A review by ayah_reads
The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
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: Cannibalism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Cannibalism