The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells

by H.G. Wells

Book Overview

Herbert George Wells was perhaps best known as the author of such classic works of science fiction as "The Time Machine "and "War of the Worlds." But it was in his short stories, written when he was a... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312158556
• ISBN13: 9780312158552
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 1038 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Must for SF readers and writers

In this book you can see the mind and grandeour of HG Wells a man 100 years ahead of his time. No kidding i tend to think that somehow he came into contact with either Aliens from other Worlds or Dimensions or he had the ability like Nostradamus to preditct the future. Others argue that current World elite groups have followed his words to the letter and so it seems as if he predicted the future. I love the story "the new accelerator"

classic short stories, should NEVER be out of print!

h.g.wells was to science fiction what shakespeare was to theatre. his short stories are composed of british warmth and wonder in equal measures. not only do we see the origins of the tank and the insect invasion story- but we see them as insights into human life and civilisation, in a manner that is easily the most similar to the 21th century. why is this landmark collection out of print is beyond me. it's like seeing mark twain or checkov out of print, which is just not done!

H.G. Wells as you've never known him

First off, this collection does not contain The Time Machine, I'm not sure what collection the other reviewer was referring to. However, this collection does contain some of the best stories you will ever read. I discovered H.G. Wells relatively late in life (within this past year, at the age of 33) when I stumbled on a discount copy of "The Island of Dr. Moreau." Like most people, I'd read "War of the Worlds" in high school and thought it pretty good. However, I believe to truly appreciate Wells one must be older. Old enough to have experienced some sort of life and to appreciate fine, clean writing. After reading "The Island of Dr. Moreau" I was surprised at how current the story felt and how horrific some of the details were (it definitely didn't read or feel like a book written over 100 years ago). As a result, each time I stopped at a used book store I'd peruse the shelves looking for anything Wells. I stumbled on a collection of five of his short stories called "The Empire of the Ants." What? Wells wrote short stories? No way! I bought the book and read it over my vacation. I was amazed. Wells is known for writing in detail, but I'd say his writing is even more detailed in his short stories (possibly because in a short story you don't have to worry about bogging the reader down in too much detail- causing them to lose the thread of the story). What Wells does, and what he's famous for, is writing in such detail that a scenario becomes supremely believable, then, he adds a touch of the fantastic to really knock the reader's socks off. Since he's already created this ultra-realistic world, the fantastic becomes believable and the reader is left thinking, "that could really happen, couldn't it?" After reading that collection of shorts, I looked for something more comprehensive and found "The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells" edited by John Hammond. I was amazed again! The breadth and scope of Wells' stories is amazing: from a rogue plant with a taste for human blood, to a voodoo shaman out for revenge, to an upstart student with a conscious, Wells' imagination knows no bounds. I'm about half way through the book and my favorite stories thus far are "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid," "Pollock and the Porroh Man" and "In the Modern Vein: An Unsympathetic Love Story" (the stories I decribed above) also "The Lord of the Dynamos," "The Sea Raiders" and "A Story of the Stone Age." I must also add that I read "The Country of the Blind" as part of the previous book containing Wells' stories and it too is amazing. Also, I admit that sometimes Wells delves into too much detail, which can frustrate the reader and slow the story down. However, of the 30-40 stories I've read thus far, it has only happened a handful of times. I only wish that this collection contained a short critique before each story. Mr. Hammond is a renowned Wells scholar and has even written a book analyzing Wells' short stories (a book I can't locate, by the way), that b

Prepare to see the world!

This book is a "must have" for any fan of literature, science fiction, or just plain good story telling!"The Time Machine" is the opening story in this book and starts the reader moving through the world of H.G. Wells. He will entice you with stories that pique the imagination, that range from the ancient past into the far future. Over sixty short stories adorn this classic work, including: The Empire of the Ants - killer ants from South America? The Land Ironclad - land ships with guns can change trench warfare? (written in December 1903) The Door In The Wall - a man recounts his boyhood memories of a door leading to a magical garden... The Tempatation of Harringay - an artist is tempted by the devil himself The Country of the Blind - is the one eyed man King in the land of the blind? The Flowering of a Strange Orchid - Vampire flowers? The New Accelerator - a man creates a mixture that allows him to move at ten times normal speed (concept adapted for a "Wild Wild West" episode)Get the book, you won't be sorry.(review based on hardback edition)