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kurumipanda's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Sexism, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
jill_holly's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's noted as the "grandaddy of sci-fi" and I can completely see that. I saw the beginnings of alien/monster invasion stories, dystopian worlds, and even nature/weird plant horror, which was unexpected.
What also struck me is how graphic it was. Considering it was written in 1898, I didn't expect it to go into the detail it did in some descriptions. I also noticed that while many things have changed in society, some things simply haven't. The arrogance of humanity that another species could conquer us, the reactions from panic to organization to religious fervour, and how some people think it won't impact them. In 1898 it was because info didn't move fast enough, but now, it might be the dearth of info and misinfo that harms us.
Note there's some casual sexism, but considering the time period, I expected worse.
Glad I finally read this classic, I'm sure it'll pop into my head as I continue to read horror and sci-fi!
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore
ruthmoog's review against another edition
5.0
But in spite of that, it's just an absolute banger!
Ethics, tension and hope in a gruesome uncanny setting.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexism and Colonisation
pedanther's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Child death, Genocide, Racism, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Cannibalism, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
arxchiell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death and War
Minor: Animal cruelty
hjb_128's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Sexism and Suicidal thoughts
timmytunter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Violence, and War
pholcidae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Wells clearly did his work in familiarising himself with the suburbs of London to create a sense of familiarity with the intended audience when he wrote this. I only recognised a few places since I am not familiar with the city and its surroundings, but I certainly got my own tour of them all in this story(!)
I did enjoy the pseudoscientific approach to the narrator’s telling of his story - if only the science wasn’t outdated by this time it might’ve been more convincing.
Whilst I enjoyed the use of language and literary devices, I found it hard to feel immersed in the story by way of it feeling like listening to someone who is overly fond of their own voice ranting at me about aliens and society.
The plot was so diluted by Wells’ insistence on dictating directions around the general geography of London, that by the end I felt the climax was not all too climactic. Also, character development was non-existence so there’s not much to comment there.
Overall, an unfortunate low scoring for a book I was very excited to read.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Blood and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny
emmylgrajinski's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Death
bones_jackson's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War