New members, please introduce yourselves

[Douglas, Group Moderator]

For all who join the H.G. Wells group, please take a moment to introduce yourselves and share your views, insights, and book recommendations about the iconic Mr. Wells.

Thanks very much for joining. We look forward to your participation.

Best regards from South Carolina.

Douglas

[Douglas, Group Moderator]

Hello, fellow fans of the great H.G. Wells.

I am Baby Boomer in Columbia, South Carolina. One of the first novels I read as a child, beyond children's literature, was H.G. Wells's classic The Time Machine. Instantly, I became a life-long fan of Mr. Wells. The book stirred my young imagination. I've read it several times since then.

Now that I am older and somewhat educated, I see the symbolism and social commentary that Mr. Wells cleverly worked into The Time Machine. I've also learned much more about his controversial political and social opinions and theories, and his avant garde lifestyle. Of course, I went on to read many of his other classic works of fiction and nonfiction.

H.G. Wells stands as a significant influence in my educational development. Even though I don't always agree with his religious views and political theories, I shall always admire his intellect, individualism, innovation, and independence.

[[deleted user]]

Hello,

I'm Matt, from Chicago. I started reading science-fiction heavily about a year ago, and read "The Time Machine" and quite liked it. A few months later, I read "The Island of Dr. Moreau." I felt that TTM was more entertaining a read, but IoDM to be more intense, and stayed with me longer. I also have "The Invisible Man" and "War of the Worlds" on my book shelf, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet.

[Steve]

Hi, I'm from South Carolina, too, though I've only lived here a year. The Time Machine was one of the first post-childhood books I read as well, and as such, played an important role in my life. I love Wells' shot stories, like "The Country of the Blind." Great stuff.

[Douglas, Group Moderator]

Matt and Steve,

Thank you very much for joining our group devoted to H.G. Wells. We look forward to your insight and participation. Please feel free to make recommendations for books, offer your reviews of Mr. Wells's work, and provide any knowledge you have about the amazing Herbert George Wells. And, by all means, invite your fellow Wells's adherents to join as well.

Best regards to you both. Happy reading!

Douglas in South Carolina

[[deleted user]]

Hi, I'm Mykayla. I live in northwest Nebraska. I have loved sci-fi for a long time (my father is a retired high school physics teacher which is quite helpful since H. G. Wells and Jules Verne did their homework). My favorite H. G. Wells book would have to be either 'The Time Machine' or 'The Invisible Man'.

[Ivan]

I've never read anything by Wells. However, I've just ordered a collection of his most famous novels. Are we going to have any group reads?

[Ivan]

Ooops....My name is Ivan and I live in Tallahassee. H. G. Wells is one of those authors that escaped me - but I have corrected that. My friend Willie loves him (and has recommended him), but I saw the Mark Gatiss BBC Four production of The First Men in the Moon and suddenly made up my mind. I am fully two-thirds through The War of the Worlds (which is one of the greatest books I've ever read - filled with terror, dread and suspense). I read The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The Island of Dr. Moreau - and enjoyed each thoroughly. Now I have The First Men in the Moon on order and I'm just hoping it comes IMMEDIATELY or sooner.

[Douglas, Group Moderator]

Ivan wrote: "I've never read anything by Wells. However, I've just ordered a collection of his most famous novels. Are we going to have any group reads?"

Ivan,

Clearly, you are emerging as a rabid fan of H.G. Wells. Your enthusiasm for this visionary's works is infectious. Therefore, I believe that you would be an exemplary Moderator for this Group, and the ideal individual to initiate a Group read.

Please --- you pick a book for us to read and comment upon.

We all eagerly anticipate your choice, and look forward to participating.

Thanks in advance!

Douglas in South Carolina

[Bryan]

I'm Bryan. I live and write books and paint pictures in the north west Highlands of Scotland. H G Wells, along with his kindred spirit George Orwell inspired me as a boy. Why? Because they foretold of different worlds and different ways beyond science and beyond philosophy. HW in particular was the intellectual explorer par excellence, a natural successor to Jonathan Swift and his Gullivers Travels. Great that we are talking of such people long after they have gone off to ither words beyond even their imaginations!

Bryan

[Douglas, Group Moderator]

Bryan,

Thank you very much for joining the H.G. Wells Group. Given your life experience and obvious talent, the rest of us will surely benefit from your participation.

Best wishes from South Carolina --- where some of your cousins may live as we have many Scots-Americans and Scots-Irish-Americans here.

Douglas *

* My name is of Scottish origin.

[Bryan]

Douglas: I just wrote up a piece on my blog focussing on that wierdly indefinable thing we call 'imagination'. All readers of fiction must be well blessed with it in order to 'see' the writer's imaginary world in action, and all writers must of course have it in spades. H G Wells was one of that very select few with massive imagination spilling over into genius - without going over the top into that state we call madness.

I return your good wishes from the ice bound north west Highlands of Scotland. Yes, even Bonnier Scotland now she's clad in white!

[Ivan]

Welcome, to the group. We're only just getting started. Feel free to start a topic or ask any questions.

[Ivan]

Welcome Steve. This hasn't been a very active group, but with some fresh blood we may just revive.

I've got a copy of The Croquet Player coming - can't wait to start it. Also, Wells wrote GREAT short stories - loads of them.

[Douglas, Group Moderator]

Steve_t wrote: "Hi Guys,
I'm from Sydney,Australia I have loved SciFi all my life. I can't remember which of Wells books I first read (I'm guessing the time machine) but I have always loved his work and Jules Vern..."

Hi, Steve, and welcome to the H.G. Wells Group. We look forward to your participation.

Our fellow member Ivan has done a good job of moving our Group along as he shares our same passionate appreciation for H.G. Wells.

The first of Wells's iconic works that I read was The Time Machine at age eleven. I was instantly transfixed and transformed into a entirely new dimension of imagination. I've read The Time Machine at least four times since, and developed an even greater appreciation for the book as an adult.

Thank you for joining our Group.

Be well.

Douglas in South Carolina, USA

[Dave]

Hi, I'm Dave from Sheffield, England. I've only read 7 or 8 books writen by H.G. Wells, but I've got another of around that number that I'm currently making my way through. Nice to meet you all. =)

[Ivan]

Welcome to the group.

[Dave]

Ivan wrote: "Welcome to the group."

thank you

[Dave]

i'm 2/3rd the way through it, and along it's on form to get 5 stars so far. Tono-Bungay's still currently my favourite of his right now.

[Ivan]

Have you ever read any of HG's short stories? I've read only a smattering of them - but they're terrific. Loved "Empire of the Ants" and "The Star" and "The Stolen Body" and the very fun and funny "The Truth About Pyecraft."

[Ivan]

It was a good book. Nobody posted any comments (except me) so I guess the "group reads" portion of this group is kaput.

[Heike]

Hi, I'm Heike from Germany. My first H.G.Wells book was "The world set free", which I picked up after learning in school, that Wells was a good friend of Enrico Fermi with whom he discussed the possibility of a bomb for mass destruction. It must have been terrifing to know that there will most likely be the possibility for such a bomb out there in the years to come and to imagine how this would effect our society and the balance of the world.
I haven't read many other books yet - loved the "War of the worlds" didn't enjoy the "invisible man" though and hope that my motivation to read more books by this great author will be stimulated by this group :-)