Summary
H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds, first published in 1898, pioneered the alien invasion trope and profoundly influenced the development of science fiction. Set in Victorian England, the novel tells the chilling tale of a Martian invasion of Earth, as the technologically superior aliens lay waste to human civilization with their advanced weaponry and machinery. While Wells’s vivid depiction of the Martian tripods and heat-rays captured imaginations, his scientific details lent credibility to the fantastical premise. The novel also touched on topical themes of imperialism, evolution, and humanity's place in the cosmos.
The War of the Worlds remains a cornerstone of the sci fi genre. Four decades after the novel’s publication, Orson Welles's 1938 radio adaptation gripped listeners and is rumored to have caused widespread panic when some mistook the broadcast for a real alien invasion. Steven Spielberg's 2005 film starring Tom Cruise brought Wells's story to a new generation.
Plot
The War of the Worlds begins with astronomers observing flashes of light on Mars, which turn out to be cylinders launched towards Earth. The first cylinder lands on Horsell Common in Surrey, England. When a human delegation approaches it waving a white flag, Martians emerge and incinerate them with a heat-ray. Soon, three-legged Martian fighting machines armed with heat-rays and poisonous black smoke begin destroying towns and killing humans indiscriminately.
As panic spreads and refugees flee London, the novel’s unnamed narrator takes his wife to safety before returning to his home near the landing site. He witnesses the destruction firsthand and narrowly escapes several Martian attacks. The military proves ineffective against the Martians' superior technology. The narrator finds himself trapped for days in a collapsed house with a panic-stricken curate, observing the Martians and learning about their biology and machines.
After escaping, the narrator heads towards London, encountering a deranged artilleryman with unrealistic plans to fight back. In a deserted and ruined London, the narrator finds that all the Martians have unexpectedly died. It is revealed that they were killed by exposure to earthly bacteria, against which they had no immunity.
In the aftermath, the narrator is reunited with his wife, who had survived. He reflects on the invasion's impact on humanity's worldview and sense of security. The novel ends with the chilling reminder that Mars still watches Earth, and the Martians may one day return better prepared to survive Earth's microbes.
