Doctor Ox's Experiment
The story takes place in the fictional town of Esplachance, where a mysterious stranger arrives with a large machine that he claims will bring about a period of peace and prosperity to the town by removing all conflict through the use of electricity.
The townspeople are initially skeptical but eventually become convinced of the stranger's intentions and allow him to set up his machine in the town square. However, things quickly go awry as the machine begins to malfunction and causes chaos throughout the town.
As the situation spirals out of control, a group of townsfolk band together to try and stop the machine, but their efforts are ultimately unsuccessful. The story ends with the machine continuing to wreak havoc on the town, leaving its inhabitants in a state of panic and confusion.
By Jules Verne · First published 1874 · Genre: Science Fiction, Satire, Adventure · 17 chapters
Contents
- How it is Useless to Seek, Even on the Best Maps, for the Small Town of Quiquendone
- In which the Burgomaster Van Tricasse and the Counsellor Niklausse Consult about the Affairs of the Town
- In which the Commissary Passauf Enters as Noisily as Unexpectedly
- In which Doctor Ox Reveals himself as a Physiologist of the First Rank, and as an Audacious Experimentalist
- In which the Burgomaster and the Counsellor Pay a Visit to Doctor Ox, and what Follows
- In which Frantz Niklausse and Suzel Van Tricasse Form Certain Projects for the Future
- In which the Andantes Become Allegros, and the Allegros Vivaces
- In which the Ancient and Solemn German Waltz Becomes a Whirlwind
- In which Doctor Ox and Ygène, his Assistant, Say a few Words
- In which it will be Seen that the Epidemic Invades the Entire Town, and what Effect it Produces
- In which the Quiquendonians Adopt a Heroic Resolution
- In which Ygène, the Assistant, Gives a Reasonable Piece of Advice, which is Eagerly Rejected by Doctor Ox
- In which it is once more Proved that by Taking High Ground all Human Littlenesses May be Overlooked
- In which Matters Go so Far that the Inhabitants of Quiquendone, the Reader, and Even the Author, Demand an Immediate Dénouement
- In which the Dénouement Takes Place
- In which the Intelligent Reader Sees that he has Guessed Correctly, Despite all the Author's Precautions
- In which Doctor Ox's Theory is Explained
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