The War of the Worlds (novel)

:{{Otheruses3|The War of the Worlds}}

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An early science fiction novel (or novella), The War of the Worlds (1898), by H. G. Wells, describes the fictional turn of the nineteenth century invasion of Earth by aliens, from Mars, who use laser-like Heat-Rays, chemical weapons (the Black smoke), mechanical three-legged "fighting machines" that could potentially be viewed as precursors to the tank, and crab-like handling-machines. After defeating the resistance, the Martians devastate much of south-eastern England, including London, before being unexpectedly killed by terrestrial diseases, to which they have no immunity.

Related Topics:
Science fiction - Novella - 1898 - H. G. Wells - Fiction - Nineteenth century - Alien - Mars - Laser - Heat-Ray - Chemical weapon - Black smoke - Three-legged "fighting machines" - Tank - Handling-machines - Martian - London

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Wells was a firm supporter of the theory of evolution, and saw every species as being engaged in a constant, and often brutal struggle for survival. The Martian/mankind conflict in the book was portrayed as simply another of these struggles. The belief that there was intelligent life on Mars was popular at the time, after the long, straight lines observed on the planet by astronomers were thought to be canals.

Related Topics:
Evolution - Species - Astronomer - Canals

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The book has been viewed as an indictment of European colonial actions in Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. In the mindset of the time, European technological superiority was seen as evidence of all-round superiority, and thus Europeans were more qualified to administer colonized regions than their native inhabitants. The novel challenges this perspective by depicting the injustice of the Martian invasion, the comparative Martian technological superiority notwithstanding.

Related Topics:
Europe - Colonial - Africa - Asia - Australasia - Americas

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:"And before we judge them too harshly, we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its own inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?"—Chapter I The Eve of the War.

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Wells seems to have taken great pleasure in the fictional devastation of locations where he had spent an unhappy childhood. The story has been repeatedly adapted, most famously as Orson Welles's 1938 radio drama, as several movies, and as a bestselling concept album, all of which have played some part in maintaining the public's interest in the original novel.

Related Topics:
Fiction - Child - Orson Welles - 1938 - Radio drama - Movie - Concept album

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