HG Wells

H.G. Wells

• Born Herbert George Wells on September 21, 1866, in Kent, England • “The Man Who Invented Tomorrow” • “The Father of Science Fiction” • Known for “scientific romances” • A visionary and early pioneer of science fiction

First Titles • The Time Machine (1895) was his first novel=instant success • The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896) • The Invisible Man (1897) • The War of the Worlds (1898)

Radio Scare • The War of the Worlds was adapted into a story for broadcast radio. It was aired on Halloween night, 1938, and read by Orson Welles. • It caused general panic because audiences thought the descriptions of aliens attacking New Jersey represented actual news.

Scientific Vision • Wells had a strong background in science from the Normal School of Science • He accurately foretold a number of important scientific – – – –

Chemical warfare Computer chips Women’s rights Splitting the atom/atom bombs

Timeline • 1851: Jules Verne=A Voyage in a Balloon • 1861-1865: Civil War • 1876: Alexander Graham Bell=telephone • 1880=First electric lights • 1886: Robert Louis Stevenson=Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde • 1895: Wells=The Time Machine

• 1896: First modern-day Olympics • 1905: Einstein=Special Theory of Relativity • 1906: First radio program with voice and music • 1908: Henry Ford= Model T • 1912: Sinking of Titanic • 1914: Beginning of WWI

“The Crystal Egg” • Written in 1899. • A shopkeeper, living a dreary life, discovers he has a window into another world. • His discovery transforms his life. • Is this discovery positive or negative for humanity?