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H G Wells: The Science Fiction Collection Audible Original
He’s often been called the father of science fiction. Now, listen to H. G. Wells’ five science fiction novels in one definitive collection. Introduced by film director and H. G. Wells fanboy Eli Roth, the collection features unabridged recordings of the novels performed by Hugh Bonneville, Jason Isaacs, Sophie Okonedo, David Tennant and Alexander Vlahos.
The War of the Worlds narrated by David Tennant
When Earth is invaded by Martians in great mechanical tripods, terror ensues. They are equipped with heat rays and poisonous black gas, intent on wiping out the human race. During the destruction, one man’s story details the monstrous invasion and his struggle to find his wife in the devastation.
The First Men in the Moon narrated by Alexander Vlahos
A chance meeting between penniless businessman Mr Bedford and absentminded scientist Dr Cavor leads the two on a fantastical journey to the moon. However, they are unprepared for what they find: freezing nights, boiling days and sinister alien life. Will they be trapped forever?
The Time Machine narrated by Hugh Bonneville
Transported to the year AD 802,701, the Time Traveller encounters the peaceful Eloi, a beautiful elfin race of childlike adults afraid of the dark, and with good reason. Beneath the earth’s surface live the Morlocks, apish troglodytes who torment the Eloi. When the time machine is stolen, the Time Traveller must enter Morlock territory if he ever hopes to return home.
The Invisible Man narrated by Sophie Okonedo
When a strange man takes shelter at an inn, his skin covered from head to toe in bandages, he causes distrust. Griffin, a scientist, reveals that he has successfully managed to turn himself invisible, but alas without a way of undoing it. Desperate for a cure, his ailment drives him to many sinister actions, including murder.
The Island of Dr Moreau narrated by Jason Isaacs
Edward Prendick, the single survivor of a shipwreck, is rescued by Montgomery in a vessel carrying a menagerie of savage animals. Taken to an uncharted island, he meets Dr Moreau - a brilliant scientist whose notorious experiments have caused him to abandon the civilised world. It soon becomes clear he has been developing these experiments - with truly horrific results.
Known as ‘The Father of Science Fiction’, Herbert George Wells’ writing career spanned over 60 years. He was a writer of novels, short stories, nonfiction books and articles. As a young man, Wells won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, sparking his infamous vocation as a science fiction writer.
Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
The War of the Worlds narrated by David Tennant
When Earth is invaded by Martians in great mechanical tripods, terror ensues. They are equipped with heat rays and poisonous black gas, intent on wiping out the human race. During the destruction, one man’s story details the monstrous invasion and his struggle to find his wife in the devastation.
The First Men in the Moon narrated by Alexander Vlahos
A chance meeting between penniless businessman Mr Bedford and absentminded scientist Dr Cavor leads the two on a fantastical journey to the moon. However, they are unprepared for what they find: freezing nights, boiling days and sinister alien life. Will they be trapped forever?
The Time Machine narrated by Hugh Bonneville
Transported to the year AD 802,701, the Time Traveller encounters the peaceful Eloi, a beautiful elfin race of childlike adults afraid of the dark, and with good reason. Beneath the earth’s surface live the Morlocks, apish troglodytes who torment the Eloi. When the time machine is stolen, the Time Traveller must enter Morlock territory if he ever hopes to return home.
The Invisible Man narrated by Sophie Okonedo
When a strange man takes shelter at an inn, his skin covered from head to toe in bandages, he causes distrust. Griffin, a scientist, reveals that he has successfully managed to turn himself invisible, but alas without a way of undoing it. Desperate for a cure, his ailment drives him to many sinister actions, including murder.
The Island of Dr Moreau narrated by Jason Isaacs
Edward Prendick, the single survivor of a shipwreck, is rescued by Montgomery in a vessel carrying a menagerie of savage animals. Taken to an uncharted island, he meets Dr Moreau - a brilliant scientist whose notorious experiments have caused him to abandon the civilised world. It soon becomes clear he has been developing these experiments - with truly horrific results.
Known as ‘The Father of Science Fiction’, Herbert George Wells’ writing career spanned over 60 years. He was a writer of novels, short stories, nonfiction books and articles. As a young man, Wells won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London, sparking his infamous vocation as a science fiction writer.
Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
28 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 11, 2019
30 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,356 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 6, 2021
Excellent Audible selection. Of the five books included I’ve only read War of the Worlds. The other stories are familiar due to their frequent tv and film adaptations. I think I enjoyed The Island of Dr Moreau best and the The First Men on the Moon least. The reader, of course makes all the difference and David Tennant (War of the Worlds) and Hugh Bonneville (The Time Machine) stood out.
February 7, 2020
As it would be unfair to rate this anthology based on my favourite or least favourite, I have rated it 4 stars as an average. The stories I would rate in order of my interest are as follows:
The war of the worlds 5/5
The island of Dr Moreau 4/5
The time machine 4/5
The first men in the moon 4/5
The invisible man 3/5
As the Pioneer of science fiction I was fascinated with the new and rich ideas flowing from these books. However I was unable to fully appreciate them as a lot of these story types have been done to death, there are a million stories of aliens invading, time traveling hijinks, space travel and people with powers (that includes being invisible!).
One of the more interesting topics that isn't as widely covered is the question of what it means to be human. If we genetically calibrate animals to become more humanlike, could they count as one of us? I found the premise of "the island of Dr Moreau" unique and intriguing.
The Voice actors all did a splendid job, though this is to be expected seeing as it was a high budget audible exclusive with big name readers - that does not mean it should not be praised however - I particularly enjoyed David Tennants reading of the war of the worlds and found myself smiling when I heard his same narrating lines during audible adverts online. The rest of the cast all performed wonderfully and their acting really added to my experience while listening.
Overall was another great listen for me, letting me ingest classic stories whilst walking outside, at the gym or generally busying myself with effortless tasks
The war of the worlds 5/5
The island of Dr Moreau 4/5
The time machine 4/5
The first men in the moon 4/5
The invisible man 3/5
As the Pioneer of science fiction I was fascinated with the new and rich ideas flowing from these books. However I was unable to fully appreciate them as a lot of these story types have been done to death, there are a million stories of aliens invading, time traveling hijinks, space travel and people with powers (that includes being invisible!).
One of the more interesting topics that isn't as widely covered is the question of what it means to be human. If we genetically calibrate animals to become more humanlike, could they count as one of us? I found the premise of "the island of Dr Moreau" unique and intriguing.
The Voice actors all did a splendid job, though this is to be expected seeing as it was a high budget audible exclusive with big name readers - that does not mean it should not be praised however - I particularly enjoyed David Tennants reading of the war of the worlds and found myself smiling when I heard his same narrating lines during audible adverts online. The rest of the cast all performed wonderfully and their acting really added to my experience while listening.
Overall was another great listen for me, letting me ingest classic stories whilst walking outside, at the gym or generally busying myself with effortless tasks
July 19, 2021
A superb audible offering from the BBC of 5 of the works of HG Wells-well read by all!
August 7, 2024
War of the Worlds: Classic and genre-defining (if a little anticlimactic). 8/10.
First Men on the Moon: Strange, imaginitive, and oddly comic, with probably the most original narrator of the four first-person novels here, if a bit silly at times. 7/10.
The Time Machine: Vivid and full of useful metaphors... 9/10.
The Invisible Man: Rather plodding, with a sort of mundane idea that hasn't aged all that well, but ultimately well-constructed. Wells is better in first-person, apparently. 6/10.
The Island of Doctor Moreau: Borderline horror; grotesque and oddly stirring. Watch the old movie adaptation too, which actually adds some elements I like. 8/10.
First Men on the Moon: Strange, imaginitive, and oddly comic, with probably the most original narrator of the four first-person novels here, if a bit silly at times. 7/10.
The Time Machine: Vivid and full of useful metaphors... 9/10.
The Invisible Man: Rather plodding, with a sort of mundane idea that hasn't aged all that well, but ultimately well-constructed. Wells is better in first-person, apparently. 6/10.
The Island of Doctor Moreau: Borderline horror; grotesque and oddly stirring. Watch the old movie adaptation too, which actually adds some elements I like. 8/10.
January 20, 2025
Cracking set of stories with a stellar cast of narrators
May 8, 2023
War of the Worlds 5*
The First Men in the Moon 4*
The Time Machine 3*
The Invisible Man 3*
The Island of Doctor Moreau 1*
The First Men in the Moon 4*
The Time Machine 3*
The Invisible Man 3*
The Island of Doctor Moreau 1*
January 9, 2023
I haven't previously read any H. G. Wells, so this was a full introduction to his work.
An excellent selection and the different actors for each story were helpful in separating the stories but also just lovely as their performances were wonderful.
I really liked the concepts of the stories that always had extra provocation about life and humanity. I definitely had my favourites and found that sometimes I didn't really like some characters, but then I'm not sure I was supposed to.
An excellent selection and the different actors for each story were helpful in separating the stories but also just lovely as their performances were wonderful.
I really liked the concepts of the stories that always had extra provocation about life and humanity. I definitely had my favourites and found that sometimes I didn't really like some characters, but then I'm not sure I was supposed to.
September 30, 2021
I’d forgotten how good a writer he was.
Don’t be put off by the numerous poor quality tv and film adaptations. These are thoughtful and thought provoking novels.
Great performances by the various narrators.
Don’t be put off by the numerous poor quality tv and film adaptations. These are thoughtful and thought provoking novels.
Great performances by the various narrators.
July 27, 2020
Fantastic stories from the master
November 19, 2021
I really enjoyed this audiobook. It had so many good narrators and I enjoyed the stories.
June 22, 2024
War of the Worlds (5/5)
The War of the Worlds was very well written and surprisingly vivid and horrifying. The images conveyed were immersive and I could picture the action throughout.
The First Men in the Moon (3/5)
I thought the characterisation was especially weak in The First Men in the Moon, with the two characters being stereotypes, having gaping flaws in their personality and not noticing obvious things for plot convenience. The pacing was very scattered and crosses genres in blocks without blending them together, jumping from long sections of monologue, to unceasing action, to ordered philosophising. I think it got a bit bogged down in capitalist/communist ideology and critique at the expense of story.
The Time Machine (4/5)
An intriguing premise that makes some sort of logical sense. Nice and short, but just as long as it needs to be. I found the transition from utopian day to morbid night and the image of the big sort of village hall quite Beowulf/Gulliver’s Travels esque. It feels a bit like a fable.
The Invisible Man (3/5)
In The Invisible Man, the start and some moments were atmospheric, such as the covered stranger turning up at the country inn on a dark night. I appreciated some of the genre touches. However, the narrator was a bit too dislikable and a one dimensional villain, always reacting in an antagonistic way. I didn’t feel like he had an end goal with his becoming and being invisible and the interesting premise was wasted. Overall, the action felt repetitive and long winded and I lost my sense of what was going on.
The Island of Doctor Moreau (4/5)
I enjoyed this, a lot of Well’s novels have an explorer ish premise but this one felt most like an adventure novel. I liked the ethics question and how the animal people are sympathised with and not just ‘othered’. In general though, it’s perhaps not as novel and cutting edge or genre defining as some of his other works.
The War of the Worlds was very well written and surprisingly vivid and horrifying. The images conveyed were immersive and I could picture the action throughout.
The First Men in the Moon (3/5)
I thought the characterisation was especially weak in The First Men in the Moon, with the two characters being stereotypes, having gaping flaws in their personality and not noticing obvious things for plot convenience. The pacing was very scattered and crosses genres in blocks without blending them together, jumping from long sections of monologue, to unceasing action, to ordered philosophising. I think it got a bit bogged down in capitalist/communist ideology and critique at the expense of story.
The Time Machine (4/5)
An intriguing premise that makes some sort of logical sense. Nice and short, but just as long as it needs to be. I found the transition from utopian day to morbid night and the image of the big sort of village hall quite Beowulf/Gulliver’s Travels esque. It feels a bit like a fable.
The Invisible Man (3/5)
In The Invisible Man, the start and some moments were atmospheric, such as the covered stranger turning up at the country inn on a dark night. I appreciated some of the genre touches. However, the narrator was a bit too dislikable and a one dimensional villain, always reacting in an antagonistic way. I didn’t feel like he had an end goal with his becoming and being invisible and the interesting premise was wasted. Overall, the action felt repetitive and long winded and I lost my sense of what was going on.
The Island of Doctor Moreau (4/5)
I enjoyed this, a lot of Well’s novels have an explorer ish premise but this one felt most like an adventure novel. I liked the ethics question and how the animal people are sympathised with and not just ‘othered’. In general though, it’s perhaps not as novel and cutting edge or genre defining as some of his other works.
August 16, 2023
Sci-Fi definitely not my go to but really enjoyed this set of 5 books.
War of the Worlds, The First Men on the Moon, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The Island of Dr Moreau.
Incredible how far ahead of his time Wells seems! Hard to know how many other wacky projections have been made of course but at least several of the books elements of what must have seemed very outlandish at the time have been somewhat (!) bourne out.
Very much a different era but a reminder of how fun reading original “wholesome” adventure stories can be.
War of the Worlds, The First Men on the Moon, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The Island of Dr Moreau.
Incredible how far ahead of his time Wells seems! Hard to know how many other wacky projections have been made of course but at least several of the books elements of what must have seemed very outlandish at the time have been somewhat (!) bourne out.
Very much a different era but a reminder of how fun reading original “wholesome” adventure stories can be.
January 7, 2025
The War of the Worlds narrated by David Tennant - 5, worth the hype and David does an excellent job.
The First Men in the Moon narrated by Alexander Vlahos - 4, neat ideas, you can see the impact it's had.
The Time Machine narrated by Hugh Bonneville - 4, love the concept, the story a bit less, great ending.
The Invisible Man narrated by Sophie Okonedo - 4, better than I expected!
The Island of Dr Moreau narrated by Jason Isaacs - 3, my least favourite but what an imagination he had!
The First Men in the Moon narrated by Alexander Vlahos - 4, neat ideas, you can see the impact it's had.
The Time Machine narrated by Hugh Bonneville - 4, love the concept, the story a bit less, great ending.
The Invisible Man narrated by Sophie Okonedo - 4, better than I expected!
The Island of Dr Moreau narrated by Jason Isaacs - 3, my least favourite but what an imagination he had!
May 17, 2022
My favourite story was the War of the world, with the Time machine coming in second. I found the Invisible Man disturbing and the Island of Dr Moreau a bit sinister. The first Man in the moon I thought was amusing. I found the stories had a different effect on me now to what I experienced as a school girl/teenager.
September 6, 2020
Yeah, this might be a classic, but in my opinion, this old writing style wasn't engaging at all. I can count on one hand how many times I've given up on a book, but I only a quarter of the way through this one.
May 7, 2019
Review on www.Audible.com listen to this book.
October 6, 2021
You have to read the classics right? So I have well I gave up on the island of Dr Moreau for same reasons as before attempts. It’s creepy right.
January 10, 2022
A wonderful canon. Love it greatly.
September 6, 2022
'The Island of Dr. Moreau' was absolutely gripping!
July 17, 2023
A great way to listened to some very engaging stories.
July 28, 2024
Loved finding these. Truly the origin stories of modern movies.
April 10, 2025
I've always been a huge fan of H.G, this was the audio version. The narrators gave the already good stories extra zest.
Definitely worth a listen, great for a long journey.
Definitely worth a listen, great for a long journey.
July 14, 2025
DNF Wells has zero character development
August 28, 2025
I love these classics! I had forgotten the horror aspects of these books as well. They hold up so well, even in this day and age. Very entertaining.
July 5, 2022
Wonderful listening experience for all readers and listeners of historically significant Science Fiction fans. The performances were clear and intense. I enjoyed listening to “The Invisible Man” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth”. Both novellas provided me with a significant vision humans’ scientific and environmental future.
April 3, 2025
I realise H G Wells was a pioneer of the science fiction genre, and explored themes that were groundbreaking, I found his novels a slog to get through and sometimes found his outlook very negative. His plots could be predicted, and characters were 2-dimensional and relied on lazy stereotypes and racism (whilst some might say Wells's attitudes were "of their time", I disagree with this view), and the invisible man was just detestable. Whilst I enjoyed some books more than others, I didn't love any and the science is a bit wrong in the invisible man (with regard to the invisible man's eyes. See Yakov I. Perelman's Physics Can Be Fun).
The war of the worlds 2/5
The first men in the moon 1/5
The time machine 3/5
The invisible man 3.5/5
The island of Dr Moreau 2/5
The war of the worlds 2/5
The first men in the moon 1/5
The time machine 3/5
The invisible man 3.5/5
The island of Dr Moreau 2/5
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews