Reviews

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

tiggerrd's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

4.0

sohxpie's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Whilst I appreciate the quality of writing and the story itself, if I read The Time Machine before The Invisible Man, I don't think I would have tried any other H G Wells novels. It's obviously a well-written novel but personally, this is more sci-fi than I'd like in a book. I can still appreciate and acknowledge the impact this novel has had on the genre. Unfortunately, I'm not the biggest sci-fi fan so I struggled a little to get into this novel. I liked the framing of the novel, a story within a story is always fun to read when it's done right and I think H G Wells does a good job of it. I found this novel more descriptive than The Invisible Man, events and people stuck out for me in that novel but in The Time Machine, it was the descriptions of the surroundings. Overall, not my cup of tea story wise but I still managed to enjoy the novel. 

sidharthvardhan's review against another edition

3.0

"Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no need of change.

Doctor Who is my favorite hero. The idea of time travel really fascinates me -the only weird thing I have. You see I had to read this. In quite a few way the Time Traveler in the story reminds you of Doctor Who:

“Things that would have made fame of a less clever man seemed tricks in his hands. It is a mistake to do things too easily."

Wells brings to science fiction, the kind of excitement children get from comics. In very little space, there is a bit of action, some scientific philosophy and some observations on the society. His ideas have been used by so many books, television series and movies; that the story seems a bit cliche.

shelbymarie516's review against another edition

4.0

Classic Sci-Fi H.G. Wells. Sometimes I wish his stories were longer and more in depth.

lacasakaxhaka's review against another edition

adventurous lighthearted reflective 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

3.75

A quick and fun read that I did for a science fiction and fantasy writing class. In the future, Capitalism has pushed humanity to evolve into species of reversed social darwinism. The descendants of the ruling class lives in fear(although for the most part they frolic in a pastoral bliss), while the former working class live underground and literally hunt and eat those above.

daizie's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious tense 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? Yes

3.0

Interesting to analyze, but not really an enjoyable read.

quinzel_14's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

iridescentjemz's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

I mostly liked this and appreciated how influential it must have been for the time. However I think the story went in a different direction than I was expecting. 

There is some antiquated language and attitudes that were jarring but not unexpected for the time period it was written in. 

Also the only female characters appeared to be a maid (I think) and a woman Eloi who didn’t really have any development and was dispatched without much fanfare; her appearance in the story seemed to be a plot device to move the time travellers story forward whilst adoring him for rescuing her and being a love interest for some reason. 

Worth reading to appreciate the influence it had o the genre. Very enjoyable audio and guide from the Audrey app.

prysen's review against another edition

adventurous reflective 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

3.25

nelli_lakatos's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞 was a very interesting novel, it was adventurous sometimes heartbreaking and full of great ideas. The ending surprised me, I didn’t expected it but it definitely suits the story. 

I find it very interesting that this novel was written in 1895 according to the future predicted in the novel, about humanity and change of the world. It definitely was a very clever and captivating story that delves into some deeper topics as well about humanity and nature.

I really enjoyed Wells writing style and storytelling. I believe Weena’s character is very important  part of the book and for Wells to critique Victorian society through her on the treatment of women.

Also there was this question at the end of Audrey’s listen-along which very intrigued me.

“𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚘 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚔 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚞𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 "𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝"?”

Such an interesting question to think of. Honestly I probably would be afraid to travel to the future to see all the destruction human race has done to our Earth, it would be terrifying to see how far humanity has gone. Yes, maybe these aren’t the most positive outcomes but as of climate change and destruction is right now I can’t predict any better.

After coming back to the “present” I definitely would do everything in my power to make a change in our world and try to make a difference.

I wish I had a time machine though to go back in time and see my Daddy again…

I highly recommend this classic if you want to read a thought-provoking novel that will make you think but is also very adventurous and exciting.