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Delphi Collected Works of H. G. Wells
Generations of readers have known and enjoyed H.G. Wells's fantastic novels. Consummate science fiction, they are convincing and unforgettably real. Included in this omnibus edition are his four greatest works of fiction:
In The Time Machine, a time traveler steps out of his vehicle to find himself in the year 802,701 A.D. He encounters creatures that live in perfect harmony. Or so he thinks, until he witnesses a morbid ritual and discovers that his only means of escape - his time machine - has been stolen.
A lonely island in the Pacific... the scientist who rules it... the strange beings that live there under his control. This is the backdrop for the haunting The Island of Dr. Moreau. In this novel, Wells's dark vision serves as a reminder of the horrors that reckless experimentation with nature can produce.
The Invisible Man is a dazzling display of imagination and psychological insight. It is the classic tale of a young scientist who, by experimenting on himself, becomes both invisible and criminally insane. Considered by many to be Wells's masterwork, the novel powerfully depicts the horror of a man trapped within a terror of his own creation.
War of the Worlds is a compelling and horrifying novel that describes the invasion of Earth by Martians. Using fiery rays and crushing strength, these heartless aliens have the capacity to conquer the world. Will they succeed? Is this the end of mankind?
18822 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1924
368 people are currently reading
1590 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,441 books10.9k followersHerbert George Wells was born to a working class family in Kent, England. Young Wells received a spotty education, interrupted by several illnesses and family difficulties, and became a draper's apprentice as a teenager. The headmaster of Midhurst Grammar School, where he had spent a year, arranged for him to return as an "usher," or student teacher. Wells earned a government scholarship in 1884, to study biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Normal School of Science. Wells earned his bachelor of science and doctor of science degrees at the University of London. After marrying his cousin, Isabel, Wells began to supplement his teaching salary with short stories and freelance articles, then books, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
February 19, 2021
La macchina del tempo: 5☆ Mi ha tenuto davvero incollata li a sapere come finiva.
L'isola del dottor Moreau: 5☆ Anche questa mi ha incollato li. . Ovviamente volevo sapere che succedeva e come finiva.
L'uomo invisibile: 5☆ Mi trovo costretta a dare questo voto. Anche se il protagonista è più violento e meno pacifico degli altri due è un ottimo cambio di passo. All'inizio potrebbe essere strano con i suoi modi di fare ma poi ci abitua. E la fine ... non me l'aspettavo. È pure stupenda la descrizione .
La guerra dei mondi: 5☆ Questo è il motivo per cui l'ho comprato. Come potrete immaginare ho visto il recente remake in versione serie tv. Dalla serie tv sono rimasta così così. Strana in se. Naturalmente sono pronta a trovarmi tutto l'opposto che sembra essere normale con le cose più recenti. Cioè una completa stroncatura della serie tv non del libro visto che sto amando alla follia H.G. Wells.
Allora pronti? Si parte.
Intanto è totalmente diverso e i primi quattro capitoli di suspanse sono fantastici. .
Le descrizioni sono meravigliose e la suspanse mista a l'horror, anche se ormai nel 2021 non fa più paura, continua tenendoti incollata alle pagine perchè vuoi sapere cosa faranno i . .
I militari sono apparsi .
Mi sa, come sospettavo poi, la serie tv sia un liberamente (molto liberamente) basato sul libro. Ma davvero molto liberamente.
È comunque tutto ambientato in Inghilterra quindi la Francia, anche se in tempi attuali per la serie tv, non c'entra un fico secco.
La vera descrizione dettagliata .
Non vi dico altro perchè dovete leggerlo. Troppo bello.
L'isola del dottor Moreau: 5☆ Anche questa mi ha incollato li. . Ovviamente volevo sapere che succedeva e come finiva.
L'uomo invisibile: 5☆ Mi trovo costretta a dare questo voto. Anche se il protagonista è più violento e meno pacifico degli altri due è un ottimo cambio di passo. All'inizio potrebbe essere strano con i suoi modi di fare ma poi ci abitua. E la fine ... non me l'aspettavo. È pure stupenda la descrizione .
La guerra dei mondi: 5☆ Questo è il motivo per cui l'ho comprato. Come potrete immaginare ho visto il recente remake in versione serie tv. Dalla serie tv sono rimasta così così. Strana in se. Naturalmente sono pronta a trovarmi tutto l'opposto che sembra essere normale con le cose più recenti. Cioè una completa stroncatura della serie tv non del libro visto che sto amando alla follia H.G. Wells.
Allora pronti? Si parte.
Intanto è totalmente diverso e i primi quattro capitoli di suspanse sono fantastici. .
Le descrizioni sono meravigliose e la suspanse mista a l'horror, anche se ormai nel 2021 non fa più paura, continua tenendoti incollata alle pagine perchè vuoi sapere cosa faranno i . .
I militari sono apparsi .
Mi sa, come sospettavo poi, la serie tv sia un liberamente (molto liberamente) basato sul libro. Ma davvero molto liberamente.
È comunque tutto ambientato in Inghilterra quindi la Francia, anche se in tempi attuali per la serie tv, non c'entra un fico secco.
La vera descrizione dettagliata .
Non vi dico altro perchè dovete leggerlo. Troppo bello.
September 18, 2024
The Time Machine: ***
A classic, even though it's not my favourite story.
The Wonderful Visit: ***
What a nice surprise, Wells can do humour, too. An angel arrives in a quiet, normal, decent village in England, and his behaviour it's a scandal.
The Island of Doctor Moreau: ****
Again, a classic masterpiece. But I like it more than the Time Machine, I think it digs deeper into the human hubris.
The Wheels of Chance: **
I get the humour... sometimes. I think that the satire in The Wonderful Visit is much better.
The Invisible Man: ***
Sadder than I remember, I read it many years ago in Italian. Again, a deranged scientist makes a discovery that could change the world, but it gets to his head and everything ends badly.
The War of the Worlds: ****
A classic, although some passages are heavy, a little too dense.
A classic, even though it's not my favourite story.
The Wonderful Visit: ***
What a nice surprise, Wells can do humour, too. An angel arrives in a quiet, normal, decent village in England, and his behaviour it's a scandal.
The Island of Doctor Moreau: ****
Again, a classic masterpiece. But I like it more than the Time Machine, I think it digs deeper into the human hubris.
The Wheels of Chance: **
I get the humour... sometimes. I think that the satire in The Wonderful Visit is much better.
The Invisible Man: ***
Sadder than I remember, I read it many years ago in Italian. Again, a deranged scientist makes a discovery that could change the world, but it gets to his head and everything ends badly.
The War of the Worlds: ****
A classic, although some passages are heavy, a little too dense.
September 9, 2019
Forse avrei dovuto leggere questi racconti sessant’anni fa, quando da ragazzina trangugiavo d’un fiato, con occhi sgranati dalla meraviglia, i romanzi di Verne. A un’età un po’ più smaliziata e a un palato più sofistico, fatto salvo il rispetto dovuto all’età delle opere (ultimo decennio dell’Ottocento), me ne resta soprattutto una sensazione di fastidio per la trama approssimativa, la narrazione confusa, la psicologia piatta, il sensazionalismo, l’odore di sangue, la brutalità.
Le parti che danno una verniciatura di scientificità o di teorizzazione socio-filosofica sono le migliori, ma anche mortalmente noiose. Si tratta sempre di una scienza del tutto amorale, e qui è il sonno dell’etica che genera mostri - veri mostri, come il popolo sotterraneo della “Macchina del tempo” o gli ibridi del dott. Moreau, descritti con un senso di superiorità e un ribrezzo che sconfinano nel razzismo. Siamo agli antipodi del rispetto per le razze diverse, anche quando siano nemiche o brutali o crudeli, che si trova in Tolkien o nella Rowlings, abilissimi, loro sì, a creare interi mondi, mentre i mondi fantascientifici di Wells sono fondali di cartapesta - brutali e apocalittici, ma irrimediabilmente finti.
Si salvano il ritmo farsesco della prima parte dell’”Uomo invisibile”, e la seconda parte della “Guerra dei mondi”, con il suo sguardo pessimista e disincantato sulla natura umana.
Le parti che danno una verniciatura di scientificità o di teorizzazione socio-filosofica sono le migliori, ma anche mortalmente noiose. Si tratta sempre di una scienza del tutto amorale, e qui è il sonno dell’etica che genera mostri - veri mostri, come il popolo sotterraneo della “Macchina del tempo” o gli ibridi del dott. Moreau, descritti con un senso di superiorità e un ribrezzo che sconfinano nel razzismo. Siamo agli antipodi del rispetto per le razze diverse, anche quando siano nemiche o brutali o crudeli, che si trova in Tolkien o nella Rowlings, abilissimi, loro sì, a creare interi mondi, mentre i mondi fantascientifici di Wells sono fondali di cartapesta - brutali e apocalittici, ma irrimediabilmente finti.
Si salvano il ritmo farsesco della prima parte dell’”Uomo invisibile”, e la seconda parte della “Guerra dei mondi”, con il suo sguardo pessimista e disincantato sulla natura umana.
February 15, 2020
Un tomo que rinde tributo a las novelas más conocidas de H.G. Wells, uno de los padres de la ciencia ficción, y un autor que siempre miró hacia el futuro y que fue capaz de encontrar la combinación perfecta entre la crítica social y la creación de relatos de fantasía. El prólogo es una pasada.
RESEÑA COMPLETA: https://youtu.be/gLZAb5XUu-4
RESEÑA COMPLETA: https://youtu.be/gLZAb5XUu-4
March 31, 2020
Ya a finales del XIX las novelas que precederían a la ciencia ficción se preocuparon de temáticas de actualidad: ayer sabíamos que cerraba el proyecto SETI pero hoy nos preocupa el coronavirus (La Guerra de los Mundos), algunos científicos chinos siguen creando quimeras en sus laboratorios (La Isla del Dr. Moreau), nos preocupan la mediocracia y la idiocracia y adónde nos conducen (los Eloi y los Morlocks en La Máquina del Tiempo), y no veo el momento de hacerme invisible de donde estoy (El hombre Invisible).
Aunque las motivaciones y trasfondos de los protagonistas sean parecidas, su desarrollo en cada novela es diferente, aunque todas se centran en un concepto principal sin desviaciones ni subtramas importantes. Donde más se nota es en La Guerra de los Mundos, abundante en descripciones y menos dinámica en sus diálogos que las otras; quizá sea, a mis ojos, la más desequilibrada y la que más cuesta arriba se ha hecho (el Moreau lo había leído pero solo recordaba las líneas maestras). ¡Pero son lecturas imprescindibles si eres un fanático de la ciencia ficción!
En cuanto a la edición, es bonita aunque un poco incómoda por su tamaño, y la sobrecubierta absorbe los olores acetónicos que se le pongan accidentalmente encima (cough cough), ¡pero queda estupenda en mesilla de noche y biblioteca!
Aunque las motivaciones y trasfondos de los protagonistas sean parecidas, su desarrollo en cada novela es diferente, aunque todas se centran en un concepto principal sin desviaciones ni subtramas importantes. Donde más se nota es en La Guerra de los Mundos, abundante en descripciones y menos dinámica en sus diálogos que las otras; quizá sea, a mis ojos, la más desequilibrada y la que más cuesta arriba se ha hecho (el Moreau lo había leído pero solo recordaba las líneas maestras). ¡Pero son lecturas imprescindibles si eres un fanático de la ciencia ficción!
En cuanto a la edición, es bonita aunque un poco incómoda por su tamaño, y la sobrecubierta absorbe los olores acetónicos que se le pongan accidentalmente encima (cough cough), ¡pero queda estupenda en mesilla de noche y biblioteca!
February 17, 2019
2.5 ⭐ My first experience with H.G. Wells
*booo, no thugnotes*
*Spoilers, spoilers everywhere*
War Of The Worlds
Okay, so this is officially my first reading of H.G. Wells. Its got that terrible classic lit passive voice and overly wordy language, so newts to that. You have to take classics with that particularly bitter grain of salt. The language/style reminded me of HP Lovecraft, but Wells came first—I think Wells is a much better writer.
The great achievement of WotW, is the ability to minimize the grandiose complexity of humanity to a hill of ants. Great stuff. I found the aliens themselves a bit absurd, but I come from top shelf scifi, and Wells paved the way for that world.
All and all, it was a little funny and meta in that the ending was so benign and boring, it almost could’ve been true, then that jarred me.
Me in the kitchen: What if this really happened and HG Wells wrote a true account of an alien attack in London, and he was allowed to publish it, but then later on the gov’t realized the panic of neighboring nations and decided to classify it, but now Wells’ memoire is everywhere, there’s no concealing it, the prose is rich, engaging, descriptive, and one of the best first-hand accounts on record, in fact, the only one to rise to such fame and notoriety. They now demand he write more science fiction so they can disguise his memoire as just another notch of fiction in a writer’s long stream of spooky works. He has no choice but to accept. ‘Write fiction, or we make you disappear.’
Me in the kitchen: O_O
*Another moment during this reading*
Me: *cooking*
Audiobook: “His landlady came to the door, loosely wrapped in dressing gown and shawl; her husband followed ejaculating.”
Me: *Snickering*
My husband from the living room: "Goodnight everybody."
All and all, 3.0⭐ A little dull and wordy, but some great concepts, a few eerie moments, massive influence, and best of all, terse.
The Invisible Man
Boy I hate this story.
I also hate having to give credence to its influence on science fiction and horror over the ages, but here I am. Great scientific language and explanation, the highest achievement of the book in my opinion. HG Wells is teaching the scifi writers of tomorrow how to use known sciences to influence impossible stories, and it’s still effective/marvelous. Great influence for future anti-hero narratives.
Otherwise, what a GROAN.
HG, baby, why did you SPOIL THE ENTIRE FIRST ACT WITH THE TITLE OF THE BOOK. Why. Why.
W H Y ?
I trudged through long, lengthy narratives of a townspeople trying to understand this grand, mysterious visitor, and could not participate in the mystery at all. Townspeople: *speculate* Me: He’s invisible. Townspeople: *notice a clue* Me: He’s invisible. Townspeople: *Discuss possibilities* Me: He IS IN-VIS-A-BLE. Bored out of my mind over here.
The second act of the book is a too-long and boring account of a character I don’t like.
Alternative title: The Invisible self-serving, pretentious douche that goes on multiple long-winded monologues where you mentally check out in the first 30 seconds.
2.0⭐, and that’s generous. That’s for the literary influence alone.
The Island of Doctor Moreau
I have been patient. I have been giving due credit. Now I’m being punished. I don’t know if it’s just the pacing of the other stories that led me into a bad attitude or if the story is just bad. It’s 120 years old, again, for what it informs and how it has remained accessible for this long, it’s probably genius.
For Chrysten in the year 2019, sloooog.
There’s some commentary on societal structure, law, and morality, but all and all, this is a mad-scientist story ultimately warning the reader not to play god.
The problem is, I just didn’t see the follow through. None of the characters are relatable or interesting, there doesn’t seem to be any point to what anyone is doing. The mad scientist doesn’t have an agenda, he’s just vivisecting for the fun of it. Montgomery is just, idk, weirdly enabling?
Prendick seems to oppose the behavior but has no problem reinforcing their indoctrinations after the other humans are killed. He takes up with a humanoid Saint Bernard which seemed like a thin man’s best friend joke, it didn’t serve the story much except to confuse aim/motivations.
The initial concept is creepy, but I was left bored and confused of what the point even was.
I just saw there was a movie version starring Marlon Brando, Fairuza Balk, Val Kilmer, and in a hilarious twist of irony, Remus Lupin. I don’t even know what to do with that. Wild. That sounds like the sort of movie I need to do a shot for every time something happens. Maybe every time someone does something meant to be serious, but is actually just comical. The trailer cracked me up. I might honestly watch anything with Fairuza Balk, but the lord is testing me on this one.
I scanned the 1 star reviews, and reader/author Pauline J. Alama brilliantly articulates my feelings, if you’re enjoying this HG Wells disdain-train, Check out her super short review here, she makes some great points and brought the receipts to back it up.
1.0⭐ thanks i hate it :\
The Time Machine
HG Wells, the combo breaker. I actually sort of liked this one. I guess I can concede that my hang-up may be an auditory issue, but I'm not sure.
The first three had one narrator, this one had another. Maybe that helped? IDK, may never know. I just did better with this story. Still kinda clunky, but much better pacing.
I felt like the scientist in this one was just...a little dumb? Also pretentious. Dude just rolled into a new time and immediately started to make judgements. IDK, feels like a real scientist might have a more open mind. He was wrong, but just keeps making conjectures, I’m not even entirely sure I trust him as a narrator. Seems like a sloppy guy.
Your one and only means to get back to your plain of existence, and you leave the thing unattended? B R U H.
“Yet, for one thing I felt assured: unless some other age had produced its exact duplicate, the machine could not have moved in time. The attachment of the levers—I will show you the method later—prevented anyone from tampering with it in that way when they were removed.”
That’s why he was chillin’, he had the club.
Kinda hate the needless death of Weena. Otherwise, a cool story with good world building.
4.0⭐—2 stars for its timing and influence, 1 for plot/story/character, 1 for fluidity of prose, which is a huge problem in the other three stories. Minus 1 for killing Weena in a cheap, baseless fashion.
- 📚☕♥
*booo, no thugnotes*
*Spoilers, spoilers everywhere*
War Of The Worlds
Okay, so this is officially my first reading of H.G. Wells. Its got that terrible classic lit passive voice and overly wordy language, so newts to that. You have to take classics with that particularly bitter grain of salt. The language/style reminded me of HP Lovecraft, but Wells came first—I think Wells is a much better writer.
The great achievement of WotW, is the ability to minimize the grandiose complexity of humanity to a hill of ants. Great stuff. I found the aliens themselves a bit absurd, but I come from top shelf scifi, and Wells paved the way for that world.
All and all, it was a little funny and meta in that the ending was so benign and boring, it almost could’ve been true, then that jarred me.
Me in the kitchen: What if this really happened and HG Wells wrote a true account of an alien attack in London, and he was allowed to publish it, but then later on the gov’t realized the panic of neighboring nations and decided to classify it, but now Wells’ memoire is everywhere, there’s no concealing it, the prose is rich, engaging, descriptive, and one of the best first-hand accounts on record, in fact, the only one to rise to such fame and notoriety. They now demand he write more science fiction so they can disguise his memoire as just another notch of fiction in a writer’s long stream of spooky works. He has no choice but to accept. ‘Write fiction, or we make you disappear.’
Me in the kitchen: O_O
*Another moment during this reading*
Me: *cooking*
Audiobook: “His landlady came to the door, loosely wrapped in dressing gown and shawl; her husband followed ejaculating.”
Me: *Snickering*
My husband from the living room: "Goodnight everybody."
All and all, 3.0⭐ A little dull and wordy, but some great concepts, a few eerie moments, massive influence, and best of all, terse.
The Invisible Man
Boy I hate this story.
I also hate having to give credence to its influence on science fiction and horror over the ages, but here I am. Great scientific language and explanation, the highest achievement of the book in my opinion. HG Wells is teaching the scifi writers of tomorrow how to use known sciences to influence impossible stories, and it’s still effective/marvelous. Great influence for future anti-hero narratives.
Otherwise, what a GROAN.
HG, baby, why did you SPOIL THE ENTIRE FIRST ACT WITH THE TITLE OF THE BOOK. Why. Why.
W H Y ?
I trudged through long, lengthy narratives of a townspeople trying to understand this grand, mysterious visitor, and could not participate in the mystery at all. Townspeople: *speculate* Me: He’s invisible. Townspeople: *notice a clue* Me: He’s invisible. Townspeople: *Discuss possibilities* Me: He IS IN-VIS-A-BLE. Bored out of my mind over here.
The second act of the book is a too-long and boring account of a character I don’t like.
Alternative title: The Invisible self-serving, pretentious douche that goes on multiple long-winded monologues where you mentally check out in the first 30 seconds.
2.0⭐, and that’s generous. That’s for the literary influence alone.
The Island of Doctor Moreau
I have been patient. I have been giving due credit. Now I’m being punished. I don’t know if it’s just the pacing of the other stories that led me into a bad attitude or if the story is just bad. It’s 120 years old, again, for what it informs and how it has remained accessible for this long, it’s probably genius.
For Chrysten in the year 2019, sloooog.
There’s some commentary on societal structure, law, and morality, but all and all, this is a mad-scientist story ultimately warning the reader not to play god.
The problem is, I just didn’t see the follow through. None of the characters are relatable or interesting, there doesn’t seem to be any point to what anyone is doing. The mad scientist doesn’t have an agenda, he’s just vivisecting for the fun of it. Montgomery is just, idk, weirdly enabling?
Prendick seems to oppose the behavior but has no problem reinforcing their indoctrinations after the other humans are killed. He takes up with a humanoid Saint Bernard which seemed like a thin man’s best friend joke, it didn’t serve the story much except to confuse aim/motivations.
The initial concept is creepy, but I was left bored and confused of what the point even was.
I just saw there was a movie version starring Marlon Brando, Fairuza Balk, Val Kilmer, and in a hilarious twist of irony, Remus Lupin. I don’t even know what to do with that. Wild. That sounds like the sort of movie I need to do a shot for every time something happens. Maybe every time someone does something meant to be serious, but is actually just comical. The trailer cracked me up. I might honestly watch anything with Fairuza Balk, but the lord is testing me on this one.
I scanned the 1 star reviews, and reader/author Pauline J. Alama brilliantly articulates my feelings, if you’re enjoying this HG Wells disdain-train, Check out her super short review here, she makes some great points and brought the receipts to back it up.
1.0⭐ thanks i hate it :\
The Time Machine
HG Wells, the combo breaker. I actually sort of liked this one. I guess I can concede that my hang-up may be an auditory issue, but I'm not sure.
The first three had one narrator, this one had another. Maybe that helped? IDK, may never know. I just did better with this story. Still kinda clunky, but much better pacing.
I felt like the scientist in this one was just...a little dumb? Also pretentious. Dude just rolled into a new time and immediately started to make judgements. IDK, feels like a real scientist might have a more open mind. He was wrong, but just keeps making conjectures, I’m not even entirely sure I trust him as a narrator. Seems like a sloppy guy.
Your one and only means to get back to your plain of existence, and you leave the thing unattended? B R U H.
“Yet, for one thing I felt assured: unless some other age had produced its exact duplicate, the machine could not have moved in time. The attachment of the levers—I will show you the method later—prevented anyone from tampering with it in that way when they were removed.”
That’s why he was chillin’, he had the club.
Kinda hate the needless death of Weena. Otherwise, a cool story with good world building.
4.0⭐—2 stars for its timing and influence, 1 for plot/story/character, 1 for fluidity of prose, which is a huge problem in the other three stories. Minus 1 for killing Weena in a cheap, baseless fashion.
- 📚☕♥
July 8, 2010
at one time i really liked war of the worlds and then i found out that hg wells was a social darwinist and i figured out that the aliens in war of the worlds were probably representative of black people and then i didnt feel comfortable enjoying that story anymore
May 14, 2021
En 680 páginas, este volumen contiene los mencionados 4 libros de H.G.Wells.
Son novelas sin apoyo en la realidad, cuyo escenario es Londres y sus alrededores, en donde el autor, con una exuberante imaginación, se extiende en una narrativa fluida y fácil de leer, con poca mención del tema central y en cambio amplia exposición de circunstancias y del medio circundante en donde se desarrollan los hechos a los que se está refiriendo. Sin embargo, estas fantasiosas novelas son amenas y entretenidas.
En la máquina del tiempo, el libro finaliza con la pérdida del protagonista, después de que una tarde parte con rumbo desconocido. En la isla del Dr. Moreau, que el autor localiza en el océano pacífico a unos 2.333 Km al oeste de Manta (Ecuador) el libro termina cuando después de la rebelión de los monstruos fruto de los experimentos del Dr. Moreau, el protagonista huye de la isla.
El hombre invisible cuenta las desventuras de un médico que logra hacerse invisible y plantea un dilema moral cuando se da cuenta de lo fácil que para él es robar y matar; pero que finalmente muere a manos de la policía y un grupo de vecinos que se dan a la tarea de capturarlo atendiendo la denuncia interpuesta por otro médico a quien conoció en la universidad.
En el caso de La guerra de los mundos, someramente se refiere a unas características externas de las máquinas usadas por unos marcianos para invadir a Londres, pero el libro lo dedica mayormente a describir la destrucción de Londres y la reacción de la gente, el miedo y el dolor que se reflejaba en sus rostros y a un inventario del progreso de la destrucción causada por los invasores. Termina el libro cuando un mes después de llegar, los marcianos mueren por una bacteria terrestre a la cual no eran inmunes.
Son novelas sin apoyo en la realidad, cuyo escenario es Londres y sus alrededores, en donde el autor, con una exuberante imaginación, se extiende en una narrativa fluida y fácil de leer, con poca mención del tema central y en cambio amplia exposición de circunstancias y del medio circundante en donde se desarrollan los hechos a los que se está refiriendo. Sin embargo, estas fantasiosas novelas son amenas y entretenidas.
En la máquina del tiempo, el libro finaliza con la pérdida del protagonista, después de que una tarde parte con rumbo desconocido. En la isla del Dr. Moreau, que el autor localiza en el océano pacífico a unos 2.333 Km al oeste de Manta (Ecuador) el libro termina cuando después de la rebelión de los monstruos fruto de los experimentos del Dr. Moreau, el protagonista huye de la isla.
El hombre invisible cuenta las desventuras de un médico que logra hacerse invisible y plantea un dilema moral cuando se da cuenta de lo fácil que para él es robar y matar; pero que finalmente muere a manos de la policía y un grupo de vecinos que se dan a la tarea de capturarlo atendiendo la denuncia interpuesta por otro médico a quien conoció en la universidad.
En el caso de La guerra de los mundos, someramente se refiere a unas características externas de las máquinas usadas por unos marcianos para invadir a Londres, pero el libro lo dedica mayormente a describir la destrucción de Londres y la reacción de la gente, el miedo y el dolor que se reflejaba en sus rostros y a un inventario del progreso de la destrucción causada por los invasores. Termina el libro cuando un mes después de llegar, los marcianos mueren por una bacteria terrestre a la cual no eran inmunes.
November 1, 2023
Me gustó, y bastante.
Este es un libro al que le traía muchas ganas desde hace mucho tiempo y sin duda tengo otros libros pendientes de el autor en mi librero.
Únicamente había leído el de "La máquina del tiempo" y me gustó mucho en ese momento, pero ahora mi siguiente objetivo es el de "El hombre invisible".
Le estoy agarrando cariño a Wells.
La edición que tengo, que no es esta, sino la de la colección de Maestros del Fantástico que no encontré aquí es sumamente preciosa y elevó la experiencia a otro nivel.
Siempre me ha llamado muchísimo la atención todo el tema de los aliens y los ovnis y seres de otros planetas pero no había experimentado una lectura del tema y debo confesar que me enganchó muchísimo.
Este es un libro al que le traía muchas ganas desde hace mucho tiempo y sin duda tengo otros libros pendientes de el autor en mi librero.
Únicamente había leído el de "La máquina del tiempo" y me gustó mucho en ese momento, pero ahora mi siguiente objetivo es el de "El hombre invisible".
Le estoy agarrando cariño a Wells.
La edición que tengo, que no es esta, sino la de la colección de Maestros del Fantástico que no encontré aquí es sumamente preciosa y elevó la experiencia a otro nivel.
Siempre me ha llamado muchísimo la atención todo el tema de los aliens y los ovnis y seres de otros planetas pero no había experimentado una lectura del tema y debo confesar que me enganchó muchísimo.
August 26, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
En general fue entretenido. Me aburrí en algunos fragmentos, pero la curiosidad de saber cómo acaba me ganó.
En general fue entretenido. Me aburrí en algunos fragmentos, pero la curiosidad de saber cómo acaba me ganó.
April 18, 2024
It was hard for me to give this book 5 stars because some of the novels were great (for their time) and some were not so great. However, The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds were just great. I bought Wells' collection of short stories and am looking forward to reading that.....somewhere in my queue. :D
September 2, 2017
Classe 1895: La lucidità di Wells, la sua capacità di affrontare in un romanzo fantascientifico interesse e studio continuo, mi ha ancora una volta sorpresa (dopo "La guerra dei mondi" e "La macchina del tempo" che in questa edizione Newton Compton avevo già completato).. Genius ☕
« Lei dimentica tutto quanto un abile sezionatore può fare con i vivi», continuò Moreau «e mi stupisco che quanto sto facendo io non sia mai stato fatto prima. Certo, ci sono stati dei piccoli tentativi: amputazioni, recisioni della lingua, estirpazioni. Lei sa benissimo che lo strabismo può essere causato o guarito con la chirurgia. Ebbene, nel caso delle estirpazioni si verificano alterazioni di ogni genere, di carattere secondario: alterazioni del pigmento, psichiche, o, nei tessuti grassi, di secrezione. Senza dubbio, lei avrà sentito parlare di queste cose. »
(Dal capitolo XIV, La spiegazione del dottor Moreau.)
« Lei dimentica tutto quanto un abile sezionatore può fare con i vivi», continuò Moreau «e mi stupisco che quanto sto facendo io non sia mai stato fatto prima. Certo, ci sono stati dei piccoli tentativi: amputazioni, recisioni della lingua, estirpazioni. Lei sa benissimo che lo strabismo può essere causato o guarito con la chirurgia. Ebbene, nel caso delle estirpazioni si verificano alterazioni di ogni genere, di carattere secondario: alterazioni del pigmento, psichiche, o, nei tessuti grassi, di secrezione. Senza dubbio, lei avrà sentito parlare di queste cose. »
(Dal capitolo XIV, La spiegazione del dottor Moreau.)
January 28, 2021
Habe mir den Anaconda-Wälzer geholt, um Geld zu sparen, da ich an einem Gesamtüberblick von Wells Werken interessiert war.
Wells schrieb seine Werke Ende 19. / Anfang 20. Jahrhundert und bringt dafür bereits erstaunlich viele Visionen wie Zeitmaschinen, laserschießende Roboteraliens etc. ein
Die Übersetzungen waren sehr angenehm zu lesen und haben dafür gesorgt, dass ich schnell durchgekommen bin. Lediglich Befreite Welt habe ich abgebrochen, da ich auch nach knapp der Hälfte der Geschichte nicht verstanden habe worum es überhaupt geht.
Wells schrieb seine Werke Ende 19. / Anfang 20. Jahrhundert und bringt dafür bereits erstaunlich viele Visionen wie Zeitmaschinen, laserschießende Roboteraliens etc. ein
Die Übersetzungen waren sehr angenehm zu lesen und haben dafür gesorgt, dass ich schnell durchgekommen bin. Lediglich Befreite Welt habe ich abgebrochen, da ich auch nach knapp der Hälfte der Geschichte nicht verstanden habe worum es überhaupt geht.
February 24, 2021
While his longer novella are interesting, his early works feel dry and shallow. Perhaps this is to be expected of short stories originally submitted to magazines as well as the relatively tame premises of some of the novels (plant grows big and has poison that kills person) for example is also to be expected but most didn’t interest me today.
I most enjoyed (excluding his most famous work) the story based on the saying “In the valley of the blind then one eyed man is king”. I’d recommend this above all else.
I most enjoyed (excluding his most famous work) the story based on the saying “In the valley of the blind then one eyed man is king”. I’d recommend this above all else.
August 15, 2016
Dejaré "La Guerra de los Mundos" para otra ocasión, antes que tire este libro por la ventana del bus y llame morlocks a todo ser humano que se me cruce en el camino.
Por ahora "El Hombre invisible" es mi favorito <3
Por ahora "El Hombre invisible" es mi favorito <3
June 27, 2008
I've read these before, but I thought it about time I read them again.
March 5, 2013
H.G. Wells is a genius. How come no one has used his teachings to create a religion?
June 15, 2020
It was fascinating to read these stories and see just how relevant they still are.
I enjoyed his writing style and accute attention to details.
I enjoyed his writing style and accute attention to details.
August 12, 2022
La sua mente è la macchina del tempo Herbert George Wells, (1866-1946) detto H.G. Wells, è il quarto figlio di una modesta famiglia inglese. Attribuisce il proprio successo a tre incidenti. Il primo a 7 anni, quando si rompe una tibia e, costretto a letto, viene folgorato dal mondo magnifico della lettura. Il secondo tre anni dopo: una seconda gamba rotta, questa volta di suo padre, che obbliga tutta la famiglia in affanno a trovare un’occupazione e sottrae il ragazzo agli obblighi domestici. Il terzo e ultimo nel 1893, dopo la laurea al Royal College of Science and Technology di Londra: una grave emorragia, probabilmente tubercolosi, spaventa Wells, tanto da fargli rivedere le proprie priorità. Decide di dedicarsi totalmente alla scrittura: non vuole morire prima di essere diventato famoso, di aver lasciato traccia di sé.
Diventa il padre della fantascienza: immagina dimensioni alternative, viaggi nel tempo, spedizioni sulla Luna; e ancora, uomini invisibili, scienziati pazzi e senza scrupoli, alieni e mostri dalle teste giganti, marziani che invadono la Terra. Visioni distopiche di cosa accadrebbe se tutti gli esseri umani si evolvessero in geni, creature dall’intelligenza superiore: una diffusione incontrollata della follia. H.G. sostiene che tutte le passioni siano una forma di pazzia, compresa la sua.La macchina del tempo, primo grande successo del 1895, e i successivi romanzi sono accolti con grande successo di pubblico e di critica.
Sposa l’allieva Amy Catherine Robbins, detta Jane, che gli concede di divertirsi anche con altre donne: sembra esserci una curiosa correlazione tra le scappatelle di Wells e la sua creatività. Con l’inizio del nuovo secolo, si concentra sulla produzione di saggi di natura sociale e politica. I suoi scritti sono riflessioni sul difficile rapporto tra scienza e società. Propone la compilazione di un’enciclopedia mondiale, in cui racchiudere la saggezza collettiva dei migliori professionisti, un «cervello mondiale». Una profezia che si realizzerà qualche decennio più tardi.
Il 13 agosto 1946, quasi ottantenne, Wells muore a Londra, consapevole di aver lasciato l’impronta indelebile che sognava di imprimere nel mondo: nelle moderne opere letterarie e cinematografiche di fantascienza, il confronto con menti superdotate è tuttora la minaccia più grande e i personaggi hanno ancora sembianze molto simili a quelle dei suoi romanzi. È la mente di Wells la vera macchina del tempo che ha permesso all’umanità di viaggiare nei mondi della sua immaginazione.
(Almamatto. Un matto al giorno)
Diventa il padre della fantascienza: immagina dimensioni alternative, viaggi nel tempo, spedizioni sulla Luna; e ancora, uomini invisibili, scienziati pazzi e senza scrupoli, alieni e mostri dalle teste giganti, marziani che invadono la Terra. Visioni distopiche di cosa accadrebbe se tutti gli esseri umani si evolvessero in geni, creature dall’intelligenza superiore: una diffusione incontrollata della follia. H.G. sostiene che tutte le passioni siano una forma di pazzia, compresa la sua.La macchina del tempo, primo grande successo del 1895, e i successivi romanzi sono accolti con grande successo di pubblico e di critica.
Sposa l’allieva Amy Catherine Robbins, detta Jane, che gli concede di divertirsi anche con altre donne: sembra esserci una curiosa correlazione tra le scappatelle di Wells e la sua creatività. Con l’inizio del nuovo secolo, si concentra sulla produzione di saggi di natura sociale e politica. I suoi scritti sono riflessioni sul difficile rapporto tra scienza e società. Propone la compilazione di un’enciclopedia mondiale, in cui racchiudere la saggezza collettiva dei migliori professionisti, un «cervello mondiale». Una profezia che si realizzerà qualche decennio più tardi.
Il 13 agosto 1946, quasi ottantenne, Wells muore a Londra, consapevole di aver lasciato l’impronta indelebile che sognava di imprimere nel mondo: nelle moderne opere letterarie e cinematografiche di fantascienza, il confronto con menti superdotate è tuttora la minaccia più grande e i personaggi hanno ancora sembianze molto simili a quelle dei suoi romanzi. È la mente di Wells la vera macchina del tempo che ha permesso all’umanità di viaggiare nei mondi della sua immaginazione.
(Almamatto. Un matto al giorno)
December 10, 2023
The Works of H.G. Wells by H.G. Wells.
This volume contains six works by H.G. Wells.
The Time Machine - I must admit scenes from the 1960 movie kept popping into my mind while reading this book. The story pacing was fine; the story ok. I gave this 3 stars.
The Island of Dr. Moreau - Don't let the lack of length fool you, this story packs a wallop. This was overall a creepy storyline; performing vivisections as a way of making animals more human-like. Actually a disturbing read. I gave this 4 stars.
The Invisible Man - Some parts interesting; some parts slow; but overall an ok read. I must note a couple of trigger warnings. An instance of the author using a word, that today, is not considered acceptable. Also, an instance of animal abuse that is disturbing. I gave this 3 stars.
The First Men in the Moon - Slow at times, introspective at times, political undertones in parts, a somewhat weak story, but overall an interesting read. I listened to this as a LibriVox recording. I gave this 3 stars.
The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth - What happens when you genetically enhance food and then feed it to people? This story was interesting, but maybe a bit too long. I listened to this as a LibriVox recording. I gave this 3 stars.
The War of the Worlds - I listened to this as a LibriVox recording and enjoyed it very much. The two movies adaptations that I have watched (1953 & 2005 versions) both take parts from this book. Excellent story. I gave this 5 stars.
I gave the book an overall rating of 4 stars.
This volume contains six works by H.G. Wells.
The Time Machine - I must admit scenes from the 1960 movie kept popping into my mind while reading this book. The story pacing was fine; the story ok. I gave this 3 stars.
The Island of Dr. Moreau - Don't let the lack of length fool you, this story packs a wallop. This was overall a creepy storyline; performing vivisections as a way of making animals more human-like. Actually a disturbing read. I gave this 4 stars.
The Invisible Man - Some parts interesting; some parts slow; but overall an ok read. I must note a couple of trigger warnings. An instance of the author using a word, that today, is not considered acceptable. Also, an instance of animal abuse that is disturbing. I gave this 3 stars.
The First Men in the Moon - Slow at times, introspective at times, political undertones in parts, a somewhat weak story, but overall an interesting read. I listened to this as a LibriVox recording. I gave this 3 stars.
The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth - What happens when you genetically enhance food and then feed it to people? This story was interesting, but maybe a bit too long. I listened to this as a LibriVox recording. I gave this 3 stars.
The War of the Worlds - I listened to this as a LibriVox recording and enjoyed it very much. The two movies adaptations that I have watched (1953 & 2005 versions) both take parts from this book. Excellent story. I gave this 5 stars.
I gave the book an overall rating of 4 stars.
February 8, 2023
Ma cosa ho letto? Assurdo. Immenso. Quattro storie con l'umanità come protagonista. Una raccolta che fa da lievito madre ad un sacco di filosofia esistenziale secondo me, sulla vita terrena e quella dello spazio. Wells i love u.
Soundtrack Tips:
Purtroppo non ho ascoltato nulla durante la lettura delle prime tre storie. Per la quarta, invece, "La Guerra dei Mondi", consiglio l'album Timewave Zero dei Blood Incantation.
Soundtrack Tips:
Purtroppo non ho ascoltato nulla durante la lettura delle prime tre storie. Per la quarta, invece, "La Guerra dei Mondi", consiglio l'album Timewave Zero dei Blood Incantation.
December 21, 2022
Classic science fiction. This collection sows the seeds of many science fiction plot lines. H.G. Wells used scientific possibilities (often speculation of what could be) to break down social, political, theological, and philosophical barriers. Some of the ideas are dated. Yet it is clear that even those ideas are at the core of many modern tales.
March 19, 2025
A must have for H G Wells fans
This is one of my must have I've read many H.G. Wells books and thought this was something of a useful addition and will be something to dip into when I'm looking for something from the past by a favourite author.
This is one of my must have I've read many H.G. Wells books and thought this was something of a useful addition and will be something to dip into when I'm looking for something from the past by a favourite author.
July 25, 2019
Not really my cup of tea. Now I know why I prefer mysteries to science fiction; but not bad considering the time frame when it was written.
March 11, 2020
Gracias por tanto Wells.
January 2, 2025
Splendida raccolta di fantascienza di fine '800 quando il centro del mondo era Londra e la tecnologia si fermava a carrozze e treni a vapore
Read
March 8, 2024This is a massive collection and hence somewhat unwieldy, but what a treasury of influential works! Each of Wells’ novels is given a short anonymous introduction, which gives some of the context of the times, as well as a few illustrations, mainly images of first editions.
“The Time Machine” - A curious novella with two unnamed first person narrators. One bookends the other. The former has too little time to make an impression whilst he tells the reader the tale related to him, the latter, who relates his time travelling adventure to the former narrator, is deeply unsympathetic. The author’s imagination was grounded in the cutting edge science of the time (1895), but his social extrapolations reflect the prejudices of the time. An important seminal novel, but a merely adequate read. 3/5.
“The Wonderful Visit”
“The Island of Doctor Moreau”
“The Wheels of Chance”
“The Invisible Man” - I have separately read and commented on this novel.
“The War Of The Worlds” - What an iconic opening! This novel is very much of its time (serialised in 1897), but also strikingly modern in its unflinching and highly realistic description of chaos, which makes it a thrilling read to this day. It anticipates robotic machinery, mechanised warfare, chemical weapons, total war, and displaced populations. Such scenes are suggestive of the horrors of the first and second world wars, but imagined far beforehand. It establishes the trope of aliens as hideous predators and farmers of human cattle, and anticipates all post apocalyptic fiction published since with its plans for resistance and survival. It’s really interesting how the author comments on how slowly the realisation of the attack spreads in a Britain without modern communications (in remarkable contrast with every radio, film, and television adaptation since). Clearly he is aware this lack of communication is humanity’s greatest weakness at the time, and contrasts it with Martian telepathy. A work of genius. 5/5.
“The Time Machine” - A curious novella with two unnamed first person narrators. One bookends the other. The former has too little time to make an impression whilst he tells the reader the tale related to him, the latter, who relates his time travelling adventure to the former narrator, is deeply unsympathetic. The author’s imagination was grounded in the cutting edge science of the time (1895), but his social extrapolations reflect the prejudices of the time. An important seminal novel, but a merely adequate read. 3/5.
“The Wonderful Visit”
“The Island of Doctor Moreau”
“The Wheels of Chance”
“The Invisible Man” - I have separately read and commented on this novel.
“The War Of The Worlds” - What an iconic opening! This novel is very much of its time (serialised in 1897), but also strikingly modern in its unflinching and highly realistic description of chaos, which makes it a thrilling read to this day. It anticipates robotic machinery, mechanised warfare, chemical weapons, total war, and displaced populations. Such scenes are suggestive of the horrors of the first and second world wars, but imagined far beforehand. It establishes the trope of aliens as hideous predators and farmers of human cattle, and anticipates all post apocalyptic fiction published since with its plans for resistance and survival. It’s really interesting how the author comments on how slowly the realisation of the attack spreads in a Britain without modern communications (in remarkable contrast with every radio, film, and television adaptation since). Clearly he is aware this lack of communication is humanity’s greatest weakness at the time, and contrasts it with Martian telepathy. A work of genius. 5/5.
January 21, 2023
The Time Machine (5 stars). This is an almost perfect novella that creates the sub-genre of the time travel story. The unnamed hero journeys 800,000 years into the future and much of the narrative embodies his frequently wrong speculations on the nature of that future. The story functions in part as social commentary around class and the forces of history, shaped by Wells' own intellectual socialist philosophy.
The Island of Dr. Moreau (3½ stars). This is the weakest of the novels, and the science is dubious at best; however, it has plenty of atmosphere and disturbing images. On the surface this is a screed against vivisection, a much criticized practice at the time. In another sense it may be read as a story of amoral science run-amok, a twisted reworking of Genesis, or even as a allegory of racist imperialism. I'm not sure if Wells intended the last, but it is an easy one for a modern reader to see.
The Invisible Man (4½ stars). Another tale of science taken to the extreme, coupled with a self-absorbed obsession on the part of the scientist. In Griffin, Wells offers one of his least appealing and unsympathetic protagonists. He doesn't care about anything or anyone outside his immediate desires. This is the last person who should have the power of invisibility. Well's satirical depiction of the denizens of Iping village is also fairly amusing.
The War of the Worlds (5 stars). This is Wells' masterpiece. This novel introduces literature's first true aliens. The Martians are genuine extraterrestrials: the product of an independent evolution. There are a lot of themes and layers to the book: an allegory of imperialism, a deconstruction of Human hubris, a foreshadow of the horrors of science applied to modern warfare, and an excursion through 19th Century assumptions about gender and character.
The Island of Dr. Moreau (3½ stars). This is the weakest of the novels, and the science is dubious at best; however, it has plenty of atmosphere and disturbing images. On the surface this is a screed against vivisection, a much criticized practice at the time. In another sense it may be read as a story of amoral science run-amok, a twisted reworking of Genesis, or even as a allegory of racist imperialism. I'm not sure if Wells intended the last, but it is an easy one for a modern reader to see.
The Invisible Man (4½ stars). Another tale of science taken to the extreme, coupled with a self-absorbed obsession on the part of the scientist. In Griffin, Wells offers one of his least appealing and unsympathetic protagonists. He doesn't care about anything or anyone outside his immediate desires. This is the last person who should have the power of invisibility. Well's satirical depiction of the denizens of Iping village is also fairly amusing.
The War of the Worlds (5 stars). This is Wells' masterpiece. This novel introduces literature's first true aliens. The Martians are genuine extraterrestrials: the product of an independent evolution. There are a lot of themes and layers to the book: an allegory of imperialism, a deconstruction of Human hubris, a foreshadow of the horrors of science applied to modern warfare, and an excursion through 19th Century assumptions about gender and character.
January 4, 2010
The Time Machine was my favorite. It's about a scientist who travels 8000 years into the future expecting to find a superior race only to be disappointed by the childlike creatures he encounters. Technology made it so easy to live, society regressed, never having to think for themselves. This book was written in 1893, I just wonder what Wells would think about today's society.
The Island of Dr. Moreau was so much better than the movie. I had to watch the movie again after I read this story. You could relate to the scientists, the visitor and even the experiments from time to time. It asks the ultimate question. What would you do?
The Invisible Man was hard to get into. I didn't start liking it until the last 50 pages or so. From the beginning, you didn't get to know the man very well and so many characters were introduced then disappeared so quickly, it was hard to keep up.
War of the Worlds was a look at a martian invasion. Again, written in the late 1800's, he captured the desire to fly. The martians could fly and ultimately humans were able to figure out how. I wish I would have taken a break from Wells before starting this story. His English was difficult to read at times, I felt like I was burned out by the time I got to this story but it was the one I was anticipating the most.
All and all the collection was really good. I'd definitely pick up another of his books in the future.
The Island of Dr. Moreau was so much better than the movie. I had to watch the movie again after I read this story. You could relate to the scientists, the visitor and even the experiments from time to time. It asks the ultimate question. What would you do?
The Invisible Man was hard to get into. I didn't start liking it until the last 50 pages or so. From the beginning, you didn't get to know the man very well and so many characters were introduced then disappeared so quickly, it was hard to keep up.
War of the Worlds was a look at a martian invasion. Again, written in the late 1800's, he captured the desire to fly. The martians could fly and ultimately humans were able to figure out how. I wish I would have taken a break from Wells before starting this story. His English was difficult to read at times, I felt like I was burned out by the time I got to this story but it was the one I was anticipating the most.
All and all the collection was really good. I'd definitely pick up another of his books in the future.
July 10, 2017
Come si fa a parlare de "La guerra dei mondi" in poche parole? È un bellissimo racconto, forse minato nella credibilità dall'epoca in cui è stato scritto, in particolare dallo scarso progresso scientifico dell'epoca, che ha costretto Wells ad articolarsi in supercazzole tecnologiche per descrivere cose che all'epoca non esistevano (ma che al giorno d'oggi si potrebbero identificare comunque in qualcosa) - difetto che d'altra parte si portano dietro anche gli altri racconti - ma tutto è tenuto in piedi da una coerenza ferrea, e la storia scorre ad un ritmo piacevole, con i giusti colpi di scena in grado di provocare sobbalzi emotivi sempre al momento giusto.
Ma questo non è un buon motivo per recuperare romanzi di fine XIX secolo. Un ottimo motivo è il fatto che racconti come quelli contenuti in questa raccolta, e ad essere sinceri molti di quell'epoca, sono opere in grado di spiegare il genere, di raccontare perchè il genere esiste ed è necessario, e perchè tutti dovrebbero conoscerlo, leggerlo, apprezzarlo, e smettere di sottovalutarlo.
Ma questo non è un buon motivo per recuperare romanzi di fine XIX secolo. Un ottimo motivo è il fatto che racconti come quelli contenuti in questa raccolta, e ad essere sinceri molti di quell'epoca, sono opere in grado di spiegare il genere, di raccontare perchè il genere esiste ed è necessario, e perchè tutti dovrebbero conoscerlo, leggerlo, apprezzarlo, e smettere di sottovalutarlo.
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