H.G.Wells' The War of the Worlds

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Attacks from Martians, time travel, interplanetary travel and the impossible are possible within the realm of science fiction. The literary genre of science fiction houses some of the greatest pieces of literature of all time, by some of the greatest authors. Regarded among colleagues, as one of the finest is the inspirational, ingenious and influential writer H. G. Wells. Being the author of such classics as The Time Machine, The Island Of Dr. Moreau and The Invisible Man H. G. Wells is considered the father and primary developer of science fiction. A title Wells was catapulted into with the publication of the 1898 science fiction classic, The War of the Worlds.

It was this new style of story that would bring about and create this brand new, exciting and often educational form of literature. It is The War of the Worlds that really epitomizes what science fiction is and what it should be. The enchanting but gruesome tale of Martian invasion became the beginning of the modern science fiction story and was the first ever story about life on other planets attacking the human race (a now very popular theme). Although this exclusive, appreciated and amusing style of writing was graced with instant success in its current form, it too, like any other style of writing changed with the times. Unfortunately the new variation was a change for the worse.

For many people nowadays science fiction or Sci-Fi as the media miscall it means movies. It means Star Wars and E.T. For others it signifies television shows or radio series, constantly broadcast in people’s homes perpetuating this common misconception. What many do not realize however is that science fiction as a genre of literature is an ancient art, one which is in mass q...

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.... The main difference between them is the amount of ignorance involved in their classification, for when one begins to examine the classic science fiction novels such as Journey To The Center Of The Earth, Dune and The War Of The Worlds in light of their allocated genre we can see just why they are classified as science fiction novels, they respect and recognize the constraints although they do not consciously attempt to fit in, but remarkably they do. The remarkable thing about The War of the Worlds is that it fits into every area of science fiction genre without exception. Is it then a coincidence that it is regarded as one of the best novels of all time, It is more likely that the format and outline of the book and indeed the genre conveys more to the reader. It has something indescribably tantalizing about it that comes from no other genre than science fiction.

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