The Time Machine and the Invisible Man

by H.G. Wells

Book Overview

In the first of these two science fiction stories a scientist invents a machine that transports him into the future. In the second story a man watches his body slowly become invisible. The only one-volume edition of these classic works of science fiction.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593083254
• ISBN13: 9781593083250
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

greatest stories ever told

the first great story about shifting your perception of time ... wells was a genius ... also loved the invisible man, so creepy !

Great

This great book contains two of Herbert George Wells (1866-1946) best known science fiction stories, The Time Machine and The Invisible Man. In The Time Machine, which was first published in 1895, a dinner party is disrupted when the host arrives all disheveled, and telling what he found when he ventured into the far future. In The Invisible Man, which was first published in 1897, when a strange, bandaged man moves into town, tongues begin to wag. But, when strange things begin to happen, the town soon finds itself facing a nightmare in the form of an invisible man. These books are two crowning examples of nineteenth century fantastic fiction, and are more than just fun works of science fiction. H.G. Wells believed in teaching a lesson with his stories. The Time Machine is a work of social criticism, in which Wells projects a dystopian future where the haves and have-nots have become practically separate species. The Invisible Man, on the other hand, is something of a lesson about scientists playing God, and placing themselves above normal people Overall, I found these two stories to not just be interesting historical documents that present the thinking in late-nineteenth century Britain, but also interesting stories. These two books are rightly considered two of H.G. Wells' best, so if you want to expose yourself to the rich and interesting works of his, then this is a great book to start with. I highly recommend this book to you!

Science fiction back to back.

Here you get a double dose of H.G. well's rare writing talent. The man who first thought up the time travel story and the invisible man one. I'm sure that all of you out there have seen a lot of time travel and invisible man movies but none of them compares with the wit and style that the father of that genre, h. g. wells, did. You must own this book! This double book is the best thing to read on those long trips. Although, I give you pre-warning, that the time machine is written straight from the an observer but the whole story is conveyed through him telling his tale. Likewise, The invisible man, in his story, has a dialogue that lasts for four or five chapters. But, other than all that, these stories are turly creative gems that you must dig up.

Two-in-One

That these two novels were written over a hundred years ago makes them all the more amazing. HG Wells was the first person to pen the concept of time travel and imagine the complications the power of invisibility would bring. The writing in both of these novels is captivating (those who were first exposed to Wells in The War of the Worlds will most likely find these two more readable) and the story taut. Additionally, John Calvin Batchelor's introduction gives a necessary insight into the larger social implications of the book as well as some musings on what made these as popular as they were, and are. Wells' thoughts have been used as the basis for plays and movies for years; read these two books so you understand why.

Timeless (no pun intended)

These stories have not lost a step in the 100+ years since they were written, and they capture the imagination as well as anything since captured on film or in print. The invisible man is a great villain- evil enough to disdain, complex and tortured enough to make you wonder if you should pity him as well. The Time Machine is brilliant all the way through, from its inception in the study of the Time Traveler's home to the end, when he travels millions of years in the future to scurry back to his machine at sight of a huge amorphous form in the distance. Wells' depiction of the distant future seems no less accurate- and is no less exciting- than any since described anywhere.

Classic tales from a pioneer of american Science-Fiction.

H. G. Wells is one of the earliest pioneers of Science-Fiction writings. In this book, two of his most classic stories are told. It makes one wonder how a man of the late 1800's could come up with ingenius ideas as time travel and invisibility. The Time Machine and The Invisible Man portray the imaginary strengths of H.G. Wells The Time Machine is a story told by a time traveller to a group of local dignitaries. He tells about his trip to the year 802,701 A.D. and how the world has degressed slowly technologically and how humans evolve to two seperate species. One species is peaceful and kind earth-dwelling vegetarians, while the other species are nocturnal cave dwellers who happen to be cannibals. The time machine is stolen from the time traveller and he must find it to get back to his own world. The Invisible Man accounts of a personal story of a man who comes upon the means to become invisible. After becoming invisible, he finds out that living in the world was going to be different. Read about how he finds shelter, clothing, and food. The Invisible Man goes into a mad-panic and starts murdering innocent people. Now the townspeople must fight back--if they can find him