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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
challenging
mysterious
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
Very much a book both before and of its time. The pace of the action reminded me a lot of Max Brooks’ World War Z - vivid descriptions of disaster and mayhem coupled with an almost scientific objectivity of the Martian’s advance across London. However, the disturbing undertones of eugenics in the artilleryman’s theory for survival in the final chapters places the work firmly within its late-Victorian setting.
I really love the idea of this book, and I have a lot of respect and awe for how ahead of its time it was.
I listened to it, and I wonder if I should have read it instead, because I didn’t really enjoy it. I have a hard time with stories where the characters are flat, distant, or unrelatable, and this is one of those. When we don’t even learn our narrator’s name, it’s hard for me to get invested.
I listened to it, and I wonder if I should have read it instead, because I didn’t really enjoy it. I have a hard time with stories where the characters are flat, distant, or unrelatable, and this is one of those. When we don’t even learn our narrator’s name, it’s hard for me to get invested.
idk, maybe it's how he describes stuff in such an odd manner, it didn't really click with me (prolly bc of how, introspective Frankenstein was) but it's still a really good book!
the oppressive nature of an invasion where humans are unable to defend themselves. i love how its ending, is also relatively grounded.
film was definitely a great companion piece.
the oppressive nature of an invasion where humans are unable to defend themselves. i love how its ending, is also relatively grounded.
film was definitely a great companion piece.
It is really interesting how much change and how much things don't change within the hundred plus years.
What change, this is due better knowledge, and this book introduce the idea for the first place:-
1) We actually have first responder, and fully expect the military to secure the area once there's an alien landing
2) England will totally be quarantined after the invasion.
3) Which means no one can even see one of those thing in museum that soon.
4) Various technology that we know don't work now, hundreds of years later.
what didn't really change
1) human nature mostly.
But the story is still hold on despite that we now know more now than hundreds of years ago.
What change, this is due better knowledge, and this book introduce the idea for the first place:-
1) We actually have first responder, and fully expect the military to secure the area once there's an alien landing
2) England will totally be quarantined after the invasion.
3) Which means no one can even see one of those thing in museum that soon.
4) Various technology that we know don't work now, hundreds of years later.
what didn't really change
1) human nature mostly.
But the story is still hold on despite that we now know more now than hundreds of years ago.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It is fascinating to read the original source material after experiencing the movie and radio adaptions. Reading about the main character escaping the monstrous aliens in a horse and cart was jarring in a good way. Worth a read to at least see early adventurous science fiction.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The second part of the book is much more interesting than the first. I love the imagination of this man! To be written in the late 19th century--metal joints of the tripods that flexed like muscles and seemed to function by electric currents. Black poisonous smoke released like smoke bombs; the heat ray that burns people to a crisp, scalds water on impact & causes everything to burst into flame. Even the description of the appearance of the Martians is imaginative--all bodily functions unneccessary to the functioning of the brain & its intelligence has been rendered obsolete. The artilleryman's plan to survive despite the Martians intrigued me: "I felt the first inkling of a thing that presently grew quite clear in my mind...a sense of dethronement, a persuasion that I was no longer a master, but an animal among the animals, under the Martian heel. With us it would be as with [the rabbits], to lurk and watch, to run and hide; the fear and empire of man had passed away." I wondered how the book would end--would it be realistic, feasible? I think so--the Martians couldn't handle our bacteria!
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced