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avid_d's review
4.0
This is the third time, I think, that I have read this book and the first time I have really enjoyed it. In my younger years, I found it too "talky" and lacking in action. I have, clearly, changed in my taste/appreciation.
nick_jenkins's review
4.0
A little truncated in the last half--sort of like Y: The Last Man, come to think of it--all the planning was clearly put into the invasion/disaster, none into what our heroes would do about it.
justabean_reads's review
3.0
It's always so interesting to actually read something you've only run into via osmosis. The science of the aliens part was absolutely fascinating, and it holds up as solid SF now, even if we know rather more about Mars. The plot not so much, and I could have lived without the racism.
danyspike's review
3.0
I must admit that at times the book was terribly slow and I had to force myself to continue reading, just because I wanted to know what happened with the Martians in the end. But I liked the book and I liked the way Wells was able to make you feel a bit nervous about what was going on, and how the humanity was going to survive this. I would have preffered a slightly different ending, though, but I wasn't too disappointed, so...3 stars!
aprilleigh's review
3.0
It was a slow burn and a bit of a slog in the beginning compared to most of the science fiction I read, but the story itself was scarily plausible given the science of the time in which it was written (the idea of intelligent life on Mars was widely accepted). The means of their downfall was highly meaningful, given the imperial tendencies of many European countries, although this time it was reversed in favor of the original inhabitants. Nice social commentary, and most likely deliberate given what I know about the author.
The narrative even came across strongly as having been written by someone more used to writing about philosophy rather than adventure, like the narrator. Very effective, indeed, even though it made the story drag a little in various places.
The narrative even came across strongly as having been written by someone more used to writing about philosophy rather than adventure, like the narrator. Very effective, indeed, even though it made the story drag a little in various places.
judibud's review
4.0
I am not a sci-fi fan but this came up as one of our group reads and I thought I would give it a go since I got a free copy from vook a few months back. I actually really enjoyed the story and am very glad I gave it a chance.
The book is a lot better than the movie!!
The book is a lot better than the movie!!
lnatal's review
4.0
Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
Opening lines:
No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter.
Opening lines:
No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in their assurance of their empire over matter.
martinroberts's review
4.0
Hard to judge this book after years of exposure to the films and musical. I do think the section that deals with the narrator's brother slows down the book as a whole resulting in a four star rating for me. Still, looking forward to reading more classics from Mr. Wells in the not to distant future.
emma_probett's review
2.0
"To carry warfare sunward is indeed their only escape from the destruction that generation after generation creeps upon them."
I found this novel a remarkably apt companion-piece to the climate change activism that took place this March and much more enjoyable than The Time Machine in general (because it aggravates me to no end that the Time Traveller didn't think to pack *anything* beforehand). That being said, I still found the narrative frustrating at time, as it constantly qualified women being silly or shockingly not-silly, and gave a stroke-by-stroke description of events in a purposefully-emotive-pretending-to-be-detached tone; a blend between scientific outlook (without any follow through on that aspect) with a diary-like account of an alien invasion. Nevertheless, I found the resolution of the novel deeply satisfying.
I found this novel a remarkably apt companion-piece to the climate change activism that took place this March and much more enjoyable than The Time Machine in general (because it aggravates me to no end that the Time Traveller didn't think to pack *anything* beforehand). That being said, I still found the narrative frustrating at time, as it constantly qualified women being silly or shockingly not-silly, and gave a stroke-by-stroke description of events in a purposefully-emotive-pretending-to-be-detached tone; a blend between scientific outlook (without any follow through on that aspect) with a diary-like account of an alien invasion. Nevertheless, I found the resolution of the novel deeply satisfying.