Appearing for the first time in English, this 1898 novel from science fiction pioneer Jules Verne features a harrowing trip up the uncharted Orinoco, full of encounters with dangerous creatures, fearsome Indians, and infectious diseases. Nicely translated with a good introduction, scholarly notes, and drawings from the original French edition. The intricate plot, various characters and adventures are a lot of fun.  (VNZ07, $19.95)