The Apocalypse Reader

Book Description

These are the ways the world ends.
Thirty-four new and selected Doomsday scenarios: an enthralling collection of work by canonical literary figures, contemporary masters, and a few rising stars, all of whom have looked into the future and found it missing. Across boundaries of place and time, these writers celebrate the variety and vitality of the short story as a form by writing their own conclusions to the story of the world. Obliteration has never hurt so good.
Contributors include Grace Aguilar, Steve Aylett, Robert Bradley, Dennis Cooper, Lucy Corin, Elliott David, Matthew Derby, Carol Emshwiller, Brian Evenson, Neil Gaiman, Jeff Goldberg, Theodora Goss, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Jared Hohl, Shelley Jackson, Ursula K. Le Guin, Stacey Levine, Tao Lin, Kelly Link, H.P. Lovecraft, Gary Lutz, Rick Moody, Michael Moorcock, Adam Nemett, Josip Novakovich, Joyce Carol Oates, Colette Phair, Edgar Allan Poe, Terese Svoboda, Justin Taylor, Lynne Tillman, Deb Olin, Unferth, H.G. Wells, Allison Whittenberg, and Diane Williams.

Customer Reviews:

A gorgeous book, from presentation to content........2007-09-19

"THESE ARE THE WAYS THE WORLD ENDS--THIRTY-FOUR NEW AND SELECTED DOOMSDAY SCENARIOS"

This is a gorgeous book, from presentation to content. The selections are humorous, serious, simple, complex, and much more--thirty-four stories, some short, some long, make for a wide spectrum of apocalypses. Taylor, in the foreword, expounds on his conception of an apocalypse:

"It's worth pointing out that the word Apocalypse comes from the Greek, and literally means "a revelation" or "an unveiling." It can be used to describe cataclysmic changes of any sort. Revolution, for example, or social upheaval. [...] There are micro-Apocalypses that mark moments in our lives: childhood's end, a relationship's sudden implosion, Death."

The selections do span the gamut--some were written so long ago as to be in the public domain, and some were freshly minted in the late 2000's; some focus on religious upheavals, some macro, some micro; there are personal upheavals, student rantings, surreal recountings of madmen; and of course many take the reader through more conventional "end of the world" scenarios. And even with all that diversity, perhaps guided by the introduction, the theme of the anthology runs strong.

If there were a criticism I could make of this volume, that, ironically, would be it. I consider myself a bit of an Apocalypse afficionado--I particularly enjoy reading such stories, along with dystopias--and I would have thought that I could never grow tired of reading well-wrought incarnations of such--and these stories were all well-wrought and well-edited, there is no doubt about that--but this volume overwhelmed me. I was tired, even weary, by the time I had wended my way through the collection (and that in the course of several "sittings")..

The lead story, a piece of flash fiction by H. P. Lovecraft, starts the anthology out elegantly, and slowly. It warns you, implicitly, that you're in for some heavy reading, even if you're a fan of Mr. Lovecraft's writing (and not just his mythos, which more people are familiar with, and is much easier to get into third hand). On that end of the scale, there's also a piece from Edgar Allan Poe that is ponderous but worth an examination, entitled "The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion".

Some of my favorites included:

"The Apocalypse Commentery of Bob Paisner" by Rick Moody -- This is an essay detailing the allegorical depths of the Book of Revelation with regard to Bob Paisner's life. The tone is both erudite and a bit delirious, and the piece as a whole is both informative and immersive--I found myself eagerly wondering where Moody was going to take us next, what dark or clinical humor would next be presented.

"Fraise, Menthe, et Poivre 1978" by Jared Hohl -- Another piece of meta-fiction, this follows a group of people through the more traditional trope of being the last survivors in a ruined post-apocalyptic city. What makes this piece stand out is the manic bent of the narrator and the push for the show to go on--the story weaves the primary narrative with a small handful of abbreviated stageplays that emphasize much about human nature, hope, and despair, while retaining a very human humor.

"An Accounting" by Brian Evenson -- An "honest" accounting of how one explorer fell into becoming a reborn Jesus and how he helps his flock survive. I don't want to say too much about this, but the voice is clear, the narrative is well woven and unrolls at a compelling pace, and other than, perhaps, the initial fanaticism he encounters, it is all quite believable.

"Some Approaches to the Problem of the Shortage of Time" by Ursula K. Le Guin -- This is a clever set of abstracts that are ever timely and consider a novel scenario for the end of the modern-day universe. The shortage of time is pervasive, and this story is brief to give you a maximum pleasure for what it takes.

"Think Warm Thoughts" by Allison Whittenberg -- A bite-sized slice of apocalypse that is poetically poignant; every word counts.

"When We Went to See the End of the World by Dawnie Morningside, age 11 1/4" by Neil Gaiman -- This is the end of the world, everyone and everything together, through the playful, somewhat naiive eyes of an eleven year old. It's told in the vein of "What I did over Summer vacation", and is very evocative, sweet, and strange.

"The Escape--a Tale of 1755" by Grace Aguilar -- This is an elegant tale of a woman's love for her husband, religious persecution, and a prison escape. It is written with a very modern feel despite its age (originally published in 1844).

That's not to say I disliked the other stories; and on another day I would have different favorites, though there were some pieces that didn't work for me. But I hope this selection will help give you a feel for the collection as a whole, beyond my simple regard for it. In all, it's a beautiful collection, and I recommend it strongly, with the caveat that you may want to take it in small doses.

too esoteric to feed my apocalypse-hungry soul.......2007-09-12

I was initially excited to discover the collection and didn't see how such a broad-based compilation could go wrong. I'm an avid reader of post-apocalyptic fiction, science fiction and futurism, so I'm no slouch, but this turned out to be quite different from what I was hoping for.

While a few of the pieces are good reads, so many of them are abstract, esoteric, or even reminiscent of the scribblings from slightly disturbed angst-ridden teenage diaries. There's no good "meat" here, no concrete scenarios, suspense or drama to drive fear into your heart and make your mind race. The circumstances under which "apocalypse" occurs are rarely even revealed. Even the subject matter is open to interpretation - "apocalypse" is made to mean many things, not simply the end of the world. Which it does, of course, but that's not what I was hungry for when I picked up this book. The book description should have done a better job of managing those expectations.

Perhaps if you are looking for a broad literary "treatment" of the subject, that kind of interpretation will appeal to you (or if you enjoy the just plain bizarre) then this collection is for you. It was not for me.

These Zombies Are Not A Metaphor.......2007-05-16

This is a fun collection of stories from some well known and serious talent (Gaiman, Lovecraft, Poe) and some newly minted authors. I found myself particularly amused by "These Zombies Are Not A Metaphor," the work of one of the new authors named Jeff Goldberg. I'll be keeping an eye peeled for future work from him.

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The War of the Worlds
H. G. Wells
Manufacturer: Jack Lake Productions (Classics Illustrated)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1894998812

The War of the Worlds (Modern Library Classics)

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Book
Free SF Reader
Martian invasion
A science fiction classic
The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds (Modern Library Classics)
H. G. Wells
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0375759239
Release Date: 2002-03-12

Amazon.com

This is the granddaddy of all alien invasion stories, first published by H.G. Wells in 1898. The novel begins ominously, as the lone voice of a narrator tells readers that "No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's..."

Things then progress from a series of seemingly mundane reports about odd atmospheric disturbances taking place on Mars to the arrival of Martians just outside of London. At first the Martians seem laughable, hardly able to move in Earth's comparatively heavy gravity even enough to raise themselves out of the pit created when their spaceship landed. But soon the Martians reveal their true nature as death machines 100-feet tall rise up from the pit and begin laying waste to the surrounding land. Wells quickly moves the story from the countryside to the evacuation of London itself and the loss of all hope as England's military suffers defeat after defeat. With horror his narrator describes how the Martians suck the blood from living humans for sustenance, and how it's clear that man is not being conquered so much a corralled. --Craig E. Engler

Book Description

“No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own.” Thus begins one of the most terrifying and morally prescient science fiction novels ever penned. Beginning with a series of strange flashes in the distant night sky, the Martian attack initially causes little concern on Earth. Then the destruction erupts—ten massive aliens roam England and destroy with heat rays everything in their path. Very soon mankind finds itself on the brink of extinction. Wells raises questions of mortality, man’s place in nature, and the evil lurking in the technological future—questions that remain urgently relevant in the twenty-first century.

Customer Reviews:

Book.......2007-09-22

This is a strong book that always keeps yo guessing and on the edge of your seat. I think that this author writes some nice pieces of written masterpiece! I will be buying more!

Free SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Humans are not alone in the universe, let alone in the solar system itself. Large tripod-like machines land, and they are most definitely
not friendly. It is discovered that they are from Mars, information which is not particularly useful. With advanced weaponry and materials
they set about a mission of destruction and conquest.

In the end, it appears that the biological sciences were not their strong suit, bringing about their downfall.

Martian invasion.......2007-06-11

War of the Worlds is considered the book that started science fiction. The action in the story is lacking for today's generation of action junkies, but is still an interesting look at possible human annihilation. Its popularity has created countless books and movies about aliens and other fantasy writings making it the father of Star Wars, Star Trek and Independence Day. This is a great book that is worth the read.

A science fiction classic.......2007-06-02

I don't care about the supposed disguised attacks on British imperialism that Wells portrayed in this book. I enjoyed this classic by what I think it is: a gripping narrative of an alien invasion, cleverly written, intelligent, fast-paced, without naming even the main characters!

The other merit is that this book is the genesis of all "invasion" books that followed.

A great read.

The War of the Worlds .......2007-05-18

Mars has long since sparked our imagination. For centuries, mankind has wondered whether this cold, dark, and barren planet has ever supported intelligent life. When an observer in the English conutryside, whose name is never mentioned, notices gas flumes coming from the surface of the alien world, he becomes intrigued, especially when, ten days later, a green star impacts a near-by farm. However, curiousity changes to terror,when a cylinder rises from above the wreckage and shoots out and invisble heat ray that kills everyone around but himself. Confused, bewildered, and overwhelmed, he grabs his wife and heads to the town of Leatherhead, where he leaves his wife behind to look back at the wreckage. Over the course of the novel, he discovers more and more about these machines of terror in secret. However, he learns that even the great English army is no match for these weapons, as the army is quickly devastated. The Martian cylinders continue to come and transform into menacing tripods that spray a poisonous black smoke, silencing England and eventually, London. However, when the main character walks through a deserted street, he notices that several Martians have died. With the death toll of one billion people, humanity had survived the invasion, thanks simple microbes, which were not present in the Martians' own environment. Thus, the Martians were brought to their demise when they first invaded. As the main character walks on, he sees his wife, alive, and a new life ahead. The War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells, is an excellent science-fiction novel for its suspense, its action, and its revolutionary science-fiction.

H.G. Wells wrote a great suspense novel when he wrote War of the Worlds. When the main character notices a shooting green star fall across the sky, he becomes curious. The reader is wondering what will happen next, until the alien machine lets out all fury on the crowd before it. The reader is then thrown into amazement as the machines of terror devastate the English countryside. When the machines arrive at a small port town, the masses trying to evacuate panic, the army tries to take them down, and so the war of the worlds begins.

Action is also prominent in the War of the Worlds. When the tripods first impact the port town, there are mass sequences of explosions, in which the Royal Army does manage to shoot down one of the tripods. But the only problem is that there are several more left standing, advancing with great speed. The tripods shoot their heat rays into the water, causing it to be boiling-hot, literally frying the fleeing people who used the water as a refuge. The main character is almost crushed by one of the feet of the machine, and is almost boiled to death by the sheer heat of the water. This signifies how much action this novel contains.

H.G. Wells revolutionizes the word "science-fiction" in writing the War of the Worlds. Written at the turn of the nineteenth century, Wells wrote of intelligent life on Mars, in fact, more intelligent than us. He imagines a cold Martian world that is getting colder and less inhabitable, which is why the Martians invade, to find a warm planet to thrive in. He invents the alien cylinders and the tripods, 100 feet tall weapons with tentacle-like arms and an invisible heat ray that turns anything to flames. H.G. Wells also created the Martians themselves, creatures crushed under the weight of Earth's gravity and creatures that have no resemblance to mankind what-so-ever.

The War of the Worlds tells a story of the Martian invasion and an Englishman's attempt to survive in the process. It's best trait, however, is the fact that it has been a classic for nearly a century. Children, teens, and adults alike still find fascination in his works. The results are in the sales: his books have sold millions of copies. Besides this, the War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells, is a an excellent science-fiction novel for its thrills, its climatic battles, and for its futuristic appeal. I rate this novel five stars out of five.

A. Chappell

War Of The Worlds! Invasion From Mars (L.A. Theater Works)

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Glad to buy it once again...
Great one hour summary with special sound effects ...

War Of The Worlds! Invasion From Mars (L.A. Theater Works)
H.G. Wells
Manufacturer: Listening Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

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ASIN: 0807235628

Product Description

Starring: Leonard Nimoy, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Wil Wheaton, Meagan Fay, Jerry Hardin, Dwight Schultz, Armin Shimerman, and Tom Virtue. 63 Minutes on 1 CD Join actors from STAR TREK and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION as they recreate this classic radio thriller. The breathless pace and convincing details make it clear why the 1938 broadcast of an "eyewitness report" of an invasion from Mars caused a nationwide panic in 1938. Originally performed by Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre of the Air, WAR OF THE WORLDS is truly the mother of all space invasions, offering a rare combination of chills, thrills and great literature. About the publisher: L.A. Theatre Works, founded in 1974, produces the world's finest audio theatre. Our catalogue features the largest collection of classic and contemporary plays, recorded in state-of-the-art sound quality, starring today's most popular and acclaimed actors. Your selection is packed in durable vinyl cases with colorful, attractive covers. These handsome editions are perfect for personal collections, schools and libraries. Our catalogue features many award-winning plays, musicals, docudramas and novels that let your imagination soar!

Customer Reviews:

Glad to buy it once again..........2005-11-23

A few years ago I purchased the cassette tape version of this play and enjoyed it a lot. Unfortunately, I lost my copy and have wanted to listen to this play many times since then. I'm glad I purchased this item again and look forward to hearing it again.

Great one hour summary with special sound effects ..........1998-06-17

After purchasing this audio novel I was initially upset because it was only an hour long. I much prefer my audio novels to be at least 2 hours long. With a foul mode in place I began to listen to the tape. In a few short minutes I was quickly swept up into the story, recogizing my favorite Star Trek actors as they played their parts. The audio novel although short has an excellant production quality. The story is concise and easy to follow. I would like to thank John DeLancie for directing this project and for the participaction of the other actors. I would not hesitate to recommend this audio novel and look forward to others from John DeLancy, Lenard Nimoy and the rest of the Star Trek gang. (The RAMA science fiction series would be great.) Please make them at least 2 hours though.

The War of the Worlds: 1938 Radio Broadcast

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Not as scary as in 1938, but still exciting and VERY interesting!!!

The War of the Worlds: 1938 Radio Broadcast
H. G. Wells
Manufacturer: bnpublishing.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: MP3 CD

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ASIN: 9568355839

Book Description

The War Of The Worlds (30th October 1938)
by Orsen Wells

(Mercury Radio Theatre)

This cd-rom contains the original radio broadcast preformed by Orsen Wells and the Mercury Radio Theatre On The Air, on 30th October 1938 that panicked America and the script of this program.

Millions of people listening to their radios that night believed they were hearing an actual invasion take place of the earth from the planet Mars.

BONUS!! INCLUDED IN THIS CD!

Mercury Theater, Orson Wells Specials:

-Mercury Theater Remembered
-USO Tour - Guest Lana Turner
and other original Wells transmitions...

Customer Reviews:

Not as scary as in 1938, but still exciting and VERY interesting!!!.......2006-03-16

I had never heard the full radio broadcast untill purchasing this CD, but it is VERY easy to see how this could have scared the Bee-jeebers out of America on Halloween, 1938. Get this CD and listen to it every Halloween (as I now plan to) and you'll see how interseting old time radio was. Especially when you consider the horror that was just beginning to build in Germany at the same time as the broadcast.

Average customer rating:

Great sci fi for a book written over a hundred years ago!
Book vs. Movie and other thoughts
This is a great book
War of the Worlds
Longers book ever

The War of the Worlds
H.G. Wells
Manufacturer: NYRB Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1590171586
Release Date: 2005-06-30

Book Description

When massive, intelligent aliens from Mars touch down in Victorian England and threaten to destroy the civilized world, humanity's vaunted knowledge proves to be of little use. First published in 1898, H.G. Wells's masterpiece of speculative fiction has thrilled and delighted generations of readers, spawned countless imitations, and inspired dramatizations by such masters as Orson Welles and Steven Spielberg. The War of the Worlds is a fantasy that is both startlingly up-to-date and in touch with the most ancient of human illustrationfears.

In 1960, Edward Gorey prepared a set of his inimitable pen-and-ink drawings to illustrate a new edition of Wells's The War of the Worlds for the legendary Looking Glass Library. Characteristically quirky, elegant, and entrancing, Gorey's visual take on Wells's seminal tour de force has been unavailable for close to fifty years. This special hardcover edition from NYRB Classics brings back for today's readers a richly rewarding collaboration between two modern masters of all that's wonderful and strange.

Customer Reviews:

Great sci fi for a book written over a hundred years ago!.......2006-08-21

First thing I have to say is what great scientific imagination for a book written in the late 1800's. I mean they didnt even have cars yet and Mr. Wells is writing about partical beams and biological warfare. 2nd is I was actually surprised at how much the recent movie used from the book. I didnt care for the movie as much as I did the original version but it was much more faithful to the book than I'd ever imagined. If you your a fan of either of the two movies or just want a very good sci fi book to read I highly recommend this book. The language at times is dated being written at the turn of the century but it's still a quick and easy read.

Book vs. Movie and other thoughts.......2006-05-24

I read this book because I was curious how close or incredibly far the movie had stuck to it. I was quite surprised to discover, that while the movie's main character couldn't be more different, the plot is almost identical in spirit. Spielberg didn't create all those different modes of suspense, he just channelled them from Wells. First we have the discovery, then the initial panic, then the mob mentality, then hydrophobic, claustrophobic, and xenophobic situations that are chilling. Granted all these circumstances are updated into the 21st century. I was impressed by how many details were included (the redweed particularly).

The book is better than the movie in two aspects. First off, the scene in the cellar with the main character and curate. I've talked to a lot of people who felt that the execution of Tim Robbin's character in the movie was not just and unnecesary. The book handles this much better-"with one last touch of humanity"

The ending of the movie is absurd. You don't care that the son is still alive because he annoyed us so much with his whining. Then you are let down when there is no true reconciliation between the broken family. In the book (PLEASE STOP HERE IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET) you barely meet the wife, and deep down, you are just sure she is still alive, but their reunion does not seem fabricated, it seems somehow eerie and almost gives you chills.

This is a great book.......2006-02-15

I liked this book mainly because it's science fiction. I liked the martions and the detail the writer used. I liked the interesting words used by the writer. It was illustrated well.

War of the Worlds.......2006-01-10

The War of the Worlds is about Martians invading the earth. The main character, Wells, runs away from the Martians in the direction of his family while also trying to figure out why the Martians were there. Wells goes on many exciting adventures to get to his family.
The book took place in London, England on the 13th of August 1894. Wells goes through many different cities while he travels 20 miles on foot towards his family in Leatherhead. Wells watched tons of people die from the Heat Ray and just getting crushed by the Martians in their robot.
This book is really good if you like adventure or science fiction. I think this book is mainly for boys 8+. I recommend this book if you have the chance to read it.

Longers book ever.......2005-11-03

I think that the movie "War of the Worlds" the new one was not base on the book. Even though the movie was really tense and had some awesome graphics. It had almost nothing to do with the story, I mean I would like the movie to start off with the beginning of the story where they look at a meteor and do not now that they are under attack. And even when they fired at earth, they acted like nothing happen. But the part when the cylinder space ship landed and every one looked and just stood around and, BAAM! The ship just came out of the ground with all the green smoke and starter vaporizing everyone, and the book even explains how the beams of light work. Like super hot rays of light that could turn steel into butter. Everything is so detailed and ever though the book is fiction we might used these ideas for modern plans and how the aliens looked with big eyes and no chin; with pail gray skin. I recommend this book to any one, but don't be surprise if it does not run with the movie. But don't take it from me read it your self...

The War of the Worlds (Penguin Classics)

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Don't miss the classics by H.G. Wells
Still the best telling even though time has past by some its plot points
Martians invade London in the year 1900, panic ensues
It never was a war, anymore than theres war between men and ants.
"...this world was being watched keenly and closely..."

The War of the Worlds (Penguin Classics)
H.G. Wells , and Andy Sawyer
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0141441038
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Book Description

Famous for the mistaken panic that ensued from Orson Welles's 1938 radio dramatization, The War of the Worlds remains one of the most influential of all science fiction works. The night after a shooting star is seen streaking through the sky from Mars, a cylinder is discovered on Horsell Common in London. Naïve locals approach the cylinder armed just with a white flag—only to be quickly killed by an all-destroying heat ray, as terrifying tentacled invaders emerge. Soon the whole of human civilization is under threat as powerful Martians build gigantic killing machines, destroying all life in their path with black gas and burning ray. The forces of Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they appear.

-Includes a newly established text, a full biographical essay on Wells, a list of further reading, and detailed notes
-Brian Aldiss's introduction considers the novel's view of religion and society

Customer Reviews:

Don't miss the classics by H.G. Wells.......2007-06-12

Don't miss the other great novels by H.G. Wells--"The Time Machine" and "The Invisible Man." The wonderful opening lines of "War of the Worlds" are worth repeat readings--note the phrase "across the gulf of space."

"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in the assurance of their empire over matter. It is possible that the infusoria under the microscope do the same. No one gave a thought to the older worlds of space as sources of human danger, or thought of them only to dismiss the idea of life upon them as impossible or improbable. It is curious to recall some of the mental habits of those departed days. At most, terrestrial men fancied there might be other men upon Mars, perhaps inferior to themselves and ready to welcome a missionary enterprise. Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us. And early in the twentieth century came the great disillusionment."

Still the best telling even though time has past by some its plot points.......2006-08-16

Published in 1898 and set in and around turn of the century London, the story evokes the latest that was known at the time in astronomy, mechanics, and biology. Man had not yet flown and rockets were basically for fireworks. The story has been portrayed on radio, on the movie screen, and I believe even on television. Every telling requires some updating of the story so that modern audiences can get the effect of Wells' tale from more than a century ago.

Mars was thought to have canals and that would imply a civilization. Suddenly there are huge artillery blasts. Gargantuan enough to be seen from earth. These blasts continue for several days and shortly afterward a cylinder crashes into suburban London. It is too hot to touch and nothing more is aroused than curiosity. Finally, the end of the cylinder is screwed off from the inside and exit and begin working on something unseen. The sounds of hammering and machinery tell the people something is being built, but what they do not suspect or understand. Then the craft arises and the heat ray begins laying waste to the people, buildings, and anything in their path.

There are a couple things in the story that are different from most presentations. The creatures fire a canister of a black mist that seems to be a forerunner of the chemical agents of World War I. And the creatures are powerful, but not invulnerable. The people take a couple of them out along the way, but the creatures learn and become tougher in their attacks. More canisters arrive and more machines are built as the attack grows.

The life of the citizens in late Victorian society is also so different that modern life that the details of the story are also often changed, but you can read these differences for yourself. They make for interesting reading as a window on the past. Remember, the story was quite modern when written. And the violence and destruction was quite hyper-real for its audience, but seems tame by modern standards. Have we gained or lost?

Another fact that is often lost on modern audiences is that London was the capital of an empire that spanned the entire globe and controlled 40% of the world's land mass and a similar proportion of its population. The Martians were subjugated the greatest nation on earth as if they were, well, impotent natives out in the reaches of the British Empire. This aspect was not lost on its first audience.

It is still a powerful story and reads better than most of the adaptations show. The narrator is always merely an observer and escapes with the most fortunate of circumstances, but the story lets us meet more people than we get in a movie, and all the adaptations have to leave holes where some of the problems that time has forced into the story because of modern advances make the story implausible.

Still, the Martians end up the same way in every telling and for the same reasons. It is am important plot point, but knowing what we know now, probably quite faulty for an advanced civilization deciding to come and conquer Earth. Our own knowledge of bacteria and viruses would allow us to largely protect ourselves from such things as took the Martians and I doubt we would be so foolish as to enter another world so unprepared for this issue. But the people of the story were quite happy that the Martians were so foolish.

Read this book and you will be able to better judge the adaptations.

Martians invade London in the year 1900, panic ensues.......2006-06-03

H.G. Wells is best known for his science fiction novels ("War of the Worlds," "The Island of Dr. Moreau," "The Time Machine," "The War in the Air," etc.) but also has an extensive background in the sciences and a keen interest in political philosophy. Specifically, Wells subscribes to Darwin's theory of evolution and believes that the people of the earth should unite under one world government that promotes universal education and a world economy. From this background and these interests, Wells writes his best-known work, "The War of the Worlds."

This novel follows the exploits of an unnamed narrator during a month-long Martian invasion. The inhabitants of Mars--a highly evolved, intellectually superior race of octopus-like brains--find that their planet is cooling to the point of being unable to sustain life. For purposes of survival, the Martians build a giant cannon and shoot "manned" projectiles to Earth as the first wave of a Martian invasion. These projectiles (ten in all) land in the greater-London area and are at first met with curiosity. However, once it becomes known that he Martians are bent on violence and conquest, the inhabitants of England's anxiety rises to a fevered pitch. The British army is useless against the Martians' highly advanced weaponry; the civilians panic and stampede into the countryside; those who remain in London succumb to a variety of mental delusions and insanities because of the hopelessness of the situation and widespread slaughter of humanity.

This reader found "The War of the Worlds" a very enjoyable read. The contrast between technologies (England of 1900 which relies on livestock and railroads versus Martian heat-rays, battle tripods, and black poisonous gas) a highly interesting part of the book. The literary technique of the narrator-protagonist successfully advanced the rising action, climax, and falling action. Finally, Wells' imagination is captivating--Martians (and the antiquated nineteenth-century way in which he describes them and their technology), the variety of human reactions, descriptions of Martian plant-life and physiology, the plans of man, etc., were all engaging and ingenious. This book is highly recommended.

It never was a war, anymore than theres war between men and ants........2005-08-20

An extraordinary tale, War of the Worlds (the first epic tale about martians and man) tells of the great conflict which engulfs humanity when engaged against a power that greatly surpasses her own. Slowly informed of the alien lifeforms Wells soon bombards the reader with imagery of the future of warfare. Aliens terrorize as lasers vaporize, gas mystifies, while man remains helpless against this unslaught of futuristic intellegince. Drizen from house to streets to dens the narrator (one out of millions who flee before the martians, for what else can one do?) is eventually forced to observe the creatures that never rest, horrified by what he sees. After page upon page of war an eary silence suddenly echoes throughout the land, and the narrator ventures to find the world he knew a desert place as both martians and man are devasted and destroyed by the war which engulfs both worlds.

One of HG Wells most enduring novels it has the characteristics which would combine to define science fiction. Origenal and thought provoking it shocks and entertains the reader throughout the 200 paged tale. However, like all of his novels the revolutionary ideas and not the litary magnifisence of the text makes this one of the premere science fiction tales of all time. I recommend reading this piece of literature if you are in high school or above so as to truly apreciate and understand the intricate brillance of the War of the Worlds.

"...this world was being watched keenly and closely...".......2005-07-26

We are in 1898 England. Yep we see something happening on the surface of Mars. Later what looks like a meteor comes to earth. Once we realize the significant of the situation (or think we do) Different people approach the situation in different ways. The true story is how the different people meet the situation.
Many people want to equate this story with real potential invasions others as the bad guys vs. the good guys. However from the very first we see that they are the greater (more evolved) intelligence and we are the equivalent of vermin or the ants that are being held under the magnifying glass. From our point of view they seem like cruel creatures, from theirs is indifference. Their way of consuming nourishment is appalling yet look at what and how we eat.
The writing its self is of the time in which Wells lived so the descriptions of our world may seem a little alien to today's younger readers. However the suspense is still there and the story will hold their attention.
Do not miss the 1953 movie. Even thought it adds more religious overtones it is still pretty much the same story with similar characters. Of course this one names the narrator and adds a love interest.

The Last War: A World Set Free (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)

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Surprisingly boring
Socialist Wells writes about nuclear war
The War To End All War

The Last War: A World Set Free (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)
H. G. Wells
Manufacturer: Bison Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 080329820X

Book Description

"From nearly two hundred centres, and every week added to their number, roared the unquenchable crimson conflagrations of the atomic bombs. The flimsy fabric of the world's credit had vanished, industry was completed disorganised, and every city, every thickly populated area was starving or trembled on the verge of starvation. Most of the capital cities of the world were burning; millions of people had already perished, and over great areas government was at an end."

The Last War erupts in Europe, rapidly escalating from bloody trench warfare and vicious aerial duels into a world-consuming, atomic holocaust. Paris is engulfed by an atomic maelstrom, Berlin is an ever-flaming crater, the cold waters of the North Sea roar past Dutch dikes and sweep across the Low Countries. Moscow, Chicago, Tokyo, London, and hundreds of other cities become radioactive wastelands. Governments topple, age-old cultural legacies are destroyed, and the stage is set for a new social and political order.

The Last War is H. G. Wells's chilling and prophetic tale of a world gone mad with atomic weapons and of the rebirth of human-kind from the rubble. Written long before the atomic age, Wells's novel is a riveting and intelligent history of the future that discusses for the first time the horrors of the atomic bomb, offering a startling vision of humanity purged by a catastrophic atomic war.

Customer Reviews:

Surprisingly boring.......2007-04-02

Herbert George Wells (1866-1946) is best remembered for his pioneering works in the field of science-fiction, most notably The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898). In point of fact, Mr. Wells fiction took him into speculation of how scientific discoveries would affect the future. In particular, his 1908 book, The War in the Air, was full of fascinating forward thinking.

In this 1913 book (published in 1914), the author takes speculation he had read about the possibility of releasing energy from atoms, and writes about a future of atomic power and atomic weapons. The atomic weapons of this book make relatively small, but on-going (for centuries!) explosions. Plus, apparently at the time they knew little about the effects of radiation on living organisms. But, nonetheless, this is the very first story ever written about a nuclear war!

So far so good. Unfortunately, by this time, H.G.'s fiction writing ability was in steep decline, and the best of his fiction was long behind him. The Last War: A World Set Free focuses less on the war than it does on humanity's embracing of socialism. Indeed, the book is less a work of science-fiction, than a polemic for socialism.

So, am I saying that this book was no good, and you should avoid it? Well, I'm afraid that I am. In this story, Wells does not show a good grasp of where the world was headed, as the following quotation will show, "For long decades the combative side in human affairs had been monstrously exaggerated by the accidents of political separation." In point of fact, militarism, hatred, and murder stretch in an unbroken line from the Nazi Storm Troopers of yesteryear, to the suicide bombers of today.

And, to make matters worse, this book is surprisingly boring for a book about nuclear war. Overall, I did not enjoy this book, and I do not recommend it. (I do, though, recommend Wells' The War in the Air.)

Socialist Wells writes about nuclear war.......2006-09-11

By the time British author H.G. Wells got around to writing "The Last War," in 1914, the general public already recognized he was a master of science fiction. "The Time Machine," "The Invisible Man," "The War of the Worlds," and "The Island of Dr. Moreau" had all come out some twenty years before he penned this slim book about global atomic war and the subsequent restructuring of human civilization. Most readers today only remember Wells as an amazingly prescient science fiction author. He was, however, so much more. For example, he wrote a number of non-fiction pieces, perhaps the most important being his two-volume work "The Outline of History". First published in 1920 and an instant success with the public, Wells went on to revise his historical opus on several occasions--a sign of its enduring popularity. Moreover, and many people familiar with the author's name don't remember this little tidbit, Wells was an avowed socialist. I'd go so far as to call him a communist, especially after reading "The Last War". This look at nuclear cataclysm is less a triumph of science fiction and more a pamphlet used by Wells to espouse his socialist/communist belief system. I loathe communism.

I don't, however, necessarily hate this book. The story starts out on a very powerful note, with Wells distilling the technological prowess and advancement of the human race down to a single chapter. According to the author, it is man's destiny to somehow harness a science that will replicate the power and intensity of the sun. Nuclear power! The breakthrough comes soon enough when a young man named Holsten figures out how to release the inner power of the atom in 1933. Benefits galore spring from the wonders of atomic power. Goodbye horse and buggy and steamships, hello atomic powered cars, airplanes, and ships. Mankind realizes a new age in transportation, industry, and myriad other facets of human existence as the atom becomes the centerpiece of technology. Unfortunately, humanity also starts building new weapons incorporating the new technology. Coupled with the capitalist system's failure to adapt to the demise of the industrial age, social unrest and general hostility flare up. Then the wars start, destructive wars involving millions upon millions of soldiers going head to head across the entire world. It's only a matter of time before the atomic bombs start dropping.

Wells complicates things (and increases the deadly carnage) by making his atomic bombs devices that soldiers can throw by hand as well as drop by plane. Even worse, the warheads don't simply level cities; they continue to detonate for years afterwards, burrowing deep into the ground and spewing huge amounts of flame and radiation. Millions, if not billions, die in these atomic fires. Paris goes up in flames, as do Berlin, London, and most other big metropolitan centers around the world. Entire armies vanish off the face of the earth as the war turns into genocidal madness. In one instance, bombs dropped on the dams in Holland unleash floodwaters that kill hundreds of thousands in a few hours. Unleashing the power of the sun leaves civilization tottering on the brink of utter annihilation until a spark of sanity saves us at the last second. The remaining leaders of the world gather to create a single global government that will oversee the banning of atomic weapons and war. Too, this body promises to use technology to elevate mankind to a better existence. Those leaders still devoted to war quickly fall prey to the peacemakers, and the world government receives the support of the earth's war weary population.

"The Last War," manages to put forth some gripping scenes of war despite its annoying socialist/communist message. Wells describes the destruction of Paris in gripping, memorable detail, down to the effects the explosion and radiation have on the human body. The destruction of the dams and the watery aftermath are pretty darn exciting as well. Most entertaining is the author's description of how the bombs work. He invents an element, Carolinum, to fuel his atomic devices. The core of the bomb reacts when introduced to open air, so a soldier or pilot must pull out a plug before throwing or dropping the warhead on enemy troops and cities. You certainly wouldn't want to drop that blazing sucker in your lap while flying a plane! The design of the bomb is absolute malarkey, but it's still amazing that Wells could visualize such devices and their ultimate use as a weapon as early as 1914. Scientists knew a bit about radiation and the power hidden in the atom before and during this time, but the real breakthroughs came in the 1930s, exactly the time in which Wells foresaw the beginning of the nuclear age.

Sadly, the good parts of "The Last War" disappear under an avalanche of socialist agitprop. Wells can't resist slamming the capitalist system early on in the book, blaming it for creating conditions that lead to all-out nuclear conflict. Then there's the single world government stuff in the middle of the book. The really, REALLY scary stuff shows up in the final chapter. Set in a future far removed from the horrors of atomic war, Wells shows us the advances civilization has made without the threat of conflict hanging over its head. What's wrong with that? Nothing, except most of it resembles Soviet dogma of the 1920s through the 1950s. He talks about changing the very structures of the human mind and body as well as radical feminism that denies biological differences, among other things. Wells obviously believed in the malleability of the human mind and body, and that governments should work to bring about this new reality. That's exactly what Lenin, Stalin, and the rest of the killers over in the Soviet Union tried to do. They failed miserably. Give "The Last War" a chance, but beware of the Stalinist propaganda contained within.

The War To End All War.......2002-07-01

"The Last War" is a novel by H.G. Wells which chronicles the end of civilization by atomic weapons. Like the alien invader theme (also pioneered by Wells), this premise has been used to death in countless books and films and reduced to cliche, but in 1914, when the novel was first published, the idea was completely new. Thirty-one years before Hiroshima and Nagasaki, H.G. Wells wrote the first novel about the effects of nuclear war.

This edition of "The Last War" contains an informative introduction by Greg Bear, describing the social conditions that led to the book's publication, and a lot of background information about Wells himself.

It could be said that "The Last War" is one of the only books where nuclear war proves to be a positive experience. Society is swept away, purged by fire, and a new civilization rises from the ashes of the old. This all happens in a relatively short time. Wells would use this theme again in "The Shape of Things To Come" (1933).

"The Last War" is notable for its prophetic qualities (never mind that the atomic bombs are thrown by hand), but in parts the book can be rather dry. The story doesn't move at the same pace as "The War of the Worlds" or "The Time Machine", for example. Since the end of World War Two and the beginning of the Cold War, the glut of post-nuclear scenarios that followed have been more willing to portray the full horror that such a conflict would bring. In "The Last War" there is a feeling of detatchment, the sense one gets from reading a history book. The book deals more with events than characters.

In summing up, H.G. Wells had no idea he was starting a genre that would become popular for years to come. The post-nuclear world is a place many writers have liked to visit and describe in detail. Wells saw it first.

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H. G. Wells: The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible Man, The War of the Worlds, The First Men in the Moon, The Food of the Gods (Masters Library)

Manufacturer: Amaranth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: 0808162985

Product Description

Bound in blue bonded leather. Gilt edges, silver titles, and raised spine.

Average customer rating:

Bland, bland, bland . . .
The best War Of the Worlds graphic novel

H. G. Wells' The War Of The Worlds
Ian Edginton , and D'Israeli
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1593074743

Book Description

From the pen of legendary science fiction author and futurist, H.G. Wells, Dark Horse Comics is proud to present their adaptation of the most famous science fiction novel of all time: The War of the Worlds! In the closing years of the 19th century, the genteel tranquility of Victorian England is shattered by the arrival of an invasion force from the red planet - Mars! Methodical and merciless, the Martians are intent on nothing less than the conquest and subjugation of the human race. Told from the point of view of an ordinary man caught up in the carnage and chaos, witness firsthand how the then greatest empire in the world is brought to its knees by the Martians' cool alien intellect and the implacable heat ray!

Customer Reviews:

Bland, bland, bland . . ........2007-01-27

Generally speaking, I'm a thoroughgoing fan of graphic novels (as opposed to comic books or hardcover superhero anthologies), and anything by H.G. Wells would seem a natural for adaptation, but Edginton has kind of missed the boat. He skips over many of the more interesting parts of the story, and then brings in flying machines that suspiciously resemble those in the Hollywood film. The result is a rather bland rendition of an exciting story, not unlike a Classics Illustrated.

The best War Of the Worlds graphic novel.......2006-07-20

Ian Edginton and D'Israeli bring use H.G. Wells' The War Of The Worlds in graphic novel form. While abridged and adapted for this version it has lost nothing. It has all the adventure, horror and wonder, in full color. Their vision, their ideas on how the Martians looked, how the scenes developed and how the action scenes flowed. They kept the heart of the story yet gave it new life. A perfect gift for a sci-fi fan or just for oneself. A must for any fan of The War Of The Worlds or of H.G. Wells.

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