Audiobook Sample

Listen to the sample to experience the story.

Please wait while we verify your browser...

  • Title: Island Of Doctor Moreau (Version 2)
  • Author: H.G. Wells
  • Narrator: Bob Neufeld
  • Length: 04:54:36
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 01/01/2017
  • Publisher: LibriVox
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature, Action & Adventure
  • ISBN13: SABLIB9786403
Hey digital explorers and literary time-travelers,

Let’s break this down: H.G. Wells’ 1896 masterpiece hits differently in audio form, especially when you’re listening through your noise-canceling AirPods on a crowded subway. The juxtaposition of Victorian horror against our modern world of CRISPR and AI creates delicious cognitive dissonance that Bob Neufeld’s narration amplifies perfectly.

Here’s what makes this interesting: I first encountered Moreau’s island during my MIT days in a ‘Science Fiction as Social Commentary’ seminar. We analyzed it alongside CRISPR patent applications – talk about prescient! But hearing Neufeld’s interpretation while walking through Boston’s biotech district last week gave me full-body chills. His deliberate pacing during Moreau’s monologues makes you feel the weight of each unethical decision, while his animalistic vocalizations for the Beast Folk are unsettlingly organic.

The cultural impact here is wild (pun intended). In our era of biohackers and transhumanism, Wells’ cautionary tale about playing God hits harder than ever. Neufeld’s audio performance highlights three key dimensions:
1) The horror elements – his breath control during vivisection scenes had me pausing to collect myself
2) The philosophical tension – you can hear the narrator subtly shift tone when exploring humanity’s fragile veneer
3) The adventure pacing – those shipwreck sequences? Absolute audio gold

Remember when I compared five formats for ‘Project Hail Mary’? This Wells classic proves some stories gain new dimensions through audio. The Law chants (“Are we not men?”) become hypnotic rituals when heard rather than read. And here’s a hot take: Neufeld’s interpretation makes Prendick more sympathetic than the text alone – there’s vulnerability in his vocal cracks that print can’t convey.

For my BookTok followers who loved my ‘Evelyn Hugo’ narrator analysis: pay attention to how Neufeld handles Moreau’s god complex versus the Beast Folk’s desperation. The vocal contrast creates this brilliant audio chiaroscuro effect. And yes, this LibriVox version being free is insane value – though I’d k*ll for a full-cast adaptation with Dolby Atmos effects!

Compared to other Wells audiobooks, this stands out for its psychological horror elements. Where ‘War of the Worlds’ feels cinematic, ‘Moreau’ gets under your skin through intimate first-person narration. Neufeld understands this, keeping his performance unsettlingly close-mic’d at key moments.

Content warning: The animal cruelty themes hit harder in audio. I had to take breaks during Chapter 12 – not because of weak narration, but because Neufeld’s too effective at conveying suffering. Yet this discomfort is precisely why every biotech student should experience this version.

The audio quality? Classic LibriVox – clean but unpolished, with occasional room echo that accidentally enhances the island’s eerie atmosphere. At 4.9 hours, it’s perfect for a workday listen, though I recommend daylight hours unless you enjoy sleeping with lights on.

Stay curious (but maybe don’t play God),nSophien#FutureOfStories
Sophie Bennett