The First Horseman by H.G. Wells
The First Horseman is a novel by H.G. Wells, first published in 1921. It tells the story of a small group of people who are living in a post-apocalyptic world, where the world has been devastated by a mysterious plague. The survivors are struggling to survive in a world where food is scarce and the environment is hostile. The novel follows the story of a young man named John, who is the leader of the group. He is determined to find a way to save the world from the plague, and he sets out on a journey to find a cure. Along the way, he meets a variety of characters, including a mysterious woman who may hold the key to the cure. The novel is a thrilling adventure story, as John and his companions face danger and mystery on their quest. It is also a thought-provoking exploration of the human condition, as the characters grapple with the implications of the plague and the future of humanity.
By H.G. Wells · First published 1946 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure · 4,108 words
First lines
Now, in the days when Ugh-lomi killed the great cave bear there was little trouble between the horses and men. Indeed, they lived apart-- the men in the river swamps and thickets, the horses on the wide grassy uplands between the chestnuts and the pines. Sometimes a pony would come straying into the clogging marshes to make a flint-hacked meal, and sometimes the tribe would find one, the kill of a lion, and drive off the jackals, and feast heartily while the sun was high. These horses of the old time were clumsy at the fetlock and dun-coloured, with a rough tail and big head. They came every spring-time north-westward into the country, after the swallows and before the hippopotami, as the grass on the wide downland stretches grew long. They came only in small bodies thus far, each herd, a stallion and two or three mares and a foal or so, having its own stretch of country, and they went again when the chestnut trees were yellow and the wolves came down the Wealden mountains.
What this Textopian page supports
The First Horseman is listed on Textopian as a novel by H.G. Wells, dated 1946 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: H.G. Wells
- Date: 1946 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery
- Length: 4,108 words
- Structure: 1 section, 115 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The First Horseman by H.G. Wells
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The First Horseman?
- How does this novel by H.G. Wells fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Science Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The First Horseman is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, which follows the story of a scientist who discovers a way to travel through time and space. The novel explores themes of science, technology, and the future of humanity.
- Fantasy — The First Horseman contains elements of fantasy, as the protagonist is able to travel through time and space, and encounters strange creatures and phenomena along the way.
- Adventure — The First Horseman is an adventure novel, as the protagonist embarks on a journey through time and space, encountering many obstacles and challenges along the way.
- Mystery — The First Horseman contains elements of mystery, as the protagonist must unravel the secrets of time and space in order to complete his journey.
Tags
science fiction · dystopia · apocalypse · war · humanity · survival · sociopolitical · philosophy · technology · futurism · H.G. Wells · literature