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pholcidae's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A very slow story with an anticlimactic conclusion but some ‘fun’ niches to appeal to the reader (at the time of writing, mind!).
Wells clearly did his work in familiarising himself with the suburbs of London to create a sense of familiarity with the intended audience when he wrote this. I only recognised a few places since I am not familiar with the city and its surroundings, but I certainly got my own tour of them all in this story(!)
I did enjoy the pseudoscientific approach to the narrator’s telling of his story - if only the science wasn’t outdated by this time it might’ve been more convincing.
Whilst I enjoyed the use of language and literary devices, I found it hard to feel immersed in the story by way of it feeling like listening to someone who is overly fond of their own voice ranting at me about aliens and society.
The plot was so diluted by Wells’ insistence on dictating directions around the general geography of London, that by the end I felt the climax was not all too climactic. Also, character development was non-existence so there’s not much to comment there.
Overall, an unfortunate low scoring for a book I was very excited to read.
Wells clearly did his work in familiarising himself with the suburbs of London to create a sense of familiarity with the intended audience when he wrote this. I only recognised a few places since I am not familiar with the city and its surroundings, but I certainly got my own tour of them all in this story(!)
I did enjoy the pseudoscientific approach to the narrator’s telling of his story - if only the science wasn’t outdated by this time it might’ve been more convincing.
Whilst I enjoyed the use of language and literary devices, I found it hard to feel immersed in the story by way of it feeling like listening to someone who is overly fond of their own voice ranting at me about aliens and society.
The plot was so diluted by Wells’ insistence on dictating directions around the general geography of London, that by the end I felt the climax was not all too climactic. Also, character development was non-existence so there’s not much to comment there.
Overall, an unfortunate low scoring for a book I was very excited to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, War, and Animal death
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny
bones_jackson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Se eu não me engano foi o primeiro livro que retratou sobre alienígenas, então tem uns conceitos muito interessantes. A primeira coisa que veio na minha cabeça com a primeira descrição dos marcianos foi o vilão de monstros vs alienígenas e foi assim que eu imaginei eles durante o livro todo.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Alcohol, Animal death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, and Death
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
This book was tense and had me on the edge of my seat constantly. The beginning was a bit dry, but beyond that I was hooked. This is a true sci-fi horror novel- the constant fear for survival, wondering if there will ever be a moment of peace... And there was just enough substance behind it to elevate it higher than typical fun, pulpy sci-fi.
The characters are all a bit simple, but serve the narrative and themes well. I can't say I was extremely attached to any of them, but I can say they served their purposes well, serving more as vehicles for the reader to experience the tense situation through.
Overall I have to say this is one of the classics I'm delighted to find is a classic for a reason. I look forward to future forays into the works of H.G. Wells, and can easily reccomend this book to anyone looking for a tense book about a doomsday scenario that is somehow as fun as it is hopeless.
The characters are all a bit simple, but serve the narrative and themes well. I can't say I was extremely attached to any of them, but I can say they served their purposes well, serving more as vehicles for the reader to experience the tense situation through.
Overall I have to say this is one of the classics I'm delighted to find is a classic for a reason. I look forward to future forays into the works of H.G. Wells, and can easily reccomend this book to anyone looking for a tense book about a doomsday scenario that is somehow as fun as it is hopeless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Animal death and War
batmayne_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A very short graphic novel version of the original
Had an intro of the new jersey freak out which was debunked
Very nostalgic for those who have read the original, and a great start for younger kids reading heavier/older literature
Had an intro of the new jersey freak out which was debunked
Very nostalgic for those who have read the original, and a great start for younger kids reading heavier/older literature
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Genocide
arxchiell's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
bearystarry's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This felt very… meandering? Feels like 80% of the book was just descriptions of people running away and/or travelling to other places and how starving or mean or “silly” they are. Pretty sexist and racist; making reference to indigenous american people when talking about violent invading aliens was certainly A Choice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Genocide, Gore, Grief, War, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Violence, Death, Misogyny, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, Sexism, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
chriswaldron15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Genocide, Fire/Fire injury, War, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder
thomasdj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Death, War, and Colonisation
Minor: Murder, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
reesespuff6's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Confinement, Alcohol, Animal death, Violence, and War
lorraine19's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The pace kinda goes back and forth between fast and slow paced, but the imagery and descriptions in some of the scenes is really good. You have to keep in mind how old this book is when reading some of the more "scientific" parts. Wells did try to incorporate some actual science explanations which unfortunately are a bit outdated. So if that is something that really bothers you this book might not be for you. But if you don't mind more fiction in your scifi, it's a classic for a reason.
<SPOILERS> I did find the ending to be disappointing but this is more of a personal preference. It just felt like it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book with it being all "oh everything turned out okay". I really wish he kept the tone dark or even left it more open ended. <SPOILERS>
<SPOILERS> I did find the ending to be disappointing but this is more of a personal preference. It just felt like it didn't match the tone of the rest of the book with it being all "oh everything turned out okay". I really wish he kept the tone dark or even left it more open ended. <SPOILERS>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, War, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Animal cruelty, Alcohol, Blood, Animal death, and Gore
Minor: Torture, Police brutality, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
Starvation, survival, cannibalism