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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
My expectations were based on the radio program which is not the same, exactly. It was not as action filled as I thought it would be although the Martians were active. I really only started enjoying it after the Martians had left the main character's area and he was trying to find his wife. The military man he met gave the reader much to think about in a post-apocalyptic sense. The ending was anti-climatic.
One of the most interesting things about this book is the POV. The narrative comes in two parts—the narrator, who is outside of London, and his brother, who is inside London. In a modern day narrative, the point of view would alternate between these two characters, either as third person or first person for each. But in this early age of the novel, the entire narrative is first person, and when the brother's story is told, the narrator only refers to him as "my brother." Names aren't even used throughout the entire novel, and yet it's not difficult to connect emotionally to these characters.
The characters being stripped to their roles—brother, wife, artillery man, etc—is particularly interesting given that I recently finished the Southern Reach trilogy in which part of their psychological experiments were to strip away the names of the expedition teams and identify them only by their roles.
I continue to be completely fascinated by Victorian novel structure and point of view and how it correlates to contemporary ideas about novels and what is considered experimental.
Also, I am super glad that I finally read this book if for no other reason than the allegory to colonialism.
The characters being stripped to their roles—brother, wife, artillery man, etc—is particularly interesting given that I recently finished the Southern Reach trilogy in which part of their psychological experiments were to strip away the names of the expedition teams and identify them only by their roles.
I continue to be completely fascinated by Victorian novel structure and point of view and how it correlates to contemporary ideas about novels and what is considered experimental.
Also, I am super glad that I finally read this book if for no other reason than the allegory to colonialism.
reflective
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
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Could have been written today, super modern and incredibly engaging. Fabulous read, creative ideation around what an invasion may feel like, especially the lack of urgency from the general population until it’s too late.
‘Suddenly, like a thing falling upon from without, came fear.’
‘Suddenly, like a thing falling upon from without, came fear.’
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A great read for any sci-fi fans. An intriguing dive into what life would be right after an alien invasion
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Amazing
Took longer than expected but really enjoyed. Quite scary in parts.
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No