Reviews - The War of the Worlds

4.52k reviews for:

The War of the Worlds

H.G. Wells

3.6 AVERAGE

maddreader's review against another edition

4.0

Really cool that this is essentially the beginning of sci-fi
The classic narration style can be interesting but also isn’t always engaging
LOVED the comparison that martians see humans as humans see ants. Really makes you think!
Kind of annoying that almost no characters had names. Like I think the scientists at the beginning were some of the only ones with names.
Wanted a POV from the wife! It might’ve held add an emotional impact
Also wanted a reuniting scene with the brother — like we just have to assume it happened?
Part 2 carried this book. Especially the scenes with the
curator and the artillery man. that said, I think the narrator left the artillery man a little abruptly.

gwenjenkins1's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I thought it was a good book as it was one of the inspiring science fiction books and is considered a classic. However I thought it was repetitive and slow in the beginning a little bit to the middle. However, I thought the end was really good.

bellalaf's review against another edition

5.0

Arguably a simple and familiar storyline - Martians land on earth and take over as if humans are just ants to them - but when you're the first modern alien invasion book, that's the only premise required. And HG Wells does it WELL!!! Loved this.

carinarm's review against another edition

1.0

slow-paced

morgann_ashh's review against another edition

2.0

Assigned reading for class. Tough time coming to a review on this one because I think my experience was definitely effected by the fact I have seen the movie a couple times. I sped through the book partially because I’m behind in class and wanted to get it done with, and also I remember the movie pretty well. I think this book is pretty revolutionary in the time it was written… Although end of the world and alien stories are more common today, I don’t believe they were at the time this novel was realized. My favorite aspect of this book is how the martians were taken down by Earthly bacteria and diseases that humans have built immunity too!! That aspect of the book makes you think far beyond a majority of the plot. I wish I felt a stronger attachment to the character’s and the narrator in the book. I love the concept of the novel I just wish the plot narrative was more engaging.