The War of the Worlds (annotated)

Product Review

Herbert George Wells (1866 –
1946) was an English author,
now best known for his work in
the science fiction genre. He was
also a prolific writer in many
other genres, including
contemporary novels, history,
politics and social commentary,
even writing text books. Together
with Jules Verne and Hugo
Gernsback, Wells has been
referred to as "The Father of
Science Fiction."

The War of the Worlds is the classic
science fiction novel by H. G. Wells.
Still one of the best sci-fi novels
written, it describes the experiences
of an unnamed narrator who travels
through the suburbs of London as
England is invaded by Martians.
It is one of the earliest stories that
details a conflict between mankind
and an alien race.

Amazon.com Review

This is the granddaddy of all alien invasion stories, first published by H.G. Wells in 1898. The novel begins ominously, as the lone voice of a narrator tells readers that "No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's..."

Things then progress from a series of seemingly mundane reports about odd atmospheric disturbances taking place on Mars to the arrival of Martians just outside of London. At first the Martians seem laughable, hardly able to move in Earth's comparatively heavy gravity even enough to raise themselves out of the pit created when their spaceship landed. But soon the Martians reveal their true nature as death machines 100-feet tall rise up from the pit and begin laying waste to the surrounding land. Wells quickly moves the story from the countryside to the evacuation of London itself and the loss of all hope as England's military suffers defeat after defeat. With horror his narrator describes how the Martians suck the blood from living humans for sustenance, and how it's clear that man is not being conquered so much a corralled. --Craig E. Engler

Product Description

Herbert George Wells (1866 –
1946) was an English author,
now best known for his work in
the science fiction genre. He was
also a prolific writer in many
other genres, including
contemporary novels, history,
politics and social commentary,
even writing text books. Together
with Jules Verne and Hugo
Gernsback, Wells has been
referred to as "The Father of
Science Fiction."

The War of the Worlds is the classic
science fiction novel by H. G. Wells.
Still one of the best sci-fi novels
written, it describes the experiences
of an unnamed narrator who travels
through the suburbs of London as
England is invaded by Martians.
It is one of the earliest stories that
details a conflict between mankind
and an alien race.

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