The War of the Worlds

While the individual elements of Wells' novel were not entirely original, he was unique in the way that he combined them to create the quintessential story of alien invasion. At the same time, Wells anticipated several technological and military advances, including chemical weapons, lasers, and robotics. The War of the Worlds thus pioneered a subgenre in science fiction, providing a major inspiration for other authors, while also encouraging future scientists who would later partially credit him with inspiring what became the Apollo space program. The powerful themes and presentation of The War of the Worlds are so universal that, since its publication in 1898, the book has never been out of print.