“I was a battleground of fear and curiosity,” explains the narrator of War of the Worlds by H G Wells when he observes the first cylinder from Mars. Set in the English countryside, this 19th-century tale holds up very well. With small changes, like rockets and atomic weapons instead of cavalry and field artillery, the story could have been written in the 21st century.
Social commentary
Wells compares the humans to rats, ants, and rabbits, the Martians viewing the human population as annoying pests. This analogy also applies to the Europeans and their treatment of native populations across the rest of the planet. The reader is encouraged to empathize with the indigenous people overrun by the Europeans, especially the British.
Another human behavior Wells employs is the tendency to be optimistic based on feelings of superiority. The authorities, soldiers, and citizens all underestimate the capability of the Martians.
Eternal Science
The narrator correctly deduces that the Martians will have difficulty because the gravity on earth is so much greater than on Mars. On the other side of the balance, Earth has more available oxygen and the Martians have machines so their personal strength is less of an issue.
The Martian accidentally bring plants to earth. These red weeds become an invasive species and out-compete Terrestrial plants.
19th Century Science
The Martians have two weapons. One is deadly gas that kills everything in its vicinity. Here Wells foresees the gas warfare fifteen years in the future (WWI), but misses the horrors of this weapon. The second is a Heat Ray (aka Death Ray) which is a staple of Science Fiction that never quite makes its appearance in real life.
A 19th-century artifact is a meat safe. A meat safe stores meat and other perishables before refrigeration. The meat safe is a screened box that allows ventilation to keep its contents as cool as possible while protecting it from insects. It seems like an appliance worth reviving for picnics and barbeques.
Whether you are looking for an exciting story of interplanetary warfare or commentary on human society, this book is well worth reading even 120 years after its first publication.
No comments:
Post a Comment