Book Cover of The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds

by H. G. Wells

Extraterrestrial invasion, the earth taken over by omniscient intelligences from Mars, the whole of humanity under siege and a nameless narrator who seems to be the lone survivor of the complete devastation of human civilization – scenes from a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster? Far from it! The War of the Worlds by HG Wells was written more than a century ago and went on to become an iconic work in the science fiction genre, spawning a whole new genre of literature featuring alien invaders. It was in fact the first book to present the idea of conflict between inhabitants of different planets. The story begins in an observatory in Ottershaw, when scientists note a series of mysterious explosions taking place on Mars. Some days later, the narrator who is on a walk on the Surrey Downs notices a weird cylindrical vehicle that suddenly opens to release a horde of hideous creatures who are later discovered to be Martians. The creatures are unable to breathe Earth's air and swiftly return to their vehicle. A peace delegation of humans tries to make contact but they're ruthlessly scorched to death by Martian heat-ray weapons. Thus begins the War of the Worlds. The British military swings into action, but their arms and ammunition are defenseless against sophisticated chemical weapons and heat-rays. Events race towards calamity as the nations of the earth unite to combat these fearful invaders to no avail. Survivors are reduced to scavenging for food with the cities of the world reduced to mere rubble. Can the human race survive? Will the narrator and his family escape destruction? The author, HG Wells was a science teacher in a small village in Somerset, England. However, he was also a gifted writer who wrote in several genres – science fiction, literary novels, short stories, history, politics and social sciences. A keen student of war and combat, he created a set of rules for playing war games with toy soldiers, which provides an interesting glimpse of logistics, strategy and close combat techniques. Wells' contribution to our ideas of science fiction remains unparalleled and the book has been widely filmed, staged and televised. The War of the Worlds was immortalized as a Halloween prank in a radio show that aired on CBS on October 30, 1938, causing widespread panic and chaos as listeners across the United States tuned in and began fleeing from their homes! The enduring appeal of this book makes it a must read classic for readers of all ages.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

English

Published In

1898

Authors

H. G. Wells image

He was most prominent as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. A futurist, he wrote a number of...

Books by H. G. Wells

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

From the Earth to the Moon Cover image

From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne

One of the earliest examples of literature written in the science fiction genre, From the Earth to the Moon is a part of the Voyages Extraordinaires s...

The Female American Cover image

The Female American by Unca Eliza Winkfield

It tells the story of a young woman named Unca Eliza Winkfield who is raised by Native Americans after being abandoned as a child. The novel follows h...

House by the Lock Cover image

House by the Lock by Alice Muriel Williamson

The discovery of a body in a creek near the imposing 'House by the Lock' sets Noel Stanton on a quest to unravel a perplexing mystery. He suspects Car...

These Twain  Cover image

These Twain by Arnold Bennett

It chronicles the married life of Edwin and Hilda. Edwin, released from the controlling influence of his father, finds himself free to run his busines...

The Pupil Cover image

The Pupil by Henry James

It is the emotional story of a precocious young boy growing up in a mendacious and dishonorable family. He befriends his tutor, who is the only adult...

Trilby Cover image

Trilby by George du Maurier

Trilby is a novel by George du Maurier and one of the most popular novels of its time. Published serially in Harper's Monthly from January to August 1...

Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer) Cover image

Noli Me Tangere (The Social Cancer) by José Rizal

Noli Me Tángere is an 1887 novel by José Rizal during the colonization of the Philippines by the Spanish Empire, to describe perceived inequities of t...

A World of Girls: The Story of a School Cover image

A World of Girls: The Story of a School by L. T. Meade

It follows the lives of a group of girls who attend a prestigious boarding school in England. Written in 1886, the book explores themes of friendship,...

Zwanzigtausend Meilen unter'm Meer Cover image

Zwanzigtausend Meilen unter'm Meer by Jules Verne

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, French original title Vingt mille lieues sous les mers , is a 1869-1870 novel by the French writer Jules Verne with the...

Fixed Flight Cover image

Fixed Flight by Maurice Renard

Maurice Renard's 'Fixed Flight' is a captivating tale of aerial adventure that explores the thrilling possibilities of flight. While drawing inspirati...

Reviews for The War of the Worlds

No reviews posted or approved, yet...