Summary
H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, first published in 1898, pioneered the alien invasion trope and profoundly influenced the development of science fiction. Set in Victorian England, the novel tells the chilling tale of a Martian invasion of Earth, as the technologically superior aliens lay waste to human civilization with their advanced weaponry and machinery. While Wells’s vivid depiction of the Martian tripods and heat-rays captured imaginations, his scientific details lent credibility to the fantastical premise. The novel also touched on topical themes of imperialism, evolution, and humanity's place in the cosmos.
The War of the Worlds remains a cornerstone of the sci fi genre. Four decades after the novel’s publication, Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation gripped listeners and is rumored to have caused widespread panic when some mistook the broadcast for a real alien invasion. Steven Spielberg's 2005 film starring Tom Cruise brought Wells's story to a new generation.
Plot
The War of the Worlds begins with astronomers observing flashes of light on Mars, which turn out to be cylinders launched towards Earth. The first cylinder lands on Horsell Common in Surrey, England. When a human delegation approaches it waving a white flag, Martians emerge and incinerate them with a heat-ray. Soon, three-legged Martian fighting machines armed with heat-rays and poisonous black smoke begin destroying towns and killing humans indiscriminately.
As panic spreads and refugees flee London, the novel’s unnamed narrator takes his wife to safety before returning to his home near the landing site. He witnesses the destruction firsthand and narrowly escapes several Martian attacks. The military proves ineffective against the Martians' superior technology. The narrator finds himself trapped for days in a collapsed house with a panic-stricken curate, observing the Martians and learning about their biology and machines.
After escaping, the narrator heads towards London, encountering a deranged artilleryman with unrealistic plans to fight back. In a deserted and ruined London, the narrator finds that all the Martians have unexpectedly died. It is revealed that they were killed by exposure to earthly bacteria, against which they had no immunity.
In the aftermath, the narrator is reunited with his wife, who had survived. He reflects on the invasion's impact on humanity's worldview and sense of security. The novel ends with the chilling reminder that Mars still watches Earth, and the Martians may one day return better prepared to survive Earth's microbes.
Themes
Imperialism and colonialism
Evolution and survival of the fittest
The limitations of human technology and power
The conflict between science and religion
The fragility of civilization
Xenophobia and fear of the unknown
Humanity's resilience in the face of catastrophe
Setting
The War of the Worlds is set in the 1890s, primarily in the suburbs of London. The story takes place in an era marked by rapid industrialization, scientific advancement, and the height of the British Empire's global dominance. This setting provides a stark contrast between Earth's most advanced civilization at the time and the even more technologically superior Martian invaders.
The narrative unfolds across the counties of Surrey and Middlesex, with key locations including Woking, where the first Martian cylinder lands, and various towns along the route to London such as Weybridge and Shepperton. As the invasion progresses, the action moves into the heart of London, depicting the panic and chaos in the world's largest city as it faces an unprecedented threat. The familiar English landscape is transformed into an alien battleground, with landmarks like the Thames River and Primrose Hill playing significant roles in the story.
H.G. Wells vividly describes the bucolic English countryside and bustling urban areas, emphasizing how quickly this familiar world is upended by the Martian attack. The setting highlights themes of imperialism, technological progress, and humanity's place in the universe. By situating this interplanetary conflict in the heart of the world's most powerful empire, Wells creates a compelling juxtaposition that forces readers to reconsider their assumptions about human superiority and vulnerability.
Characters
The Narrator: The story’s unnamed protagonist and narrator. He is a writer of philosophical papers living in Woking, Surrey, when the Martian invasion begins. He provides a firsthand account of the events, narrowly escaping death multiple times. The narrator is thoughtful and observant, offering scientific analysis of the Martians and their technology.
The Curate: A young clergyman whom the narrator encounters and travels with for a time. He gradually descends into madness as he grapples with the Martian invasion, seeing it as divine punishment. His erratic behavior eventually leads to conflict with the narrator.
The Artilleryman: A soldier the narrator meets twice during the invasion. He has grand plans for rebuilding human civilization underground but lacks the discipline to follow through. He represents misguided optimism in the face of overwhelming odds.
The Narrator's Wife: She is evacuated early in the invasion and reunited with the narrator at the end. Her character is not deeply developed, serving mainly as motivation for the narrator's actions.
The Narrator's Brother: He provides an account of events in London, including the mass exodus from the city. His experiences broaden the scope of the narrative beyond the narrator's immediate vicinity.
Ogilvy: An astronomer who first observes strange activity on Mars and later investigates the first fallen cylinder. His scientific curiosity leads to his demise at the hands of the Martians.
Mrs. Elphinstone: A woman the narrator's brother encounters during the evacuation of London. She represents the panic and confusion of civilians during the crisis.
Quick facts
The War of the Worlds is one of the earliest stories to detail a conflict between humans and an extraterrestrial race.
H. G. Wells was inspired to write the novel after discussing the possibility of Martian invasion with his brother during a countryside walk in Surrey, England.
The War the Worlds was initially serialized in Pearson's Magazine in 1897 before being published as a novel in 1898.
The novel popularized the idea of Mars as a dying planet whose inhabitants might seek to colonize Earth.
Wells based the Martian heat-ray weapon on ideas about electromagnetic radiation that were cutting-edge science at the time.
Wells's description of the Martian fighting machines as “tripods” influenced the popular sci-fi trope of alien walkers with three legs.
The novel has been analyzed as a commentary on British imperialism, with Earth on the receiving end of colonization for a change.
The War of the Worlds has been adapted into various media, including films, TV series, radio dramas, comic books, and a musical album.
Orson Welles's infamous 1938 radio broadcast adaptation allegedly caused panic among some listeners who believed the drama was a real news report.
In 2005, Steven Spielberg adapted the novel into a film starring Tom Cruise.
The War of the Worlds has never been out of print.
About the Author
H.G. Wells (1866-1946) was a pioneering British science fiction author and one of the most influential writers of his time. Born to working-class parents in Kent, Wells overcame a difficult childhood to become a prolific novelist, historian, and social commentator. He is best known for his groundbreaking science fiction works such as The Time Machine, The War of the Worlds, The Invisible Man, and The Island of Doctor Moreau, which established many of the genre's classic themes and tropes.
Wells received his scientific education at the Normal School of Science in London, studying under noted biologist Thomas Henry Huxley. This training heavily influenced his writing, allowing him to blend scientific concepts with imaginative storytelling. Beyond his fiction, Wells was a respected public intellectual who wrote extensively on politics, social issues, and world history. His nonfiction works like The Outline of History and The Science of Life were highly popular and influential in their time.
As a futurist and visionary thinker, Wells accurately predicted many technological and social developments, including nuclear weapons, space travel, and something resembling the World Wide Web. His ideas had a profound impact on both scientific progress and popular culture. Wells was also politically active as a socialist and advocate for world government, helping to draft documents that influenced the creation of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
