Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1859 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-31
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
The night after a shooting star is seen streaking through the sky from Mars, a cylinder is discovered on Horsell Common in London. At first, naive locals approach the cylinder armed just with a white flag only to be quickly killed by an all-destroying heat-ray, as terrifying tentacled invaders emerge. Soon the whole of human civilisation is under threat, as powerful Martians build gigantic killing machines, destroy all in their path with black gas and burning rays, and feast on the warm blood of trapped, still-living human prey. The forces of the Earth, however, may prove harder to beat than they at first appear.

Customer Reviews

the greatest science fiction novel ever.
this book was first written in 1898 and is as poweful today as it was then. a great read

Clobber the Curate
Having just finished this novel, many scenes and incidents are still reverberating in my mind's eye. The martians had the good sense to invade during the summer, thus providing wells with the opportunity to describe many beautiful days and sunsets. I don't think I will ever be able to skirt a clay pit without listening out for hammering or nervously glancing around for puffs of green smoke. A novel of wonderful invention, it is crying out for a faithful filmic representation that will do it justice. As one other reviewer has mentioned, the comments on the SF site were clearly made by an idiot.

The ultimate sci-fi story.
I'm sure most of you are aware of the premise of this book; what with two motion pictures, a musical, a double CD and an infamous radio program . I still feel, however, compelled to write a short review to reminds us all why this relatively short and simple Sci-Fi book is one of the best ever written.

From start to end it is a fascinatingly, absorbing read and almost believable account of alien invasion (hence maybe the panic after the 1938 radio show!) And not once did I forget this book was written in the 1800'S, before many people had even considered life outside our planet, let alone the threat it could pose.

The story itself is told through an individual who survives and witnesses much of the invasion. His version of accounts shows how humanity responded to this threat, behaved towards each other and the invasion itself. The scene of the steam battleship confronting one of the alien Tripods is very touching, as is of course, the lead character's (whom we never know by name) efforts to find his loved ones.

Needless to say , the descriptions of the aliens and their technology (the Tripods are very scary in any medium!); their ruthlessness to dominate and extinguish human kind would astound readers today. What they made of these ideas back in 1898 we can only imagine! One could also believe the Martians are a parody of humankind; portraying our recklessness and drive to consume or destroy without thought; "intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic" ...

In short, this is one book you MUST read (it wont take you long!). And do not be put off if you have seen any of the above versions. I only read this recently after seeing all of the above (not the musical) and still found it an amazing read and comfortably up there with the best books Ive ever read. Sci-Fi or other!

I believe the best Sci-Fi stories combines humankind, as we know it, with the unknown and unimaginable. What HG Wells does with War of The Worlds, is to bring the unimaginable to man's doorstep, and gives us one heck of a fright!