These lively varied & thought-provoking science-fiction stories (from the era of Jules Verne & H. G. Wells) are linked by their imposing central character the pugnaciously adventurous & outrageous Professor Challenger. The Lost World (forebear of Jurassic Park) vividly depicts a perilous region in which the explorers confront creatures from the prehistoric era. The Poison Belt presents an eerie doomsday scenario while The Disintegration Machine satirically comments on scientific cynicism. In When the World Screamed the planet responds violently to an experimental incursion. The strangest item is The Land of Mist which seeks to reconcile science with spiritualism. This memorable collection provides imaginative entertainment entrancing escapism & bold provocation.