by H. G. Wells
First published 1897
Griffin, a brilliant physicist, discovers the secret to human invisibility through radical optical research. Driven by scientific obsession, he transforms himself into a transparent being—but finds his newfound power comes with devastating psychological consequences. Isolated and increasingly unstable, Griffin begins terrorizing the small village of Iping, using his invisibility to steal, attack, and manipulate those around him. As local residents grow suspicious and hunt him down, Griffin must evade capture while maintaining his fragile grip on sanity. His former colleague Kemp becomes his primary opponent, determined to stop the invisible man's escalating reign of terror before he can unleash total chaos.
Genres: science-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: dark, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: mad-scientist, unreliable-narrator
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century
192 pages · Mass Market Paperback · New American Library/Penguin Books
Content warnings: mental-illness, violence