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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
At the turn of the century, Martians land in England. Bent on conquest, they set out to destroy everything. With their advanced technology as their primary weapon, humanity doesn't stand a chance. Man becomes nothing more than a food source.
The narrator escapes across England, meeting up with some people, trying to escape the Martians. He's separated from his wife and fears she's been killed. Eventually, the Martians are defeated--by bacteria. Their immune systems are overwhelmed, and they are all killed.
The narrator escapes across England, meeting up with some people, trying to escape the Martians. He's separated from his wife and fears she's been killed. Eventually, the Martians are defeated--by bacteria. Their immune systems are overwhelmed, and they are all killed.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
"Aloo!"
This one received an extra star just for the fact that it was the first story of its kind (as far as I’m aware). It is the OG alien invasion story and had some fantastic imagery, but was often a painful read. Wells was desperate for the audience of his time to sit in awe of the scope and speed of the invasion—thus, much of the book reads like a narrative tour of the greater London area. A great story, but definitely a test of modern attention spans (a test I failed).
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had never read this... it was good! You should read it too!
This was a fun read after years of contemporary sci-fi. I wasn't the biggest fan of the narrative structure, which felt sluggish and didn't necessarily benefit from a first person perspective. Nevertheless it was a delight to see the origins of so many tropes, and to think about how those tropes have been transformed to accommodate contemporary settings. It almost made me wish that film adaptations had attempted to set the novel in its original time period, rather than contemporizing it.
I wanted to read this book before the BBC adaptation airs later this year, and I suspect that the adaptation will make some changes, if not to the basic idea, then to the characters.
The reason I think so is because the characters aren't all that compelling. The unnamed narrator reports his experiences of the Martian occupation, and, while some of what he relates is harrowing, and his reports on the Martians' physiology and ways are interesting, you never have any doubt of his safety and survival. I suspect the previous adapters of this novel have felt pretty much as I do, since they've all, as far as I know, changed the characters around the Martian invasion somewhat. Even the BBC adaptation, I believe, is introducing new characters, and expanding Oglivy's role in the story.
For being called The War of the Worlds it's not a very exciting or expansive book. It should more accurately be called "The Martian Invasion of England", because that's what it is. It's a very anglocentric book, and it's a little infuriating to read about London being the greatest city on Earth. True, at one time, it probably was, but reading that now dates this story in a way which is kind of unfortunate, given that Wells was ahead of his time in so many ways.
Despite my issues, there is something of a criticism of colonialism, or it might just be the narrator's wishful thinking that the British will be kinder and more tolerant, now that they've been subject to invasion by a more sophisticated enemy. He suggests that the war has taught the British pity for those who suffer under their dominion, but I think that might be wishful thinking.
An interesting idea, and new for its time, I think, but not the most exciting story for the subject matter.
The reason I think so is because the characters aren't all that compelling. The unnamed narrator reports his experiences of the Martian occupation, and, while some of what he relates is harrowing, and his reports on the Martians' physiology and ways are interesting, you never have any doubt of his safety and survival. I suspect the previous adapters of this novel have felt pretty much as I do, since they've all, as far as I know, changed the characters around the Martian invasion somewhat. Even the BBC adaptation, I believe, is introducing new characters, and expanding Oglivy's role in the story.
For being called The War of the Worlds it's not a very exciting or expansive book. It should more accurately be called "The Martian Invasion of England", because that's what it is. It's a very anglocentric book, and it's a little infuriating to read about London being the greatest city on Earth. True, at one time, it probably was, but reading that now dates this story in a way which is kind of unfortunate, given that Wells was ahead of his time in so many ways.
Despite my issues, there is something of a criticism of colonialism, or it might just be the narrator's wishful thinking that the British will be kinder and more tolerant, now that they've been subject to invasion by a more sophisticated enemy. He suggests that the war has taught the British pity for those who suffer under their dominion, but I think that might be wishful thinking.
An interesting idea, and new for its time, I think, but not the most exciting story for the subject matter.
It took a bit to get into the turn of the (last) century flavor, but once I did, an thoroughly enjoyable read.
One man's harrowing account of a Martian invasion in England. After landing on Earth, the Martians begin sweeping across England, leaving death and destruction in their wake. The narrator becomes separated from his wife and in his travels to get back to her, sees the devastation wreaked by the Martians and narrowly escapes being scorched, stomped, and snatched.