I had two overarching problems with this book. The first--its rhapsodic recounting of all things underwater--I can forgive. I understand: it was all so new and fascinating at the time. The second--it's abysmal lack of character development--I cannot. I found Captain Nemo to be an insufferable, self-righteous, arrogant ass. Verne never explains Nemo's motivation for mass murder, and such a thing must be explained or else I cannot empathize with the character. The narrator was even less likable. He was a spineless sycophant. Only Ned Land (and boy, does Verne hit the reader over the head with that name!) was remotely understandable.