The Mysterious Island

"If there is one thing certain in this world, Spilett, it is that I never lighted any fire during the night of the 19th of October, neither on Prospect Heights nor on any other part of the island!"

Richmond escape → castaway colonization → invisible rescues → pirate siege → Nemo revelation → eruption and rescue; Robinsonade fused with mystery engine and Nautilus crossover, so plot scores 91.

"Captain Nemo, you asked for us! We are here.--" At these words the reclining figure rose, and the electric light fell upon his countenance; a magnificent head, the forehead high, the glance commanding, beard white, hair white.

Cyrus Harding's engineer-genius, Pencroft's sailor energy, Herbert/Spilett/Neb/Ayrton each functional yet distinct; Nemo's late reveal recontextualizes every earlier miracle, so cast scores 90.

Doubtless, it was the proceeding employed by Tubalcain, and the first metallurgists of the inhabited world. Now that which had succeeded with the grandson of Adam, and which still yielded good results in countries rich in ore and fuel, could not but succeed with the settlers of Lincoln Island.

Long colonization and cataloguing stretches (metallurgy, agriculture, geography) dilate; mystery thread and pirate/climax arcs restore drive, so pace scores 78.

Then immediately a loud voice shouted,-- "Land! land!" The balloon, which the wind still drove towards the southwest, had since daybreak gone a considerable distance, which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles.

Kingston translation: clear, explanatory, adventure-serviceable; Pencroft's vernacular supplies color amid Harding's lectures, so prose scores 86.

Let us call it Lincoln Island! The engineer's proposal was replied to by three hurrahs. And that evening, before sleeping, the new colonists talked of their absent country.

Lincoln Island mapped as engineered colony — Granite House, corral, Bonadventure, Mount Franklin — then re-read as Nemo's last refuge, so world scores 95.

Then immediately a loud voice shouted,-- "Land! land!" The balloon, which the wind still drove towards the southwest, had since daybreak gone a considerable distance, which might be reckoned by hundreds of miles.

Storm-battered balloon, missing fifth passenger, 'Land! land!' — immediate survival stakes plus Harding swept away, so hook scores 91.

"and also that of this wonderful submarine vessel--" "The 'Nautilus'?" said the captain, with a faint smile. "The 'Nautilus.'" "But do you--do you know who I am?" "I do."

Castaway SF that doubles as secret-patron mystery and *Twenty Thousand Leagues* sequel; defines the 'mysterious helper' Robinsonade, so innov scores 92.

"After all, what matters now?" he murmured; "I am dying!" Cyrus Harding drew near the captain, and Gideon Spilett took his hand--it was of a feverish heat.

Nemo's death, island engulfed, survivors picked up and Grant tie-in — rare Verne closure that pays off every planted miracle, so ending scores 93.