Reviews

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells

brontesaurus84's review against another edition

3.0

Might have given it another half if I could. Enjoyed it for what it was, and felt there were pros and cons to it being very much of its time. Also must give it credit for being hugely influential so my score is more my own personal enjoyment than any real critique of the work. But it didn't really illicit any great deep thought for me. "Wow. The human race could be a bit nicer to rabbits and stuff" feels a bit basic. But, overall, glad I read it.

booksandlemonsquash's review against another edition

3.0

I'm wavering between 3 and 4 stars for this, as I did enjoy it but I struggle with Wells' prose style. And his tendency to wander off down unnecessary paths. Like the brother - as they didn't meet up what was the point of that? Did he die? Did he and the women escape? Who knows. I like the concept, even with the outdated and now mildly ridiculous science, and I like that actually humans were struggling and they aren't what caused the alien to die off. In fact that was my favourite bit - every space show ever of humans (and others maybe) going to a new planet has them investigate atmosphere and air quality but not bacteria and this was a nice bit of logic for me!

n00bfairy's review against another edition

4.0

This is such a classic sci-fi and for a good reason. It has everything you could want: aliens, science, war. Once you get past the the dated technology and some of the hard to understand concepts, it really is a classic and solid read. I will admit the ending is a bit anticlimactic and felt a little weird, but I didn’t mind overall.

kelseystamey's review against another edition

4.0

I picked this up at the library because it is one of those classics that you are supposed to read...and I actually liked the movie. No other phenomenon or natural disaster can instill as much fear as an alien race. It is precisely because the Martians are so unknown/unfamiliar that they are terrifying. The narrator's fight for survival is impressive, and the author's writing style, which uses some pseudo-scientific supportive research, is apt. Rife with Heat-Rays, projectile space cylinders, and Black Smoke of unknown elements, I can see why this pioneer of alien science fiction still deserves attention.

maxpietersen's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Some really great ideas, some really unessecary sidetracking that slowed the book down a huge amount

goldenstories's review against another edition

The beginning was very engaging but soon after I got bored and haven’t picked it up for months nor do I feel the desire to, so I think it’s time to retire this one. 

karenavila85's review against another edition

1.0

Yes, I know. My one star is like "What the heck? This is one of the greatest books ever written. What is wrong with you?!?." Hate to say it but the movie with Tom Cruise based on this novel was more thrilling and exciting than this book ever was through its two hundred pages. Did not like how it was broken down into two parts and the way the "narrator" told the story. I found his story boring but maybe it was the author's writing style that made this problem for me. It had some interesting parts, mostly how the Martians build the machines and attacked the people. However, the story in between how the narrator (who remains nameless throughout the novel)told of his travel and describe every detail of the attack failed miserably to keep me engaged and entertained.

kentexmom's review against another edition

4.0

Alien invasion, urban panic, unknown technologies, insanity, and very thin hopes of human victory. I liked it much more than I expected to. I love The Time Machine, and I felt I owed it to myself to also read The War of the Worlds. I have seen one of the movies, though. And I knew that, while much of the movie was made up for modern audiences, the lame ending was by the book. And that ending ruined the movie. It doesn't ruin the book, though. Maybe because of the setting or because the action isn't as intense as the movie or because I knew what was coming.

msaundersuf's review against another edition

5.0

This guys in the 1800s English country with horses and carriages and somehow thought up WWI chemical weapons and pretty much exactly how the blitz would go down. A 16 year old read this book and started making rockets and then invented liquid-fueled rockets and then 100 years later we’re on mars. How does this even happen — story is also good

zacnation's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75