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lex_r's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
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
3.75
A quick accessible classic, if you like sci-fi or doctor who I could recommend this book. The time period is also set so far into the future that it doesn't seem outdated which is a wonderful aspect of this book as many "sci-fi" of the past aren't. Wells' description and interpretation of the future is also unique and incredibly colorful, earth has essentially become unrecognizable while staying completely habitable; something I wasn't expecting. Although I do warn, HG Wells' writes men in a way that screams patriarchy, undeserved superiority, and narcissism, so in the midst of this unique interpretation of sci-fi, the main character is a bit insufferable <***<< HUGE SPOILER>>>***>>> I will never forgive Wells for how he killed Weena.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, and Xenophobia
librarymouse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
The Time Machine by H G Wells is not a great choice for anyone with existential dread and fears for the future. That being said, I enjoyed the way the Eloi and Morlock diverged so far from one another to become creatures far removed from modern humans. The Eloi society is an interesting twist on the hopes we have for what our future will become. They're happy, but they're also ignorant. The narrator is hard to like, and often refers to his love interest as childlike, which is unnerving at best. Overall an interesting book, but not one of my favorites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, and Fire/Fire injury
ayah_reads's review against another edition
2.0
Third book for my Empire and it's Fictions course!
This is best one I've read so far, which isn't saying much, the other two literally got 0 starts from, and this only gets 2 stars, but that's colonial literature for you.
I also greatly prefer this to War of the Worlds because HG Wells sticks to what I think he's knows best - exploring the anxieties Britian was having at that time around social Darwinistic ideas of progress and degeneration. Whereas War of the World tries to critique British colonialism while still being incredibly social Darwinistic and therefore upholding the very ideas that justify colonialism, so basically it really doesn't do much.
This story also sticks to Britian (London specifically I believe), better than the other books I've read in this class that are obsessed with Africa and only use it as a prop for their own exploration of European issues. So appreciate that from this.
Also generally a short story, whereas War of the World has a 'this meeting could have been an email" vibes.
But why is the THIRD book in this course that has same narration style that is one person just tells the story to a group of people. WHY ARE THESE STORIES JUST MONOLOGUES.
This is best one I've read so far, which isn't saying much, the other two literally got 0 starts from, and this only gets 2 stars, but that's colonial literature for you.
I also greatly prefer this to War of the Worlds because HG Wells sticks to what I think he's knows best - exploring the anxieties Britian was having at that time around social Darwinistic ideas of progress and degeneration. Whereas War of the World tries to critique British colonialism while still being incredibly social Darwinistic and therefore upholding the very ideas that justify colonialism, so basically it really doesn't do much.
This story also sticks to Britian (London specifically I believe), better than the other books I've read in this class that are obsessed with Africa and only use it as a prop for their own exploration of European issues. So appreciate that from this.
Also generally a short story, whereas War of the World has a 'this meeting could have been an email" vibes.
But why is the THIRD book in this course that has same narration style that is one person just tells the story to a group of people. WHY ARE THESE STORIES JUST MONOLOGUES.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racial slurs, Violence, Cannibalism, and Classism
Minor: Cannibalism
xphilphil's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
bookmarkspages's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Violence and Cannibalism
solomonsnow's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, and Cannibalism
jowmy4's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Really enjoyed this book. It's both a great sci-fi adventure and a commentary on (capitalist) society. Tense at times, with several action scenes. I really liked the way this was told through a third party and the ambiguous ending.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Cannibalism
Minor: Grief
The cannibalism is complicated because they are two different species - however they do have a common ancestor