H. G. Wells

The War of the Worlds

E J Doble

This book is a classic in science fiction, and H G Wells was a revolutionary in speculative writing. The book's prose is gorgeous, often very atmospheric, and our protagonist is well defined and we pray for his safety and survival throughout the book. "The Man on Putney Hill" was a standout chapter.

It is however, by my assessment, not a good 'book'. There is no clear plot: there is a good setup in the first 30 pages for a story, but it never seems to find its stride. There is a pointless perspective shift to the main character's brother for a few chapters in the middle, to show the evacuation of London. There is an odious chapter in the first section describing the Martians as if its a nature documentary. And the ending is... flat. There is nothing. Without spoilers, the book just finishes, and claims 'we don't know what happened', and then that's it. Our protagonist gets a satisfying conclusion, but there wasn't really a story to conclude: he just survived. 

Perhaps I'm judging it too harshly, considering how experimental it was in its time, but my opinion is if you want to enjoy War of the Worlds, watch the film and attempt the book.

Its a classic, what else can I say. I find it so interesting that something written so long ago can still have so much relevance in this modern age.

The descriptive language was so pleasing to read and it really added to the ambience of the book.

I think that the book being read to me by David Tennant really helped.

Sabrina McCarthy

Its a classic, what else can I say. I find it so interesting that something written so long ago can still have so much relevance in this modern age.

The descriptive language was so pleasing to read and it really added to the ambience of the book.

I think that the book being read to me by David Tennant really helped.

Rather tedious, though I can appreciate it for the impact it had on literature at the time it was written.

Eloise

I was very emotional while reading The War of the Worlds by HG Wells, and felt that the way the Martians died was very anticlimactic. But a few days later, I changed my mind, and felt it was very profound and powerful. Technology does not destroy the Martians, bacteria does. Humans are immune to many bacteria, but there isn’t any bacteria on Mars. They drink the blood of humans and introduce bacteria into their systems, which they couldn’t withstand. Indeed it was survival of the fittest.

I was also distressed while reading the book because I felt that the soldiers were uncoordinated with their attack, and I was feeling so helpless because I was right there with the narrator. With all his education, the narrator could not conceive of a plan to stop the invasion. When the soldiers accidentally kill one of the Martians, I expected them to evaluate what they did so that they could replicate the action, but I guess that wasn’t the point. The narrator returns home believing his wife is dead after hearing accounts from others about the destruction of Leatherhead. She returns home as well, with the narrator’s cousin, so they have all survived the invasion.

A big lesson that I learned from The War of the Worlds is that community is very important. During the invasion, most people were acting as individuals and taking care of their own needs instead of working in a coordinated manner. I recommend The War of the Worlds by HG Wells.

Max & Luna

Yes! This is by far one of my favorite classic books I’ve read so far. H. G. Wells just has such a way of writing that seems so clear and thoughtful. He always pulls together so many ideas and makes connections I don’t always see. The first chapter in this book is an utter masterpiece. The last sentence is soo compelling. It really captures such serenity but also a hidden sort of foreboding.

The only small gripe I have is the book ending….it just seems a bit convenient…especially with the whole feeding situation and when certain doom seems so unavoidable. The actual story is really sort of creepy…but I love the writing and setting. I found myself looking at maps of London so I could follow along.

I def want to read many more books by H. G. Wells and have added them all to my TBR! 😀

Causing mass hysteria as listeners of its 1938 radio broadcast believed a Martian invasion of Earth really was taking place, H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds is perhaps the most famous novel of its genre. This 1898 story has spawned films, radio and television series and comic-book adaptions, and its popularity endures today.

Nick Bicko

Felt like a guide to Londons countryside at times, but so, so far ahead of its time and the foundation of all of (extraterrestrial) science fiction.

Barbara Williford

I have an early edition of this book left to me by my great grandfather. I am just now coming around to reading it.

Although I am not a big fan of science fiction books, HG Wells was an author with an imagination way before his time. The book was captivating, action packed but yet not as gruesome as current reads. Your imagination can see what he is describing and you can live the story with the characters.

Martian invaders land in England. This gripping story is about how they have come to seek and destroy everything in their path. It seems nothing can be done to stop them. They are here to threaten and destroy mankind.

H.G. Wells

La guerra de los mundos

Tania Santos Ferro

Me encantó. Simplemente me encantó. 

Dejo mis impresiones y una pequeña reseña en mi blog: http://wp.me/p2F0qU-xm

Los invito a que pasen a leerlo y compartir conmigo sus impresiones de este libro :)

Jason Porterfield

What, like I'm going to rate an HG Wells classic as anything less than five stars? Star ratings are inane. Ten Rickey Hendersons.

Ilse

I originally didn’t finish reading this classic (barely made it past the first chapter), but wanted to give it another try now it’s a few years later. I find the premise incredibly interesting, and was glad to discover the story delivered on it. Whereas the first time I couldn’t get into the story be because of its dated vocabulary in the prose (which is of course to be expected from a classic written at the end of the 19th century) I didn’t have that problem this time. Maybe it is because I’m older now and better at English, but I’m nevertheless really glad to have read this book. Sure recommendation from me for those enjoying sci-fi classics!

Ramiro de Maeztu

Han llegado del espacio exterior, de Marte y, equipados con terribles máquinas, los invasores aterrizan en nuestro planeta y empiezan a sembrar el terror y la destrucción. Su único objetivo es conquistar la Tierra y convertir a los humanos en sus esclavos. Parece que nada ni nadie podrá detenerlos.

Martina Méndez Fernández

** spoiler alert **
           La verdad es que este libro no me enganchó tanto como cabría esperar de una aficionada a la ciencia ficción como soy yo. No sé si es la época en la que se desarrolla o el hecho de que quizá sea yo la que está en una etapa distinta de mi recorrido como lectora, pero no me ha enganchado tanto como otros títulos. 

Sin embargo, hay varias cosas que tengo que reconocerle a Wells. Sabe muy bien cómo representar la naturaleza humana en sus variantes más inquietantes, como cuando alguien se encuentra ante el inminente peligro de la muerte o las desbandadas multitudinarias tras una gran catástrofe. Las partes en las que hablaba de multitudes de personas avanzando sin detenerse si quiera para salvar la vida de aquellos que iban quedando aplastados detrás me incomodó por su veracidad. 

También fue muy realista y tristemente descorazonador el momento en que el protagonista acaba recurriendo a la violencia para controlar la pérdida de cordura del sacerdote cuando estaban aplastados bajo los escombros. Es una oscura premonición de lo que será el sufrimiento de miles de personas durante las futuras guerras mundiales y las acciones que tuvieron que llevar a cabo para sobrevivir. 

Especialmente interesante me resultó también toda la conversación con el artillero cuando se lo encuentra vagando solo. Todas esas increíbles ideas que tenía sobre la supervivencia de la raza a través de los más fuertes para acabar siendo jugando a las cartas y renunciando al trabajo que implicaba llegar a esos objetivos. Al final, era un hombre evidentemente carismático pero sin verdadero compromiso personal con la causa - de nuevo, una premonición oscura, he de decir. 

Y, finalmente, me desconcertó el final, donde los alienígenas, esa especie marciana tan mortal y violenta, acabó falleciendo por ser incapaces de adaptarse a la realidad microbiana de la Tierra. Eso me resultó fascinante, en cierto modo. Al final los mataron el grupo de bacterias que a nosotros no nos hacían nada, las bacterias que fagocitaban la carne putrefacta y les atacaron estando aún vivos. Es, como mínimo, una solución imaginativa a lo que yo pensaba que sería una colonización eterna. 

Sea como fuere, ahora entiendo por qué la gente se creyó lo de la invasión en 1938.

Judy Hudgins

And I loved the Orson Wells movie adaptiation.

Tania Joana da Silva Monteiro

François Declercq

Wonko the Sane

When a meteorite lands in Surrey, the locals don't know what to make of it. But as Martians emerge and begin killing bystanders, it quickly becomes clear—England is under attack. Armed soldiers converge on the scene to ward off the invaders, but meanwhile, more Martian cylinders land on Earth, bringing reinforcements. As war breaks out across England, the locals must fight for their lives, but life on Earth will never be the same. This is an unabridged version of one of the first fictional accounts of extraterrestrial invasion. H. G. Wells's military science fiction novel was first published in book form in 1898, and is considered a classic of English literature.

The War of the Worlds

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