H. G Wells
H.G. Wells' 1897 science fiction novella The Invisible Man tells the story of a scientist named Griffin who theory is this: if the refractive index of a person's body is adjusted to exactly that of air, then his body will not absorb or reflect light and he will become invisible. Griffin subjects himself to a procedure to do this, becoming an invisible man. But he cannot manage to reverse it and become visible once more, resulting in his
...The comical Wheels of Chance was written in 1896 at the height of the golden age of the bicycle, when practical and affordable bicycles led to profound social shifts in England. Suddenly people of modest means could travel greater distances for work or even for pleasure, without the limitations of rail schedules, weakening England's rigid class structure and strengthening the movement towards the liberation of women. In the novel, the poorly-paid
...Fans of Dickens' Great Expectations will love H. G. Wells' classic novel Kipps. This tale follows the life and rapid social ascension of a humble orphan and textile worker who discovers he is actually the heir to great wealth. Will Kipps be able to survive and thrive in the unfamiliar milieu of the ultra-affluent?
Science fiction innovator H. G. Wells held many progressive political and social views, and many of his novels and short stories served as vehicles through which he sought to disseminate his opinions. In The Passionate Friends, which many critics and fans alike regard as one of Wells' best non-science fiction novels, a father passes on some of the wisdom he's gained over the course of his life to his son, much of which has to do with his
...Celebrated as "The Father of Science Fiction," H.G. Wells was a formidable intellect with a wide-ranging base of knowledge who developed strong and usually well-informed opinions on most of the pressing issues of the day. This volume details Wells' idiosyncratic religious beliefs and his somewhat controversial rejection of many types of Christian worship.
H. G. Wells, in his 1906 In the Days of the Comet uses the vapors of a comet to trigger a deep and lasting change in humanity's perspective on themselves and the world. In the build-up to a great war, poor student William Leadford struggles against the harsh conditions the lower-class live under. He also falls in love with a middle-class girl named Nettie. But when he discovers that Nettie has eloped with a man of upper-class standing, William
...One of the primary motivations behind H. G. Wells most popular science fiction works was his exploration of the factors that could help or harm society. As a result, many of his novels and short stories explored utopian or dystopian worlds. In Mankind in the Making, he tackles the same topic from a nonfiction perspective, ruminating on the variables that serve optimal human development from conception to adulthood.
H. G. Wells' prophetic The War in the Air foretold the use of airplanes in warfare and the coming of World War I. First serialized in 1907 and published in book form in 1908, the novel tells the story of the forward-thinking tinkerer Bert Smallways. Alfred Butteridge is said to be the only English aviator to know the "secret of the flying machine." When Bert Smallways accidentally falls into Butteridge's hot air balloon, he soon finds himself
...H. G. Wells' 1901 science fiction novel The First Men in the Moon tells the story of a voyage to the moon by Mr. Bedford, a businessman plagued by financial problems, and Dr. Cavor, a brilliant and somewhat eccentric scientist. On arrival they discover that the moon is already inhabited by an advanced underground civilization of insect-like beings who they call "Selenites". This forward-looking novel, critical of the imperialism of Wells'
...15) The Red Room
Best known as a science fiction writer, H.G. Wells also dabbled in horror and supernatural writing. The Red Room is a taut psychological thriller that showcases Wells' mastery of these genres. Get ready to sleep with the lights on after you finish this short spine-tingling tale.
16) A Modern Utopia
H. G. Wells' A Modern Utopia is a fusion of fiction and philosophy. In it Wells' explores his ideas for social change, the creation of a world state and of what would be needed to facilitate increases in overall human happiness. The people of this utopia have to plan for "a flexible common compromise, in which a perpetually novel succession of individualities may converge most effectually upon a comprehensive onward development." This is
...Many readers associate H. G. Wells solely with his bestselling science fiction novels, including The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. But to Wells himself, fiction was of secondary importance, and his nonfiction essays like those collected in In the Fourth Year took center stage. This collection presents Wells' thoughtful insights on World War I and the diplomatic and political steps that could be taken to avoid future
...Today, the name H. G. Wells is synonymous with the genre of science fiction, and Wells is best remembered as the creator of masterpieces such as The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, and The Island of Doctor Moreau. However, the prolific thinker and writer worked in many genres, and he was regarded as an important voice in social and political thought in his day. This collection brings together a series of essays in which
...Widely recognized as one of the key figures in the development of the science fiction and fantasy genres, H.G. Wells was a prolific writer who produced hundreds of short and long works in these styles. The tales collected in The Door in the Wall and Other Stories span Wells' early career and offer a satisfying cross-section of his work.