Review by ratbas (2005-07-15)
Although the first two reviewers are right that there is a bit more Latin in this book than what many might consider necessary I wouldn't go so far as to think of it as filler. It does fit the personality of the characters. That said these parts do occasionally get in the way of a very good adventure story. I found the characters to be interesting and Verne allows them to play off each other in entertaining ways. Is the ending a let down? Yes. But the story along the way has more than a few good moments.

Review by spiphany (2004-04-09)
I got rather tired of the seemingly never-ending litany of names of fish and often found myself skimming them, although after a while there did seem to be a certain intellectual beauty in the way they’re listed off, sort of a paean of praise for the wonders of science. This book is really written as a celebration of science and rationalism and human ingenuity, and is an interesting document to the spirit of the time in which is was written. Intellectually, it’s interesting. Emotionally, I did not find the book fulfilling. “20,000 Leagues” is very concrete, very cerebral. It doesn’t deal with what it means to be human, with feelings, themes, ideals. Only facts. Verne seems to have written the book in order to expound on an idea, slapping a plot in on top to make a story out of it. The adventure (and the conclusion of it, which is hasty) is rather contrived, and the characters, although clearly defined at the outset, are rather simplistic and lack depth.

Review by ChefInnocent (2003-04-05)
I just finished reading this book 2 weeks ago. Ugh! Verne spends far too much time demonstrating that he has studied taxonomy, and not enough time actually developing a story. Nearly a third of the book is ramblings of plants, animals, and zoophytes. Some of this can be forgiven, as the characters Monsieur Aronnax and Consiel are scientists in this field. However, the book lacks character development and only hints at continuity.
Many of the chapters have absolutely nothing to do with each other, and are only there as side plots. The book is riddled with adventures that are unrelated and in no way further the story along.
When the conclusion of the book is finally met, the reader is content to be finished with the book. The ending is anti-climatic and long awaited. The reader is unlikely to find a plot or moral. The entire story is just a series of adventures.
Although Verne is not the worst author I have ever read, he certainly does not rank high on my list of authors to read. A friend of mine read another book by him and had a similar opinion.