The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

Name: The War of the Worlds
Author: H.G. Wells

The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, first published in 1898. It tells the story of an alien invasion of Earth by Martians. The novel begins with a description of a late-Victorian England, and then follows the narrator, an unnamed man, as he witnesses the arrival of the Martians in England. The Martians are described as advanced, intelligent, and powerful creatures, and they quickly begin to take over the country. The narrator and his brother flee London, and the narrator eventually finds himself in a small village, where he witnesses the destruction of the Martians’ machines and the death of the Martians. The novel follows the narrator as he travels around England, witnessing the destruction caused by the Martians and the attempts of the British to fight back. Eventually, the Martians are defeated by a combination of human ingenuity and natural forces. The novel ends with the narrator reflecting on the events and the lessons learned from the war.

By H.G. Wells · First published 1897 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Speculative Fiction · 27 chapters · 60,048 words

First lines

No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter. It is possible that the infusoria under the microscope do the same. No one gave a thought to the older worlds of space as sources of human danger, or thought of them only to dismiss the idea of life upon them as impossible or improbable. It is curious to recall some of the mental habits of those departed days. At most terrestrial men fancied there might be other men upon Mars, perhaps inferior to themselves and ready to welcome a missionary enterprise. Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us. And early in the twentieth century came the great disillusionment.

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The War of the Worlds is listed on Textopian as a novel by H.G. Wells, dated 1897 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: 1897 CE
Language: English
Genres: Science Fiction, Adventure, Speculative Fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Horror
Length: 60,048 words
Structure: 27 chapters, 823 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Similar titles

Genres

Science Fiction — The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, which follows the story of an alien invasion of Earth. The novel is set in a future where humans are no match for the advanced technology of the aliens, and the story follows the protagonist's attempts to survive the invasion.
Adventure — The War of the Worlds follows the protagonist's journey as he attempts to survive the alien invasion. The novel is full of thrilling moments and suspenseful scenes, making it an exciting adventure story.
Speculative Fiction — The War of the Worlds is a work of speculative fiction, as it imagines a future where humans are no match for the advanced technology of aliens. The novel explores the implications of such a scenario, and speculates on how humans would react in such a situation.
Dystopian Fiction — The War of the Worlds paints a bleak picture of a future where humans are no match for the advanced technology of aliens. The novel explores the implications of such a scenario, and paints a dystopian vision of a future where humans are powerless against the alien invaders.