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Read a selected few for uni - I enjoyed wells style of writing and think although his stories are fiction there are some messages within them that are still relevant in modern society.
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The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells
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Herbert George Wells was perhaps best known as the author of such classic works of science fiction as The Time Machine and War of the Worlds. But it was in his short stories, written when he was a young man embarking on a literary career, that he first explored the enormous potential of the scientific discoveries of the day. He described his stories as "a miscellany of inventions," yet his enthusiasm for science was tempered by an awareness of its horrifying destructive powers and the threat it could pose to the human race. A consummate storyteller, he made fantastic creatures and machines entirely believable, and by placing ordinary men and women in extraordinary situations, he explored, with humor, what it means to be alive in a century of rapid scientific progress. At the dawn of a new millennium, Wells' singular vision is more compelling than ever.
864 pages, Paperback
First published September 1,1927
This edition
- Format
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864 pages, Paperback
- Published
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May 1, 2001 by Orion Publishing
- ISBN
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9781842124024
- ASIN
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1842124021
- Language
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English
About the author
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Herbert George Wells was born to a working class family in Kent, England. Young Wells received a spotty education, interrupted by several illnesses and family difficulties, and became a draper's apprentice as a teenager. The headmaster of Midhurst Grammar School, where he had spent a year, arranged for him to return as an "usher," or student teacher. Wells earned a government scholarship in 1884, to study biology under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Normal School of Science. Wells earned his bachelor of science and doctor of science degrees at the University of London. After marrying his cousin, Isabel, Wells began to supplement his teaching salary with short stories and freelance articles, then books, including The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898).
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
Wells created a mild scandal when he divorced his cousin to marry one of his best students, Amy Catherine Robbins. Although his second marriage was lasting and produced two sons, Wells was an unabashed advocate of free (as opposed to "indiscriminate") love. He continued to openly have extra-marital liaisons, most famously with Margaret Sanger, and a ten-year relationship with the author Rebecca West, who had one of his two out-of-wedlock children. A one-time member of the Fabian Society, Wells sought active change. His 100 books included many novels, as well as nonfiction, such as A Modern Utopia (1905), The Outline of History (1920), A Short History of the World (1922), The Shape of Things to Come (1933), and The Work, Wealth and Happiness of Mankind (1932). One of his booklets was Crux Ansata, An Indictment of the Roman Catholic Church. Although Wells toyed briefly with the idea of a "divine will" in his book, God the Invisible King (1917), it was a temporary aberration. Wells used his international fame to promote his favorite causes, including the prevention of war, and was received by government officials around the world. He is best-remembered as an early writer of science fiction and futurism.
He was also an outspoken socialist. Wells and Jules Verne are each sometimes referred to as "The Fathers of Science Fiction". D. 1946.
More: http://philosopedia.org/index.php/H._...
http://www.online-literature.com/well...
http://www.hgwellsusa.50megs.com/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/t...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._G._Wells
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As in any compilation, some stories are really good and some others really meh! Anyway Wells' creativity and inteligence is highly palpable in every single page I've read of his works, it doesn't matter if I ended liking them or not. A true sci-fi writter.
Me encantan las ideas Sci-Fi viejitas, entre más leo a los autores clásicos menos quiero leer a los nuevos. Y es que sus ideas mezclaban perfecto realidad y ciencia con ficción, al grado que no se leen ridículas o imposibles si no simplemente visionarias, cualidad que no todos los autores actuales poseen o que cambian por algo meramente ostentoso.
Lo que más disfrute de Wells este año y medio que leí mucho de su trabajo es precisamente eso, su visión tan única incluso en sus novelas que no me terminaban agradando mucho. En cada historia corta y en cada novela había algo que me impresionaba y definitivamente seguiré buscando sus demás trabajos.
Recomiendo mucho al autor para cualquier persona amante del género y de las largas descripciones.
Me encantan las ideas Sci-Fi viejitas, entre más leo a los autores clásicos menos quiero leer a los nuevos. Y es que sus ideas mezclaban perfecto realidad y ciencia con ficción, al grado que no se leen ridículas o imposibles si no simplemente visionarias, cualidad que no todos los autores actuales poseen o que cambian por algo meramente ostentoso.
Lo que más disfrute de Wells este año y medio que leí mucho de su trabajo es precisamente eso, su visión tan única incluso en sus novelas que no me terminaban agradando mucho. En cada historia corta y en cada novela había algo que me impresionaba y definitivamente seguiré buscando sus demás trabajos.
Recomiendo mucho al autor para cualquier persona amante del género y de las largas descripciones.
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Although most of hg's settings were either 19th century England or Brazil, he never failed in bringing vivid imagination to his stories.
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"The Magic Shop" — 5/5 Twilight zone style fantasy would've been a great episode, influence several of them
"The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes" — 3/5 enjoyable SF weird tale.
"The Door in the Wall" — 5/5 one of the best stories ever. haunting nostalgia with a point.
"The Man Who Could Work Miracles" — 4/5 The only reason I can think this not a Twilight zone episode is because there was a movie about it already. It's got all the hallmarks of a good TZ episode.
"The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham" — 5/5 Another fun fantasy, though it is actually dark.
"The Diamond Maker" — 3/5 Not a lot to it but it's got enough to keep you thinking about it.
"Miss Winchelsea's Heart" — 3/5 complete change of pace from most stories other than the irony, it's pretty funny though, social mores humor.
"A Moonlight Fable" — 4/5 Short bittersweet
"The Red Room" — 4/5 nice ambiguous horror
"The Star" — 5/5 great ending, another one that had much influence on Twilight Zone
"The Land Ironclads" — 3/5 some decent moments but drags getting to the end.
"The Jilting of Jane" — 3/5 another parody of social mores of the time. witty.
"The Cone" — 3/5 Almost too straightforward though there is one point has a poetic justice to it.
A Dream of Armageddon -3/5 Another one about war that is bit too long for it's own good but it does the job and has so me good lines.
Sea raiders - 4/5 Very straightforward creature horror but action packed.
In the Avu Observatory - 3/5 simple but effective story
The Plattner Story - 3/5 Well this is the weirdest one. Kind of resonantes after watching The Good Place though.
The Stolen Bacillus -4/5 Science based thriller and irony
Aepyornis Island - 4/5 scientific based travel story, surprisingly bittersweet
The Purple Pileus - 3/5 Long drive to a clever ending
The Flowering of the Strange Orchid 3/5 predictable creature horror
The Moth - 4/5 Nice weird ironic story.
The Crystal Egg - 4/5 intriguing set up and weird follow up
The Triumphs of a Taxidermist - 2/5 seems like really nothing piece. I had to actually research it a bit to figure out where this came from. figuring that out was half the enjoyment.
the obliterated Man - 2/5 it's not bad just half-formed. it's just a dead simple idea without anything else.
The Inexperienced Ghost - 2/5 unique idea but predictable ending
Next:
The Stolen Body
The Argonauts of the Air
The Treasure in the Forest
A Slip Under the Microscope
The Temptation of Harringay
The Reconciliation
The Catastrophe
The Truth About Pyecraft
Mr Skelmersdale in Fairyland
Mr Brisher's Treasure
The New Accelerator
In the Modern Vein-An Unsympathetic Love Story'
Under the Knife
"The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes" — 3/5 enjoyable SF weird tale.
"The Door in the Wall" — 5/5 one of the best stories ever. haunting nostalgia with a point.
"The Man Who Could Work Miracles" — 4/5 The only reason I can think this not a Twilight zone episode is because there was a movie about it already. It's got all the hallmarks of a good TZ episode.
"The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham" — 5/5 Another fun fantasy, though it is actually dark.
"The Diamond Maker" — 3/5 Not a lot to it but it's got enough to keep you thinking about it.
"Miss Winchelsea's Heart" — 3/5 complete change of pace from most stories other than the irony, it's pretty funny though, social mores humor.
"A Moonlight Fable" — 4/5 Short bittersweet
"The Red Room" — 4/5 nice ambiguous horror
"The Star" — 5/5 great ending, another one that had much influence on Twilight Zone
"The Land Ironclads" — 3/5 some decent moments but drags getting to the end.
"The Jilting of Jane" — 3/5 another parody of social mores of the time. witty.
"The Cone" — 3/5 Almost too straightforward though there is one point has a poetic justice to it.
A Dream of Armageddon -3/5 Another one about war that is bit too long for it's own good but it does the job and has so me good lines.
Sea raiders - 4/5 Very straightforward creature horror but action packed.
In the Avu Observatory - 3/5 simple but effective story
The Plattner Story - 3/5 Well this is the weirdest one. Kind of resonantes after watching The Good Place though.
The Stolen Bacillus -4/5 Science based thriller and irony
Aepyornis Island - 4/5 scientific based travel story, surprisingly bittersweet
The Purple Pileus - 3/5 Long drive to a clever ending
The Flowering of the Strange Orchid 3/5 predictable creature horror
The Moth - 4/5 Nice weird ironic story.
The Crystal Egg - 4/5 intriguing set up and weird follow up
The Triumphs of a Taxidermist - 2/5 seems like really nothing piece. I had to actually research it a bit to figure out where this came from. figuring that out was half the enjoyment.
the obliterated Man - 2/5 it's not bad just half-formed. it's just a dead simple idea without anything else.
The Inexperienced Ghost - 2/5 unique idea but predictable ending
Next:
The Stolen Body
The Argonauts of the Air
The Treasure in the Forest
A Slip Under the Microscope
The Temptation of Harringay
The Reconciliation
The Catastrophe
The Truth About Pyecraft
Mr Skelmersdale in Fairyland
Mr Brisher's Treasure
The New Accelerator
In the Modern Vein-An Unsympathetic Love Story'
Under the Knife
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This was part of my GSE O Level syllabus in my first year of college age 16. Enjoyed the short stories very much so much so I read them all again afterwards.
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I read selected stories in here. His ability to see the future is worth the price of admission. Many stories are dated and lose savor. He is prolific like King and often not much better. I enjoy both men.
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I read the story "The Star" it is about Neptune and was really good.
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I knew that H.G. Wells had an excellent imagination from his novels, but the short story is truly a much more expressive location for his thoughts. The stories range from mere anecdotes to novelas, with a vast array of subjects: science fiction, history, romance... basically anything you can think of. And the few duds in here are completely smothered by the many great stories. There is a definite improvement in writing style over the course of Wells' career, and there are extremely diverse shifts between tones from one story to the next. At almost 1000 pages, there's enough in here for anyone, even if you want to plow straight through it or you would rather pick and choose.
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