Wednesday, August 13, 2008

H.G. Wells

Here is an edited repost of last year's H.G. Wells post:

Today is the anniversary of the death in 1946 of H.G. Wells. He was a historian of sorts (his Short History of the World is available online) and an active socialist, but he is best remembered now for his science fiction writings. A short biography and links to works online are here. There is an H.G Wells Society "Dedicated to promoting and encouraging an active interest in and appreciation of the life, work and thought of H.G. Wells.".

Perhaps his most-read book is The Time Machine. This book, which can be read online here, was adapted for film in 1960. This movie was my first introduction to the story.

Another of Wells' better known works is The War of the Worlds, which can be read online here. A study guide is online here. The 1953 film version was my first exposure to the story.

Wells' story The Invisible Man always affected me more as horror than as strictly science fiction. I saw the 1933 Claude Rains film long before I read the book. The book can be read online here.

The Island of Dr. Moreau has also been made into movies, beginning with the 1932 movie starring Charles Laughton and Bela Lugosi:



Burt Lancaster was in a 1977 adaptation. Pam Grier was in the 1996 version. The book is available here.

Things to Come (1936):



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