Ever read Verne's "The Mysterious Island"?

[PCIntern]

The book essentially begins with Northerners escaping Richmond, VA via a balloon in a violent storm of the Century (19th) which incredibly takes them across the US to the South Pacific. Verne’s description of the lashing of the city and being in the balloon which eventually leaves them on a deserted isle. Fascinating description prior to the science of meteorology as we now know it.

Great book. My favorite Verne novel and if you’ve read other Verne, the end will amaze you.

[2naSalit]

1. Read it when I was a kid...

might give it another read now that you mention it.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Saw the movie version -- Ray Harryhausen special effects, Bernard Hermann score.

Real classic SF adventure stuff, with the usual Hollywood "improvements".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055207/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm

[PCIntern]

3. Shitty movie

The book is not ridiculous or inane like the film. It is very “real”. Castaways who are educated and resourceful.

[Mister Ed]

4. I did indeed, as a lad of ten.

That was fifty-two years ago. Now I'll put my memory to the test, and see how well I recall the surprise ending:

As they steer their small boat through an underground grotto, the castaways slowly approach the semi-reclining figure of an old man. Overcome with sudden realization, one of the castaways rises unsteadily to his feet and cries out in shock and astonishment:

"He! It can only be he!"...

[PCIntern]

5. Yep

And the true epilogue of In Search of the Castaways

[pecosbob]

6. A formative work of fiction for all the western world

Verne rocked the world in his day.