Walt Trizna's Blog, page 28

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

               COMPARING THE 1953 MOVIE TO THE NOVEL

Of the movies two movies made using
the novel as a guide in 1953 and 2005, my favorite is the movie made in 1953.
Yet that is the movie, of the two, which least resembles the book.

The premise of the movie is an
alien invasion from Mars. This nails down where the invasion originates, of
course, the title serves the same purpose. I say this premise follows the novel
for an alien invasion could come from any planet or any solar system.

One nice touch in the 2005 movie
was to include Gene Barry who plays Dr. Clayton Forrester and Ann Robinson who
plays Sylvia van Buren in the 1953 movie as the grandparents at the end of the
2005 movie.

To begin with, the Martians arrive at
what, at first, appears to be a meteorite. After a short period of time men
guarding the object detect a unscrewing at the top of the object and a device
appearing which destroys the men. What is never explained is how the Martian
machines make their exit with only the small aperture revealed.

In the published description of the
movie, it is said that heat rays are used to cause destruction. But if memory
serves, there were two types of rays. One was a heat ray which caused most of
the destruction and set fires. But initially a ray was used causing men and
vehicles to disappear and is described as a ray which destroys the energy which
joins molecules. Hence, the ray causes whatever it hits to fall apart.

Another difference between the book
to both movies is that the entire planet is under attack. In the novel only
England is involved, the home of H. G. Wells.

In the 1953 movie the machines
arrive already constructed whereas in the novel, upon arrival of the cylinders,
the machines must be firs constructed. Also, the machines in the movie do not
appear as described in the book. The machines in the novel walk on three
extended legs whereas the machines in the movie appear to hover with the theory
that they are manipulating gravity. The machines in the movie are protected by
a force-field. In the novel they can be destroyed.

In both movies and the novel there
is a scene where the characters are hiding in a farmhouse. In the 1953 movie
the characters escape with a rag soaked with Martian blood. In the novel and
the 2005 movie what occurs in the farmhouse is similar with the final result
being the death of a character.

The blood collected and analyzed
reveals that the Martians are anemic and have a poorly developed immune system
which leads to their demise. This failure for the Martians to survive is true
in both movies and the book.

Here is a link to the published version of the 1953 movie.

The War
of the Worlds (1953 film) – Wikipedia

 

 

 

BALDWIN’S BOOK BARN

On the outskirts of West Chester, PA is an unsurpassed emporium of used books, Baldwin’s Book Barn.

The store, located in an actual barn, is a rambling five-floor store of used books, almost exclusively hard cover editions. A booklover could easily get lost for hours of enjoyment. Name a subject and you will find shelves of books covering that topic.

The reason I mention this bookstore is that I have two short stories which take place in this store. One of which has been recently published for the second time.

Back to my love of this store.

I am intrigued by old books, and this is the place to find a trove of them. I own a few old volumes. My oldest is a book of English history published in 1794. I enjoy holding such a book, letting my mind drift to the era it represents. Considering what life was like and who was alive when that book was published.

On a recent visit I purchased a book entitled Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars, 1861-1865 published in 1890. I find value in owning a book published shortly after the event or era no matter what the subject.

An example of this interest is an eight-volume set, not purchased at Baldwin’s, titled The Story of the Great War. The first volume is copyrighted 1916. So, this set of books was not only written shortly after the event but during the event.

This is a true example of current events.

Here is a link to the store.

Baldwin’s Book Barn – Rare, Used, Out of Print, Antiquarian Books, Giclée prints, Ephemera, Antiques, Maps

ANNOTHER STORY ACCEPTED

A break from my The War of the Worlds posts.

I just recently learned that YELLOW MAMA has accepted my short story, The Price of Success, for publication. It will appear in issue #106 on October 15, 2024. This is a first for me for this story has been previously published.

I want to share with writers who follow my blog of some trends I have notice concerning publishers.

More and more publishers are considering and accepting previously published work from writers. If you own the rights. Also, many publishers now accept simultaneous submissions. In the past you would submit a work and sometimes wait nearly a year to be told whether it was accepted or rejected. From some publishers, you would never hear from them. Of course, this means rejection. But in the meantime, you sat on the work waiting for an answer. Now you can submit your work to multiple publishers at the same time which increases the odds of getting published and can serve to reduce the waiting time.

Finally, another recent trend is the existence of podcasts looking for stories.

I hope this discussion helps writers to find a home for their work.

I must mention that the setting for The Price of Success is Baldwin’s Book Barn. This was my second published short story which took place at this location. My next post will discuss this fantastic store of used books.

DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

                                       CONTINUED

Once the machines emerge from the crater they use a heat ray and black smoke, poison gas, to destroy the humans encounter.

During the invasion the main character seeks shelter in a partially destroyed house with a curate. The curate’s fear increases, and he talks louder and louder, is discovered by the Martians and abducted.

One interesting fact is that the machines are tripods and travel using three long extended legs. Upon examination of the Martian machinery and vehicles it becomes apparent that the Martians have no knowledge of the wheel.

They communicate through telepathy. And in appearance, resemble something out of a Lovecraft story.

During the invasion Martians drink the blood of humans they capture for nourishment. Upon the demise of the Martians autopsies are performed and it is discovered that the Martian lack a digestive system, hence the need to drink human blood. During the invasion massive amounts of red vines are produced and plague the area. Nourishment to create the vines and color is also attributed to the use of human blood.

Of further note is that the Martian vehicles can be destroyed.

The Martians eventually succumb to diseases caused by the bacteria found on Earth. It is speculated that there are no disease-causing bacteria on Mars.

Finally, it is thought that if the Martians launch another invasion of Earth it will occur in a less developed country. But this time humanity will be ready.

DETAILS OF THE MARTIAN INVASION FOUND IN THE NOVEL

                                      

The novel begins with the primary character, while using a telescope at an observatory, notices flashes occurring on the surface of Mars. I use the term primary character because his name is never revealed. Also mentioned are the makings having been observed on the surface of the planet.

Eventually, what are thought to be meteorites begin landing in England and only in England which is where the invasion takes place. These are cylinders from Mars. Upon landing the cylinders form deep craters. Activity from the result of flashes and the formation of clouds of mysterious gases are observed issuing from the crater for quite some time. This is because the Martins are using more rudimentary lifeforms and advanced machinery in the construction of their vehicles due to the trouble the Martians have functioning in the greater gravity of Earth as compared to the gravity of Mars

Once the nature of the activity in the crater is realized, the man ponders what is driving the purpose of the Martians in their journey. At one point he also wonders if the Martians have a god and compares the invasion to a European country invading a ‘savage’ culture.

It is revealed that the Martians, through necessity, have increased their intelligence, increased their powers and hardened their hearts.

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS

          INTRODUCTION TO THE NOVEL BY H. G. WELLS

I have read the novel, The War of the Worlds, written by H. G. Wells in 1898 three times now.

The first time because of my interest in science fiction and my addiction to flying saucers. The second time was for a science fiction book club to which I belonged. The third time was after seeing the 1953 and 2005 movie based on the novel, I noticed stark differences between details of the Martians and their invasion between the novel and the movies.

What follows are discussions of the novel and then how the two movies handle what is found in the novel.

Before I begin, I want to mention that The War of the Worlds is usually referred to as a novel, but on occasion, referred to as a novella. Not knowing the word count, I do not know which classification is more correct. Also, the word count for a novel and novella at times overlap, and at times change.

WAR OF THE WORLDS: AN INTRODUCTION

                                     WAR OF THE WORLDS

                      A REVIEW OF THE NOVEL AND RELATED MOVIES

This is an introduction to my next series of posts.

During my teenage years I was fascinated by Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). I accumulated a small paperback library on the subject. Was a subscriber to Saucer News (that topic will be covered in a future post).

With my interest in UFOs, I was drawn to the novel by H.G. Wells, War of the Worlds, published in 1898. And have been entertained, many times by the 1953 movie starring Gene Barry and the 2005 movie starring Tom Cruise.

In subsequent posts I will explore invasion ‘fact’ of the Martian invasion outlined in the book and how closely the two movies follow those ‘facts’.

I hope you find these posts interesting.

At the conclusion of my War of the Worlds discussions I will explore the current quest to discover alien life. And how it may exist closer than expected.

HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT

                  HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT

There is a new novel recently published by Michael Crichton, posthumously entitled, Eruption, involving the threat of a volcanic eruption on The Big Island of the Hawaiian islands. The novel also involves the revelation of a secret of the military. Currently this novel is on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.

I mention this for there is another novel, published in the recent past, which also involves the eruption of volcanos along the entire chain of the Hawaiian islands. What follows is a disaster of unbelievable proportions which will change the world forever.

For those interested, contact me and I will give further information about this novel.

HAWAIIAN DIASTERS IN PRINT

                  HAWAIIAN DISASTERS IN PRINT

There is a new novel recently published by Michael Crichton, posthumously entitled, Eruption, involving the threat of a volcanic eruption on The Big Island of the Hawaiian islands. The novel also involves the revelation of a secret of the military. Currently this novel is on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.

I mention this for there is another novel, published in the recent past, which also involves the eruption of volcanos along the entire chain of the Hawaiian islands. What follows is a disaster of unbelievable proportions which will change the world forever.

For those interested, contact me and I will give further information about this novel.

THE ULTIMATE EXPERIMENT: A SCIENCE FICTION SHORT STORY, PARTXIII

                               Restarting The Ultimate Experiment

                                     An unpublished short story

                              THE UNLIMATE EXPERIMENT

Ball looked up from his work as his normally reserved graduate student came running into his office.  This usually calm student was in an extreme state of agitation.

“Professor, you’ve got to come quick!  We’ve just recorded a unique event.  Nothing like this … you’ve got to come!”

“Calm down John.  Now tell me what has happened.”

“We’ve detected a new form of neutrino!  It is not any of the three known types – electron, muon or tau!”

Now Ball was getting excited.  “Tell me about its chirality – its orientation.”

“That’s the strangest part, Dr. Ball.  It has none.  It is not left-handed as all neutrinos are.  I’ve got to get back.  Are you coming?  There might be more events.”

“I’ll be right there, son.”

After the graduate student left Donald Ball sat for a moment alone.  He was simultaneously excited and numb.  He cried, and then he laughed.  He also felt a calmness he had never experienced before.  He knew this was a unique event. Because it seemed inexplicable, the event would probably be deemed the result of faulty sensors.   But Ball knew better.  The new neutrino was the type of particle Stewart had agreed to generate from beyond the grave.

                                              THE END