THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND Extraordinary Voyages, Book 12

Bill Homewood's resonant bass is a fine match for Jules Verne's 1875 sprawling sequel to his landmark work TWENTY THOUSAND LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA (1870). It's the end of the Civil War, and a small, intrepid band of Union soldiers takes off in a hot-air balloon to avoid capture by the Confederates. A terrifying storm whisks them 6,000 miles away to an uninhabited, uncharted island somewhere in the South Pacific. One of Verne's trademarks is his meticulous and detailed research, and Homewood keeps the narrative focused and steady as the crew, calling themselves "colonists," harness fire, fashion tools, and plant crops. When pirates appear, a mysterious presence provides timely help. Homewood provides a classic voice for a classic nineteenth-century fantasy-adventure. B.P. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2023]