The Coming of the Martians

by H.G. Wells

A faithful audio dramatisation of H. G. Wells' 1897 classic The War of the Worlds, starring Colin Morgan.

Genres: Science Fiction, Audiobook

137 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1898

About the author

Herbert 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

Reviews

[Nicolas Lontel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je ne m'étendrais pas sur l'histoire qui est assez connue, mais plutôt commenter sur l'adaptation audio.
Nick Scovell (la personne derrière l'adaptation) a définitivement utilisé tous les ressorts audio possibles et imaginables pour rendre le roman vraiment réaliste et audible dans toute sa complexité. Du bruit des Martiens au feu ardent en passant par la peur de la population, l’ambiance est définitivement bien campée. La musique est aussi très adroitement balancée et supporte brillamment l'action (et on n'a pas trop qu'elle est composée électroniquement contrairement à d'autres drames audio que j'ai entendu). Bref, tout ce qui a été fait en post-production était parfait.

Pour ce qui est du jeu d'acteur, il est aussi vraiment intéressant. Le narrateur et certains des personnages sont définitivement très crédible et on se sent vraiment immergé dans la narration. Le récit de la fin par le narrateur semble un peu précipité, mais la folie transparaît très bien à travers les personnages et donne vraiment un ton particulier à l'histoire.

Ma seule critique se situerait simplement au niveau du récit qui semble être un peu trop coupé. On passe souvent plusieurs heures ou jours entre les scènes (malgré de bonnes transitions), et ça me fait toujours un bref retour à la réalité avant de me replonger dans l'intrigue. Le roman tient quand même en un maigre 96 minutes d'audio.

Sinon, définitivement une adaptation à avoir du roman de H.G. Wells, ce fut une très longue attente (j'ai contribué au socio-financement), mais ça m'a fait une belle surprise de l'écouter aujourd'hui. Ne serais-ce que pour avoir une idée l'atmosphère, c'est réussi.

[Hannes Buchwerk · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super Interessant die Ursprünge von Science-Fiction zu sehen. Auch die Kombination aus dem 1900tern setting und den modernen Kreaturen ist wunderbar und für heutige Verhältnisse irgendwie komödiantisch. Also wenn man mir einen Film vorschlagen würde mit der Beschreibung: alieninvasion im England um 19 hundert würde ich erstmal skeptisch schauen.
Abgesehen davon finde ich die Schreibweise etwas zäh und repitativ.

[Greta The · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book by author H.G. Wells settles around the speedy of a man as the first alien attack happened, and is most obviously set in the past as the most common transportation was by carriage or horse. In the beginning of the book, the character witnesses the first phase of the attack, which is the aliens coming to earth. The author created this unnamed character to be very insightful and curious, maybe enough to stray from safety, as in the book when he got too close to the large aliens in the sand pit where they had landed. As we go through the book it dissolves into his brother's story, how he was escaping with many exciting close encounters. The book is more focused on the plot than the characters, which I believe could've been expanded on more. H.G. Wells could have elaborated more on characters to have the reader relate to them and some situations, but otherwise I suggest this book for readers who like classic books and sci-fi stories.

[Σмα · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️½

[Giaalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

mmmmm it had me then lost me then had me, I can see the amount of influence this had on George tho!