, and significant crossovers in tone and technique, tying together writers from different backgrounds.
- Reflection questions encourage readers to compare the different voices and perspectives within the collection, fostering a richer understanding of the overarching conversation.
Audiobook details
GenreScience Fiction
Length182 hrs 16 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 21, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1The Greatest Sci-Fi Classics (Annotated)
301Chapter II. Challenges
2Introduction
302Chapter III. Jackson’s Arm
3Historical Context
303Chapter IV. Slaves of the Machine
4Synopsis (Selection)
304Chapter V. The Philomaths
5Journey to the Center of the Earth
305Chapter VI. Adumbrations
Show all chaptersShow less
6Chapter I. The Professor And His Family
306Chapter VII. The Bishop’s Vision
7Chapter II. A Mystery To Be Solved At Any Price
307Chapter VIII. The Machine Breakers
8Chapter III. The Runic Writing Exercises The Professor
308Chapter IX. The Mathematics of a Dream
9Chapter IV. The Enemy To Be Starved Into Submission
309Chapter X. The Vortex
10Chapter V. Famine, Then Victory, Followed By Dismay
310Chapter XI. The Great Adventure
11Chapter VI. Exciting Discussions About An Unparalleled Enterprise
311Chapter XII. The Bishop
12Chapter VII. A Woman’s Courage
312Chapter XIII. The General Strike
13Chapter VIII. Serious Preparations For Vertical Descent
313Chapter XIV. The Beginning of the End
14Chapter IX. Iceland! But What Next?
314Chapter XV. Last Days
15Chapter X. Interesting Conversations With Icelandic Savants
315Chapter XVI. The End
16Chapter XI. A Guide Found To The Centre Of The Earth
316Chapter XVII. The Scarlet Livery
17Chapter XII. A Barren Land
317Chapter XVIII. In the Shadow of Sonoma
18Chapter XIII. Hospitality Under The Arctic Circle
318Chapter XIX. Transformation
19Chapter XIV. But Arctics Can Be Inhospitable, Too
319Chapter XX. A Lost Oligarch
20Chapter XV. Snæfell At Last
320Chapter XXI. The Roaring Abysmal Beast
21Chapter XVI. Boldly Down The Crater
321Chapter XXII. The Chicago Commune
22Chapter XVII. Vertical Descent
322Chapter XXIII. The People of the Abyss
23Chapter XVIII. The Wonders Of Terrestrial Depths
323Chapter XXIV. Nightmare
24Chapter XIX. Geological Studies In Situ
324Chapter XXV. The Terrorists
25Chapter XX. The First Signs Of Distress
325Looking Backward: 2000–1887
26Chapter XXI. Compassion Fuses The Professor’s Heart
326Author’s Preface
27Chapter XXII. Total Failure Of Water
327Chapter 1
28Chapter XXIII. Water Discovered
328Chapter 2
29Chapter XXIV. Well Said, Old Mole! Canst Thou Work I’ The Ground So Fast?
329Chapter 3
30Chapter XXV. De Profundis
330Chapter 4
31Chapter XXVI. The Worst Peril Of All
331Chapter 5
32Chapter XXVII. Lost In The Bowels Of The Earth
332Chapter 6
33Chapter XXVIII. The Rescue In The Whispering Gallery
333Chapter 7
34Chapter XXIX. Thalatta! Thalatta!
334Chapter 8
35Chapter XXX. A New Mare Internum
335Chapter 9
36Chapter XXXI. Preparations For A Voyage Of Discovery
336Chapter 10
37Chapter XXXII. Wonders Of The Deep
337Chapter 11
38Chapter XXXIII. A Battle Of Monsters
338Chapter 12
39Chapter XXXIV. The Great Geyser
339Chapter 13
40Chapter XXXV. An Electric Storm
340Chapter 14
41Chapter XXXVI. Calm Philosophic Discussions
341Chapter 15
42Chapter XXXVII. The Liedenbrock Museum Of Geology
342Chapter 16
43Chapter XXXVIII. The Professor In His Chair Again
343Chapter 17
44Chapter XXXIX. Forest Scenery Illuminated By Eletricity
344Chapter 18
45Chapter XL. Preparations For Blasting A Passage To The Centre Of The Earth
345Chapter 19
46Chapter XLI. The Great Explosion And The Rush Down Below
346Chapter 20
47Chapter XLII. Headlong Speed Upward Through The Horrors Of Darkness
347Chapter 21
48Chapter XLIII. Shot Out Of A Volcano At Last!
348Chapter 22
49Chapter XLIV. Sunny Lands In The Blue Mediterranean
349Chapter 23
50Chapter XLV. All’s Well That Ends Well
350Chapter 24
51Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea
351Chapter 25
52Part One
352Chapter 26
53Chapter I. A Shifting Reef
353Chapter 27
54Chapter II. Pro and Con
354Chapter 28
55Chapter III. I Form My Resolution
355The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr Hyde
56Chapter IV. Ned Land
356Story of the Door
57Chapter V. At a Venture
357Search for Mr. Hyde
58Chapter VI. At Full Steam
358Dr. Jekyll was Quite at Ease
59Chapter VII. An Unknown Species of Whale
359The Carew Murder Case
60Chapter VIII. Mobilis in Mobili
360Incident of the Letter
61Chapter IX. Ned Land's Tempers
361Incident of Dr. Lanyon
62Chapter X. The Man of the Seas
362Incident at the Window
63Chapter XI. All By Electricity
363The Last Night
64Chapter XII. Some Figures
364Dr. Lanyon’s Narrative
65Chapter XIII. The Black River
365Henry Jekyll’s Full Statement of the Case
66Chapter XIV. A Note of Invitation
366Lilith
67Chapter XV. A Walk on the Bottom of the Sea
367Chapter I. The Library
68Chapter XVI. A Submarine Forest
368Chapter II. The Mirror
69Chapter XVII. Four Thousand Leagues Under the Pacific
369Chapter III. The Raven
70Chapter XVIII. Vanikoro
370Chapter IV. Somewhere or Nowhere?
71Chapter XIX. Torres Straits
371Chapter V. The Old Church
72Chapter XX. A Few Days on Land
372Chapter VI. The Sexton's Cottage
73Chapter XXI. Captain Nemo's Thunderbolt
373Chapter VII. The Cemetery
74Chapter XXII. "Aegri Somnia"
374Chapter VIII. My Father's Manuscript
75Chapter XXIII. The Coral Kingdom
375Chapter IX. I Repent
76Part Two
376Chapter X. The Bad Burrow
77Chapter I. The Indian Ocean
377Chapter XI. The Evil Wood
78Chapter II. A Novel Proposal of Captain Nemo's
378Chapter XII. Friends and Foes
79Chapter III. A Pearl of Ten Millions
379Chapter XIII. The Little Ones
80Chapter IV. The Red Sea
380Chapter XIV. A Crisis
81Chapter V. The Arabian Tunnel
381Chapter XV. A Strange Hostess
82Chapter VI. The Grecian Archipelago
382Chapter XVI. A Gruesome Dance
83Chapter VII. The Mediterranean in Forty-Eight Hours
383Chapter XVII. A Grotesque Tragedy
84Chapter VIII. Vigo Bay
384Chapter XVIII. Dead or Alive?
85Chapter IX. A Vanished Continent
385Chapter XIX. The White Leech
86Chapter X. The Submarine Coal-Mines
386Chapter XX. Gone!—But How?
87Chapter XI. The Sargasso Sea
387Chapter XXI. The Fugitive Mother
88Chapter XII. Cachalots and Whales
388Chapter XXII. Bulika
89Chapter XIII. The Iceberg
389Chapter XXIII. A Woman of Bulika
90Chapter XIV. The South Pole
390Chapter XXIV. The White Leopardess
91Chapter XV. Accident or Incident?
391Chapter XXV. The Princess
92Chapter XVI. Want of Air
392Chapter XXVI. A Battle Royal
93Chapter XVII. From Cape Horn to the Amazon
393Chapter XXVII. The Silent Fountain
94Chapter XVIII. The Poulps
394Chapter XXVIII. I Am Silenced
95Chapter XIX. The Gulf Stream
395Chapter XXIX. The Persian Cat
96Chapter XX. From Latitude 47° 24' to Longitude 17° 28'
396Chapter XXX. Adam Explains
97Chapter XXI. A Hecatomb
397Chapter XXXI. The Sexton's Old Horse
98Chapter XXII. The Last Words of Captain Nemo
398Chapter XXXII. The Lovers and the Bags
99Chapter XXIII. Conclusion
399Chapter XXXIII. Lona's Narrative
100The Time Machine
400Chapter XXXIV. Preparation
101Chapter I
401Chapter XXXV. The Little Ones in Bulika
102Chapter II
402Chapter XXXVI. Mother and Daughter
103Chapter III
403Chapter XXXVII. The Shadow
104Chapter IV
404Chapter XXXVIII. To the House of Bitterness
105Chapter V
405Chapter XXXIX. That Night
106Chapter VI
406Chapter XL. The House of Death
107Chapter VII
407Chapter XLI. I Am Sent
108Chapter VIII
408Chapter XLII. I Sleep the Sleep
109Chapter IX
409Chapter XLIII. The Dreams that Came
110Chapter X
410Chapter XLIV. The Waking
111Chapter XI
411Chapter XLV. The Journey Home
112Chapter XII
412Chapter XLVI. The City
113The War of The Worlds
413Chapter XLVII. The "Endless Ending"
114Book One. The Coming of the Martians
414King Solomon's Mines
115Chapter One. The Eve of the War
415Chapter I. I Meet Sir Henry Curtis
116Chapter Two. The Falling Star
416Chapter II. The Legend of Solomon's Mines
117Chapter Three. On Horsell Common
417Chapter III. Umbopa Enters Our Service
118Chapter Four. The Cylinder Opens
418Chapter IV. An Elephant Hunt
119Chapter Five. The HeatRay
419Chapter V. Our March into the Desert
120Chapter Six. The HeatRay in the Chobham Road
420Chapter VI. Water! Water!
121Chapter Seven. How I Reached Home
421Chapter VII. Solomon's Road
122Chapter Eight. Friday Night
422Chapter VIII. We Enter Kukuanaland
123Chapter Nine. The Fighting Begins
423Chapter IX. Twala the King
124Chapter Ten. In the Storm
424Chapter X. The Witch-Hunt
125Chapter Eleven. At the Window
425Chapter XI. We Give a Sign
126Chapter Twelve. What I Saw of the Destruction
426Chapter XII. Before the Battle
127Chapter Thirteen. How I Fell in with the Curate
427Chapter XIII. The Attack
128Chapter Fourteen. In London
428Chapter XIV. The Last Stand of the Greys
129Chapter Fifteen. What Had Happened in Surrey
429Chapter XV. Good Falls Sick
130Chapter Sixteen. The Exodus from London
430Chapter XVI. The Place of Death
131Chapter Seventeen. The “Thunder Child”
431Chapter XVII. Solomon's Treasure Chamber
132Book Two. The Earth Under the Martians
432Chapter XVIII. We Abandon Hope
133Chapter One. Under Foot
433Chapter XIX. Ignosi's Farewell
134Chapter Two. What We Saw from the Ruined House
434Chapter XX. Found
135Chapter Three. The Days of Imprisonment
435The Night Land
136Chapter Four. The Death of the Curate
436The Dreams that are only Dreams
137Chapter Five. The Stillness
437I. Mirdath the Beautiful
138Chapter Six. The Work of Fifteen Days
438II. The Last Redoubt
139Chapter Seven. The Man on Putney Hill
439III. The Quiet Calling
140Chapter Eight. Dead London
440IV. The Hushing of the Voice
141Chapter Nine. Wreckage
441V. Into the Night Land
142Chapter Ten. The Epilogue
442VI. The Way That I Did Go
143Frankenstein
443VII. The Night Land
144Preface
444VIII. Down the Mighty Slope
145Volume One
445IX. The Dark Pyramid
146Letter One
446X. The Maid of the Olden Days
147Letter Two
447XI. The Homeward Way
148Letter Three
448XII. Downward of the Gorge
149Letter Four
449XIII. Homeward by the Shore (pt. 1)
150Chapter One
450XIII. Homeward by the Shore (pt. 2)
151Chapter Two
451XIV. On the Island
152Chapter Three
452XV. Past the House of Silence
153Chapter Four
453XVI. In the Country of Silence
154Chapter Five
454XVII. The Love Days
155Chapter Six
455Herland
156Chapter Seven
456Chapter 1. A Not Unnatural Enterprise
157Volume Two
457Chapter 2. Rash Advances
158Chapter One
458Chapter 3. A Peculiar Imprisonment
159Chapter Two
459Chapter 4. Our Venture
160Chapter Three
460Chapter 5. A Unique History
161Chapter Four
461Chapter 6. Comparisons Are Odious
162Chapter Five
462Chapter 7. Our Growing Modesty
163Chapter Six
463Chapter 8. The Girls of Herland
164Chapter Seven
464Chapter 9. Our Relations and Theirs
165Chapter Eight
465Chapter 10. Their Religions and Our Marriages
166Chapter Nine
466Chapter 11. Our Difficulties
167Volume Three
467Chapter 12. Expelled
168Chapter One
468Anthem
169Chapter Two
469Part One
170Chapter Three
470Part Two
171Chapter Four
471Part Three
172Chapter Five
472Part Four
173Chapter Six
473Part Five
174Chapter Seven
474Part Six
175Walton in Continuation
475Part Seven
176The Lost World
476Part Eight
177Foreword
477Part Nine
178Chapter I. “There Are Heroisms All Round Us”
478Part Ten
179Chapter II. “Try Your Luck with Professor Challenger”
479Part Eleven
180Chapter III. “He is a Perfectly Impossible Person”
480Part Twelve
181Chapter IV. “It’s Just the very Biggest Thing in the World”
481Lord of the World
182Chapter V. “Question!”
482Preface
183Chapter VI. “I was the Flail of the Lord”
483Prologue
184Chapter VII. “To-morrow we Disappear into the Unknown”
484Book I. The Advent
185Chapter VIII. “The Outlying Pickets of the New World”
485Chapter I
186Chapter IX. “Who could have Foreseen it?”
486Chapter II
187Chapter X. “The most Wonderful Things have Happened”
487Chapter III
188Chapter XI. “For once I was the Hero”
488Chapter IV
189Chapter XII. “It was Dreadful in the Forest”
489Chapter V
190Chapter XIII. “A Sight which I shall Never Forget”
490Book II. The Encounter
191Chapter XIV. “Those Were the Real Conquests”
491Chapter I
192Chapter XV. “Our Eyes have seen Great Wonders”
492Chapter II
193Chapter XVI. “A Procession! A Procession!”
493Chapter III
194A Descent into the Maelstrom
494Chapter IV
195The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion
495Chapter V
196A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
496Chapter VI
197A Word of Explanation
497Chapter VII
198Chapter I. Camelot
498Chapter VIII
199Chapter II. King Arthur’s Court
499Book III. The Victory
200Chapter III. Knights of the Table Round
500Chapter I
201Chapter IV. Sir Dinadan the Humorist
501Chapter II
202Chapter V. An Inspiration
502Chapter III
203Chapter VI. The Eclipse
503Chapter IV
204Chapter VII. Merlin’s Tower
504Chapter V
205Chapter VIII. The Boss
505Chapter VI
206Chapter IX. The Tournament
506A Voyage to Arcturus
207Chapter X. Beginnings of Civilization
507Chapter 1. The Séance
208Chapter XI. The Yankee in Search of Adventures
508Chapter 2. In The Street
209Chapter XII. Slow Torture
509Chapter 3. Starkness
210Chapter XIII. Freemen
510Chapter 4. The Voice
211Chapter XIV. “Defend Thee, Lord”
511Chapter 5. The Night Of Departure
212Chapter XV. Sandy’s Tale
512Chapter 6. Joiwind
213Chapter XVI. Morgan Le Fay
513Chapter 7. Panawe
214Chapter XVII. A Royal Banquet
514Chapter 8. The Lusion Plain
215Chapter XVIII. In the Queen’s Dungeons
515Chapter 9. Oceaxe
216Chapter XIX. Knight-Errantry as a Trade
516Chapter 10. Tydomin
217Chapter XX. The Ogre’s Castle
517Chapter 11. On Disscourn
218Chapter XXI. The Pilgrims
518Chapter 12. Spadevil
219Chapter XXII. The Holy Fountain
519Chapter 13. The Wombflash Forest
220Chapter XXIII. Restoration of the Fountain
520Chapter 14. Polecrab
221Chapter XXIV. A Rival Magician
521Chapter 15. Swaylone’s Island
222Chapter XXV. A Competitive Examination
522Chapter 16. Leehallfae
223Chapter XXVI. The First Newspaper
523Chapter 17. Corpang
224Chapter XXVII. The Yankee and the King Travel Incognito
524Chapter 18. Haunte
225Chapter XXVIII. Drilling the King
525Chapter 19. Sullenbode
226Chapter XXIX. The Smallpox Hut
526Chapter 20. Barey
227Chapter XXX. The Tragedy of the Manor-House
527Chapter 21. Muspel
228Chapter XXXI. Marco
528The Moon Pool
229Chapter XXXII. Dowley’s Humiliation
529Foreword
230Chapter XXXIII. Sixth Century Political Economy
5301. The Thing on the Moon Path
231Chapter XXXIV. The Yankee and the King Sold as Slaves
5312. “Dead! All Dead!”
232Chapter XXXV. A Pitiful Incident
5323. The Moon Rock
233Chapter XXXVI. An Encounter in the Dark
5334. The First Vanishings
234Chapter XXXVII. An Awful Predicament
5345. Into the Moon Pool
235Chapter XXXVIII. Sir Launcelot and Knights to the Rescue
5356. “The Shining Devil Took Them!”
236Chapter XXXIX. The Yankee’s Fight with the Knights
5367. Larry O’Keefe
237Chapter XL. Three Years Later
5378. Olaf’s Story
238Chapter XLI. The Interdict
5389. A Lost Page of Earth
239Chapter XLII. War!
53910. The Moon Pool
240Chapter XLIII. The Battle of the Sand Belt
54011. The Flame–Tipped Shadows
241Chapter XLIV. A Postscript by Clarence
54112. The End of the Journey
242The Coming Race
54213. Yolara, Priestess of the Shining One
243Chapter 1
54314. The Justice of Lora
244Chapter 2
54415. The Angry, Whispering Globe
245Chapter 3
54516. Yolara of Muria vs. the O’Keefe
246Chapter 4
54617. The Leprechaun
247Chapter 5
54718. The Amphitheatre of Jet
248Chapter 6
54819. The Madness of Olaf
249Chapter 7
54920. The Tempting of Larry
250Chapter 8
55021. Larry’s Defiance
251Chapter 9
55122. The Casting of the Shadow
252Chapter 10
55223. Dragon Worm and Moss Death
253Chapter 11
55324. The Crimson Sea
254Chapter 12
55425. The Three Silent Ones
255Chapter 13
55526. The Wooing of Lakla
256Chapter 14
55627. The Coming of Yolara
257Chapter 15
55728. In the Lair of the Dweller
258Chapter 16
55829. The Shaping of the Shining One
259Chapter 17
55930. The Building of the Moon Pool
260Chapter 18
56031. Larry and the Frog–Men
261Chapter 19
56132. “Your Love; Your Lives; Your Souls!”
262Chapter 20
56233. The Meeting of Titans
263Chapter 21
56334. The Coming of the Shining One
264Chapter 22
56435. “Larry — Farewell!”
265Chapter 23
565The Metal Monster
266Chapter 24
566Prologue
267Chapter 25
5671. Valley of the blue poppies
268Chapter 26
5682. The sigil on the rocks
269Chapter 27
5693. Ruth Ventnor
270Chapter 28
5704. Metal with a brain
271Chapter 29
5715. The smiting thing
272Flatland
5726. Norhala of the lightnings
273Preface
5737. The shapes in the mist
274Part I: This World
5748. The drums of thunder
2751. Of the Nature of Flatland
5759. The portal of flame
2762. Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland
57610. “Witch! Give back my sister”
2773. Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland
57711. The metal emperor
2784. Concerning the Women
57812. “I will give you peace”
2795. Of our Methods of Recognizing one another
57913. “Voice from the void”
2806. Of Recognition by Sight
58014. “Free! But a monster!”
2817. Concerning Irregular Figures
58115. The house of Norhala
2828. Of the Ancient Practice of Painting
58216. Conscious metal!
2839. Of the Universal Colour Bill
58317. Yuruk
28410. Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition
58418. Into the pit
28511. Concerning our Priests
58519. The city that was alive
28612. Of the Doctrine of our Priests
58620. Vampires of the sun
287Part II: Other Worlds
58721. Phantasmagoria metallioue.
28813. How I had a Vision of Lineland
58822. The ensorcelled chamber
28914. How I vainly tried to explain the nature of Flatland
58923. The treachery of Yuruk
29015. Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland
59024. Ruszark
29116. How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland
59125. Cherkis
29217. How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds
59226. The vengeance of Norhala
29318. How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there
59327. “The drums of destiny”
29419. How, though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it
59428. The frenzy of Ruth
29520. How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision
59529. The passing of Norhala
29621. How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success
59630. Burned out
29722. How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result
59731. Slag!
298Iron Heel
598Analysis
299Foreword
599Reflection
300Chapter I. My Eagle