The War of the Worlds

H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, the first story to speculate about the consequences of aliens (from Mars) with superior technology landing on earth, is one of the most influential science fiction books ever written. The novel is both a thrilling narrative and an elaboration of Wells's socio-political thought on the subjects of imperialism, humankind's treatment of other animals, and unquestioning faith in military technology and the continuation of the human species.This edition's appendices include other related writings by Wells; selected correspondence; contemporary reviews; excerpts from works that influenced the novel and from contemporary invasion narratives; and photographs of examples of Victorian military technology.

Acknowledgments

7

(9)

Introduction

9

(22)

A Brief Chronology

31

(4)

H.G. Wells

A Note on the Text

35

(2)

The War of the Worlds

37

(182)

Appendix A: H.G. Wells on The War of the Worlds

1. Strand Magazine (1920)

193

(1)

H.G. Wells

2. ``Preface to Volume III'' (1924)

194

(1)

H.G. Wells

Appendix B: Wells's Publications Related to The War of the Worlds

1. ``Zoological Retrogression'' (1891)

195

(2)

H.G. Wells

2. ``On Extinction'' (1893)

197

(4)

H.G. Wells

3. ``The Advent of the Flying Man: An Inevitable Occurrence'' (1893)

201

(2)

H.G. Wells

4. ``The Man of the Year Million'' (1893)

203

(3)

H.G. Wells

5. ``Another Basis for Life'' (1894)

206

(1)

H.G. Wells

6.``The Extinction of Man: Some Speculative Suggestions'' (1894)

207

(5)

H.G. Wells

7. ``The Stolen Bacillus'' (1894)

212

(1)

H.G. Wells

8. ``Intelligence on Mars'' (1896)

213

(3)

H.G. Wells

9. ``Through a Microscope'' (1897)

216

(3)

H.G. Wells

Appendix C: Extracts from Wells's Correspondence

219

(44)

Appendix D: Reviews of The War of the Worlds

1. Spectator (29 January 1898)

223

(4)

John St. Loe Strachey

2. Academy (29 January 1898)

227

(2)

3. Nature (10 February 1898)

229

(2)

R.A. Gregory

4. Athenaeum (5 February 1898)

231

(2)

Basil Williams

Appendix E: Influences on Wells

1. The Martyrdom of Man (1872, 1875)

233

(1)

Winwood Reade

2. Evolution and Ethics (1893)

234

(1)

T.H. Huxley

3. ``Huxley'' (1901)

235

(2)

H.G. Wells

Appendix F: Invasion Narratives

1. The Great War in England in 1897 (1894)

237

(3)

William Le Queux

2. ``Grip'' (pseudonym), from How John Bull Lost London (1882)

240

(3)

Appendix G: Mars in 1898

1. Nature (2 August 1894)

243

(1)

2. Mars (1895)

244

(5)

Percival Lowell

Appendix H: Woking and Surrey

1. Black's Guide to Surrey (1898)

249

(2)

A.R. Hope Moncrieff

2. Highways and Byways in Surrey (1908)

251

(3)

Eric Parker

Appendix I: The Victorian Military, 1890s

1. Field Artillery

254

(1)

2. Gunners of Field Artillery

255

(1)

3. High-Angle Firing

256

(1)

4. Machine Gun Detachment

257

(1)

5. Heliograph Operators

258

(1)

6. 1st Dragoons

259

(1)

7. H.M.S. Thunderer

260

(1)

8. H.M.S. Ramilles

261

(2)

Selected Bibliography

263

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The War of the Worlds

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Table of Contents

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