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The Chronic Argonauts
There is absolutely no deception, sir, said Nebogipfel with the slightest trace of mockery in his voice. “I lay no claim to work in matters spiritual. It is a bona fide mechanical contrivance, a thing emphatically of this sordid world. Excuse me — just one minute.” He rose from his knees, stepped upon the mahogany platform, took a curiously curved lever in his hand and pulled it over. Cook rubbed his eyes. There certainly was no deception. The doctor and the machine had vanished.
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1888
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195 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
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 16, 2022
ENGLISH: This is the first story Wells wrote about time travel, published in 1888, seven years before The Time Machine. The story deals mainly with the construction of the machine, and what was happening at the time and before, rather than with the future, and ends prematurely. In this sense, the second novel is much better.
ESPAÑOL: Este es el primer cuento que Wells escribió sobre viajes en el tiempo, publicado en 1888, siete años antes que The Time Machine. Trata principalmente sobre la construcción de la máquina y lo que estaba sucediendo en ese momento y en el pasado, más que sobre el futuro, y termina de forma prematura. En este sentido, la segunda novela es mucho mejor.
ESPAÑOL: Este es el primer cuento que Wells escribió sobre viajes en el tiempo, publicado en 1888, siete años antes que The Time Machine. Trata principalmente sobre la construcción de la máquina y lo que estaba sucediendo en ese momento y en el pasado, más que sobre el futuro, y termina de forma prematura. En este sentido, la segunda novela es mucho mejor.
April 28, 2012
If you are a fan of early Doctor Who and Wells's The Time Machine, then this short story is for you. Wells is very descriptive when talking about the town setting and its characters. You can see elements of The Time Machine take shape in this story. My only regret is that the story ended on a cliffhanger. Aside from that, a great read. I highly recommend it.
August 20, 2015
Так вот как зародился роман "Машина времени"!
Как я рада, что родилась намного позже выхода этой повести, а то умерла бы от любопытства, что же было дальше :-D
Как я рада, что родилась намного позже выхода этой повести, а то умерла бы от любопытства, что же было дальше :-D
April 24, 2013
In some ways The Chronic Argonauts reads like an outline for a larger story. This doesn't make for a less interesting story, rather, it just comes off as abbreviated. I like how this story is darker than most time travel tales, it's almost like a Lovecraft novella in the sense of tone.
This is a great read. You can see the seeds being planted for The Time Machine which is pretty cool. I couldn't help but notice the similarities to another, more modern, time travel story, Doctor Who! A mad genius type character called The Doctor, with a time machine who is lonely and yearning for a companion. The sounds an awful lot like our beloved Doctor. I have to believe this was an inspiration for the original TV series.
This is a great read. You can see the seeds being planted for The Time Machine which is pretty cool. I couldn't help but notice the similarities to another, more modern, time travel story, Doctor Who! A mad genius type character called The Doctor, with a time machine who is lonely and yearning for a companion. The sounds an awful lot like our beloved Doctor. I have to believe this was an inspiration for the original TV series.
October 8, 2020
This was a nice short story, but there wasn't much to it.
It feels a bit wrong to only give it 2 stars, because there wasn't anything I disliked about it per se, but I found that it didn't quite meet the level I have come to expect from H. G. Wells stories.
One of my favourite things about Wells' stories is that there's a message or comment on society in them, but I found this one lacked that.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was longer and we could have seen the journey they went on to the future!
It feels a bit wrong to only give it 2 stars, because there wasn't anything I disliked about it per se, but I found that it didn't quite meet the level I have come to expect from H. G. Wells stories.
One of my favourite things about Wells' stories is that there's a message or comment on society in them, but I found this one lacked that.
I think I would have enjoyed it more if it was longer and we could have seen the journey they went on to the future!
September 22, 2022
Read this from Project Gutenberg.
August 28, 2025
Last year, I read a little of “The Time Machine” with my dear Dad. I finished it with my loyal friend, Kerri. Dad had no patience for Herbert Wells’ broadly presumed philosophies and I shared his dislike. I wanted to laud a popular novel but it was incomplete and flawed. Kerri sent me a few of Herbert’s short stories. I will like some better than others.
I slapped two stars on “The Chronic Argonauts” in annoyance at an even emptier story, describing less if it is possible, about how its mechanics work. It is a prequel in 1888 to “The Time Machine”. It relied on readers enjoying a secretive inventor daring to make something new. Herbert clearly thought readers would be enthralled with mysteriousness; not expecting to be called out for illuminating us not at all: again. Not acquainting readers with the main figure is unwise.
Making indistinguishable townspeople the protagonist as a body, to describe their bewilderment of lights, sounds, and secrecy; caused further distance from potential action, events, and any enthrallment in this short story. A lot of emphasis was given to describing a deserted house and how the plant life and animals grew up around it. We were supposed to be amazed that an inventor chose to live there and build a machine, without saying why, to give us drama. The author broke the fourth wall of fiction and wrote: “I am sure modern readers know the townspeople saw electricity being wired in the house”. No, I did not pick up on that.
A plurality of protagonists was only for goggling at an odd person. Another problem is that the scarce information and action is off page, narrated to readers after the fact. Their priest returned from time travel that was not described. I disliked this story.
I slapped two stars on “The Chronic Argonauts” in annoyance at an even emptier story, describing less if it is possible, about how its mechanics work. It is a prequel in 1888 to “The Time Machine”. It relied on readers enjoying a secretive inventor daring to make something new. Herbert clearly thought readers would be enthralled with mysteriousness; not expecting to be called out for illuminating us not at all: again. Not acquainting readers with the main figure is unwise.
Making indistinguishable townspeople the protagonist as a body, to describe their bewilderment of lights, sounds, and secrecy; caused further distance from potential action, events, and any enthrallment in this short story. A lot of emphasis was given to describing a deserted house and how the plant life and animals grew up around it. We were supposed to be amazed that an inventor chose to live there and build a machine, without saying why, to give us drama. The author broke the fourth wall of fiction and wrote: “I am sure modern readers know the townspeople saw electricity being wired in the house”. No, I did not pick up on that.
A plurality of protagonists was only for goggling at an odd person. Another problem is that the scarce information and action is off page, narrated to readers after the fact. Their priest returned from time travel that was not described. I disliked this story.
March 6, 2016
HG Wells’s The Chronic Argonauts, written seven years before his much more famous time travel work, The Time Machine, is a shortish novella (or a longish short story) set in a small Welsh village. The ruined Manse, once the home of a man who was supposedly murdered by his two sons, has long been taken over by nature—but one day, out of the blue, an odd-looking stranger arrives and makes the Manse his home. Nobody knows who he is or how he arrived, but his manner and his appearance soon make Dr. Nebogipfel’s name dreaded in the village. Soon there are whispers that he’s a necromancer, an occultist—definitely not a normal human being.
And then, one night, when the entire populace of the village marches to the Manse, ready to do him in, they arrive in time to see Nebogipfel vanish—along with the priest, Rev. Elijah Cook—into thin air. Right in front of their very eyes.
The basic premise of The Chronic Argonauts is interesting. The reason behind the protagonist’s attempts to find a way to travel through time is an unusual (if somewhat sentimental) one. The twist in the tale, the connection between past, present and future, is good. What I would have liked much more would have been a longer, more detailed book. I’d liked to have known what exactly happened in 4003, in 17901 and the following year. How Nebogipfel constructed his time machine (though there is some expounding of a theory behind time travel). What he encountered in different times. What adventures Rev Cook experienced in his travel with the original Chronic Argonaut.
In short, I’d have preferred this to be a full-length novel. As a novella, it’s far too short to be complete for me.
And then, one night, when the entire populace of the village marches to the Manse, ready to do him in, they arrive in time to see Nebogipfel vanish—along with the priest, Rev. Elijah Cook—into thin air. Right in front of their very eyes.
The basic premise of The Chronic Argonauts is interesting. The reason behind the protagonist’s attempts to find a way to travel through time is an unusual (if somewhat sentimental) one. The twist in the tale, the connection between past, present and future, is good. What I would have liked much more would have been a longer, more detailed book. I’d liked to have known what exactly happened in 4003, in 17901 and the following year. How Nebogipfel constructed his time machine (though there is some expounding of a theory behind time travel). What he encountered in different times. What adventures Rev Cook experienced in his travel with the original Chronic Argonaut.
In short, I’d have preferred this to be a full-length novel. As a novella, it’s far too short to be complete for me.
November 23, 2024
Review on this and Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving for Book Club. The theme was time travel.
I'd give Rip Van Winkle 2 stars. I'd read it before in high school, but it's been a while and I just remembered vaguely that he went to sleep and woke up 20 years in the future. Which is basically the whole story. The ending was very abrupt. The reasons for the time jump made no sense. Like yeah sure it's (fictional?) folklore but it still wasn't satisfying. Also justice for Dame Van Winkle bc imagine your husband is a layabout but YOU'RE the villain! And then he has the nerve to outlive you, annoying.
Now, this book on the other hand! Incredible. Psychosexual. Yow. Fascinating stuff. 5 Stars. The last section with Nebogipfel and Cook was giving Barry and Thawne. It was giving "why'd you kill my mother?/because I hate you." It was giving S3E1 Flashpoint where Barry has to ask Thawne to kill his mother again bc he was losing his speed. Y'all don't hear me tho!
I'd give Rip Van Winkle 2 stars. I'd read it before in high school, but it's been a while and I just remembered vaguely that he went to sleep and woke up 20 years in the future. Which is basically the whole story. The ending was very abrupt. The reasons for the time jump made no sense. Like yeah sure it's (fictional?) folklore but it still wasn't satisfying. Also justice for Dame Van Winkle bc imagine your husband is a layabout but YOU'RE the villain! And then he has the nerve to outlive you, annoying.
Now, this book on the other hand! Incredible. Psychosexual. Yow. Fascinating stuff. 5 Stars. The last section with Nebogipfel and Cook was giving Barry and Thawne. It was giving "why'd you kill my mother?/because I hate you." It was giving S3E1 Flashpoint where Barry has to ask Thawne to kill his mother again bc he was losing his speed. Y'all don't hear me tho!
March 15, 2021
Like The Time Machine, but more Welsh.
This story is short, and while the writing is quite good, it left me wanting more. Some fantastic time adventures are alluded to, though only one gets any detail. It's interesting that Wells actually deals somewhat with time paradox/causality in this one (he sidesteps the issue entirely in The Time Machine). That aspect of the story is a highlight. I also love the incorporation of fae descriptions and superstition into the setting. It makes for a great cultural, natural, and aesthetic backdrop. On the other hand, the discussion of the theory of time travel itself gets glossed over and character development is entirely lacking. Overall? Worth a read, if only to fill your imagination with images of fantastic bronze-and-ivory contraptions glimmering into existence in the star-filled twilight.
This story is short, and while the writing is quite good, it left me wanting more. Some fantastic time adventures are alluded to, though only one gets any detail. It's interesting that Wells actually deals somewhat with time paradox/causality in this one (he sidesteps the issue entirely in The Time Machine). That aspect of the story is a highlight. I also love the incorporation of fae descriptions and superstition into the setting. It makes for a great cultural, natural, and aesthetic backdrop. On the other hand, the discussion of the theory of time travel itself gets glossed over and character development is entirely lacking. Overall? Worth a read, if only to fill your imagination with images of fantastic bronze-and-ivory contraptions glimmering into existence in the star-filled twilight.
March 30, 2022
Bu seride okuduğum 2. kitap olarak hoşuma giden bir öyküdür. Zamanın çok çok gerisinde, ileri derecede büyük bir hayalin peşine anlatılan önemli hayalleri anlatmaktadır.
Zamanın ötesini, bundan yaklaşık 2 asır önce bugünleri hayal ederek farklı bir boyutu tanımlamış olması, teolojik bir devinimden sanayi ve teknoloji ötesi bakış açılarını hissettirmiştir.
Kitaptan bana kalan en güzel hediye ise "anakronik" tanımıdır. Zaman ve mekandan bağımsız olarak
gerçek anın dışında bir bakış açısı ortaya koymaktır.
H. G. Wells; 19. yüzyılın sonunda doğmuş ve 20. yüzyılın ilk yarısında yaşamıştır. Kattığı bakış açısıyla Jules Verne gibi bilim kurgu alanında önemli bir yapı taşı olarak düşünülmelidir. Teknolojiden öte, teknolojinin toplumsal etkilenimleri üzerine spekülasyonları ile bizi etkilemektedir.
Zamanın ötesini, bundan yaklaşık 2 asır önce bugünleri hayal ederek farklı bir boyutu tanımlamış olması, teolojik bir devinimden sanayi ve teknoloji ötesi bakış açılarını hissettirmiştir.
Kitaptan bana kalan en güzel hediye ise "anakronik" tanımıdır. Zaman ve mekandan bağımsız olarak
gerçek anın dışında bir bakış açısı ortaya koymaktır.
H. G. Wells; 19. yüzyılın sonunda doğmuş ve 20. yüzyılın ilk yarısında yaşamıştır. Kattığı bakış açısıyla Jules Verne gibi bilim kurgu alanında önemli bir yapı taşı olarak düşünülmelidir. Teknolojiden öte, teknolojinin toplumsal etkilenimleri üzerine spekülasyonları ile bizi etkilemektedir.
October 28, 2019
For a short read this is not bad. It flows smoothly and the plot is captivating enough. Unfortunately, the way this is written is a bit dry, with some scientific jargon thrown in there for good measure. Also, the characters feel flat and even though the idea is solid, execution is lacking. This short story is basically a show-don't-tell paradigm.
An average little story, which unfortunately lacks in some key aspects.
An average little story, which unfortunately lacks in some key aspects.
March 6, 2018
I'm not sure why this has such a low average rating, because I really enjoyed this short story.
August 14, 2018
Exceptional writing. A precursor to 'The Time Machine.'
December 4, 2018
I actually really liked this one. It was short and full of surprises. Because it was so short, easy to get through in one sitting.
January 20, 2019
An oldie ( a real oldie) but a goodie. Love his writing. Not a long book, so pick it up and have a great quick read.
July 10, 2019
A good start. You can obviously see how this led to The Time Machine.
September 12, 2019
A quirky and interesting tale.
October 6, 2020
some nice dark welsh atmosphere - different vibes and story than the time machine
July 15, 2021
The Ur-text to Well's time-travel classic. It's a rough read, but the elements are there.
November 18, 2021
Well's first attempt at a time travel story. It's an interesting curio from the point of view of the genre, but it's not very good.
September 1, 2022
Zaman makinası yapılma aşamasındadır..o zaman diliminde yaşananlar..fantastik kısa bir hikayezz
July 29, 2023
3.75⭐
April 17, 2016
From out of seemingly nowhere, “like a thunderbolt falling during the daytime,” philosopher came and took up residence in the rundown house known among the locals in this Welsh border town as the Manse. The philosopher kept to himself, making the townspeople all the more curious. They noted the crates that kept arriving at the Manse and the odd hours the new tenant seemed to keep. From these crates they learn his name: Dr. Moses Nebogipfel. When they see fireless light—some might call it electric light—pouring out from his house, the talk of sorcery begins.
Please read the rest of the review here.
Please read the rest of the review here.
September 2, 2015
The Chronic Argonauts is an intriguing early short story by H. G. Wells. It could be either a prototype or a prequel or even sequel to Wells' later novel The Time Machine.
I found it interesting that Wells chose to tell this story of time travel out of order. The reader gets the beginning of the tale, next the ending, then finally the middle of the story as recounted to the narrator by Reverend Elijah Ulysses Cook, of his encounter with the mysterious chronic argonaut Dr. Nebogipfel, including one of those mind bending time paradoxes that always make my brain hurt. A must read for fans of Wells, time travel or adventure stories.
I found it interesting that Wells chose to tell this story of time travel out of order. The reader gets the beginning of the tale, next the ending, then finally the middle of the story as recounted to the narrator by Reverend Elijah Ulysses Cook, of his encounter with the mysterious chronic argonaut Dr. Nebogipfel, including one of those mind bending time paradoxes that always make my brain hurt. A must read for fans of Wells, time travel or adventure stories.
August 21, 2011
Read this because I'm reading "The Map of Time" by Felix J. Palma, There is a reference in that book to this short story, so I had to read it. I will also be reading "The Time Machine", as well, of which I have no recall of having read before, although I may well have back in high school.
February 23, 2007
Wait for the musical.
It will undoubtily be much better...
It will undoubtily be much better...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews