Herbert George Wells was a renowned English author who found fame in the late 1800s. He is considered one of the fathers of science fiction, and is best known for his novel the "The Time Machine".
Published in 1896, The Island of Dr. Moreau is about Edward Prendick, a shipwrecked man rescued by a passing boat. He is left on the island home of Doctor Moreau, a mad scientist who creates human-like hybrid beings from animals via vivisection.
One of the earliest cover editions features a black, almost linocut like graphic of a island with waves brushing onto shore and red ominous clouds in the sky.
When I chose to redesign this novel's cover, I knew that I wanted to focus on the atmosphere and setting, much like the original. The island was an important motif to signify. For the front cover, you can see a campfire accompanied by a silhouette of a man. I wanted to give zero detail to the figure, and instead have the focus be on the background.
The display of animalistic eyes shining through the bushes were not only watching the main character, but also the viewer. The back cover includes two human-animal hybrid figures (a deer and a cheetah) atop a cliffside, stalking out the main character on the beach below.
Overall, the art style I desired had to be almost comic graphic style to appeal to a younger audience, but still have it feel ominous and not kid-friendly like.