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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this with the acknowledgment that it’s one of those important early sci-fi texts that are now maybe outdated and that helped me enjoy it more than I would have otherwise. It did keep me fairly well engaged although at various points it felt rushed. Still glad I’ve read it, you can feel how foundational it is!
I bumped this up to 3 stars solely because of the impact this book as had on science fiction and for being an inspiration to one of my favorite authors Ray Bradbury. I can recognize that this story was ahead of its time and kudos to Wells for that. That’s about all I’m willing to give him.
This story just doesn’t age well.. Am I supposed to see the Morlocks as the enemy because they have been cast down (literally underground) and forced to provide for the elite? The time-traveler assumes they are less intelligent and soulless because they are a cannibal “species”. Like, hello? They have been shut out of society and made to be the sole means of production. I guess the time-traveller had never heard about “eat the rich”.
Also, it just seems impractical that technology would be abandoned in exchange for human production… you’re telling me the time-traveler made a time machine, but 800,000 years later they still have to produce everything by hand??
I just do not like the time traveler (don’t even get me started on his predatory relationship with Weena). He is arrogant and not at all likable from a modern perspective. I believe a true great classic book can survive under modern scrutiny, and this one just doesn’t imo.
This story just doesn’t age well.. Am I supposed to see the Morlocks as the enemy because they have been cast down (literally underground) and forced to provide for the elite? The time-traveler assumes they are less intelligent and soulless because they are a cannibal “species”. Like, hello? They have been shut out of society and made to be the sole means of production. I guess the time-traveller had never heard about “eat the rich”.
Also, it just seems impractical that technology would be abandoned in exchange for human production… you’re telling me the time-traveler made a time machine, but 800,000 years later they still have to produce everything by hand??
I just do not like the time traveler (don’t even get me started on his predatory relationship with Weena). He is arrogant and not at all likable from a modern perspective. I believe a true great classic book can survive under modern scrutiny, and this one just doesn’t imo.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Interesting concept. It was an engaging read but left me wondering exactly what the point was after it was over.
The idea that class segregation is ultimately detrimental to both the rich and the poor was a good idea, but the Time Traveller constantly demonizing the Morlocks in favor of the Eloi kinda undermines it. Or maybe Wells’ intent was to show that the Time Traveller didn’t actually learn any lesson and our society is destined to come to that future regardless.
The idea that class segregation is ultimately detrimental to both the rich and the poor was a good idea, but the Time Traveller constantly demonizing the Morlocks in favor of the Eloi kinda undermines it. Or maybe Wells’ intent was to show that the Time Traveller didn’t actually learn any lesson and our society is destined to come to that future regardless.
Più leggo libri di fantascienza più mi rendo conto che la buona fantascienza ha molto di che spartire con la riflessione filosofica e poco con il mero intrattenimento.
Questo libro ne è un esempio perfetto, in poco più di 100 pagine sono rinchiuse tante di quelle osservazioni e riflessioni sull'uomo e sul futuro da poterci dedicare intere giornate di riflessione.
Proverò a parlarne sul canale tra qualche giorno, appena mi sarò chiarita un po' meglio le idee.
Questo libro ne è un esempio perfetto, in poco più di 100 pagine sono rinchiuse tante di quelle osservazioni e riflessioni sull'uomo e sul futuro da poterci dedicare intere giornate di riflessione.
Proverò a parlarne sul canale tra qualche giorno, appena mi sarò chiarita un po' meglio le idee.
You have to spend time with the classics. And each time that is said, the speaker means something different. The classics in this short book: a 19th century frame story, struggles with ideas of progress and social Darwinism and the end of monarchy-driven thinking, science fiction that embraces the fiction to tell social stories. It's scarcely over a hundred pages, find a weekend day for it sometime.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
This was an excellent book; a light yarn that takes the main character through time to discover what has become of Mankind in the far future. In the mean time, he develops a loving relationship with one of the future humans, the Eloi, and learns that compassion and love still exists in the furthest reaches of the future.
I didn't quite enjoy it to the degree that I did with "The Island of Dr Moreau" but it was still nicely paced, liberal in its language and social commentary (it was written in 1895, so it could have really dated on that front) - and it makes some political points about the "haves" and the "have nots" in the present day society, through what the time traveller discovers in the future.
The use of a changing first person narrative is interesting and gives more immediacy to the bulk of the story, and good bookends for the rest of the book, that serve to create a sense of occasion and wonder.
I didn't quite enjoy it to the degree that I did with "The Island of Dr Moreau" but it was still nicely paced, liberal in its language and social commentary (it was written in 1895, so it could have really dated on that front) - and it makes some political points about the "haves" and the "have nots" in the present day society, through what the time traveller discovers in the future.
The use of a changing first person narrative is interesting and gives more immediacy to the bulk of the story, and good bookends for the rest of the book, that serve to create a sense of occasion and wonder.