The Great Science Fiction

by H.G. Wells

'No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's' Exploring the primordial nightmares that lurk within humanity's dreams of progress and technology, H. G. Wells was a science fiction pioneer. This new omnibus edition brings together four of his hugely original and influential science-fiction novels - The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds - with his most unsettling and strange short stories. Containing monstrous experiments, terrifying journeys, alien occupiers and grotesque creatures, these visionary tales discomfit and disturb, and retain the power to trouble our sense of who we are. With an introduction by Matthew Beaumont

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

711 pages, Paperback

First published June 22, 2015

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

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, one cannot over look the fact that this collection of stories were written over 120 years ago. H.G. Wells was a science fiction pioneer long before the category was even coined. His stories were terrifying, visionary journeys that forced readers of the day to question their sense of who they were. That being said, I found the outdated terminology, odd phrasing and excessive detail made reading the stories a bit of a challenge, but the basic message was quite clear. Of the 3 stories I read, my favorites - in order were: War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man and The Time Machine.

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 4 famous novels:

The Time Machine
The Island of Doctor Moreau
The Invisible Man
The War of the Worlds

8 stories:

The Door in the Wall
The Chronic Argonauts
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes
The Sea Raiders
The Stolen Bacillus
The Country of the Blind
The Crystal Egg
The Empire of the Ants.

My 5-stars: The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Country of the Blind.

My 3- to 4-stars: The rest. Though I am not 5-star crazy about the stories it is remarkable how many stories and novels by later authors are called to mind by them - at least if someone is like me and well read in science fiction but until now unacquainted with Wells' shorter fiction. That being said, these 8 stories are probably enough for me.

My one explanation: The War of the Worlds is by far my least favorite of the four famous novels. It seems to me a prime example of one of those famous 20th century (1898 ok yeah I know) "idea" novels, of which there are so many, that are less interesting than advertised. It is longer, slower, virtually plot-less, wrapped up with its famous deus ex machina contrivance, and its humans are less interesting than those in the other three novels.

[Xenofon Spafaridis]

- The Time Machine 5/5
- The Island of Doctor Moreau 4/5

[Casuarina Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent compendium to take on holidays. A collection of short and longer stories that are brilliant reading. Can recommend.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection contains The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds and eight short stories. I'm not going to write a review of all of these. I've done separate reviews for all the individual novels.

The short stories are:

The Door in the Wall - excellent, a weird tale rather than SF.
The Chronic Astronauts - also pretty good, except for the non-ending ending. It was written before The Time Machine and so I wonder whether the seed of that story was sown here.
The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes - fine.
The Sea Raiders - also interesting. Again I wonder whether Wells was planning to do more with this. It certainly ends on a mild cliff hanger. Sort of cephalopod Jaws.
The Stolen Bacillus - an piece of amusing fluff.
The Country of the Blind - fantastic. I wasn't impressed with it to begin with, but as you get through it you find yourself impressed with how well thought out it is.
The Crystal Egg - interesting. I wonder whether this was written whilst he was writing War of the Worlds as it does connect with "No one would have believed, in the last years of the nineteenth century, that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man..."
The Empire of the Ants - not bad.

It's interesting how many of these short stories end with questions unanswered. But you read all these and you realise that Wells is basically the root of modern science-fiction. Maybe alongside Verne. There are earlier books that can lay claim to being the first science-fiction novels, but I think Wells builds on those and creates most of the sub-genres that will become science-fiction. Certainly this collection contains the seeds for pretty much every Doctor Who episode.

There's still a couple of core Wells books that I haven't read. That'll be something for 2024.

[Bruna Den Bosch NS · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He seems to have been living in such an atmosphere of petty spite that to admit the existence of a pleasure would have been to risk the loss of it." A beautifully written collection of classic stories - I came for The War of the Worlds, stayed for The Invisible Man and thoroughly enjoyed the final short stories as dessert. ~ Geoffrey

[Chris Vaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless classics: the original sci fi horror writer is so easily digested, rapidly devoured and hungrily consumed.

[✧°･｡ leda ｡･°✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Counting the short stories separately) I didn't read one of the 8 but whatever

[Beckie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best science fiction of all time. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and the thoughts and wondering it provoked.

[Geoffrey van Dijk · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He seems to have been living in such an atmosphere of petty spite that to admit the existence of a pleasure would have been to risk the loss of it."

[Graham Catt · Rating 5 out of 5]

20th Century science fiction starts here - essential reading.

[Tess · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not a bad book. I must stress that. His writing is just not for me.