The War in the Air

The War in the Air is a novel by H. G. Wells, written in 1907, serialized and published in 1908. Like many of Wells? works, it is notable for its prophetic ideas, images, and concepts, in this case, the use of the airplane for the purpose of warfare and the coming of World War I. The novel's hero is Bert Smallways, a forward-thinking young man, a "kind of bicycle engineer of the let's-have-a-look-at-it and enamel chipping variety."

Related Topics:
H. G. Wells - 1907 - 1908 - Airplane - World War I

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Wells envisions a world in which China and Japan form an alliance of Eastern Asia; Germany is aggressive and thrusting; and the United States is a country torn apart "in violent conflict between Federal and State governments upon the question of universal service in a defensive militia." The British Empire is a more pacific power, whose possessions are scattered across the globe, and distracted by "insurrectionary movements in Ireland and among all its Subject Races. It had given these subject races cigarettes, boots, bowler hats, cricket, race meetings, cheap revolvers, petroleum, the factory system of industry, halfpenny newspapers in both English and the vernacular, inexpensive university degrees, motor-bicycles and electric trams?" France and the Latin Powers (Italy, Spain, Portugal) are militarized, but reluctant to fight; Russia is divided within itself, torn apart by conflict between revolutionaries and reactionaries. Other smaller states have armed themselves as best they can.

Related Topics:
China - Germany - British Empire - Cigarette - Boot - Bowler hat - Cricket - Revolver - Petroleum - Factory system - Motor-bicycle - Tram - France - Italy - Spain - Portugal - Russia

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War erupts when German aerial forces, built and supported by aeronautical parks and foundries, and consisting of airships and Dracheinflieger, attempt to seize control of the air before the Americans build a large-scale aerial navy. The Germans assumed that the Chinese and Japanese have no air forces. Tensions between Japan and the United States, exacerbated by the issue of American citizenship being denied to Japanese immigrants, also lead to war. The Asians turn out to have aerial forces, and their aircraft and tactics, have been seen as a portent to the kamikaze of World War II. The United States therefore have to fight on two fronts: the Eastern and the Western, in the air as well on sea.

Related Topics:
Airship - Japan - United States - Kamikaze - World War II

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Bert Smallways involves himself in the war when he is mistaken by the Germans for Mr. Alfred Butteridge, a British aviator and inventor, in the process of flying Butteridge's balloon, and is taken on a German air-ship to America.

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