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The New Accelerator
Read by Gregg Margarite
1 |MP3| – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
The New Accelerator features a fascinating depiction of the invention of what sounds a lot like an amphetamine (though technically they had already been invented a dozen years earlier). It will also remind Star Trek fans of the episode called Wink of an Eye.
1 |MP3| – Approx. 30 Minutes [UNABRIDGED]
The New Accelerator features a fascinating depiction of the invention of what sounds a lot like an amphetamine (though technically they had already been invented a dozen years earlier). It will also remind Star Trek fans of the episode called Wink of an Eye.
A friend of H.G. Wells is on the verge of making a scientific breakthrough which promises to revolutionise human life – so the two friends decide to road-test the new drug – with exciting but dangerous consequences.
Audiobook
First published January 1, 1901
12 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
H.G. Wells
5,088 books11k 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 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 14, 2021
Esta no es mi primera experiencia con el autor, hace unos años leí La maquina del tiempo que si bien no me enamoró sí me gustó. Esperaba unas sensaciones parecidas con El nuevo acelerador... pero me ha acabado sabiendo un poco insípido.
En el El nuevo acelerador tenemos varios relatos del autor, entre ellos el que da título a este conjunto de relatos, Los acorazadores terrestres, El bacilo robado y Un sueño de Armageddon. Sin querer contar nada para no realizar spoilers (ya que en relatos cortos casi cualquier cosa se puede considerar como tal) la primera y última historia son las que más me han gustado a pesar de ser muy diferentes entre ellas: la primera relata un invento muy interesante aunque miedo me daría para que lo usarían en el mundo actual... y la última, que me ha pillado totalmente de sorpresa, de un amor "de ensueño" en un mundo que está a punto de entrar en guerra... pero todo un poco más complejo de lo que parece.
Por desgracia, tanto Los acorazados terrestres como El bacilo robado me han resultado muy sosos (además que en el último nombrado han puesto a la típica mujer boba que no es nada avispada... que en fin, no quiero decir más) y este ha sido el motivo por el cual mi puntuación ha sido baja.
Con todo esto, no son malos relatos tampoco y pueden ser todos interesantes para los fans del autor.
En el El nuevo acelerador tenemos varios relatos del autor, entre ellos el que da título a este conjunto de relatos, Los acorazadores terrestres, El bacilo robado y Un sueño de Armageddon. Sin querer contar nada para no realizar spoilers (ya que en relatos cortos casi cualquier cosa se puede considerar como tal) la primera y última historia son las que más me han gustado a pesar de ser muy diferentes entre ellas: la primera relata un invento muy interesante aunque miedo me daría para que lo usarían en el mundo actual... y la última, que me ha pillado totalmente de sorpresa, de un amor "de ensueño" en un mundo que está a punto de entrar en guerra... pero todo un poco más complejo de lo que parece.
Por desgracia, tanto Los acorazados terrestres como El bacilo robado me han resultado muy sosos (además que en el último nombrado han puesto a la típica mujer boba que no es nada avispada... que en fin, no quiero decir más) y este ha sido el motivo por el cual mi puntuación ha sido baja.
Con todo esto, no son malos relatos tampoco y pueden ser todos interesantes para los fans del autor.
April 1, 2021
ENGLISH: This story, published in 1901, is, together with The Time Machine, one of the most pure science fiction of Wells' short stories, novelettes and novellas. It has the interesting point that the narrator seems to be Wells himself, who has made use of "the new accelerator" to write in just six minutes the story we are reading.
The story reminds one of the chapters in the fifth season of the 1959 TV series "The Twilight Zone," titled "A kind of a stopwatch," where the protagonist is given a watch that stops time. The ending, however, is completely different.
ESPAÑOL: Este cuento, publicado en 1901, es, junto con "La máquina del tiempo", uno de los cuentos de más pura ciencia ficción que escribió Wells. Tiene el punto interesante de que el narrador parece ser el propio Wells, que ha hecho uso del "nuevo acelerador" para escribir, en apenas seis minutos, el cuento que estamos leyendo.
El cuento recuerda a uno de los capítulos de la quinta temporada de la serie de TV "Dimensión Desconocida", que se tituló "Una especie de cronómetro", donde el protagonista recibe un reloj que detiene el tiempo. El final, sin embargo, es completamente distinto.
The story reminds one of the chapters in the fifth season of the 1959 TV series "The Twilight Zone," titled "A kind of a stopwatch," where the protagonist is given a watch that stops time. The ending, however, is completely different.
ESPAÑOL: Este cuento, publicado en 1901, es, junto con "La máquina del tiempo", uno de los cuentos de más pura ciencia ficción que escribió Wells. Tiene el punto interesante de que el narrador parece ser el propio Wells, que ha hecho uso del "nuevo acelerador" para escribir, en apenas seis minutos, el cuento que estamos leyendo.
El cuento recuerda a uno de los capítulos de la quinta temporada de la serie de TV "Dimensión Desconocida", que se tituló "Una especie de cronómetro", donde el protagonista recibe un reloj que detiene el tiempo. El final, sin embargo, es completamente distinto.
April 10, 2025
H. G. Wells never fails to astound me and surprise me! How can someone write such science fiction works ahead of time.
I read this story from the Selected stories of H. G. Wells in my library. I saw the description and was amused to pick this story.
A narrator's friend is a scientist who experiments on a new revolutionary formula to enhance the human capacity and accelerate their body and mind.
It was well presented. But it was like a huge hangover proceeded after the intake of the accelerator drug. The duo does some attrocities in the city after taking it and sees the world move slower than it supposed to and it was real fun reading it.
The description of slow movement everything around them was portrayed vividly.
The hints of inventing a retarder opposite to accelerator was a lead for sequel. The narrator says that he finished this story in a day using the accelerator was also funny.
If you never read H. G. Wells this short read will be the best choice for you to get introduced into Wells' fascinating world of science fiction.
I read this story from the Selected stories of H. G. Wells in my library. I saw the description and was amused to pick this story.
A narrator's friend is a scientist who experiments on a new revolutionary formula to enhance the human capacity and accelerate their body and mind.
It was well presented. But it was like a huge hangover proceeded after the intake of the accelerator drug. The duo does some attrocities in the city after taking it and sees the world move slower than it supposed to and it was real fun reading it.
The description of slow movement everything around them was portrayed vividly.
The hints of inventing a retarder opposite to accelerator was a lead for sequel. The narrator says that he finished this story in a day using the accelerator was also funny.
If you never read H. G. Wells this short read will be the best choice for you to get introduced into Wells' fascinating world of science fiction.
Read
September 18, 2023Muy buen cuento de Wells, simple y directo. Plantea una situación contingente (la existencia de un suero que acelera la vida de una persona, permitiéndole a ésta que se mueva mil veces más rápido que los demás) y juega con eso creando un relato corto que sabe a lo que va y consigue su cometido de entretener y hacer volar la imaginación junto con el razonamiento, mientras plantea (¿cuándo no, señor Wells?) debates sobre la ética de la ciencia. Un siglo antes de la existencia de la Bioética como disciplina, décadas antes de la salida del primer comic de Flash, que tomará esta idea como base de sus poderes.
July 25, 2025
Los cuentos de H.G. Wells son siempre una buena lectura.
Acá en este libro breve se juntan 4 narraciones del inglés, todas claramente reconocibles en su estilo.
"El nuevo acelerador" nos muestra una píldora que acelera el metabolismo y hace que el resto del mundo parezca moverse con la lentitud de un caracol. Ingeniosa y entretenida historia.
"Los acorazados terrestres" es el cuento donde Wells predice la aparición de los tanques. Y lo hace antes de la Primera Guerra Mundial.
"El bacilo robado" es una historia más humorística donde las cosas no le salen como esperaba a un intenso anarquista que pretendía hacer terrorismo biológico.
"Un sueño del armagedón" es una historia más onírica, sobre el deber y sus consecuencias. El más flojo de los cuatro.
En resumen un correcto libro en la colección "Las Novelas del Verano", que siempre tiene cositas que llaman la atención. Si ve esa colección por ahí, no la deje pasar (relación precio/calidad muy buena).
Acá en este libro breve se juntan 4 narraciones del inglés, todas claramente reconocibles en su estilo.
"El nuevo acelerador" nos muestra una píldora que acelera el metabolismo y hace que el resto del mundo parezca moverse con la lentitud de un caracol. Ingeniosa y entretenida historia.
"Los acorazados terrestres" es el cuento donde Wells predice la aparición de los tanques. Y lo hace antes de la Primera Guerra Mundial.
"El bacilo robado" es una historia más humorística donde las cosas no le salen como esperaba a un intenso anarquista que pretendía hacer terrorismo biológico.
"Un sueño del armagedón" es una historia más onírica, sobre el deber y sus consecuencias. El más flojo de los cuatro.
En resumen un correcto libro en la colección "Las Novelas del Verano", que siempre tiene cositas que llaman la atención. Si ve esa colección por ahí, no la deje pasar (relación precio/calidad muy buena).
March 5, 2025
Penguin books, 2007.
A simple language, without any levels of language actualization ( in the sense of the theoretical work of Viktor Šklovski).
It's written in a day-to-day stylistic form.
The theme is like from an 1930s film with Bela Lugosi or Boris Karloff.
Hasta luego mis murciélagos!
A simple language, without any levels of language actualization ( in the sense of the theoretical work of Viktor Šklovski).
It's written in a day-to-day stylistic form.
The theme is like from an 1930s film with Bela Lugosi or Boris Karloff.
Hasta luego mis murciélagos!
October 11, 2019
En realidad me he leído una compilación de historias que recibe este nombre, pero no la encuentro para catalogar las.
Está bien, hay historias mejores y peores. En fin.
Está bien, hay historias mejores y peores. En fin.
November 28, 2021
3 A-stars 🌟 MA read for sensational literature
April 5, 2022
An entertaining little story. Wells spins out a basic concept - what if a chemical was invented which "sped up" a man's metabolism by a thousand-fold - and so he gives us a glimpse into the strange, yet familiar, super-accelerated world when a chemist and his friend experiment with the formula. Of course, things hang in mid-air, music sounds drawn out and distorted, people and insects are like statues. The narrative voice is of an average guy, a friend of the scientist, and the story wraps up on a humorous note as they plan on selling the accelerant. Some details of science are played out (friction and fires) but others are not (momentum). All in all a breezy little piece of early science fiction, presaging many of the concepts and science to later appear in the Silver Age Comic Book THE FLASH under authors Robert Kanigher and John Broome.
May 17, 2017
It seems dated now, especially for someone who has ever read a comic book of "The Flash", but H.G. Wells' use of literature to describe a man accelerating to the point that everyone appears to be motionless was revolutionary at the time and quite brilliant.
January 9, 2016
"O suponga usted, por ejemplo, que quiere acabar un libro."
September 13, 2021
El único cuento que realmente recomendaría leer sería el de "Un sueño de armageddon". Ese fue el único que realmente me atrapó y me sumergió en su historia. De hecho le veo potencial para ser algo mucho más grande.
Los otros cuentos son sencillamente prescindibles. Incluso recomendaría no leer "Los acorazados terrestres". Ese relato de me hizo literalmente cuesta arriba. Me recordó un tanto a "La guerra de los mundos"por su forma de describir máquinas de ciencia ficción, pero no resultaba para nada atractivo y la lectura de hacía tediosa.
Los otros cuentos son sencillamente prescindibles. Incluso recomendaría no leer "Los acorazados terrestres". Ese relato de me hizo literalmente cuesta arriba. Me recordó un tanto a "La guerra de los mundos"por su forma de describir máquinas de ciencia ficción, pero no resultaba para nada atractivo y la lectura de hacía tediosa.
May 26, 2018
Part of LibriVox Short Science Fiction Collection 015. A mad scientist and his friend recklessly dose themselves with a drug designed to alter the subject’s/victim’s perception of time. It proves far more effective than mere amphetamines or LSD, so much so that their venture outside under its influence tempts the scientist to succumb to an I’ll advised impulse to wreak retribution on a particularly annoying poodle, with hilarious results.30:29
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2022
Review of the short story, which I read a physical copy of.
This little story is excellent, I'm surprised at the low ratings others have given it. I love HG Wells and this is the only piece by him that reads as a comedy. It makes me laugh every time. Cute and outlandish concept. Wholesome morsel of science fiction which is made more delightful by how old it is and by Wells' wonderful and direct writing style.
This little story is excellent, I'm surprised at the low ratings others have given it. I love HG Wells and this is the only piece by him that reads as a comedy. It makes me laugh every time. Cute and outlandish concept. Wholesome morsel of science fiction which is made more delightful by how old it is and by Wells' wonderful and direct writing style.
January 28, 2024
An unremarkable story about a remarkable idea a century back (when this story was written): invention of a way to slow down time. The idea is definitely novel for its time (recreational drugs not being popular yet, and several decades before superhero comics & other scifi stories made this concept common), but the narrative arc wasn’t exciting at all.
(Heard as part of Audible Audiobook: H. G. Wells Short Stories, Volume 3)
(Heard as part of Audible Audiobook: H. G. Wells Short Stories, Volume 3)
August 8, 2025
H.G. Wells’ The New Accelerator brilliantly explores the psychology of heightened perception through a mysterious pill that speeds up the mind. I loved the introspective journey into altered consciousness and the thrilling experience it evokes. The story cleverly warns how unseen side-effects can emerge when we tamper with nature—captivating and thought-provoking.
November 4, 2022
historia muy sencilla pero muy original para su época sobre la aceleración o detención del tiempo, algo similar a flash, y es increíble su manera de narrar todos los escenarios de manera tan sencilla, he ahí su grandeza
September 1, 2017
A very good short story, fun and a good Science Fiction Premise. Could well be used in an episode of 'The Flash' and no one would be none the wiser as to when if was written.
December 18, 2017
Me han gustado dos historias de tres. Es un libro muy cortito.
March 14, 2018
Nice short story, I wonder if it inspired DC's flash character.
The book didn't have any of the promised illustrations \:
The book didn't have any of the promised illustrations \:
October 20, 2018
المعجل الجديد الطريق الآمن لتصبح متسارع
ينصح به ذا فلاش و99% من المتسارعين
ينصح به ذا فلاش و99% من المتسارعين
July 20, 2019
Este relato breve ya tiene tiempo que lo ley y la verdad me gusto, esta faceta científica para desarrollar una droga capas de de llevar al limite al cuerpo a su máxima expresión.
October 21, 2019
There is an inconsistency between Gibberne at the beginning and the experience of the accelerator described later however I guess we could say that'd due to the strength. Good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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October 24, 2020Audio
March 11, 2021
A delightful bite-size romp exploring the intersection between metabolism and time travel.
September 16, 2021
One of the best short stories of HG Wells!
October 5, 2022
H.G. Wells and his imagination. Both gold. Off to writing a fan-fiction.
November 25, 2023
قصة جميلة ....
September 10, 2024
I think that that fantastic scene when flash save all the little kids in xmen while the school was exploding is inspired by this story!!! there is even the bee!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews