The War of the Worlds

By: H. G. Wells

Narrated by: Simon Vance

First published by H. G. Wells in 1898, The War of the Worlds is the granddaddy of all alien invasion stories. The novel begins ominously, as the lone voice of a narrator intones, "No one would have believed in the last years of the 19th century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's."

Things then progress from a series of seemingly mundane reports about odd atmospheric disturbances taking place on Mars to the arrival of Martians just outside of London. At first, the Martians seem laughable, hardly able to move in Earth's comparatively heavy gravity, even enough to raise themselves out of the pit created when their spaceship landed. But soon the Martians reveal their true nature as death machines 100 feet tall rise up from the pit and begin laying waste to the surrounding land. Wells quickly moves the story from the countryside to the evacuation of London itself and the loss of all hope as England's military suffers defeat after defeat.

With horror, the narrator describes how the Martians suck the blood from living humans for sustenance and how it's clear that man is not being conquered so much as corralled.

Public Domain (P)2009 Tantor

So Much More Than The Movie(s)

The full story is so much more better than the movies or any other media have presented. A great presentation.

Super fun sci fi

The writing is very engaging, and the reader makes it come alive. I believed that he went through everything in this story.

Highly recommended

The narration is great. The book is very unique. Rarely do you find an science fiction story set in the 1890’s, and this unique time period enhances the story greatly. It is much better than the movie, and I recommend it.

A classic for a reason

War of the Worlds is a classic for a reason and met all my expectations. Well-written, well-read, suspenseful and nervy, yet full of human emotion and hope.

great listen

loved the alien noises the reader makes thought this was a great telling of a classic