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From 'War of the Worlds' to 'A Modern Utopia', here are some books by H.G. Wells you must read

TIMESOFINDIA.COM | Last updated on - Sep 21, 2019, 08:00 IST
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1/7

H. G. Wells

H. G. Wells is an author, best known as one of the fathers of the Science Fiction genre(along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback). He was born in England in 1866 and tried being a draper and a chemist's assistant and a teacher before he became a famous writer. He wrote both fiction and non-fiction often focussing on scientific and utopian themes. His books were so far thinking and insightful that despite the advances in science since then, they haven't aged much and are still read and adapted into different forms. In fact, his work has inspired people from various fields and shaped the way our world is today.


Here are some of his books you must read to understand his genius. Keep in mind they were written in the late 1800's and early 1900's to truly appreciate what a clever grasp of science he had.
Photo: Wikipedia
2/7

​The Invisible Man

A scientist Griffin wants to try and change a body's refractive index to that of air so that it doesn't absorb or reflect light and will become invisible. He succeeds when he tries this procedure on himself but then can't reverse it, rendering himself invisible. His actions after have made sure he has become an iconic character in horror fiction.
Photo: Fingerprint! Publishing
3/7

The Food of the Gods

In this book, a synthetic food has been made called ‘Boomfood’ that makes many creatures-rats, chickens, even insects and human beings – grow to many times their normal size. It explores humans attempting to control their own evolution and how society reacts to those who are different.
Photo: Gollancz
4/7

​A Modern Utopia

This fascinating novel is set on a planet like Earth, with similar geography and biology and Wells describes an ideal world. Some of the ideas here are novel maybe even for our times and others might be considered outdated, given it was written so long ago but it gives a good idea of how Wells thought for it's filled with philosophical prose too.
Photo: Independently Published
5/7

​The Time Machine

Though we all use the phrase Time Machine to refer to these devices across fiction, it's not often known the term was coined by Wells. In his book he not only explores the concept of time travel but utopian societies and socialist politics in an interesting adventure a scientist undergoes when he invents a time machine and travels to the year 802,701.
Photo: Fingerprint! Publishing
6/7

​War of the Worlds

This book follows a spacecraft from Mars landing on Earth in England and subsequently attacking all living creatures with weapons so superior that mankind has no chance. It's told from the point of view of an unnamed narrator who's escaping from the Martians across the English countryside, though it switches at points.
Photo: Fingerprint! Publishing

7/7

​The First Men in the Moon

This interesting book follows a greedy but broke businessman, Mr Bedford, and an absent-minded scientist called Dr Cavor who discovers how to reverse gravity. They both use this power to head to the moon; Dr Cavor, is motivated by his scientific curiosity and Bedford by greed. However, on reaching the moon they have to face harsh climate and harsher aliens and they don't seem to have a way back.
Photo: Rupa

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