Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Time Machine

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

27 reviews

beccabees's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5

A good commentary on how our economic system will lead to our downfall and an accidental illustration of the hubris of the colonizer. Expect old-timey racism.

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erikwmj's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.5

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fantasticalsam's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

I read this book because I recently read a history of the concept of time travel - the first chapter is the only one worth reading. Misogynistic, exceptionally racist even for the period. If it were any longer, I wouldn't have finished it.

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riverofhorton's review

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I need to take a break from this book for an indeterminate amount of time. I just can't deal with the audacity, racism, classism, ableism, and arrogance of this man.

I may well come back to this book at a later date (if so, I will update this review), but for now I am not in the mental space to be reading this. Which is honestly such a shame, I have been looking forward to actually reading this book since watching the 60s film as a kid.

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wishbea's review

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adventurous fast-paced

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

4.0

Brilliant, an intriguing story and excellent ending. The tale of a Time Traveller having invited several men of various influential positions to his house to tell them about his adventures into the future.

A surprisingly easy read about issues of classism that remain true to this day, highlighting how a rich man would be more likely to believe the future to be a human utopia so of course he'd come to the future unprepared for the dangers.

The Morlocks were written as convincingly terrifying and I understand why the Morlocks persist in pop culture when classism remains prevalent.

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lilaceous's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

characters - ⭐️

plot - .5⭐️

engaging to read - ⭐️

would recommend -

would read again - ⭐️

quick read, cool world building. interesting reflection on class and problematic reflection on race, gender, and childhood.

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emmalouisereads's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.5

This is a very short book about time travel. There’s certainly better time travel stories out there, but I do not know if that’s in part because this one paved the way.

The book makes some interesting comments on class and gender whilst exploring the future of humanity.

However there are some racist remarks that are completely unnecessary to the plot. I can only think that they were there so we knew, and didn’t forget, the author was a racist. They left a bad taste for the remainder of the book.

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bluelizzz's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

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

4.5

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ailurus's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.0

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james1star's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-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

Yh this was alright I guess. Basically a time traveller tells the story of the previous week where he used his machine to travel to the future year of 802,701 AD. He sees that humanity has become like a socialist paradise with no toil socially or economically, they all like in large palace like buildings, vegetarians, same size, seemingly genderless and the children are basically miniature versions of the parents. There’s more but yh whateves, I also found it a little strange how much he was able to come up with at first glance and just by looking - bit too much detailed extrapolation kinda I dunno. After looking around he begins to consider there may be something going on underneath with these shafts and sightings of ape-like things so deduces that thousands of years ago humanity split into two species and yhhh they’re a note to it.

Writing was fine, characters ehh not really that developed or likeable, setting was good I guess. Some messages were put forward but nothing too much, maybe more could be taken if read when it was published but currently I didn’t gain much. The actual story was alright, I’m really not a sci-fi reader but wanted to check this classic granddaddy of the genre. I’m glad I did but it wasn’t my cup of coffee in all honestly. Would recommend if it sounds like something you’d be interested in. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Kelsey Grammer which I think was presented well - he’s passionate, clear and I think if I was reading physically I’d of DNFd it earlier.

Last note: I just felt the relationship with Weener (dunno if that’s how you spell it) was a bit weird cause she’s constantly described as childlike and small and Yhh it was just kinda uncomfortable/cringy.

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