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violettesinbloom's review
4.0
Hot take: this whole book is basically a diss track aimed at Wells' former friends in the Fabian Society and their belief in a socialist utopia.
Also, there is time travel.
Also, there is time travel.
aprilleigh's review
3.0
Good story, with enough detail to be interesting but not drawn out. I've run into Morlocks in fiction before, but my understanding is this is where they make their first appearance. I would call this a cautionary tale, as it depicts one possible future if we improve our lives to the point we no longer have challenges to overcome, although I personally believe that to be an impossible goal.
yousless's review
3.0
This was very difficult to rate and I felt that it was much closer to a four than a three. Nonetheless, I very much enjoyed this book. The classical language and style of the text provides a nice contrast to modern science fiction novels. The story was interesting at times and I enjoyed the way in which the story was being told as if recounted at a dinner table. It goes without saying that a huge amount of credit should go to HG Wells for the creation of the concept of a time machine. For its historical importance to the genre of science fiction it is definitely worth a read.
cheri's review
4.0
Perhaps slight spoilers.
This book has been on my TBR for a full year, and I’m so glad I finally got around to it! Set in Victorian times, the Time Traveller claimed he had an idea how moving in all dimensions might be done, then proved his theory. What follows is the first time travel story that set the time for the whole genre. Dated now to some but I don’t think so.
The social commentary still rings very true. The “upper class” being served and forgetting how to do for themselves, unaware of realities around them, the “have-nots” needing to work the system and ultimately turning on those above them are themes we still see both in fiction and daily life.
It was a fun, imaginative and slightly unnerving read. I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery, and the friendship with one particular little Eloi!
This book has been on my TBR for a full year, and I’m so glad I finally got around to it! Set in Victorian times, the Time Traveller claimed he had an idea how moving in all dimensions might be done, then proved his theory. What follows is the first time travel story that set the time for the whole genre. Dated now to some but I don’t think so.
The social commentary still rings very true. The “upper class” being served and forgetting how to do for themselves, unaware of realities around them, the “have-nots” needing to work the system and ultimately turning on those above them are themes we still see both in fiction and daily life.
It was a fun, imaginative and slightly unnerving read. I enjoyed the descriptions and imagery, and the friendship with one particular little Eloi!
zoer03's review
5.0
Short and sweet. This I can see why it’s a classic, adventure and a moral dilemma, set in the far far future. Brilliant.
lnatal's review
3.0
A man's vision for a utopian society is disillusioned when travelling forward into time reveals a dark and dangerous society.
halfmanhalfbook's review
3.0
Set very firmly in the Victorian age, the primary character is a English gentleman and scientist living in Richmond. It starts as a dinner part as he explains to his guests the concept of time and shows them a model of a time machine he has made, and reveals that he has a full size one.
A week later he regals them with his first adventure using the device when he travelled to the year 802,701. In this strange land he comes across the Eloi, a small race of humanoid people, who live in small communities. Their very modern building are looking shabby and they do no work. he concludes that they are peaceful and have adapted to an environment that poses no threats.
Concluding his investigations he returns to his machine and finds it has been stolen. Locating it within a structure nearby, it has been locked away. As night falls he is approached by the sinister Morlocks, an ape like race that live in the dark. He investigates and find that this race are the ones who operate the machinery that enable the Eloi to live as they do. As he tries to recover his machine he gets to know the Eloi better, and explores the locality, find a ancient museum where he finds materials to enable him to recover his machine.
The Morlocks open the structure to trap him, but he uses it to escape to 30 million years in the future, when he sees the last life forms on the earth. He returns to his time, and recounts his tale to the dinner guests. He still has the flowers from this world, which he shows them. One of the guests returns the following day and finds that he is getting ready to travel again. He bids farewell, with promises to return within the hour.
The concept of time travel hadn't really occurred to most people in the Victorian age, most people were still coming to terms with standard time that the railways brought in. Wells uses his vivid imagination to bring to life these new lands that he finds, but there is precious little as to the function and style of the time machine. One that has been on my to read list for a long time, it does show that Wells is an original and innovative writer.
A week later he regals them with his first adventure using the device when he travelled to the year 802,701. In this strange land he comes across the Eloi, a small race of humanoid people, who live in small communities. Their very modern building are looking shabby and they do no work. he concludes that they are peaceful and have adapted to an environment that poses no threats.
Concluding his investigations he returns to his machine and finds it has been stolen. Locating it within a structure nearby, it has been locked away. As night falls he is approached by the sinister Morlocks, an ape like race that live in the dark. He investigates and find that this race are the ones who operate the machinery that enable the Eloi to live as they do. As he tries to recover his machine he gets to know the Eloi better, and explores the locality, find a ancient museum where he finds materials to enable him to recover his machine.
The Morlocks open the structure to trap him, but he uses it to escape to 30 million years in the future, when he sees the last life forms on the earth. He returns to his time, and recounts his tale to the dinner guests. He still has the flowers from this world, which he shows them. One of the guests returns the following day and finds that he is getting ready to travel again. He bids farewell, with promises to return within the hour.
The concept of time travel hadn't really occurred to most people in the Victorian age, most people were still coming to terms with standard time that the railways brought in. Wells uses his vivid imagination to bring to life these new lands that he finds, but there is precious little as to the function and style of the time machine. One that has been on my to read list for a long time, it does show that Wells is an original and innovative writer.