The Complete H. G Wells 8 Books Hardback Collection Set:

by H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells, a visionary of his time, crafted an extraordinary collection of literary marvels that transcend the boundaries of imagination. In "The First Men in the Moon," he propels readers on an interstellar journey, weaving together adventure and discovery as explorers embark on an audacious lunar expedition. "The Time Machine" transports readers through the corridors of time, delving into the enigmatic realm of the future, where the concept of time travel becomes an enthralling reality. In "The Island of Dr. Moreau," Wells paints a haunting picture of a secluded island, shrouded in mystery and scientific experimentation, exploring the precarious line between ethics and scientific ambition. "The War of the Worlds" stands as an indelible testament to Wells' unparalleled talent in crafting gripping narratives. It unravels an epic saga of humanity's battle against formidable extraterrestrial adversaries, challenging our perceptions of power and resilience. Wells' collection of fascinating short stories showcases his versatility as a storyteller, offering captivating glimpses into alternate realities, twisted fates, and unexpected outcomes that linger in the mind long after the final page. "The World Set Free" introduces readers to a prescient vision of a world torn apart by the consequences of unchecked scientific advancement, portraying the devastating repercussions of nuclear technology. With "The Invisible Man," Wells explores the complexities of human nature and the dangers of unchecked power, as an invisible presence navigates a world both unseen and feared. "When the Sleeper Wakes" plunges readers into a dystopian future where a man awakens to a world drastically transformed by time, wealth, and power, exploring themes of societal upheaval and the ramifications of societal stagnation.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Science Fiction, Literature, Short Stories, Fantasy, Horror

1656 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2023

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

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Time Machine: ***
A classic, even though it's not my favourite story.
The Wonderful Visit: ***
What a nice surprise, Wells can do humour, too. An angel arrives in a quiet, normal, decent village in England, and his behaviour it's a scandal.
The Island of Doctor Moreau: ****
Again, a classic masterpiece. But I like it more than the Time Machine, I think it digs deeper into the human hubris.
The Wheels of Chance: **
I get the humour... sometimes. I think that the satire in The Wonderful Visit is much better.
The Invisible Man: ***
Sadder than I remember, I read it many years ago in Italian. Again, a deranged scientist makes a discovery that could change the world, but it gets to his head and everything ends badly.
The War of the Worlds: ****
A classic, although some passages are heavy, a little too dense.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

While his longer novella are interesting, his early works feel dry and shallow. Perhaps this is to be expected of short stories originally submitted to magazines as well as the relatively tame premises of some of the novels (plant grows big and has poison that kills person) for example is also to be expected but most didn’t interest me today.

I most enjoyed (excluding his most famous work) the story based on the saying “In the valley of the blind then one eyed man is king”. I’d recommend this above all else.

[Tristan]

This is a massive collection and hence somewhat unwieldy, but what a treasury of influential works! Each of Wells’ novels is given a short anonymous introduction, which gives some of the context of the times, as well as a few illustrations, mainly images of first editions.

“The Time Machine” - A curious novella with two unnamed first person narrators. One bookends the other. The former has too little time to make an impression whilst he tells the reader the tale related to him, the latter, who relates his time travelling adventure to the former narrator, is deeply unsympathetic. The author’s imagination was grounded in the cutting edge science of the time (1895), but his social extrapolations reflect the prejudices of the time. An important seminal novel, but a merely adequate read. 3/5.

“The Wonderful Visit”

“The Island of Doctor Moreau”

“The Wheels of Chance”

“The Invisible Man” - I have separately read and commented on this novel.

“The War Of The Worlds” - What an iconic opening! This novel is very much of its time (serialised in 1897), but also strikingly modern in its unflinching and highly realistic description of chaos, which makes it a thrilling read to this day. It anticipates robotic machinery, mechanised warfare, chemical weapons, total war, and displaced populations. Such scenes are suggestive of the horrors of the first and second world wars, but imagined far beforehand. It establishes the trope of aliens as hideous predators and farmers of human cattle, and anticipates all post apocalyptic fiction published since with its plans for resistance and survival. It’s really interesting how the author comments on how slowly the realisation of the attack spreads in a Britain without modern communications (in remarkable contrast with every radio, film, and television adaptation since). Clearly he is aware this lack of communication is humanity’s greatest weakness at the time, and contrasts it with Martian telepathy. A work of genius. 5/5.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best of the best from an author who had to have been psychic and maybe a little crazy. Readers can find The Invisible Man, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine (My personal favorite), In the Days of the Comet, The First Men in the Moon, The War in the Air, and a half dozen more great stories in this collection.

[Neil Brunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've known most of these stories since I was still in primary school and I know that a lot of younger readers probably won't pick up a book of this time frame because they might think that it doesn't have all the action and aliens but it's got everything.
I look upon Wells as the father of modern sci-fi ,

[DavidO · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read some of the stories until they started getting bad. Not everything he wrote was a winner. When he's good, he's great. When he's not, well.... IMHO Wells starts very good at the beginning of his career but his later books are less interesting.

[David Kidd]

In The Days Of The Comet by H. G. Wells (1966)

[Behrooz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fan of H.G.Wells and enjoyed them all.

[Seth Lease · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the time period in which he wrote and lived, I found him to be most imaginative and edgy.