H.G. Wells – long hailed as the Father of Science Fiction – richly earned his reputation as the greatest author of thrilling, scientifically based novels – a sub-genre which he called his Scientific Romances.
Here, we present four of these world-famous books: The Time Machine (Wells’ tale of the Time Traveler who invents a machine that can transport him into both the distant past and the terrifying future); The Island of Doctor Moreau (perhaps his most disturbing novel, which takes place on a private island where the eponymous doctor performs hideous and unnatural experiments on the inhabitants); The Invisible Man (called 'A Grotesque Romance’ by the author, who spins the tale of a man who stumbles upon the secret of invisibility…and then curses himself with it) and finally The War of the Worlds (Wells epic tale of a Martian invasion of Earth and the surprising and horrifying aftermath).
Enjoy these four tales of scientific daring, recklessness, danger and redemption as we travel into the boundlessly imaginative mind of the Father of Science Fiction…H.G. Wells!
O autorze
Herbert George Wells was one of the most prolific and influential writers of the late 19th and early 20th century, producing during his lifetime some of the most revered and best-selling books of the science fiction genre earning himself the title of 'The Father of Science Fiction.’ More than simply a spinner of futuristic tales, Wells was also a fierce and incisive social critic. His works reflect an astonishing foresight, as Wells predicted many of the century’s greatest innovations, including space travel, the dominance of 20th century aircraft, tank warfare, satellite television, nuclear weapons and the Internet. His works often touched on the fantastical as well, dealing with such topics as time travel, alien invasion, invisibility and bioengineering. An outspoken socialist and pacifist, Wells later turned his attention to politics and his later works are more the work of a journalist and activist than that of a creator of fiction. His best known works remain his 'Scientific Romances, ’ which include The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, The Island of Doctor Moreau and perhaps the most famous work of science fiction ever created – The War of the Worlds. Wells’ works have been adapted into radio dramas, stage productions and dozens of motion pictures. H.G. Wells died on August 13, 1946 at the age of 79. He had requested that his epitaph read: 'I told you so. You damned fools.’ However, upon his death, his remains were cremated and scattered into the English Channel.