Some stories are so fantastic or contrived that we have to suspend our disbelief. This means that if we do not believe that something in a story is possible. Did amy details in this story demand that you suspend your disbelief?

Suspense is the main ingredient in this story. Suspense is incited from the very first paragraph, "Ship Trap Island", and escalated as the story unfolds. Most of the situations are unlikely and depend heavily on coincidence. Rainsford falls into the ocean and must make it to the creepy island. The suspense is picked up when Rainsford meets Zaroff and followed through to the showdown at the end. The premise of the story (man hunts man/hunter becomes the hunted) is an old one and pretty ridiculous in this context. Mystery about the island and Zaroff also adds to the suspense. This is an escape story that relies bizarre plot points to keep us entertained.