Dr. Ox's Experiment by Jules Verne
Author: Jules Verne | Published: 1872
Dr. Ox's Experiment Synopsis
Jules Verne's amusing science fiction short story Dr. Ox's Experiment, also known in French as Une fantaisie du Docteur Ox or "A Fantasy of Doctor Ox," was first published in 1872. It tells the story of an experiment conducted by Dr. Ox, who is inspired by oxygen's real or alleged effects on living things.
The story takes place in the small Flemish town of Quiquendone, known for its peaceful and slow-paced lifestyle. One day, a mysterious scientist named Dr. Ox arrives in town and offers to install a new gas lighting system. The townspeople are eager to adopt the new technology, and Dr. Ox begins his work. Unbeknownst to the townspeople, Dr. Ox is a mad scientist planning to experiment on the effects of oxygen on living things.
Excerpt from Dr. Ox's Experiment Online Book
If you try to find, on any map of Flanders, ancient or modern, the small town of Quiquendone, probably you will not succeed. Is Quiquendone, then, one of those towns which have disappeared? No. A town of the future? By no means. It exists in spite of geographies, and has done so for some eight or nine hundred years. It even numbers two thousand three hundred and ninety-three souls, allowing one soul to each inhabitant. It is situated thirteen and a half kilometres north-west of Oudenarde, and fifteen and a quarter kilometres south-east of Bruges, in the heart of Flanders.
About Jules Verne
Jules Gabriel Verne (1828-1905) was a French writer widely regarded as the "Father of Science Fiction." Born in Nantes, France, Verne developed an early passion for storytelling and adventure. However, his father encouraged him to pursue a career in law, and Verne reluctantly followed his wishes, eventually becoming a lawyer.
Despite his legal profession, Verne continued to nurture his love for literature and began writing plays, poems, and short stories. He gained recognition in the literary circles of Paris and eventually transitioned into writing novels. Verne's works were characterized by his vivid imagination, scientific accuracy, and detailed descriptions of futuristic technology and exploration. In 1863, Verne published his most famous novel, "Five Weeks in a Balloon," which began his extraordinary career as a science fiction author. This was followed by a series of highly successful and influential novels, including "Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864), "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" (1870), and "Around the World in Eighty Days" (1873). Find out more about Jules Verne at sevenov.com.