Best Jules Verne Books

A French author born in 1828, Jules Verne was a pioneer of the science fiction and fantasy genres. In fact, there are many who title him, next to H.G. Wells, as the "Father of Science Fiction," an impeccable name to have as an author. Plus, right behind Disney Productions and Agatha Christie, Jules Verne is the third most translated author of all time.

For those who love to explore black holes and the true nature of space, or if you're a huge fan of Alfred Bester, Verne is your author. With influences ranging from Edgar Allen Poe to Victor Hugo, his books cater more toward the adventurous kind of readers, those who like an astounding journey through both time and space, often experiencing a great many trifles, only for the protagonist to rise up against this mortal threat.

Since his death in 1905, Verne's celebration of science fiction lives on in his massive shelf of self-written novels, each encapsulating an epic part of what the genre entails at its core. Dig deep into the fathoms of the ocean, blast off into the recesses of our galaxy, or traverse the moon; anything is possible when you're reading the best Jules Verne books...

Join Professor Pierre Aronnax as he boards the Nautilus, a massive and sophisticated submarine, and dives deep into an unknown, yet insatiable adventure with Captain Nemo.

As one of history's most classic epics, and his most acclaimed work ever written, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is one of the best Jules Verne books for inciting an imaginative journey that not only digs deep into the ocean, but swells in our hearts for years to come.

If you've ever wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, then this addition to the best Jules Verne books is not for you. The story revolves around five union prisoners who recently escaped from the siege of Richmond by using a hot air balloon.

Of course, the balloon is blown off course and crashes on a remote island, where the five must build a society for themselves as they wait for rescue. The Mysterious Island is the second in a series of Captain Nemo works.

Third on both this list of the best Jules Verne books and in Extraordinary Voyages series, Journey to the Center of the Earth is another one of this author's classics that will never fail to entertain us.

Professor Liedenbrock attempts to preform one of the most eccentric expedition voyages of the 19th century, a journey down into a remote Icelandic volcano, in order to reach some of our planet's darkest secrets.

Eleventh in the Extraordinary Voyages series, this one is also a from the best Jules Verne books, showcasing his talent in writing superb science fiction novels, in addition to drawing up some of the most spellbinding characters.

Around the World in Eighty Days gives us Philes Fogg as a protagonist, a man who bets his pals £20,000 that he can traverse the planet in 80 days. Think he can do it? Read and see.

This rather strange and mysterious book, published in 1865, explains a quest of men to the moon, coincidentally similar to the Apollo 11 space mission that many find borderline irrefutable, making it one of the best Jules Verne books.

For starters, From the Earth to the Moon has a canon named Columbiad (same as Apollo 11's command module), a three person crew (identical to Apollo 11), and left earth via Florida (just like Apollo 11). Even more eerie is the fact that the return trip to earth in the novel pretty much mirrors the real life Apollo mission's rediscovery.

This is the fifth installation in Extraordinary Voyages and gives, with expert detail, the quest to find Captain Grant and his lost crew of the Britannia.

One of the less known in the best Jules Verne books, In Search of the Castaways is a return to the sea, where floats a message in a bottle as a marooned crew's only hope for savior.

Being one of the most interesting and mesmerizing books of the 20th century, in addition to being one of Verne's last, The Master of the World details John Strock on his investigations of unexplained events in the mountains of North Carolina.

This has to be one of the best Jules Vern books, for it explores varying scientific ideas of the time, like a vehicle's weight not reducing at high speeds, for which have now been counted as errors.

Traveling across the African continent, Dr. Samuel Fergusson, a renowned explorer, accompanied by his servant and an avid hunter, embark upon a myriad of trials, most of which hinge between the environment or native tribes.

One of the best Jules Verne books, Five Week in a Balloon expertly details the African continent while also portraying the wonders provided there, giving any adventurous soul are daring journey to conquer.

Verne's sequel to From the Earth to the Moon would later be combined into one massive work, known as A Trip to the Moon and Around It, for which incidentally the 1902 film A Trip to the Moon was based, making it one of the best Jules Verne books.

After being shot out into space, the crew of the bullet-shaped projectile must undergo a series of misadventures as they traverse around the moon, and ultimately fall back toward earth, not soon after catching a remarkable glimpse of Tycho.

Did you ever wonder or worry about a comet smacking earth? It happens more than you might believe, but not like this. In Off on a Comet, a giant asteroid collides with earth, subsequently ripping off pieces and taking with it up to 40 different people for a two year journey through space.

Another Verne space adventure, Off on a Comet is a wildly intense ride for any science fiction fans. Without this insane science fiction, it wouldn't be one of the best Jules Verne books, so don't worry if a 3-mile wide asteroid is passing earth. It's highly doubtful you'll be taken for a ride.

Leonard S. Davidow, an 1870s critic, considers Michael Strogoff one of the best Jules Verne books, as do a host of other critics of the time. Set among the plains of Russia, this story revolves around Tsar Alexander II's courier, who is met by a host of dangers through his adventures with the Tartars, Russian governors, and his own family woes.

If not the very best Verne has to offer, Michael Strogoff proves that though his specialties relied heavily upon the science fiction trope, Verne could still write the hell out of any story plot line, making it feel realistic as if it were history itself.