Books Like The Invisible Man

The concept of invisibility has always appealed to people for various reasons. For some, the allure lies in the freedom it could provide, while for others, the biggest draw would be spying on people without any consequences. Invisibility could grant someone many perks, which is why it is a popular power in the world of comic books. However, in 1897, H. G. Wells published The Invisible Man, which explored the darker side of being invisible. The protagonist, Griffin, invents chemicals that can make him invisible but becomes unhinged while attempting to reverse the process. Eventually, Griffin becomes obsessed with using his invisibility to terrorize the world, which leads to dire consequences. For more novels that examine the darker side of invisibility, check out the following books like The Invisible Man.

The Country of the Blind, and Other Stories

By H.G. Wells

The Country of the Blind and Other Stories is a collection of thirty-three short stories by the author of The Invisible Man, H.G. Wells. The tale that is the most like The Invisible Man is The Plattner Story, which was first published in 1896 in a periodical called The New Review. It is a tale about a schoolteacher in the South of England named Gottfried Plattner who vanishes from the chemistry glass while experimenting with a green powder. Although Gottfried can still faintly see the schoolroom and students, he is entirely invisible to them. Gottfried is also able to see a parallel world with a green sky and strange people. After witnessing something that startled him, Gottfried ran and fell, causing him to drop the bottle of green powder, which resulted in an explosion that returned him to visibility in his own world. 

The Secret of Wilhelm Storitz

By Jules Verne

Jules Verne is known for adventure novels such as Journey to the Center of the Earth, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days. However, one of his last novels is his own take on The Invisible Man, The Secret of Wilhelm Storitz. Wilhelm is the son of a famous Prussian scientist who vows revenge on the family of Myra Roderich, whom he believes is the love of his life. When her family repeatedly denies his requests to propose to her, they are terrorized by an invisible presence that disrupts Myra's wedding to another man. Everyone suspects Wilhelm, who has vanished without a trace, especially after Myra also goes missing. Eventually, Myra's brother, Haralan, encounters and fights Wilhelm, who is invisible, before the shocking truth is revealed. 

The Murderer Invisible

By Philip Wylie

The Murderer Invisible by Philip Wylie is the story of William Carpenter, a talented biochemical investigator. However, shunned by the scientific community, William locks himself inside his house in the most desolate reaches of New Jersey to conduct his experiments in peace and isolation. During his research, he uncovers a chemical compound that can render all matter invisible, and instead of using this breakthrough for good, he decides to launch a campaign of terror and destruction. William is determined to make the world that has ignored him and labeled him insane and insignificant pay. 

Fade

By Robert Cormier

Fade by Robert Cormier is set in the summer of 1938 and stars a thirteen-year-old named Paul Moreaux, who discovers that he has the power of invisibility. According to his uncle, there is one person in each generation of the family who has this ability, but he warns that it comes with great dangers. Paul quickly learns about these dangers when he begins abusing his power to turn invisible. Many years later, Paul, who has become a successful writer, must confront the next person in the family lineage who has the gift of invisibility. Unfortunately, this person is his nephew, Ozzie, who intends to use his power for vengeance. 

Things Not Seen

By Andrew Clements

Bobby Phillips is the fifteen-year-old protagonist of Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements. Bobby is just an average teen until he wakes up one morning and discovers he can't see himself in the mirror. He immediately turns to his parents for help, but even his dad, who is a physicist, has no idea what has happened to Bobby. His condition turns Bobby into a missing person with no school, friends, or life, as his parents are concerned about what would happen if the media learns the truth. Things change when Bobby leaves the house to go to the library, where he meets a blind girl named Alicia, to whom he tells his secret. 

The Visible Man

By Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman's novel The Visible Man puts a modern twist on the "invisible man" trope. It is told from the perspective of Victoria Vick, a therapist who is contacted by a cryptic man claiming to be in a unique and unfathomable situation. Vick believes that the man, who she refers to as Y___, is suffering from a complex set of delusions. However, Y___ claims that he is a scientist who is using stolen cloaking technology to turn himself invisible and spy on ordinary people living their daily lives. Unfortunately, Vick finds herself becoming more obsessed with Y__ as he tells her more of his bizarre and disturbing tales. 

Being Invisible

By Thomas Berger

Many people dream of having the power of invisibility, but Being Invisible by Thomas Berger explains why it might not be the solution to all problems. The story is about Fred Wagner, an advertising copywriter whose personal life has fallen to pieces while his career has stalled. Fred believes his life will change for the better when he makes the startling discovery that he can make himself invisible. Fred is not a very ambitious person, so he tries to use his newfound power for mundane things like avoiding his co-workers and cutting in line, but his invisibility proves to be more of a hindrance than a help.