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4.64k reviews for:
The War of the Worlds (illustrated version): with biography and text analysis
H.G. Wells
3.6 AVERAGE
4.64k reviews for:
The War of the Worlds (illustrated version): with biography and text analysis
H.G. Wells
3.6 AVERAGE
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
tense
Solid 3.5 stars. For when this was written, it is incredible. But I also wanted to rate this one based on story progression as this had a strong beginning but gradually fizzled out.
Overall, good but not quite 4 stars for me.
Overall, good but not quite 4 stars for me.
If I wasn't reading it for an essay on colonilism and sci-fi that I am writing, I would totally DNF this book.
I'm therefore writing this review from a bit of a tough spot. I picked this book up expecting it to prove my point - that this is a book about fear of being colonized, while also not addressing colonialism in meaningful way. And I was right. The book has some anti-imperial sentiments and it does mention colonialism more directly that I expected, but the language it uses is unfortunate and definitely it ends up dropping the point and focuses on other stuff. But if someone asks me, there is a pretty solid material for Remixed Classics.
So yeah, I did make the dick move of reading this book just so I could criticize it, BUT I still expected that I would enjoy it! *spoiler* I didn't....
If you are interested in the bit addressing colonization directly, this is it:
Part of the reason is no doubt that nowadays I very rarely read books written by white straight dudes. My armor is just gone at this point. The protagonist was annoying toxic shit and he wasn't written that way on purpose. We were clearly meant to admire him and I just kept praying that the Martians would kill him. Yeah...
Good old misogyny!
And we get some eugenics too... (to be fair it's not the MC speaking this time)
So yeah, even David Tanner's narration couldn't save this, but at least it finally made me watch Good Omens! So at least something good came out of this...
I'm therefore writing this review from a bit of a tough spot. I picked this book up expecting it to prove my point - that this is a book about fear of being colonized, while also not addressing colonialism in meaningful way. And I was right. The book has some anti-imperial sentiments and it does mention colonialism more directly that I expected, but the language it uses is unfortunate and definitely it ends up dropping the point and focuses on other stuff. But if someone asks me, there is a pretty solid material for Remixed Classics.
So yeah, I did make the dick move of reading this book just so I could criticize it, BUT I still expected that I would enjoy it! *spoiler* I didn't....
If you are interested in the bit addressing colonization directly, this is it:
And before we judge them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction was our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?
Part of the reason is no doubt that nowadays I very rarely read books written by white straight dudes. My armor is just gone at this point. The protagonist was annoying toxic shit and he wasn't written that way on purpose. We were clearly meant to admire him and I just kept praying that the Martians would kill him. Yeah...
He was lacking in restraint as a silly woman.
Good old misogyny!
And we get some eugenics too... (to be fair it's not the MC speaking this time)
"Able-bodied, clean-minded women we want also - mothers and teachers. No lackadaisical ladies - no blasted rolling eyes. We can't have any weak of silly. Life is real again, and the useles and cumbersome and mischievous have to die. They ought to die. They ought to be willing to die. It's sort of disloyalty, after all, to live and taint the race."
So yeah, even David Tanner's narration couldn't save this, but at least it finally made me watch Good Omens! So at least something good came out of this...
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
I’ve seen a a tv series and two film versions of this and wasn’t expecting any surprises. The writing, however, evokes a more vivid experience than anything Hollywood has produced.
Catching up with the classics and this one is one of the best
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting to read after watching the 2005 movie. I can definitely see where Spielberg got lots of the inspiration but I certainly appreciate the liberties taken in the movie. The book’s writing style and characters make the themes get muddy and lost, something that doesn’t happen in the movie. The movie is a truly unsettling and scary experience.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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