Der Krieg der Welten

When an army of invading Martians lands in England, panic and terror seize the population. As the aliens traverse the country in huge three-legged machines, incinerating all in their path with a heat ray and spreading noxious toxic gases, the people of the Earth must come to terms with the prospect of the end of human civilization and the beginning of Martian rule. Inspiring films, radio dramas, comic-book adaptations, television series and sequels, The War of the Worlds is a prototypical work of science fiction which has influenced every alien story that has come since, and is unsurpassed in its ability to thrill, well over a century since it was first published.

When I watched the movie (With Tom Cruise in it) many many years ago, I thought the book would be just as bad. Never for a minute did I entertain the thought that the original work could be so different and simply splendid. I wonder what has gone through the producers' minds to make them alter the very foundation of the protagonist's psychological process and behavioral pattern. At any rate, the movie was the reason why I have never taken up the book until May 2020 during the lockdown. When I did, I finished it in a couple of days, and was thrilled by its tone, mood, and creativity. Even today, very few authors of science-fiction can come up with something entirely free from the strong influence of Wells. Time-traveling? Already seen in [b:The Time Machine|2493|The Time Machine|H.G. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327942880l/2493._SY75_.jpg|3234863], Aliens? The War of the Worlds, Mad experiments? [b:The Invisible Man|17184|The Invisible Man|H.G. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1630661776l/17184._SY75_.jpg|1326579], Fascination with the Freakish? [b:The Island of Doctor Moreau|341272|The Island of Doctor Moreau|H.G. Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571484102l/341272._SY75_.jpg|68894]... The record goes on and on, for the man's portfolio is as rich as it is ingenious. What is more, Wells had managed to slip into this particular genre issues and matters which occupied him personally as a socialist and a thinker.Under the layers of its future-oriented techno-scientific plot, The War of the Worlds dwells upon many of such issues counting the fall of religion, the rise of science, and the importance of education. The narrator of the tale, for instance, an author of philosophical papers, represents the partisans of rational thinking. His younger brother, a medical student, is similarly the spokesman of scientific views. The curate, on the other hand, stands for the religious structure of the age while the artilleryman is the representative of the poor uneducated classes. The portrayal of the curate as unstable, selfish, and cowardly indicates the state of religion at the time. By the turn of the century, religious dogmas had lost their essence in accordance with [a:Friedrich Nietzsche|1938|Friedrich Nietzsche|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1455294131p2/1938.jpg]'s prophetic words, "God is dead". Thus, the cowardice of the curate in a time of difficulty, during which faith ought to have made him stronger and braver, is a clear proof that ordination, at the time, was a simple matter of business devoid of belief and faith. At the same time, the rational and composed bearing of the narrator in comparison with the hysteric acts of the curate communicates the author's opinion that reason and rational thinking ought to take over ignorance and religious fanaticism.Along the same lines the narrator's brother emphasizes the fine traits which only education could instill in Man. Ever since the first landing of the Martians his thoughts were constantly flowing in direction of his brother's family. More of his generous character is seen when he assists a couple of ladies on the road, and defends them against theft. His progress, too, reflects the systematic working of an intelligent mind. He had vacated his rooms as soon as he could carrying with him only the things that would aid him in his flight. He purchased a newspaper on the move in order to be well acquainted with the state of affairs nation-wide, and then proceeded accordingly in direction of safety. In contrast with the narrator's brother, the artilleryman reflects the drawbacks of ignorance. His progress since the beginning of the Martian attack was marked by random and instinctive decisions constantly pointing to his limited education and weak critical mind. At one point, he even rejoices in humanity's loss of its fineries, for under such circumstances he would no longer feel inferior to other people. By throwing an uneducated poor soldier in the way of a learned man from the well-to-do class, Wells suggests that the fates of both classes are intermingled. He thus invites his peers to reconsider the late-Victorian social system which alienated the wealthy from the poor almost entirely through the doctrine of the Laissez-Faire.

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells was a very intriguing story about aliens who came to earth and not for the benefit of humans. Overall, the story kept me entertained and gave enough for me to keep reading, even through the less engaging chapters. I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good sci-fi novel, and aliens from Mars.