Time Machine
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells. published in 1895. This classic novel about time travel is a giant in the science fiction genre. Wells brought the idea time travel to popularity by inventing the concept of a “time machine” vehicle. This novel is an early example of dystopian literature, which describes a future earth that has decayed rather than improved. In his explorations in time, the time traveller fights the dreaded Morlocks, even goes so far into the future that he reaches a period near the end of the earth, where the sun is huge and red. The popularity of this novel and theme has inspired numerous films, television shows, comic books, and related works of fiction. HG Wells books Subjects: time travel, dystopia, Morlocks Related: The Invisible Man, War of the Worlds, Three MusketeersHG Wells virtually defined modern science fiction with the two tales featured in this double volume, a welcome addition to the SF Masterworks series. The Time Machine is the classic tale of a time traveller’s journey to the world of 802,701 AD where humanity is divided between the bad and the beautiful, a simplistic vision at first glance but a prophetic take on a future that may not be so far removed from a reality yet to take hold, simply lurking in the shadows and waiting for the human race to bring it about by its own hand.
The War of the Worlds is perhaps one of the greatest science fiction novels ever written, a chilling, brooding tale that has lost none of its power or punch as the soulless alien invaders blast their way across the English countryside, collecting hapless humans for fiendish experiments and scorching the land. Coming at a time of great technological leaps and bounds, it is not surprising that the War of the Worlds makes as much comment on the fragility of the human race and its dependence on technology, as it does the indestructible nature of the human spirit. Though constantly beaten back, the dwindling human armies throw all the might of their warships at the alien machines with little or no effect–in the end, it is the common cold which brings about the downfall of the extra-terrestrial killers. Their motivations are never explained, nor do they need to be, their chilling cries echoing across the deserted, burning countryside of Britain accting as both a chilling war cry and a blood-curdling wake-up call. Surely, one of the most essential science fiction publications you could ever buy. —Jonathan Weir.
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Future Imperfect,
The time traveller (he is never named) accelerates his machine far into the future (the year 802, 701 AD to be precise) and finds himself among the Eloi, an elfin, beautiful, delicate and rather feminine species. The Eloi live above ground and seem to like nothing more than lounging about in the sunlight and generally not doing anything. The time traveller finds them rather charming, although his attempts to communicate with them result in failure. Later in the story he encounters an altogether more sinister species, the Morlocks, nasty, brutish, living underground and only emerging at night. Even worse the Morlocks seem to prey – in a very literal sense – upon the Eloi. Needless to say adventure ensues….
Wells, via his time traveller, puts forward some notions about the respective origins of the Eloi and the Morlocks. The former represent the aristocracy flung far into the future, grown weak, idle and decadent. They are beautiful, but of no real worth to anyone, not even to themselves. The Morlocks represent the masses, the working classes, excluded from education and relying upon their brute strength in order to survive. They feed and cloth the Eloi, but they reap a terrible price in return.
It is, especially when you think of it in the context of the time in which it was written, all rather clever. Wells was able to create what was a good adventure yarn on one level work on a far deeper plain of meaning by tapping in to the concerns of the age. The time machine itself is beautifully described and it’s a lovely idea but it is perhaps Wells’s thoughts on the ultimate destination of mankind which give the story its lasting resonance. It’s well worth reading, and not just because it is, in many ways, the grand daddy of a whole branch of science fiction.
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|A missing part!,
Has part from the original serialization that’s missing from the book edition.Reason enough to pay the small sum to find out what it is.
Time travel these days in stories and films is commonplace.
Travel back to the early 1890’s ;when originally penned.
Filled with imagination and mystery.
Intentionally makes you fill in gaps using your own thoughts.
Cannot recommend this enough.Read war of the world’s after this,for a Victorian trip of pure imagination.
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|As modern as tomorrow,
This is conjured up with great skill; my favorite part has always been his expedition to the distant pinnacles of the Palace of Green Porcelain: a deserted, dilapidated museum lying “high upon a turfy down”, containing vast halls of crumbling exhibits shrouded in dust. The picture of a world in slow decay is sketched in very adeptly – as is the later episode, where he travels as far into the future as possible, and views the final sparks of life on Earth before they’re snuffed out by the uncaring cosmos. It’s a peculiar story that repays repeated reading, and is warmly recommended to those who’ve yet to have the pleasure of encountering this strange adventure.
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