The Island of Dr. Moreau - H. G. Wells (4 of 5 Vivisections Gone Wrong)

Island is yet another book from my Darwin class.  And don't think that's all of them...there are two or three more still coming.  This short novel is the story of a man who ends up on a strange island in the Pacific Ocean.  Dr. Moreau and his assistant have been living there for several years doing experiments on animals.  These experiments consist of surgically changing the body and mind of animals, attempting to speed up evolution.  While coming close, Dr. Moreau has never been able to change an animal into a human.  Consequently, several of these mutant animals roam the island.  Dr. Moreau seems to be able to control them until one day when the puma escapes...dun...dun...dun.  Dun.

If by chance you're feeling an overwhelming urge to celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday by studying natural selection, but aren't quite up for hundreds of boring pages of descriptions of finches, Island is the book for you.  I enjoyed this novel.  You might too.  Check it out.