The Diamond Maker

By: H. G. Wells

Narrated by: David Ian Davies

Length: 16 mins

Publisher's summary

One hot steamy night in London, on a bridge looking over the Thames, a gentleman meets what appears to be a vagabond. The drifter, though looking ragged, has some class about him, and tells a story of being very successful in business. The gentleman is at first amused and then amazed when the vagrant pulls from around his neck a bag of very large diamonds. He tells the frustrating tale of learning how to carve the stones after years of sacrifice and practice only to find them impossible to sell because he is suspected of arson and is being sought after by the police.

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Fun story

I'm inclined to believe it, but mostly because I want to. It was a fun little listen.

The Diamond Maker

Good little short story penned by the great H.G. Wells, who wrote many fine books in his storied career. This tale about a homeless vagrant who claims he can make diamonds, after showing a man whom he just met on a bridge in London, one of his diamonds and he reluctantly tells him his process in making them, he then offers the man to buy his diamond for 1,000 pounds, the man thinks about it and he kind of wants to buy it, but then backs out thinking it may be a scam, mostly based on the homeless man's looks and status. There is more to the story, but you will have to read, listen to it to find out. The narrating was spot on.

Proto-twillight zone

Good story, not spectacular, but interesting enough as a bit of science fiction history. unlike his other stories that remain fresh to this day, this short story has not remained culturally relevant. Reads like a proto-twilight zone episode.

Slightly Inaccurate Publisher's Summary

The vagrant tells a tale of learning to *synthesize* diamonds and trying to sell them as natural ones before news of his process becomes common knowledge.

Interesting short story

This was an interesting short story about a man who learned to make diamonds. The performer was good but at times it was difficult to determine who he was speaking for.

One Never Knows

This audio is an astounding adventure in less than 17 minutes. Do hear it

directionless short story

it starts slow and then doesn't really go anywhere. the short story form is one of my favorite because it possesses the power to pack an outsized punch. this one, instead, ends with a stumble. nothing to contemplate or reread.

the narration is fine. standard for your 80s and 90s books on tape voice, but lacking the finesse of the modern readers.

Strange Little Tale with Top Rate Narration

Yes, this is by the famous H. G. Wells, but its certainly not The War of the Worlds. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it never did. The best thing was the superior narration. This is just a short tale about a weird little guy who thinks he can produce diamonds.