Buzz
Fictional islands have been a recurring theme in literature for centuries, often serving as the setting for strange or extraordinary events. To celebrate the conclusion of ABC’s Lost and the launch of the Harry Potter-themed Island of Adventure at Universal’s Florida park, here’s a reverse chronological ranking of the Top Ten Enigmatic Islands in Fiction.
10. The Island
First featured in: Lost (2004)
“The Island” serves as the central setting for the six-season TV series Lost and a video game that incorporates elements like time travel, slave ships, supernatural creatures, dangerous non-native animals, hidden treasures, menacing scientists, the threat of sinking, supervillains, and ancient references—essentially blending many features of the other islands into one.
9. Isla de Muerta
First featured in: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
Isla de Muerta, meaning “Island of the Dead,” is a phantom island in the Caribbean, first appearing in Pirates of the Caribbean. Uncharted and elusive, it could only be found by those who knew its location. Legend holds that it was the site of Cortés’ treasure, a sought-after prize for pirates and explorers, including Captain Jack Sparrow. Captain Barbossa and his crew of the Black Pearl discovered the treasure here, resulting in a curse. After the curse was broken, the island was engulfed by the sea, disappearing forever.
8. Shang Tsung’s Island
First featured in: Mortal Kombat (1992)
Shang Tsung’s Island serves as the battleground for a hidden martial arts tournament in the video game, reminiscent of films like Enter the Dragon. It introduces supernatural elements and later appeared in the 1995 movie adaptation. Shang Tsung, a formidable sorcerer and the series' main villain, is a shapeshifter who sustains his youth and strength by consuming the souls of his victims.
7. Isla Nublar
First featured in: Jurassic Park (1990)
In the film, Spielberg utilized Kauai as a substitute for Isla Nublar, which translates to “Cloud Island” in Spanish. Beyond being the main setting for a bestselling novel and blockbuster movie, Isla Nublar is unique in that it can be “visited” by the public through its recreation at Universal Orlando’s Islands of Adventure.
6. Han’s Island
First featured in: Enter the Dragon (1973)
The Asian island, also known as Han’s Island, was a key location in the film and the site of a secretive martial arts tournament, inspiring later movies like Mortal Kombat (1995). Interestingly, a real-life island named Hans Island, located in the Nares Strait, is a subject of territorial dispute between Canada and Denmark. This conflict even sparked a Google war, with both nations manipulating search results to assert their claims.
5. Skull Island
First featured in: King Kong (1933)
Skull Island is the legendary home of King Kong and a host of prehistoric creatures, some of which defy evolutionary timelines, such as gorillas, alongside a primitive human tribe. It has been the central setting for three major films, a video game tied to the latest movie, and a pseudo-documentary and book exploring the island’s wildlife and expeditions.
4. The Island of Doctor Moreau
First featured in: The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896)
Numerous film adaptations and the concept of a mad scientist experimenting on animals foreshadowed themes in Jurassic Park, as well as the research conducted by the Dharma Initiative and the Others on Lost. The island is the domain of Dr. Moreau, who creates terrifying animal-human hybrids that haunt the novel’s protagonist. The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection was established just two years after the book’s release.
3. Atlantis
First featured in: Timaeus (360 BC) by Plato
Often considered the inspiration for many fictional islands, Atlantis has appeared in various forms across TV shows and video games, from levels in Arctic Thunder and Guitar Hero: Smash Hits to the central setting in Stargate Atlantis. While islands like Dr. Moreau’s or those with smoke monsters are clearly fictional, Atlantis might have been real. Its mystery has captivated not only fictional adventurers like Indiana Jones but also real-world archaeologists and explorers who have dedicated years to uncovering its secrets.
2. Lincoln Island
First featured in: The Mysterious Island (1874)
The original “mysterious island” from the novel has been the central setting for numerous films. Mysterious Island, the book, is a sequel to Jules Verne’s renowned works Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and In Search of the Castaways, though its themes diverge significantly. The island’s mystery deepens when the protagonists discover a message in a bottle, adding to the intrigue.
1. Treasure Island
First featured in: Treasure Island (1883)
Treasure Island, written by Robert Louis Stephenson, is a classic adventure story of “pirates and hidden gold.” Beyond its many film and TV adaptations, the novel’s characters, setting, and plot have profoundly shaped modern pirate lore, popularizing elements like treasure maps marked with an “X,” schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged sailors accompanied by parrots.
