The Tail Section

Until recently,  I was unaware of the controversy amongst Jules Verne purists that "LOST" is merely a rip-off of Verne’s "Mystery Island".  I’ve read the book, seen a couple of the movies, and was pretty attatched to the 1995 series, but honestly had never really thought of the book as the "basis" for Lost anymore than any other redemption-by-isolation myth or story.

Now, after I lay the description of Mystery Island on you,  some of you will no doubt say "Doc,  how couldn’t you…" but give me a moment to explain myself…

The Mysterious Island follows the adventures of a group of castaways (and a dog)  who crash land on a mysterious island. One of the castaways nearly dies after a skirmish with pirates; he is saved by the unexplained appearance of medicine after the pirates are unexpectedly routed. The group later discovers that their secret helper is the reclusive Captain Nemo  who ultimately dies and is buried at sea in his submarine. The castaways are eventually saved by a passing ship.  During their stay,  they domesticate an orangutan and name him Jupiter, or Jewp for short (very important to Lost Experience fans.)

How could we consider this as any less than the defacto inspiration for LOST?  Easy… it’s not the first story to use these themes.  

Mysterious Island is in fact a sci-fi/fantasy rendition of Robinson Crusoe, which was published in 1719.  Verne wrote Mysterious Island in 1872 and it was published two years later.  Crusoe really launched an entire genre centered around people finding themselves haplessly marooned on dangerous islands and ultimately making the best of it.

I would agree with the Verne purists that of the older literary works Mysterious Island was the best, because I am fantasy inclined,  but to say it is the "basis" for LOST is a reach.  One of the many inspirations, would be a little more appropriate.  Do I think we will see a captain Nemo like character jump out at the end of the series?  I would highly doubt it.  Should we think the LOST writers would be bold enough to create a "Joop" of their own as anything other then an homage, thinking fans in the information age would never find out?  Absolutely ridiculous.

I’m sure if Jules Verne were alive today he would not claim ownership of the literary device known as Deus ex machina, and if he, one of the greatest sci-fi/fantasy authors of all time, were not above melding a genre with this tried and true tool of the sci-fi trade, why shouldn’t the writers of LOST be afforded the same license?

That’s my thoughts.  LOST a rip-off of Mysterious Island?  Not a chance.  LOST influenced by many great works of literature INCLUDING The Mysterious Island?  Oh hell yeah!  Isn’t that part of why we love it?