When first published, The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) shocked and horrified most of its readers and reviewers. Wells effectively employs disturbing elements to explore both the implications of evolutionary theory and to satirize modern societys religious institutions and its pride in its "civilization" - all through a story filled with suspense and adventure, capable of being read in a single page-turning sitting.
As with the other early "scientific romances" that initiated Wells literary career, The Island of Dr. Moreau successfully integrates serious ideas into a story driven not only by fast-paced action but also by Wells gift for placing the fantastic parts of the story in the realistically depicted world of his audience. Thus Wells offered the growing field of science fiction an important model as well as one of its most highly regarded examples.