The War Of The Worlds

Publisher Marketing: H. G. Wells wrote The War of the Worlds in 1898, when there was much speculation about life on the planet Mars. The book is considered to be one of the first science fiction novels. In the story, an English gentleman narrates the events of a violent and fast paced Martian invasion. The frightening images of people fleeing from gigantic tripod machines and the prospect of life under Martian rule have served as a bottomless well of inspiration for popular culture. The novel has served as a template for many derivative or inspired works, including comics, countless books, a tv series, several films, a bestselling musical, and the famous Orson Wells broadcast. Overall, The War of the Worlds has become an early milestone in and inspiration for the invasion genre. The novel demonstrates Wells' typical pessimistic outlook on human nature and offers a good deal of critisism on society and people's ignorance and vanity. The War of the Worlds can be read as an indictment of European colonial actions around the globe at that time - with which the injustice of the Martian invasion can be compared. Wells has since been credited with predicting quite a number of technologies, such as laser-like rays, industrial robot-like machines, and chemical-warfare. Review Citations: Audio File Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy 12/01/2008 pg. 33 (EAN 9780792750000, Compact Disc) Kliatt 07/01/2006 pg. 56 (EAN 9780753124703, Compact Disc) Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2006 pg. 971 (EAN 9781590171585, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2007 pg. 831 (EAN 9781590171585, Hardcover) Wilson Fiction Catalog 01/01/2010 pg. 976 (EAN 9781590171585, Hardcover) Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2009 pg. 1039 (EAN 9781590171585, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 1084 (EAN 9781590171585, Hardcover) Ingram Advance 06/01/2005 pg. 101 (EAN 9780141441030, Paperback) Ingram Children's Advance 07/01/2005 pg. 71 (EAN 9781416903680, Paperback) Library Journal 08/01/1995 (EAN 9780192828262, Paperback) Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2001 pg. 102 (EAN 9780688131371, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2002 pg. 102 (EAN 9780688131371, Hardcover) Library Journal 05/01/2001 pg. 133 (EAN 9780786407804, Library Binding) Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2001 pg. 239 (EAN 9780786407804, Library Binding) Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/1991 (EAN 9780679810476, Paperback) Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2006 pg. 65 (EAN 9780679810476, Paperback) New York Times Book Review 12/16/2007 pg. 16 (EAN 9780486295060, Paperback) Entertainment Weekly 07/29/2005 pg. 74 (EAN 9780425050750, Mass Market Paperbound) Contributor Bio:  Wells, H G H. G. Wells is considered the father of science fiction. His works include The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, and The Invisible Man.