Sci-fi legend H.G. Wells’ books

Herbert George Wells was a famous UK writer, journalist, historian, and sociologist, who lived from 1866 to 1946. Wells was prolific in many different genres and during his lifetime wrote over fifty novels and a few dozen short stories. Nevertheless, H. G. Wells is best known for his works in the field of science fiction.

The significance of author H.G. Wells

H. G. Wells’s interest in becoming a writer started when he was merely a boy. However, he won a scholarship to study biology and graduated from the Normal School of Science in London.

The very first book H. G. Wells ever published was a Textbook of Biology, but he got his breakthrough with the novel The Time Machine. This was the first in a series of science fiction novels by H. G. Wells.

His short stories were all summarized in The Stolen Bacillus And Other Incidents (1895), The Plattner Story (1897), and Tales of Space and Time (1899).

As his writing career progressed, Wells earned the title of prophet, as in many of his novels he had foreseen many technological advancements, including aircraft usage in the military. Wells’ thoughts and ideas were all ahead of his time, which ultimately led to him being nicknamed “The Father Of Science Fiction.”

Books Herbert George Wells is Well-Known For

Throughout his life, Wells has written over a hundred different pieces, but he is mostly recognized for:

The Time Machine (1895)

The first novel ever published by Wells, The Time Machine is the story of a Time Traveller. He shares his adventures that take place in the year 802.701 AD with a group of men which includes the nameless narrator. The novel holds an important message—humankind should forget about class divisions.

The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896)

The Island of Doctor Moreau showcases and discusses the morality of vivisection, which was a common practice during Wells’s lifetime. Using his vivid imagination and irony he emphasizes the seriousness of the problem while clarifying three main ironies through three main characters.

The War of the Worlds (1897)

In The War of the Worlds, Wells points out the potential dangers that could come with technology. The Martians have more advanced technology than humans but ultimately lose the war, as they didn’t expect that Earth is also home to one thing they don’t know how to fight – bacteria.

The Invisible Man (1897)

Probably one of the best science fiction books ever written, The Invisible Man questions the influences of greed. When a man manages to make himself invisible, he doesn’t suspect that this revolution will make him capable of committing many gruesome crimes and even becoming a killer.

The First Men in the Moon (1901)

When Mr. Bedford meets Mr. Cavor, the Moon invasion begins. Upon visiting the Earth’s Satellite, they discover that the Moon isn’t just a dead rock, but rather contains life such as single-day growing plants, giant lunar calves, and the members of a modern utopia—ant-like creatures called Selenites.

His other widely recognized scientific romance works include:

• The War in the Air (1908)
• The Shape of Things to Come (1933)
• When the Sleeper Wakes (1899)
• The Way (1895)
• Ann Veronica (1909)

H.G. Wells as a “futurist” and his non-fiction writings

H. G. Wells is best known for his apparent ability to predict the future. In his writings, he had foreseen the emergence of airplanes, tanks, atomic bombs, satellite tv, and even the internet – alongside space travel, of course. He didn’t only predict the inventions, but also the social disturbances and many wellfares that remain crucial problems of humankind, even to this day. The work of H. G. Wells includes writings about politics, social commentary, popular science, history, biography (a book that showcases the life of an individual), as well as his autobiography (a book that showcases the life of the individual writing it). His most well-known non-fiction output includes:

• The War That Will End War (1914)
• The Outline of History (1920)
• The Science of Life (1930)
• A Short History of the World (1922)
• The Mind at the End of its Tether (1945)
• The Door in the Wall (1911)
• The Wheels of Chance (1896)
• The History of Mr. Polly (1910)
• Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul (1905)
• The Wonderful Visit (1895)
• Love and Mr. Lewisham (1900)
• Tono-Bungay (1909)
• Anticipations (1901)
• Gods (1926)
• The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1931)

These works demonstrate Wells’ wide-ranging interests and his engagement with the major issues of his time. They also reflect his belief in the power of science and reason to solve the world’s problems.

Personal life and background of H.G. Wells

Herbert George Wells was born and grew up in the upper-class Victorian Bromley province in Kent, England. His parents were once household servants but turned into small shopkeepers. Growing up, he experienced a continual threat of poverty and even worked as a draper’s assistant for a while before heading off to study biology and finally becoming a science teacher. He was married twice, and during both marriages he had numerous affairs.

Wells’ first marriage was to his cousin, Isabel Mary Wells, in 1891. However, he began an affair with writer and feminist Rebecca West in 1913, which lasted for about a decade. After his divorce from Isabel in 1894, Wells married Amy Catherine Robbins, also known as Jane, in 1895, the same year his first novel was published. Nevertheless, Wells continued to have extramarital affairs.

In 1909, he began a relationship with writer and feminist Amber Reeves, who was 16 years his junior. Wells’ affairs were widely publicized in the press at the time and were often a source of scandal. However, he continued to be a prominent figure in the literary and intellectual circles of his time, and to this day.

Throughout Wells’s life, he suffered from several health problems, including diabetes and high blood pressure, which contributed to his declining health in later years. Wells also experienced heart problems and a series of strokes, which caused him to have difficulty speaking and moving around.

Despite his health problems, Wells continued to write and publish works until the end of his life. He died of undisclosed causes on August 13, 1946, at his home in London. According to his son, Wells’s last words were: “Go away, boy. Can’t you see I’m working?”

The legacy H.G.Wells left behind

H.G. Wells left a lasting legacy in the fields of science fiction, literature, and social commentary, using his works to criticize and examine societal issues of, and ahead of his time. He wrote about topics such as the dangers of imperialism, the importance of education, and the impact of technology on society. His influence was so great that he has several books written about him, including The Practice of Writing and A Man of Parts, both by David Lodge.

In addition to his literary contributions, Wells was also a prominent public figure and advocate for progressive causes. He was involved in various political and social organizations, including the Fabian Society (alongside Bernard Shaw), which advocated for socialism and social reform. and his political beliefs influenced much of his writing. Wells’s most well-known quotes include:

• “Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative.”—From his book, The Time Machine
• “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.”—From his book, The Outline of History
• “The crisis of today is the joke of tomorrow.”—From his book The New Machiavelli

How can I listen to H.G. Wells’ books?

H. G. Wells is one of the first people to have one of his books in an audio format—back in 1938. This was all thanks to Orson Welles, who adapted H.G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds into a radio play. Orson Welles caused great panic among the people, who thought that the alien invasion was real.

Today, you can still enjoy the work of H. G. Wells in audio formats, and you don’t even have to wait for a radio show to start. Instead, give Speechify a try, and witness H. G. Wells’s amazing stories come to life.

Speechify

Speechify is the next great way to experience audiobooks and hear great stories come to life.

For as little as $1 per month, you can enjoy your favorite titles brought to life by amazing voice actors in English and numerous different languages. Apart from H. G. Wells, on Speechify you can find many other sci-fi authors, including Jules Verne and Frank Herbert, alongside numerous different genres.