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The War of the Worlds / The Invisible Man
Omul Invizibil
Omul Invizibil este un roman SF publicat de Wells în 1897. Personajul principal este Griffin, un om de ştiinţa care dezvoltă o teorie potrivit căreia orice om poate deveni invizibil dacă indicele de reflexie îi este modificat. El încearcă chiar pe pielea lui această teorie, însă îşi dă seama că fenomenul este ireversibil. Astfel, înnebuneşte de furie căci nu mai poate deveni un om normal şi e condamnat să rămână invizibil. Pentru a-si ascunde "handicapul", Griffin, devenit omul invizibil, îşi înveleşte corpul cu feşe, se îmbracă cu haine lungi şi poartă mereu ceva pe cap. Cartea a inspirat mai mulţi regizori de film, dar pelicula recentă semnată de Paul Verhoeven, cu Kevin Bacon în rolul principal,
este cea mai bine primită de spectatori şi critică, fiind nominalizată la Oscar.
Războiul lumilor
Războiul lumilor, un alt roman SF de succes semnat de Wells, are în centrul atenţiei un bărbat ce străbate Londra în timp ce Pământul este cotropit de marţieni. Se pare că acesta este primul roman în care este descris un posibil conflict între pământeni şi locuitori ai altei planete. Cartea urmăreşte două fire epice: unul - despre venirea marţienilor, celălalt - despre Pământul sub stăpânirea forţelor extraterestre. Când un "meteorit" aterizează în Sud-Vestul Londrei aproape de casa povestitorului, el este primul care descoperă că obiectul este de fapt un aparat extraterestru, de forma unui cilindru. Când aparatul se deschide, din el ies fiinţele extraterestre, descrise ca fiind de dimensiunea unor urşi, dar având opt membre. La scurt timp după aterizarea cilindrului pe Pământ, pentru a se proteja, naratorul se refugiază într-un buncăr.
Omul Invizibil este un roman SF publicat de Wells în 1897. Personajul principal este Griffin, un om de ştiinţa care dezvoltă o teorie potrivit căreia orice om poate deveni invizibil dacă indicele de reflexie îi este modificat. El încearcă chiar pe pielea lui această teorie, însă îşi dă seama că fenomenul este ireversibil. Astfel, înnebuneşte de furie căci nu mai poate deveni un om normal şi e condamnat să rămână invizibil. Pentru a-si ascunde "handicapul", Griffin, devenit omul invizibil, îşi înveleşte corpul cu feşe, se îmbracă cu haine lungi şi poartă mereu ceva pe cap. Cartea a inspirat mai mulţi regizori de film, dar pelicula recentă semnată de Paul Verhoeven, cu Kevin Bacon în rolul principal,
este cea mai bine primită de spectatori şi critică, fiind nominalizată la Oscar.
Războiul lumilor
Războiul lumilor, un alt roman SF de succes semnat de Wells, are în centrul atenţiei un bărbat ce străbate Londra în timp ce Pământul este cotropit de marţieni. Se pare că acesta este primul roman în care este descris un posibil conflict între pământeni şi locuitori ai altei planete. Cartea urmăreşte două fire epice: unul - despre venirea marţienilor, celălalt - despre Pământul sub stăpânirea forţelor extraterestre. Când un "meteorit" aterizează în Sud-Vestul Londrei aproape de casa povestitorului, el este primul care descoperă că obiectul este de fapt un aparat extraterestru, de forma unui cilindru. Când aparatul se deschide, din el ies fiinţele extraterestre, descrise ca fiind de dimensiunea unor urşi, dar având opt membre. La scurt timp după aterizarea cilindrului pe Pământ, pentru a se proteja, naratorul se refugiază într-un buncăr.
223 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
12 people are currently reading
278 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,315 books11.1k followersHerbert George Wells was born to a working class family in Kent, England. Young Wells received a spotty education, interrupted by several illnesses and family difficulties, and became a draper's apprentice as a teenager. The headmaster of Midhurst Grammar School, where he had spent a year, arranged for him to return as an "usher," or student teacher. Wells earned a government scholarship in 1884, to study biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Normal School of Science. Wells earned his bachelor of science and doctor of science degrees at the University of London. After marrying his cousin, Isabel, Wells began to supplement his teaching salary with short stories and freelance articles, then books, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 11, 2020
Класика фантастики, що тут скажеш? Написано майстерно, але незнання англійської географії трохи ускладнює стеження за розвитком сюжету. Оригінальна задумка, детально прописано і прибульців і їх мотиви. Захоплює!
July 8, 2012
Together with Jules Verne, Wells is one of the founders of science-fiction genre. And these two novels, are in my opinion his masterpieces. It is still obvious the influence from pre-space era, since the novelties from these books are in the area of chemistry or Newtonian physics. This is the only reason I cannot rate these novels higher than four stars. They are beautifully written, with interesting characters and strong conflicts. They also have a positive note, in the sense that most of them end with the good side winning or the human society learning some tough lesson.
January 15, 2013
Read these novels as a child. Loved them.
June 10, 2013
Un clasic al literaturii SF. Razboiul lumilor m-a transformat intr-un fan al genului.
March 24, 2023
My mom bought me this two-fer book about 30 years ago (LOL) and I still hadn't read it. Now's the time! (I'd read War of the Worlds a couple of times before, for fun and undergrad, though.)
The Invisible Man is silly fun, maybe a little horror-ish at times, though it's hard to take it too seriously when everyone talks and acts in that that gentlemanly 1880s way, even as they're chased around by an invisible man.
The science is ridiculous (as Arthur C. Clarke notes in the intro) but, you know, Wells isn't too far off on what a drag it would be to be invisible if you couldn't change back (and couldn't wear clothes and remain invisible). Be careful what you wish for, I suppose.
War of the Worlds is a classic, of course, and there's a reason it's better remembered than Invisible Man. Personally I got tired of the endless lists of London neighborhoods and streets, but I'm sure readers at the time liked/despaired at seeing places they knew trampled underfoot by gigantic Martian tripod war machines.
I always liked the ironclad battleship chapter best, even when I read it as a kid, and it's still my favorite part. Wells is good when he stops listing neighborhoods and having everyone behave like gentlemen and ladies, and lets loose with some action.
Overall it's a gripping story, though it drags in parts (the basement part) but it's gruesome sometimes, exciting others, so it all evens out. I especially like how the characters rely on morning and evening newspapers to find out what the Martians are up to, wow, different times. I miss the age of newspapers a bit reading it.
It's pretty hard to take yourself back to how an 1890s reader would have felt about this novel (I mean, Martians!!!) but I can imagine they'd be freaked out. It makes me think of the hysteria in LA during the ridiculous movie 1941. I'm pretty sure it'd go down about like that, as Orson Welles discovered on the radio that one time...
It's also interesting that Wells often compares Martians/Humans to Humans/animals. He's not wrong, and may have inspired more than a few animal rights activists. (Not sure if he was one, but he seems to "get it.") Humans didn't really follow up on his point though--that maybe it's not cool to treat living creatures as merely food.
Both novels are definitely worth a read, but War of the Worlds is far more fun.
The Invisible Man is silly fun, maybe a little horror-ish at times, though it's hard to take it too seriously when everyone talks and acts in that that gentlemanly 1880s way, even as they're chased around by an invisible man.
The science is ridiculous (as Arthur C. Clarke notes in the intro) but, you know, Wells isn't too far off on what a drag it would be to be invisible if you couldn't change back (and couldn't wear clothes and remain invisible). Be careful what you wish for, I suppose.
War of the Worlds is a classic, of course, and there's a reason it's better remembered than Invisible Man. Personally I got tired of the endless lists of London neighborhoods and streets, but I'm sure readers at the time liked/despaired at seeing places they knew trampled underfoot by gigantic Martian tripod war machines.
I always liked the ironclad battleship chapter best, even when I read it as a kid, and it's still my favorite part. Wells is good when he stops listing neighborhoods and having everyone behave like gentlemen and ladies, and lets loose with some action.
Overall it's a gripping story, though it drags in parts (the basement part) but it's gruesome sometimes, exciting others, so it all evens out. I especially like how the characters rely on morning and evening newspapers to find out what the Martians are up to, wow, different times. I miss the age of newspapers a bit reading it.
It's pretty hard to take yourself back to how an 1890s reader would have felt about this novel (I mean, Martians!!!) but I can imagine they'd be freaked out. It makes me think of the hysteria in LA during the ridiculous movie 1941. I'm pretty sure it'd go down about like that, as Orson Welles discovered on the radio that one time...
It's also interesting that Wells often compares Martians/Humans to Humans/animals. He's not wrong, and may have inspired more than a few animal rights activists. (Not sure if he was one, but he seems to "get it.") Humans didn't really follow up on his point though--that maybe it's not cool to treat living creatures as merely food.
Both novels are definitely worth a read, but War of the Worlds is far more fun.
August 17, 2011
The Invisible Man is another of Wells' scientific romance novels whose popularity has grown since their publication in no small part due to the many cinematic versions spawned from the books. The protagonist, Griffin, is a brilliant and obsessed scientist who is dedicated to achieving invisibility. He takes whatever action is necessary to keep his incredible discovery safe and terrorises the local village where he has sought refuge. However he gradually he loses his sanity and, ultimately, his humanity. The portrayal of Griffin's personality and his problems reminded me somewhat of Wells own creation Dr. Moreau, but even more the famous Dr. Jekyll of Robert Louis Stevenson. None of these characters can deal effectively with their scientific genius and they are ruled by their passions. This seems to be a danger for modern man ever since his discovery by Goethe as depicted in Faust.
September 10, 2017
The invisible man = 1 *
The war of the worlds = 2*
The war of the worlds = 2*
March 26, 2025
“A slow walk through Victorian sci-fi—with a few strange laughs, a few unnerving truths, and one graceful exit.”
This edition collects both The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, and I went in hoping to finally experience two cornerstones of early science fiction. What I found was… complicated.
War of the Worlds starts with promise and atmosphere, but quickly gets bogged down in overly wordy narration, characters who feel emotionally distant, and a society reacting to a Martian invasion with the kind of curiosity you'd expect from people who’ve never heard of cosmic radiation. It unintentionally reads like satire at times. And yet, it’s eerie how much some of that cluelessness still mirrors our world. You could honestly adapt it today and it would hit in weirdly relevant ways. But halfway through, I realized I was nudging myself along more than enjoying the journey.
Then came The Invisible Man, which begins stronger. The mystery of a bandaged stranger checking into a quiet countryside inn had me more engaged, and the book does a better job exploring power, ego, and moral collapse. Griffin isn’t a misunderstood genius—he’s an increasingly terrifying man with no empathy and no consequences. The psychological tension works. I even found myself thinking of Darkman as I read—there’s a similar descent happening here.
But even that interest started to wane. Wells had made his point, and I wasn’t getting anything new from the back half of the story. I realized I didn’t need to finish the rest to understand it. And that’s okay. Sometimes reading classics is more about the experience of engaging with them than about crossing a finish line.
If you're new to Wells or Victorian sci-fi, this edition is a great way to sample his most iconic ideas. Just know going in: it’s going to be slower, wordier, and weirder than expected—and that’s part of the charm and the challenge.
This edition collects both The War of the Worlds and The Invisible Man, and I went in hoping to finally experience two cornerstones of early science fiction. What I found was… complicated.
War of the Worlds starts with promise and atmosphere, but quickly gets bogged down in overly wordy narration, characters who feel emotionally distant, and a society reacting to a Martian invasion with the kind of curiosity you'd expect from people who’ve never heard of cosmic radiation. It unintentionally reads like satire at times. And yet, it’s eerie how much some of that cluelessness still mirrors our world. You could honestly adapt it today and it would hit in weirdly relevant ways. But halfway through, I realized I was nudging myself along more than enjoying the journey.
Then came The Invisible Man, which begins stronger. The mystery of a bandaged stranger checking into a quiet countryside inn had me more engaged, and the book does a better job exploring power, ego, and moral collapse. Griffin isn’t a misunderstood genius—he’s an increasingly terrifying man with no empathy and no consequences. The psychological tension works. I even found myself thinking of Darkman as I read—there’s a similar descent happening here.
But even that interest started to wane. Wells had made his point, and I wasn’t getting anything new from the back half of the story. I realized I didn’t need to finish the rest to understand it. And that’s okay. Sometimes reading classics is more about the experience of engaging with them than about crossing a finish line.
If you're new to Wells or Victorian sci-fi, this edition is a great way to sample his most iconic ideas. Just know going in: it’s going to be slower, wordier, and weirder than expected—and that’s part of the charm and the challenge.
October 4, 2025
🪶Марс атакує (до того, як це стало мейнстримом) і невидимий хам🪶
Доволі похмуре оповідання-катастрофа з плавною динамікою, деякими цікавими роздумами щодо колонізації і взаємозв'язку між видами по-різному розвинених істот та дещо зворушливим фіналом ... Читається легко і невимушено ...
Щодо Невидимця, то мені складно сказати, чи прагнув автор передати якусь глибшу ідею, окрім просто цікавої історії ... Хоча, безумовно, вона наштовхує на роздуми ... Подумайте самі: чи справді виникло б стільки проблем, якби головний герой не був таким озлобленим на світ і хоча б трохи більше стримував свої емоції ?
☔ Dr_Andrain ☔
Доволі похмуре оповідання-катастрофа з плавною динамікою, деякими цікавими роздумами щодо колонізації і взаємозв'язку між видами по-різному розвинених істот та дещо зворушливим фіналом ... Читається легко і невимушено ...
Щодо Невидимця, то мені складно сказати, чи прагнув автор передати якусь глибшу ідею, окрім просто цікавої історії ... Хоча, безумовно, вона наштовхує на роздуми ... Подумайте самі: чи справді виникло б стільки проблем, якби головний герой не був таким озлобленим на світ і хоча б трохи більше стримував свої емоції ?
☔ Dr_Andrain ☔
January 24, 2023
Mi a placut mai mult prima parte
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2025
Класика фантастики. "Війна світів" стала основою для багатьох майбутніх творів, включаючи відеоігри. Серія Half-Life не була б собою без цього тексту.
April 22, 2021
Nu m-a prins. 💁♂️
#10/21
#10/21
September 25, 2024
👩❤️👨🧑🏻💼👗👒🌫️🎆🗾🎐🧋☕🍹🍨🧁🍰
🌫️📒📔📗📕📘📖📑🧧🔖🌷💮🌸🦋
🌫️📒📔📗📕📘📖📑🧧🔖🌷💮🌸🦋
July 15, 2023
Sincer, nu prea mi-a plăcut aceasta carte. A fost ok. De-obicei, nu prea îmi plac cărțile pentru școala și aceasta nu e excepție. Personajul principal este nebun și violent. Și cartea nu prea are mesaj profund. Nu cred ca a fost necesară, dar sunt mândra ca am citit-o.
June 7, 2015
i like the invisible man better than the war of the worlds, Sure there were depictions of really smart and gory martians in the latter, but overall i was not too crazy about the heat rays, i did not really connect with the characters. I really like the innovativeness of the invisible man, and some of its aura of mystery and the way it was told, i would give this a 4 star rating just for the invisible man, i might revisit the war of the worlds sometime in the future, who knows, and i might like it or not.
February 10, 2019
In regards to 'War of the Worlds' in this book:
After reading The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells, I was fearful that War of the Worlds might dissapoint me just as much. That was not the case. In fact, it more than surprised me, it exceeded my expectations. It is delectable with tints of cinnamon intensity, savory and tasty in its well-thought out main course, and sprinkled with the finishing touches of mystery.
After reading The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells, I was fearful that War of the Worlds might dissapoint me just as much. That was not the case. In fact, it more than surprised me, it exceeded my expectations. It is delectable with tints of cinnamon intensity, savory and tasty in its well-thought out main course, and sprinkled with the finishing touches of mystery.
November 19, 2015
I thought I was already familiar with these stories because they’ve been so influential in science fiction and I’ve seen references all over the place. But there was a lot that surprised me! For instance, did you know they were written in the 1890’s? Seriously! Fleeing from Martian invaders in horse drawn carriges.
October 5, 2014
Válka světů 3 hvězdičky, Neviditelný 4 hvězdičky.
Read
December 30, 2018Did not finish. The writing style is ok, but lost interest at about the 40 page mark.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews