H.G. Wells Books

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H.G. Wells is considered by many to be the father of science fiction, mentioned alongside names like Herbert George and Jules Verne. A journalist and prolific author, Wells was born in 1866 in Britain.

Wells was never shy about his poverty-ridden upbringing and he often sought to glorify the importance of lower-class beginnings. Things began to change for the author when he found his way to the Imperial College of Science and technology as a result of a timely scholarship.

Even with his education, Wells’ poor beginnings continued to affect his ideas and attitudes towards the world. Wells thought that communism was the only solution to a world whose capitalist class divisions would eventually destroy it.

While at the Imperial College, H.G. Wells had the opportunity to study under T.H. Huxley. The author experimented with school magazines and newspapers before finally writing The Time Machine in 1895.

His first novel, one that he wrote in an attempt to overcome his financial constraints, the book was very critical of capitalism and it elicited interest from his readers in Victorian England. With books like The Invisible Man and The War Between the Worlds following, H.G. Wells soon cemented his place as an unparalleled genius in the science fiction arena.

The author is still best known for the 1938 radio play of his War Between the Worlds book which was so convincing in its delivery that it caused panic and mayhem amongst listeners who thought that earth might have become the victim of an Alien Assault.

A controversial figure in politics that drew criticism for cheating on his wives whilst also seemingly fighting for women’s rights, and pushing for socialism only to reject it later, H.G. Wells was loved and hated in equal measure by his peers, most of whom recognized his genius as an author despite their irritation with his person.

H.G. Wells’ popularity peaked in the 1920s. After a while, all the propaganda in his books drew the ire of readers and critics alike. It didn’t help that Wells’ view of the world and its future seemed to grow darker with each passing year.

Soon, many of the author’s readers had little patience for his many dystopian futures, though Wells still inspired the masses with his nonfiction work.

Wells’ ideas have continued to permeate through entertainment today. He is still considered an unrivaled science fiction titan.

H.G. Wells Awards

Even though a number of awards have been named after H.G. Wells since his death, the author himself never won any awards for his literary work. However, he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in Literature on Four Different occasions.

H.G. Wells Books into Movies/TV

A surprising number of Wells’ novels have been adapted into movies over the decades, both for the big and small screen, this including Dead Night, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The Shape of Things to Come, The Man Who Could Work Miracles, The History of Mr. Polly, The Passionate Friends, The Time Machine and War of the Worlds.

Best H.G. Wells Books

H.G. Wells will never be forgotten, not when one considers all his contributions to the science fiction genre, with some of the best books in his bibliography including:

The Time Machine: When an explorer uses his time machine to travel into the far flung future, he finds the earth dying a slow death. He also discovers the Morlocks and the Eloi, two races that manifest human nature’s differing sides.

This is the book that put H.G. Wells on the path to stardom. The book revolves around an English gentleman who finds the key to time travel. He builds a machine that takes him eight hundred thousand years into the future. There he meets the two races descended from human beings as he knows them.

The Island of Dr. Moreau: When Edward Prendick is shipwrecked on a Pacific Island, his only worry is the potential for his rescue and his ability to survive until that moment. He is unaware of the presence of Dr. Moreau and the strange creatures that he shares the island with.

This book wasn’t particularly popular when it came out. The Time Machine wowed readers with its representation of the wonderful possibilities of the science. Readers wanted more of that from Wells.

Instead, they were treated to a picture of the terror that can come from the misuse of science.

When Does The Next H.G. Wells book come out?

H.G. Wells doesn't seem to have an upcoming book. Their newest book is Aepyornis Island and was released on June, 2nd 2022. It is the newest book in the H.G. Wells Short Stories/Novellas.

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