The War of the Worlds (AmazonClassics Edition)

By: H. G. Wells

Narrated by: Matthew Lloyd Davies

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

A metallic cylinder falls to earth, landing in the sands of Horsell Common, Surrey, generating curiosity and awe. But what's inside soon induces only terror. The story that unfolds is a breathless first-person account of an inconceivable reality: an extraterrestrial war has been waged on the planet.

In a twist on cautionary turn-of-the-century invasion literature, H. G. Wells posits the Martian attack as an insurmountable apocalyptic event. The first of its kind and a foundational work, The War of the Worlds inspired a radio broadcast, television shows, graphic novels, and countless films; roused the imagination and stirred anxieties; and changed the landscape of science fiction for generations.

AmazonClassics brings you timeless works from the masters of storytelling. Ideal for anyone who wants to listen to a great work for the first time or rediscover an old favorite, these new editions open the door to literature's most unforgettable characters and beloved worlds.

Revised edition: Previously published as The War of the Worlds, this edition of The War of the Worlds (AmazonClassics Edition) includes editorial revisions.

Public Domain (P)2017 Brilliance Audio

Well written- always a classic

This story is an exciting sci-fi tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat. However, I can’t help but notice if the narrator would have just stayed at home and minded his business- the result would have been the same.

great classic

great narration, great classic story, great, classic story about the s s s s w

Comments from a reader

This book is amazing. Just the right amount of science and fiction. You would think it was written in the 20th or 21st century, not the 1800s. Do read it.

A look back at the well known classic without Hollywood’s FXS

Interestingly the story holds up even without our jaded Tom Cruisian Zeitgeist impressions of Martians attacking Staten Island in a post 9/11 world. Instead we meet the sharply divided British Upstairs/Downstairs class struggle confronting Martian Space Invaders with steam engine technology. The struggle of the Martians and the Earthlings is a thinly veiled allegory of the Class struggle ongoing in Victorian Britain. The finger wagging is delightful, while the victorious virus annihilating the best scientific minds from Mars is additionally unsettling!

War of the Worlds

The story was good, however, I do prefer the radio broadcast where Orson Wells reads the story himself. That's the best version. The was a close second.

A decent invasion story...

This was a decent invasion story. And while I do understand the point the author was trying to make, considering the culture of Britain at the time, I don't think the story did anything groundbreaking, even for its time.

Matthew Lloyd Davies gives us skillful narration with some decent voices and good tempo modulation.

Now, I won't delve into the plot. There are plenty of reviews that can analyze that. I'll focus on what I care about the most, which is, consequently, the thing I was most disappointed in with this book. And that is the characterization.

The main character just isn't terribly relatable. He doesn't seem to much care about anyone, and in what is, I suppose, true British fashion, no one really seems to think much of the invaders. It's just business as usual until people start dying. And even then, those who haven't seen it first hand still carry on business as usual.

The bigger thing for me though is there's very little sense of who anyone is. The majority of the action is told in free indirect speech, which has the unfortunate side-effect of making it feel a lot less immediate than it otherwise might, and denies us any detail about the main character's interactions with most people.

All in all (and I can't believe I'm about to say this), I think I actually prefer the film adaptation. It's a stronger story that more successfully makes me care about the character.

Still Timely in it's Message

So much better than the many attempts to put this story in theatres. The War of the Worlds is enjoyable from an entertainment angle, but carries with it a study of how humans might act in desperate situations. Humanity itself is examined, when we are no longer the wearer of the boot stepping on the ant, but the ant itself. A great book. Do not dismiss this because of Tom Cruise' s film.

The Granddaddy of Sci-fi books

I have seen the movies, I have played the games, I know about HG Wells and the War of the world's, but I have never actually read the book. So it was with great delight that I started this book and great suffering to be actually able to finish it. Of course I know why, this book was written years ago, I have read many books over the years. I felt I had stepped back in time reading this. As much as I struggled with the detailed descriptions that nowadays seem superfluous I did really enjoy the story especially when a reference came up and I remembered Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds.
PLEASE don't allow my disparaging remarks to stop you reading this book as it says it is the Grand Daddy of science fiction HG Wells started science fiction it's just the writing from so long ago is for people that era, not today's jaded audience

First time read of this wonderful story

Loved every second of this title. very well performed. highly recommend. You need to hear this

a great listen to a timeless classic

Wonderfully narrated and read, Wells classic invasion tale makes a great listen for a commute

Forget the Musical or the Film,go to the source!

Great version read by an English voice (as it should be). Reveals more than the Jeff Wayne musical or the film's. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Classic sci-fi

So many memories of when I heard this story many years ago, and from the classic Geoff Waynes LP.
If you are of the older generation it is a must have read.

it's good to here it.

im glad that ive hard the book. not like the film, and i have hard the radio one as well. i like that one more than the book.

War of the Worlds

Excellent classic story. Narrator fits the period perfectly. Nice to visit the original after so many other versions of this story in film and music.

Great Story.

Matthew Lloyd Davies narrates this beautifully he's got a real soothing voice and he does the other character voices well.

My only complaint with this is the chapter where they have chapters within chapters now this book is in two parts how hard is it to follow the book chapters as is, this is an Amazon Classic Edition the same company that owns Audible. They should tell themselves and other audio companies to do the chapter's as they are in the book with title headings if they have them. No more chapters within chapters so stupid.

Great

A classic sci-fi novel so ahead of its time well read by Matthew Loyd Davies.

My favourite book, film an sound track

Always have and always will love this as it tales u away from the what really could be😷