Novelist Jules Verne, while struggling before his great career in science fiction begins, is benignly kidnapped in 1845 by an agent of the tyrannical ruler of the future world. He is transported both backwards to the Cretaceous Era and then forward to the year 5,000, at a time when life on earth appears doomed. Verne experiences objects (including the Nautilus) and events that inspire his writings, once he returns to his own time. A rich and suspenseful story that inspires the reader to take up Verne afresh. ( )

Good writing in the original style, fine use of the author's idioms and chapter headings ("Chapter II, in which Jules Verne encounters a tricky situation involving a nun and an un-cooperative corset", which is not the sort of heading you'll find in this book, but one wouldn't say 'no' to that sort of thing, you know…), but the story stops rather suddenly after the dénouement, which itself hasn't enough time to be developed. Were this re-written from novella to small novel, the characterisation and story would likely be more satisfying. Still worth the time, though; it just would be better were it longer, 'tis all. ( )