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The Time Machine
A retelling in graphic novel format of Wells's tale of a scientist who invents a machine that carries him into the future, where he meets a race of gentle humans and evil underground creatures.
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First published January 1, 1895
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About the author
Terry Davis
82 books20 followersTerry Davis is an American novelist who lives near Spokane, Washington, and is a professor emeritus of English at Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU Mankato), where he taught Creative writing – fiction and screenwriting – as well as adolescent literature. Davis, who has been a high school English teacher and a wrestling coach, is the author of three novels for young adults: Vision Quest (1979), Mysterious Ways (1984), and If Rock & Roll Were a Machine (1992). He has also written Presenting Chris Crutcher, a biography of the respected young-adult author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
January 9, 2010
SUMMARY
"This is my mini model of the time machine", said the young scientist proudly. Filby and everyone else just stared boringly. Then a random man yelled " Well make it do something!". Then...POOF...it was gone! Filby was amazed as he ran his hands over the table that the model had been sitting on. He was shocked, especially when the young scientist came back one day looking like a zombie!!!
REVIEW
The Time Machine is a very good book. I loved it because it made me want to read more, also, at sometimes it scary and others it suspenseful. I recommend it for people who have a very open, visual mind.
"This is my mini model of the time machine", said the young scientist proudly. Filby and everyone else just stared boringly. Then a random man yelled " Well make it do something!". Then...POOF...it was gone! Filby was amazed as he ran his hands over the table that the model had been sitting on. He was shocked, especially when the young scientist came back one day looking like a zombie!!!
REVIEW
The Time Machine is a very good book. I loved it because it made me want to read more, also, at sometimes it scary and others it suspenseful. I recommend it for people who have a very open, visual mind.
February 2, 2025
This graphic novel version of "The Time Machine" displays mediocre artwork and a badly neutered plot. Additionally, the portrayals of the Morlocks and the Eloi bear little resemblance to that in the original book and Wells' original big reveal about these two offshoots of humanity comes across as cheap horror without imparting any of his original concerns or insights. Although intended for the classroom the book has been so significantly altered from the original, including the elimination of key scenes and events, that it is unlikely to be of much use and it will certainly not serve as a platform to understand a foundational science fiction work.
2.5 stars rounded to 2.
2.5 stars rounded to 2.
December 31, 2017
Out of this series this has always been one of my favorites to read and enjoy. And as such it does make for a convincing point to the interested reader to attempt to read the original thus it can be considered a gateway book.
The writing has been cleaned up and the plot straightened to allow young readers to enjoy the nice quick pace. There are a few spots where the story is a bit slow but otherwise it will be a definite quick read for those interested..
Since of adaptations like these I can honestly believe that some of the Classics will continued to be enjoyed by younger readers for at least a few more years to come.
The writing has been cleaned up and the plot straightened to allow young readers to enjoy the nice quick pace. There are a few spots where the story is a bit slow but otherwise it will be a definite quick read for those interested..
Since of adaptations like these I can honestly believe that some of the Classics will continued to be enjoyed by younger readers for at least a few more years to come.
August 9, 2024
this was so interesting! Can't wait to read the book <33
June 1, 2025
"The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells is a sci-fi classic. Published in 1895, this novella follows a scientist, referred to as 'the Time Traveller,' as he journeys to the year 802,701 and discovers a dystopian world vastly different from his own.
It's a classic in literature, and its influence is evident. The book has inspired countless other works across various media. The author explores themes like industrialization, social commentary, human evolution, class division, and the assumption that populations evolve into more complex forms over time. The novella features visionary world building and an engaging narrative, especially considering its short duration.
However, some scientific reasonings are outdated, and the pacing and plot can feel predictable at times. Many better crafted time travel fictions have been published since, although most draw serious influence from this book.
I've previously read bits and pieces of this book for academic purposes, but this is my first time reading it completely. Apart from those very few criticisms mentioned, overall it's a great piece of classic literature.
It's a classic in literature, and its influence is evident. The book has inspired countless other works across various media. The author explores themes like industrialization, social commentary, human evolution, class division, and the assumption that populations evolve into more complex forms over time. The novella features visionary world building and an engaging narrative, especially considering its short duration.
However, some scientific reasonings are outdated, and the pacing and plot can feel predictable at times. Many better crafted time travel fictions have been published since, although most draw serious influence from this book.
I've previously read bits and pieces of this book for academic purposes, but this is my first time reading it completely. Apart from those very few criticisms mentioned, overall it's a great piece of classic literature.
October 24, 2024
Read this back in grade school, and liked it a lot. Gave me the idea about jump starting my future ahead...Seems Wells had a little secret for me. I especially also like the addition of an extra destination to the Time Traveller's adventure: Stopping in 2200 AD on his return and he becomes caught up in a civil war between factions of a technocratic society that was established to avert ecological catastrophe. This is possibly my most favorite of all the Great Illustrated Classics series.
September 28, 2023
Nooo, Weena! 😭
November 17, 2020
A very very quick read that just gives highlights of the already short novel. I didn't particularly care for the original novel, though I recognize its literary and scientific contributions.
I work in a library with 5th grade and up, and found this in our graphic novel collection. It must be meant for 2nd-4th graders to easily understand a classic book, as the last part of the book gives a brief intro to H.G. Wells, key word definitions, and different discussion topics. I like it for that aspect.
I work in a library with 5th grade and up, and found this in our graphic novel collection. It must be meant for 2nd-4th graders to easily understand a classic book, as the last part of the book gives a brief intro to H.G. Wells, key word definitions, and different discussion topics. I like it for that aspect.
October 18, 2011
This book was a pretty good mixture of action, adventure, and suspense. I liked the book because, well mostly because of the setting, characters, the time machine, and the fact that the book was mostly in the year 802,701 A.D. The book was about a man who invents a time machine and goes forward in time to the year 802,701 A.D. But later in the story he has to fight off a race of ape-like creatures called "Morlocks" to get back his time machine so he can escape back to the previous time.
February 13, 2008
Set in Victorian England, a time traveller recounts his voyage through the future world, where he encounters strange beings and a very different image of society. I had to read it for summer homework going into freshman english, and it was completely worthwhile, not just for a grade.
June 10, 2024
Me gustó la historia porque este escritor hizo por primera vez el concepto de la máquina del tiempo. Inició la era de los libros con máquinas de tiempo. Mi personaje favorito fue la máquina del tiempo porque es la mas original que he visto. Me gustó el final cuando regresó.
-- Josh 12 años
-- Josh 12 años
January 11, 2009
A suspenseful book! It's great for a 7-yr-old and 10-yr-old who love to be scared. Joshie loves hearing about time travel machines.
March 16, 2020
It was ok, I guess...
I enjoyed much more the book than the graphic novel ;)
I enjoyed much more the book than the graphic novel ;)
September 18, 2019
You know you're in some kind of trouble when the blurb on the inside names HG Wells as "Henry" Wells (his name was Herbert, for those who didn't know). Then comes the story itself...the novella The Time Machine is the best piece of literature I've ever read. So this was always going to be judged by fiercer standards. The core story is there, but Wells' ideas and theories are muted in favour of "enhancing" the interaction with Eloi. In the novella, he never fully learns their language, but here, he and Weena have all kinds of conversations, some of which are quite banal. The scene were Weena does a little dance was frankly unneeded.
But the tale plays out largely as you'd expect, but then we come to an additional section set about 300 years in the future from now, where the Time Traveller lands in the middle of a war between Southdom and Northdom. Really, Wells is having a fit somewhere...but after this unwanted interlude, the story concludes much like it does in the novella.
In other words, this tale takes liberties with the source material, dumbs a few things down and pads it out with B-rate "sci-fi" silliness. I strongly recommend you read the novella - it's available online in most places, legally for free (Wikisource is one), and it's not very big, so it'll only be the work of a few hours.
But if you must read this, be warned it's a pale imitator.
But the tale plays out largely as you'd expect, but then we come to an additional section set about 300 years in the future from now, where the Time Traveller lands in the middle of a war between Southdom and Northdom. Really, Wells is having a fit somewhere...but after this unwanted interlude, the story concludes much like it does in the novella.
In other words, this tale takes liberties with the source material, dumbs a few things down and pads it out with B-rate "sci-fi" silliness. I strongly recommend you read the novella - it's available online in most places, legally for free (Wikisource is one), and it's not very big, so it'll only be the work of a few hours.
But if you must read this, be warned it's a pale imitator.
September 10, 2021
I haven't read The Time Machine in its original form, so I can't speak too strongly on whether this is an accurate adaptation (other reviews say not!) but I can say that it's an enjoyable read and I admire its overall goals.
I'm sure I've reviewed other Illustrated Classic books; as a kid I remember being obsessed with these. The real thing, of course, is always pretty difficult to get through, but here were versions of classic science fiction stories at my level and with PICTURES! And what is the use of a book, thought little me, without pictures or conversations...?
For all the potential faults of this adaptation, I think it does what it set out to do: make classic science fiction accessible to more people. I'm not sure I'll invest the time to read the entire original, given my tragic struggle to get five pages into War of the Worlds unabridged and the pretty overt eugenics and sexism fueling the plot overall. In this edition, it's a colorful fairy story, which forgives some of the less savory elements of the plot. I imagine it would be quite frustrating to invest the time to read the complete original for the simplicity of the plot it contains.
So, for me, this did its job perfectly! It's always nice to be able to experience a classic in a few hours, instead of a few days.
I'm sure I've reviewed other Illustrated Classic books; as a kid I remember being obsessed with these. The real thing, of course, is always pretty difficult to get through, but here were versions of classic science fiction stories at my level and with PICTURES! And what is the use of a book, thought little me, without pictures or conversations...?
For all the potential faults of this adaptation, I think it does what it set out to do: make classic science fiction accessible to more people. I'm not sure I'll invest the time to read the entire original, given my tragic struggle to get five pages into War of the Worlds unabridged and the pretty overt eugenics and sexism fueling the plot overall. In this edition, it's a colorful fairy story, which forgives some of the less savory elements of the plot. I imagine it would be quite frustrating to invest the time to read the complete original for the simplicity of the plot it contains.
So, for me, this did its job perfectly! It's always nice to be able to experience a classic in a few hours, instead of a few days.
December 18, 2018
هذه النسخة من الرواية تحتوي على اختلاف لم أجده في النسخة السابقة. مع العلم أن هذه النسخة مختصرة ومبسطة بهدف جذب القراء الصغار إلى عالم القراءة والخيال، إلا أنها تحتوي على فصل لم أقرأه في النسخة المطولة والتي افترضت أنها تحتوي النص الكامل لرواية آلة الزمن، ولكن اتضح لي الآن أنها كانت مجرد نسخة منقحة أو تم التصرف في نصها، وذلك بإزالة فصل كامل يتحدث عن قيام المسافر عبر الزمن بزيارة القرن الحادي والعشرين، (ربما سنة 2100) بحيث يتم استجوابه ومحاولة تحطيم آلته ولكنه ينجح في مراوغتهم والهرب. الفصل قصير مقارنة مع مغامرته في معظم الكتا��، ولكن هذه المغامرة القصيرة تلقي الضوء على بذرة أو تمهيد لما ستؤول إليه الأحداث في القرون القادمة والتي أدت إلى تناحر البشر في قبيلتين الإلوا والمارلوك في السنة 801,702 .. أيضاً تلقي الضوء على بداية انحدار البشرية ومواجهة الكوارث الطبيعية التي تسبب بها الإنسان في كوكب الأرض بسبب سوء استغلال مواردها الطبيعية.
ما يؤسف له هو أن مؤلف الرواية تنبأ وبشكل يكاد يكون مطابق للواقع ما ستؤول إليه الأوضاع (فيما يخص كوكب الأرض والإحتباس الحراري) وكان ذلك في القرن التاسع عشر..
أعود وأقول أنني قرأت هذه النسخة مرات عديدة، ولكنني أحسست أنني أقرأها للمرة الأولى.. وأنا أكرر أنني معجب بهذه النسخة أكثر من غيرها.
ما يؤسف له هو أن مؤلف الرواية تنبأ وبشكل يكاد يكون مطابق للواقع ما ستؤول إليه الأوضاع (فيما يخص كوكب الأرض والإحتباس الحراري) وكان ذلك في القرن التاسع عشر..
أعود وأقول أنني قرأت هذه النسخة مرات عديدة، ولكنني أحسست أنني أقرأها للمرة الأولى.. وأنا أكرر أنني معجب بهذه النسخة أكثر من غيرها.
February 22, 2017
Great Illustrated Classics are good books to introduce classic novels to children. Children always seem to enjoy the illustrations and the way they help explain the story.
This particular adaptation, was a disappointment to me. I didn't read it to my children so I can't put down a child's view on the book, but there were things that I didn't like.
I chose to read through this book alongside the original. I suppose that was my problem. Not only is this adaptation quite different from the original, but it very dumbed down and the authors words are taken out while adding in easier to understand material. This is understandable, but to a point. I feel like children would be more than capable to understand the original work. This books content was almost completely changed. The order of the book was even changed.
This book had an added chapter that is not in the original novel. I do not know where this section was inspired from. This extra chapter talks about leaders, Kolar, Taggett, and Darton in hiding and the Golden Age of Science.
Overall, I don't think the book is all bad. It is quite different. I don't think children need all the changes. Wells wrote a perfectly good book and his writing style is understandable, even for a younger audience. The illustrations are good.
Content: some minor violence
This particular adaptation, was a disappointment to me. I didn't read it to my children so I can't put down a child's view on the book, but there were things that I didn't like.
I chose to read through this book alongside the original. I suppose that was my problem. Not only is this adaptation quite different from the original, but it very dumbed down and the authors words are taken out while adding in easier to understand material. This is understandable, but to a point. I feel like children would be more than capable to understand the original work. This books content was almost completely changed. The order of the book was even changed.
This book had an added chapter that is not in the original novel. I do not know where this section was inspired from. This extra chapter talks about leaders, Kolar, Taggett, and Darton in hiding and the Golden Age of Science.
Overall, I don't think the book is all bad. It is quite different. I don't think children need all the changes. Wells wrote a perfectly good book and his writing style is understandable, even for a younger audience. The illustrations are good.
Content: some minor violence
November 19, 2022
My son and I really enjoy these Illustrated Classics. Ms. Bogart did an excellent job of adapting Wells' book for a younger audience and the artwork is superb throughout.
Time travel is a strange concept for kids to grasp, but I explained it as 'He could visit tomorrow before the rest of us get to see it'. That seemed to work. After that, it was fighting Morlocks and the end of the world!
One of the interesting points is how Wells demonstrated that using his Time Traveler's Victorian attitudes in another time and place served him not at all and even caused a number of problems. I wish more writers would use that tack and stop trying to inject 21st century sensibilities into a historical novel. It does nothing (IMHO) to advance the book and occasionally pulls me out of the story completely.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
Time travel is a strange concept for kids to grasp, but I explained it as 'He could visit tomorrow before the rest of us get to see it'. That seemed to work. After that, it was fighting Morlocks and the end of the world!
One of the interesting points is how Wells demonstrated that using his Time Traveler's Victorian attitudes in another time and place served him not at all and even caused a number of problems. I wish more writers would use that tack and stop trying to inject 21st century sensibilities into a historical novel. It does nothing (IMHO) to advance the book and occasionally pulls me out of the story completely.
Find it! Buy it! READ IT!
February 17, 2021
Didn’t realize until I opened this that this book was really meant for kids. The font was like size 18 and there were pictures every second page. That being said I still enjoyed it. Even if it did feel like just a slightly longer short story. The story had a good amount of mystery and mystical elements that I liked. I enjoyed how much detail was put into all the tiny things like the design of our world thousands of years into the future. I think I might just go find the actual book and read it at some point (if it exists) overall a fun kids book that can still be enjoyed as an adult. I finished it in about 90 minutes.
June 15, 2022
I was critiquing a story involving a time machine when I looked up at my bookshelves and noticed that I had this book. I don't know where it came from. Could be from the past and was transported to me. Or from the future and sent back to me. I couldn't tell. But it did show up at the right time to give me a better sense of time machine stories.
This version of The Time Machine is written for grade school readers. It's not a well written or well told version of the original story. But I suppose it will suffice for young readers. The illustrations are good.
If you think your kid is interested in science fiction, this is a good book to start with.
This version of The Time Machine is written for grade school readers. It's not a well written or well told version of the original story. But I suppose it will suffice for young readers. The illustrations are good.
If you think your kid is interested in science fiction, this is a good book to start with.
August 22, 2019
As I read this I got the feeling it was an adapted version, and ultimately confirmed that afterwards. Oh well. This was a very quick read and actually quite thrilling. However, I give it 3 stars simply for the fact that it's an adapted version of the original by H.G. Wells, which I still plan to read sometime in the future...and not so far into the future that I'll need a time machine to get there.
March 27, 2023
I remember seeing the old 60's movie version of The Time Machine when I was a kid and always wanted to read the book. I used this for "shortest book on my TBR" for the PopSugar Reading Challenge. I ordered it from the library and didn't realize it was the Great Illustrated Classics version until I started reading. I'm not sure how much was cut from the original, but it's a novela anyway so I don't think I missed much, and I sure did enjoy the illustrations! Fun, quick read. I often wonder when was the first literary depiction of time travel. This is probably one of the first right?
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August 16, 2020Read this in a family vacation to Pelee Island, thought I had a bad dream/ hallucinated the added antarctic war interlude and far, far future bits & illustrations for years, including when I read the actual Time Machine in High School. Apparently added this a while ago & forgot about it again. Thanks, Good Reads!
July 21, 2024
I have never read this wonderful Classic book. I read it in one day, it was that good!! The large print and pencil drawings enhance the experience. These adventures remind me of the twilight zone shows. He meets many kinds of People and sees many different kinds of places on his wonderful journey. Oh yes, its a love story too.
January 6, 2021
A fun short read that has a strong message at the end. It’s nice to read a classic and see that many of the challenges we face today are in our works of literature.
Also the animations were a nice touch!
Also the animations were a nice touch!
February 9, 2022
Okay, maybe I should read the original book instead of the adapted one, however, it scared me a lot. The idea was super strange and weird, and it's definitely not something of any science fiction that I've been used too.
August 18, 2019
Loved this series as a kid.
November 21, 2019
This is an amazing book. It is by H. G. Wells. It is about the future.
May 14, 2020
It's fun, uncomfortable and scary at the same time. A must read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews