War of the Worlds E-Book

H G Wells

• Herausgeber: Seven Books
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Seitenzahl: 313

Beschreibung

The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells. It was written between 1895 and 1897, and serialised in Pearson's Magazine in the UK and Cosmopolitan magazine in the US in 1897. The full novel was first published in hardcover in 1898 by William Heinemann. The War of the Worlds is one of the earliest stories to detail a conflict between humankind and an extraterrestrial race. The novel is the first-person narrative of an unnamed protagonist in Surrey and his younger brother who escapes to Tillingham in Essex as London and Southern England are invaded by Martians. It is one of the most commented-on works in the science fiction canon.The plot is similar to other works of invasion literature from the same period and has been variously interpreted as a commentary on the theory of evolution, imperialism, and Victorian era fears, superstitions and prejudices. Wells later noted that inspiration for the plot was the catastrophic effect of European colonisation on the Aboriginal Tasmanians. Some historians have argued that Wells wrote the book to encourage his readership to question the morality of imperialism. At the time of publication, it was classified as a scientific romance, like Wells's earlier novel, The Time Machine.

Leseprobe

WaroftheWorlds

By

H. G. Wells

ILLUSTRATED & PUBLISHED

BY

SEVEN BOOKS

Copyright, 2024

Aydın

Contact:

[email protected]

ISBN: 978-368-9958-17-6

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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AboutAuthor

Wells, sometimebefore1916

HerbertGeorge"H.G."Wells(21September1866–13August1946)wasanEnglishwriter,nowbestknownforhisworkinthesciencefictiongenre.Hewasalsoaprolificwriterinmanyothergenres,includingcontemporarynovels,history,politicsandsocialcommentary,evenwritingtextbooksandrulesforwargames.Wellsissometimescalled"TheFatherofScienceFiction",asareJulesVerneandHugoGernsback.HismostnotablesciencefictionworksincludeTheWaroftheWorlds,TheTimeMachine,TheInvisibleManandTheIslandofDoctorMoreau.

Wells'searliestspecialisedtrainingwasinbiology,andhisthinkingonethicalmatterstookplaceinaspecificallyandfundamentallyDarwiniancontext.Hewasalsofromanearlydateanoutspokensocialist,often(butnotalways,asatthebeginningoftheFirstWorldWar)sympathisingwithpacifistviews.Hislaterworksbecameincreasinglypoliticalanddidactic,andhesometimesindicatedonofficialdocumentsthathisprofessionwasthatof"Journalist."Mostofhislaternovelswerenotsciencefiction.Somedescribedlower-middleclasslife(Kipps;TheHistoryofMrPolly),leadinghimtobetoutedasaworthysuccessortoCharlesDickens,butWellsdescribedarangeofsocialstrataandevenattempted,inTono-Bungay(1909),adiagnosisofEnglishsocietyasawhole.

Earlylife:

HerbertGeorgeWellswasbornatAtlasHouse,46HighStreet,Bromley,inthecountyofKent,on21September1866.Called"Bertie"inthefamily,hewasthefourthandlastchildofJosephWells(aformerdomesticgardener,andatthetimeashopkeeperandprofessionalcricketer)andhiswifeSarahNeal(aformerdomesticservant).Aninheritancehadallowedthefamilytoacquireashopinwhichtheysoldchinaandsportinggoods,althoughitfailedtoprosper:thestockwasoldandwornout,andthelocationwaspoor.JosephWellsmanagedtoearnameagreincome,butlittleofitcamefromtheshopandhereceivedanunsteadyamountofmoneyfromplayingprofessionalcricketfortheKentcountyteam.Paymentforskilledbowlersandbatsmencamefromvoluntarydonationsafterwards,orfromsmallpaymentsfromtheclubswherematcheswereplayed.

AdefiningincidentofyoungWells'slifewasanaccidentin1874thatlefthimbedriddenwithabrokenleg.Topassthetimehestartedreadingbooksfromthelocallibrary,broughttohimbyhisfather.Hesoonbecamedevotedtotheotherworldsandlivestowhichbooksgavehimaccess;theyalsostimulatedhisdesiretowrite.LaterthatyearheenteredThomasMorley'sCommercialAcademy,aprivateschoolfoundedin1849followingthebankruptcyofMorley'searlierschool.Theteachingwaserratic,thecurriculummostlyfocused,Wellslatersaid,onproducingcopperplatehandwritinganddoingthesortofsumsusefultotradesmen.WellscontinuedatMorley'sAcademyuntil1880.In1877,hisfather,JosephWells,fracturedhisthigh.TheaccidenteffectivelyputanendtoJoseph'scareerasacricketer,andhissubsequentearningsasashopkeeperwerenotenoughtocompensateforthelossoftheprimarysourceoffamilyincome.

Nolongerabletosupportthemselvesfinancially,thefamilyinsteadsoughttoplacetheirsonsasapprenticesinvariousoccupations.From1880to1883,WellshadanunhappyapprenticeshipasadraperattheSouthseaDraperyEmporium,Hyde's.HisexperiencesatHyde's,whereheworkedathirteen-hourdayandsleptinadormitorywithotherapprentices,laterinspiredhisnovelsTheWheelsofChanceandKipps,whichportraythelifeofadraper'sapprenticeaswellasprovidingacritiqueofsociety'sdistributionofwealth.

Wells'sparentshadaturbulentmarriage,dueprimarilytohismotherbeingaProtestantandhisfatherafreethinker.Whenhismotherreturnedtoworkasalady'smaid(atUppark,acountryhouseinSussex),oneoftheconditionsofworkwasthatshewouldnotbepermittedtohavelivingspaceforherhusbandandchildren.Thereafter,sheandJosephlivedseparatelives,thoughtheyneverdivorcedandremainedfaithfultoeachother.Asaconsequence,Herbert'spersonaltroublesincreasedashesubsequentlyfailedasadraperandalso,later,asachemist'sassistant.Aftereachfailure,hewouldarriveatUppark—"thebadshillingbackagain!"ashesaid—andstaythereuntilafreshstartcouldbearrangedforhim.FortunatelyforHerbert,Upparkhadamagnificentlibraryinwhichheimmersedhimself,readingmanyclassicworks,includingPlato'sRepublic,andMore'sUtopia.ThiswouldbethebeginningofHerbertGeorgeWells'sventureintoliterature.

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Preface(AbouttheBook)

TheWaroftheWorldsisamilitarysciencefictionnovelbyH.G.Wells.Itfirstappearedinserializedformin1897,publishedsimultaneouslyinPearson'sMagazineintheUKandCosmopolitanmagazineintheUS.ThefirstappearanceinbookformwaspublishedbyWilliamHeinemannofLondonin1898.Itisthefirst-personnarrativeoftheadventuresofanunnamedprotagonistandhisbrotherinSurreyandLondonasEarthisinvadedbyMartians.Writtenbetween1895and1897,itisoneoftheearlieststoriesthatdetailaconflictbetweenmankindandanextraterrestrialrace.Thenovelisoneofthemostcommented-onworksinthesciencefictioncanon.

TheWaroftheWorldshastwoparts,BookOne:TheComingoftheMartiansandBookTwo:TheEarthundertheMartians.Thenarrator,aphilosophically-inclinedauthor,strugglestoreturntohiswifewhileseeingtheMartianslaywastetosouthernEngland.BookOnealsoimpartstheexperienceofhisbrother,alsounnamed,whodescribeseventsinthecapitalandescapestheMartiansbyboardingashipnearTillingham,ontheEssexcoast.

Theplothasbeenrelatedtoinvasionliteratureofthetime.Thenovelhasbeenvariouslyinterpretedasacommentaryonevolutionarytheory,BritishImperialism,andgenerallyVictoriansuperstitions,fearsandprejudices.Atthetimeofpublicationitwasclassifiedasascientificromance,likehisearliernovelTheTimeMachine.TheWaroftheWorldshasbeenbothpopular(havingnevergoneoutofprint)andinfluential,spawninghalfadozenfeaturefilms,radiodramas,arecordalbum,variouscomicbookadaptations,atelevisionseries,andsequelsorparallelstoriesbyotherauthors.Ithaseveninfluencedtheworkofscientists,notablyRobertHutchingsGoddard.

PlotSummary

Yetacrossthegulfofspace,mindsthataretoourmindsasoursaretothoseofthebeaststhatperish,intellectsvastandcoolandunsympathetic,regardedthisearthwithenviouseyes,andslowlyandsurelydrewtheirplansagainstus.

—H.G.Wells(1898),TheWaroftheWorlds

TheComingoftheMartians

ThenarrativeopensinanastronomicalobservatoryatOttershawwhereexplosionsareseenonthesurfaceoftheplanetMars,creatingmuchinterestinthescientificcommunity.Latera"meteor"landsonHorsellCommon,nearthenarrator'shomeinWoking,Surrey.Heisamongthefirsttodiscoverthattheobjectisanartificialcylinderthatopens,disgorgingMartianswhoare"big"and"greyish"with"oilybrownskin,""thesize,perhaps,ofabear,"with"twolargedark-colouredeyes,"andalipless"V-shapedmouth"surroundedby"Gorgongroupsoftentacles."Thenarratorfindsthem"atoncevital,intense,inhuman,crippledandmonstrous."Theybrieflyemerge,havedifficultyincopingwiththeEarth'satmosphere,andrapidlyretreatintothecylinder.Ahumandeputation(whichincludestheastronomerOgilvy)approachesthecylinderwithawhiteflag,buttheMartiansincineratethemandothersnearbywithaheat-raybeforebeginningtoassembletheirmachinery.Militaryforcesarrivethatnighttosurroundthecommon,includingMaximguns.ThepopulationofWokingandthesurroundingvillagesarereassuredbythepresenceofthemilitary.Atensedaybegins,withmuchanticipationofmilitaryactionbythenarrator.

AnarmyofMartianfighting-machinesdestroyingEngland.

AMartianfighting-machinebattlingwithHMSThunderChild

TowardsdusktheMartiansrenewtheiroffensive,andbreakthroughthedefence-lineofsiegeandfieldartillerycentredonRichmondHillandKingstonHillbyawidespreadbombardmentoftheBlacksmoke,andamassexodusofthepopulationofLondonbegins.Thisincludesthenarrator'sbrother,whofleestotheEssexcoastafterthesudden,panickedpredawnordertoevacuateLondonisgivenbytheauthorities,aterrifyingandharrowingjourneyofthreedays,amongstmillionsofsimilarrefugeesstreamingfromLondon.HeencountersMrs.Elphinstoneandheryoungersister-in-law,justintimetohelpthemfendoffagangofruffianswhoaretryingtorobthem.Thethreecontinueontogether.Mrs.Elphinstone'shusbandismissing,andhisfateisneverlearned.AfteraterrifyingstrugglethroughamassofrefugeesontheroadatBarnet,theyheadeastward.Twodayslater,atChelmsford,theirponyisconfiscatedforfoodbythelocalCommitteeofPublicSupply.TheypressontoTillinghamandthesea.There,theymanagetobuypassagetotheContinentfromasmallPaddlesteamer,partofavastthrongofshippinggatheredofftheEssexcoasttoevacuaterefugees.ThetorpedoramHMSThunderChilddestroystwoattackingtripodsbeforebeingsunkbytheMartians,thoughthisallowstheevacuationfleet,includingtheshipcarryingthenarrator'sbrotherandhistwotravellingcompanions,toescapetothecontinent.Shortlyafter,allorganisedresistancehasceased,andtheMartiansroamtheshatteredlandscapeunhindered.

TheEarthUndertheMartians

AtthebeginningofBookTwo,thenarratorandthecurateareplunderinghousesinsearchoffood.Duringthisexcursion,themenwitnessaMartianfighting-machineenterKewanduseneitheritsheat-raynortheBlackSmoke,insteadpickingupanypersonitfindsandtossingthemintoa"greatmetalliccarrierwhichprojectedbehindhim,muchasaworkman'sbaskethangsoverhisshoulder."ItisatthismomentthatthenarratorfirstrealisesthattheMartianinvadersmayhaveapurposeotherthandestruction,asallpreviousencounterswiththealiensandtheensuingmassdestructionwouldsuggest.WhilehidingatahouseinSheentoallowthecuratetorest,"ablindingglareofgreenlight"andaloudconcussionsignalthearrivalofthefifthMartiancylinder.Thecylindersmashesintothehouseinwhichthemenhide,andbotharetrappedbeneaththeruinsfornearlytwoweeks.Thecurate,traumatisedbytheinvasion,seestheMartiancreaturesasheraldingtheadventoftheApocalypse.Thenarrator'srelationswiththecuratedeteriorate,andheeventuallyknockshimunconscioustopreventhisloudranting.ThecuratehasalreadybeenoverheardbyaMartian,whocaptureshimwithaprehensiletentacleand,thereaderisledtobelieve,drainshimofhisblood,bloodtransfusionbeingtheMartians'formofnourishment.Thenarratorescapesdetectionbyhidinginthecoal-cellar.

TheMartianseventuallyabandonthemuchexcavatedcylindercrater,andthenarratorisabletoheadtowardsWestLondon.Hefindsabundantgrowthofredweed,aMartianformofvegetation,spreadingwithextraordinaryrapidityoverthelandscapewhereverthereisabundantwater.OnPutneyHeath,heonceagainencounterstheartilleryman,whobrieflypersuadeshimtocooperateinagrandioseplantorebuildcivilisationunderground.Butafterafewhoursthenarratorperceivesthelunacyofthisplanandtheoveralllazinessofhiscompanionandabandonstheartillerymantohisdelusions.HeadingintoadesertedLondon,heisatthepointofdespairandattemptstocommitsuicidebyopenlyapproachingastationarywarmachine,whenhediscoversthattheinvadershavediedfrommicrobialinfectionstowhichtheyhadnoimmunity,since"therearenobacteriainMars."Thenarratorrealiseswithjoythatthethreathasbeenvanquished.Thenarratorsuffersabriefbutcompletenervousbreakdownofwhichheremembersnothing.Heisnursedbacktohealthbyakindfamily,andreturnshometofindhiswife,whomhehadgivenupfordead.Thelastchapter,entitled"Epilogue,"reflectsonthesignificanceoftheinvasionandthe"abidingsenseofdoubtandinsecurity"thatithasleftinthenarrator'smind.

Style

TheWaroftheWorldspresentsitselfasafactualaccountoftheMartianinvasion.Thenarratorisamiddle-classwriterofphilosophicalpapers,somewhatreminiscentofDoctorKempinTheInvisibleMan,withcharacteristicssimilartoWells'satthetimeofwriting.Thereaderlearnsverylittleaboutthebackgroundofthenarratororindeedofanyoneelseinthenovel;characterisationisunimportant.Infact,noneoftheprincipalcharactersarenamed.

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TableofContents

War of the Worlds

About Author

Preface (About the Book)

Book One

Chapter One

The Eve of the War

Chapter Two

The Falling Star

Chapter Three

On Horsell Common

Chapter Four

The Cylinder Opens

Chapter Five

The Heat-Ray

Chapter Six

The Heat-Ray In the Chobham Road

Chapter Seven

How I Reached Home

Chapter Eight

Friday Night

Chapter Nine

The Fighting Begins

Chapter Ten

In the Storm

Chapter Eleven

At the Window

Chapter Twelve

What I Saw of the Destruction of Weybridge And Shepperton

Chapter Thirteen

How I Fell In With the Curate

Chapter Fourteen

In London

Chapter Fifteen

What Had Happened In Surrey

Chapter Sixteen

The Exodus From London

Chapter Seventeen

The "Thunder Child"

Book Two

Chapter One

Under Foot

Chapter Two

What We Saw From the Ruined House

Chapter Three

The Days of Imprisonment

Chapter Four

The Death of the Curate

Chapter Five

The Stillness

Chapter Six

The Work of Fifteen Days

Chapter Seven

The Man On Putney Hill

Chapter Eight

Dead London

Chapter Nine

Wreckage

Chapter Ten

The Epilogue

TheWaroftheWorlds

by

H.G.Wells[1898]

Book One

THECOMINGOFTHEMARTIANS

But who shall dwell in these worlds if they be inhabited?

Are we or they Lords of the World?

--And how are all things made for man?--

KEPLER

(Quoted in “The Anatomy of Melancholy”)

Chapter One

The Eve of the War

Noonewouldhavebelievedinthelastyearsofthenineteenthcenturythatthisworldwasbeingwatchedkeenlyandcloselybyintelligencesgreaterthanman'sandyetasmortalashisown;thatasmenbusiedthemselvesabouttheirvariousconcernstheywerescrutinisedandstudied,perhapsalmostasnarrowlyasamanwithamicroscopemightscrutinisethetransientcreaturesthatswarmandmultiplyinadropofwater.Withinfinitecomplacencymenwenttoandfrooverthisglobeabouttheirlittleaffairs,sereneintheirassuranceoftheirempireovermatter.Itispossiblethattheinfusoriaunderthemicroscopedothesame.Noonegaveathoughttotheolderworldsofspaceassourcesofhumandanger,orthoughtofthemonlytodismisstheideaoflifeuponthemasimpossibleorimprobable.Itiscurioustorecallsomeofthementalhabitsofthosedeparteddays.AtmostterrestrialmenfanciedtheremightbeothermenuponMars,perhapsinferiortothemselvesandreadytowelcomeamissionaryenterprise.Yetacrossthegulfofspace,mindsthataretoourmindsasoursaretothoseofthebeaststhatperish,intellectsvastandcoolandunsympathetic,regardedthisearthwithenviouseyes,andslowlyandsurelydrewtheirplansagainstus.Andearlyinthetwentiethcenturycamethegreatdisillusionment.

TheplanetMars,Iscarcelyneedremindthereader,revolvesaboutthesunatameandistanceof140,000,000miles,andthelightandheatitreceivesfromthesunisbarelyhalfofthatreceivedbythisworld.Itmustbe,ifthenebularhypothesishasanytruth,olderthanourworld;andlongbeforethisearthceasedtobemolten,lifeuponitssurfacemusthavebegunitscourse.Thefactthatitisscarcelyoneseventhofthevolumeoftheearthmusthaveaccelerateditscoolingtothetemperatureatwhichlifecouldbegin.Ithasairandwaterandallthatisnecessaryforthesupportofanimatedexistence.

Yetsovainisman,andsoblindedbyhisvanity,thatnowriter,uptotheveryendofthenineteenthcentury,expressedanyideathatintelligentlifemighthavedevelopedtherefar,orindeedatall,beyonditsearthlylevel.NorwasitgenerallyunderstoodthatsinceMarsisolderthanourearth,withscarcelyaquarterofthesuperficialareaandremoterfromthesun,itnecessarilyfollowsthatitisnotonlymoredistantfromtime'sbeginningbutneareritsend.

Thesecularcoolingthatmustsomedayovertakeourplanethasalreadygonefarindeedwithourneighbour.Itsphysicalconditionisstilllargelyamystery,butweknownowthateveninitsequatorialregionthemiddaytemperaturebarelyapproachesthatofourcoldestwinter.Itsairismuchmoreattenuatedthanours,itsoceanshaveshrunkuntiltheycoverbutathirdofitssurface,andasitsslowseasonschangehugesnowcapsgatherandmeltabouteitherpoleandperiodicallyinundateitstemperatezones.Thatlaststageofexhaustion,whichtousisstillincrediblyremote,hasbecomeapresent-dayproblemfortheinhabitantsofMars.Theimmediatepressureofnecessityhasbrightenedtheirintellects,enlargedtheirpowers,andhardenedtheirhearts.Andlookingacrossspacewithinstruments,andintelligencessuchaswehavescarcelydreamedof,theysee,atitsnearestdistanceonly35,000,000ofmilessunwardofthem,amorningstarofhope,ourownwarmerplanet,greenwithvegetationandgreywithwater,withacloudyatmosphereeloquentoffertility,withglimpsesthroughitsdriftingcloudwispsofbroadstretchesofpopulouscountryandnarrow,navy-crowdedseas.

Andwemen,thecreatureswhoinhabitthisearth,mustbetothematleastasalienandlowlyasarethemonkeysandlemurstous.Theintellectualsideofmanalreadyadmitsthatlifeisanincessantstruggleforexistence,anditwouldseemthatthistooisthebeliefofthemindsuponMars.Theirworldisfargoneinitscoolingandthisworldisstillcrowdedwithlife,butcrowdedonlywithwhattheyregardasinferioranimals.Tocarrywarfaresunwardis,indeed,theironlyescapefromthedestructionthat,generationaftergeneration,creepsuponthem.

Andbeforewejudgeofthemtooharshlywemustrememberwhatruthlessandutterdestructionourownspecieshaswrought,notonlyuponanimals,suchasthevanishedbisonandthedodo,butuponitsinferiorraces.TheTasmanians,inspiteoftheirhumanlikeness,wereentirelysweptoutofexistenceinawarofexterminationwagedbyEuropeanimmigrants,inthespaceoffiftyyears.ArewesuchapostlesofmercyastocomplainiftheMartianswarredinthesamespirit?

TheMartiansseemtohavecalculatedtheirdescentwithamazingsubtlety--theirmathematicallearningisevidentlyfarinexcessofours--andtohavecarriedouttheirpreparationswithawell-nighperfectunanimity.Hadourinstrumentspermittedit,wemighthaveseenthegatheringtroublefarbackinthenineteenthcentury.MenlikeSchiaparelliwatchedtheredplanet--itisodd,by-the-bye,thatforcountlesscenturiesMarshasbeenthestarofwar--butfailedtointerpretthefluctuatingappearancesofthemarkingstheymappedsowell.AllthattimetheMartiansmusthavebeengettingready.

Duringtheoppositionof1894agreatlightwasseenontheilluminatedpartofthedisk,firstattheLickObservatory,thenbyPerrotinofNice,andthenbyotherobservers.EnglishreadersheardofitfirstintheissueofNaturedatedAugust2.Iaminclinedtothinkthatthisblazemayhavebeenthecastingofthehugegun,inthevastpitsunkintotheirplanet,fromwhichtheirshotswerefiredatus.Peculiarmarkings,asyetunexplained,wereseennearthesiteofthatoutbreakduringthenexttwooppositions.

Thestormburstuponussixyearsagonow.AsMarsapproachedopposition,LavelleofJavasetthewiresoftheastronomicalexchangepalpitatingwiththeamazingintelligenceofahugeoutbreakofincandescentgasupontheplanet.Ithadoccurredtowardsmidnightofthetwelfth;andthespectroscope,towhichhehadatonceresorted,indicatedamassofflaminggas,chieflyhydrogen,movingwithanenormousvelocitytowardsthisearth.Thisjetoffirehadbecomeinvisibleaboutaquarterpasttwelve.Hecomparedittoacolossalpuffofflamesuddenlyandviolentlysquirtedoutoftheplanet,"asflaminggasesrushedoutofagun."

Asingularlyappropriatephraseitproved.YetthenextdaytherewasnothingofthisinthepapersexceptalittlenoteintheDailyTelegraph,andtheworldwentinignoranceofoneofthegravestdangersthateverthreatenedthehumanrace.ImightnothaveheardoftheeruptionatallhadInotmetOgilvy,thewell-knownastronomer,atOttershaw.Hewasimmenselyexcitedatthenews,andintheexcessofhisfeelingsinvitedmeuptotakeaturnwithhimthatnightinascrutinyoftheredplanet.

Inspiteofallthathashappenedsince,Istillrememberthatvigilverydistinctly:theblackandsilentobservatory,theshadowedlanternthrowingafeebleglowuponthefloorinthecorner,thesteadytickingoftheclockworkofthetelescope,thelittleslitintheroof--anoblongprofunditywiththestarduststreakedacrossit.Ogilvymovedabout,invisiblebutaudible.Lookingthroughthetelescope,onesawacircleofdeepblueandthelittleroundplanetswimminginthefield.Itseemedsuchalittlething,sobrightandsmallandstill,faintlymarkedwithtransversestripes,andslightlyflattenedfromtheperfectround.Butsolittleitwas,sosilverywarm--apin's-headoflight!Itwasasifitquivered,butreallythiswasthetelescopevibratingwiththeactivityoftheclockworkthatkepttheplanetinview.

AsIwatched,theplanetseemedtogrowlargerandsmallerandtoadvanceandrecede,butthatwassimplythatmyeyewastired.Fortymillionsofmilesitwasfromus--morethanfortymillionsofmilesofvoid.Fewpeoplerealisetheimmensityofvacancyinwhichthedustofthematerialuniverseswims.

Nearitinthefield,Iremember,werethreefaintpointsoflight,threetelescopicstarsinfinitelyremote,andallarounditwastheunfathomabledarknessofemptyspace.Youknowhowthatblacknesslooksonafrostystarlightnight.Inatelescopeitseemsfarprofounder.Andinvisibletomebecauseitwassoremoteandsmall,flyingswiftlyandsteadilytowardsmeacrossthatincredibledistance,drawingnearereveryminutebysomanythousandsofmiles,cametheThingtheyweresendingus,theThingthatwastobringsomuchstruggleandcalamityanddeathtotheearth.IneverdreamedofitthenasIwatched;nooneonearthdreamedofthatunerringmissile.

Thatnight,too,therewasanotherjettingoutofgasfromthedistantplanet.Isawit.Areddishflashattheedge,theslightestprojectionoftheoutlinejustasthechronometerstruckmidnight;andatthatItoldOgilvyandhetookmyplace.ThenightwaswarmandIwasthirsty,andIwentstretchingmylegsclumsilyandfeelingmywayinthedarkness,tothelittletablewherethesiphonstood,whileOgilvyexclaimedatthestreamerofgasthatcameouttowardsus.

ThatnightanotherinvisiblemissilestartedonitswaytotheearthfromMars,justasecondorsoundertwenty-fourhoursafterthefirstone.IrememberhowIsatonthetablethereintheblackness,withpatchesofgreenandcrimsonswimmingbeforemyeyes.IwishedIhadalighttosmokeby,littlesuspectingthemeaningoftheminutegleamIhadseenandallthatitwouldpresentlybringme.Ogilvywatchedtillone,andthengaveitup;andwelitthelanternandwalkedovertohishouse.DownbelowinthedarknesswereOttershawandChertseyandalltheirhundredsofpeople,sleepinginpeace.

HewasfullofspeculationthatnightabouttheconditionofMars,andscoffedatthevulgarideaofitshavinginhabitantswhoweresignallingus.Hisideawasthatmeteoritesmightbefallinginaheavyshowerupontheplanet,orthatahugevolcanicexplosionwasinprogress.Hepointedouttomehowunlikelyitwasthatorganicevolutionhadtakenthesamedirectioninthetwoadjacentplanets.

"ThechancesagainstanythingmanlikeonMarsareamilliontoone,"hesaid.

Hundredsofobserverssawtheflamethatnightandthenightafteraboutmidnight,andagainthenightafter;andsofortennights,aflameeachnight.Whytheshotsceasedafterthetenthnooneonearthhasattemptedtoexplain.ItmaybethegasesofthefiringcausedtheMartiansinconvenience.Densecloudsofsmokeordust,visiblethroughapowerfultelescopeonearthaslittlegrey,fluctuatingpatches,spreadthroughtheclearnessoftheplanet'satmosphereandobscureditsmorefamiliarfeatures.

Eventhedailypaperswokeuptothedisturbancesatlast,andpopularnotesappearedhere,there,andeverywhereconcerningthevolcanoesuponMars.TheseriocomicperiodicalPunch,Iremember,madeahappyuseofitinthepoliticalcartoon.And,allunsuspected,thosemissilestheMartianshadfiredatusdrewearthward,rushingnowatapaceofmanymilesasecondthroughtheemptygulfofspace,hourbyhouranddaybyday,nearerandnearer.Itseemstomenowalmostincrediblywonderfulthat,withthatswiftfatehangingoverus,mencouldgoabouttheirpettyconcernsastheydid.IrememberhowjubilantMarkhamwasatsecuringanewphotographoftheplanetfortheillustratedpaperheeditedinthosedays.Peopleintheselattertimesscarcelyrealisetheabundanceandenterpriseofournineteenth-centurypapers.Formyownpart,Iwasmuchoccupiedinlearningtoridethebicycle,andbusyuponaseriesofpapersdiscussingtheprobabledevelopmentsofmoralideasascivilisationprogressed.

Onenight(thefirstmissilethencouldscarcelyhavebeen10,000,000milesaway)Iwentforawalkwithmywife.ItwasstarlightandIexplainedtheSignsoftheZodiactoher,andpointedoutMars,abrightdotoflightcreepingzenithward,towardswhichsomanytelescopeswerepointed.Itwasawarmnight.Cominghome,apartyofexcursionistsfromChertseyorIsleworthpassedussingingandplayingmusic.Therewerelightsintheupperwindowsofthehousesasthepeoplewenttobed.Fromtherailwaystationinthedistancecamethesoundofshuntingtrains,ringingandrumbling,softenedalmostintomelodybythedistance.Mywifepointedouttomethebrightnessofthered,green,andyellowsignallightshanginginaframeworkagainstthesky.Itseemedsosafeandtranquil.

ChapterTwo

The FallingStar

Thencamethenightofthefirstfallingstar.Itwasseenearlyinthemorning,rushingoverWinchestereastward,alineofflamehighintheatmosphere.Hundredsmusthaveseenit,andtakenitforanordinaryfallingstar.Albindescribeditasleavingagreenishstreakbehinditthatglowedforsomeseconds.Denning,ourgreatestauthorityonmeteorites,statedthattheheightofitsfirstappearancewasaboutninetyoronehundredmiles.Itseemedtohimthatitfelltoearthaboutonehundredmileseastofhim.

Iwasathomeatthathourandwritinginmystudy;andalthoughmyFrenchwindowsfacetowardsOttershawandtheblindwasup(forIlovedinthosedaystolookupatthenightsky),Isawnothingofit.YetthisstrangestofallthingsthatevercametoearthfromouterspacemusthavefallenwhileIwassittingthere,visibletomehadIonlylookedupasitpassed.Someofthosewhosawitsflightsayittravelledwithahissingsound.Imyselfheardnothingofthat.ManypeopleinBerkshire,Surrey,andMiddlesexmusthaveseenthefallofit,and,atmost,havethoughtthatanothermeteoritehaddescended.Nooneseemstohavetroubledtolookforthefallenmassthatnight.

ButveryearlyinthemorningpoorOgilvy,whohadseentheshootingstarandwhowaspersuadedthatameteoritelaysomewhereonthecommonbetweenHorsell,Ottershaw,andWoking,roseearlywiththeideaoffindingit.Findithedid,soonafterdawn,andnotfarfromthesandpits.Anenormousholehadbeenmadebytheimpactoftheprojectile,andthesandandgravelhadbeenflungviolentlyineverydirectionovertheheath,formingheapsvisibleamileandahalfaway.Theheatherwasonfireeastward,andathinbluesmokeroseagainstthedawn.

TheThingitselflayalmostentirelyburiedinsand,amidstthescatteredsplintersofafirtreeithadshiveredtofragmentsinitsdescent.Theuncoveredparthadtheappearanceofahugecylinder,cakedoveranditsoutlinesoftenedbyathickscalydun-colouredincrustation.Ithadadiameterofaboutthirtyyards.Heapproachedthemass,surprisedatthesizeandmoresoattheshape,sincemostmeteoritesareroundedmoreorlesscompletely.Itwas,however,stillsohotfromitsflightthroughtheairastoforbidhisnearapproach.Astirringnoisewithinitscylinderheascribedtotheunequalcoolingofitssurface;foratthattimeithadnotoccurredtohimthatitmightbehollow.

HeremainedstandingattheedgeofthepitthattheThinghadmadeforitself,staringatitsstrangeappearance,astonishedchieflyatitsunusualshapeandcolour,anddimlyperceivingeventhensomeevidenceofdesigninitsarrival.Theearlymorningwaswonderfullystill,andthesun,justclearingthepinetreestowardsWeybridge,wasalreadywarm.Hedidnotrememberhearinganybirdsthatmorning,therewascertainlynobreezestirring,andtheonlysoundswerethefaintmovementsfromwithinthecinderycylinder.Hewasallaloneonthecommon.

Thensuddenlyhenoticedwithastartthatsomeofthegreyclinker,theashyincrustationthatcoveredthemeteorite,wasfallingoffthecircularedgeoftheend.Itwasdroppingoffinflakesandrainingdownuponthesand.Alargepiecesuddenlycameoffandfellwithasharpnoisethatbroughthisheartintohismouth.

Foraminutehescarcelyrealisedwhatthismeant,and,althoughtheheatwasexcessive,heclambereddownintothepitclosetothebulktoseetheThingmoreclearly.Hefanciedeventhenthatthecoolingofthebodymightaccountforthis,butwhatdisturbedthatideawasthefactthattheashwasfallingonlyfromtheendofthecylinder.

Andthenheperceivedthat,veryslowly,thecirculartopofthecylinderwasrotatingonitsbody.Itwassuchagradualmovementthathediscovereditonlythroughnoticingthatablackmarkthathadbeennearhimfiveminutesagowasnowattheothersideofthecircumference.Eventhenhescarcelyunderstoodwhatthisindicated,untilheheardamuffledgratingsoundandsawtheblackmarkjerkforwardaninchorso.Thenthethingcameuponhiminaflash.Thecylinderwasartificial--hollow--withanendthatscrewedout!Somethingwithinthecylinderwasunscrewingthetop!

"Goodheavens!"saidOgilvy."There'samaninit--meninit!Halfroastedtodeath!Tryingtoescape!"

Atonce,withaquickmentalleap,helinkedtheThingwiththeflashuponMars.

Thethoughtoftheconfinedcreaturewassodreadfultohimthatheforgottheheatandwentforwardtothecylindertohelpturn.Butluckilythedullradiationarrestedhimbeforehecouldburnhishandsonthestill-glowingmetal.Atthathestoodirresoluteforamoment,thenturned,scrambledoutofthepit,andsetoffrunningwildlyintoWoking.Thetimethenmusthavebeensomewhereaboutsixo'clock.Hemetawaggonerandtriedtomakehimunderstand,butthetalehetoldandhisappearanceweresowild--hishathadfallenoffinthepit--thatthemansimplydroveon.Hewasequallyunsuccessfulwiththepotmanwhowasjustunlockingthedoorsofthepublic-housebyHorsellBridge.Thefellowthoughthewasalunaticatlargeandmadeanunsuccessfulattempttoshuthimintothetaproom.Thatsoberedhimalittle;andwhenhesawHenderson,theLondonjournalist,inhisgarden,hecalledoverthepalingsandmadehimselfunderstood.

"Henderson,"hecalled,"yousawthatshootingstarlastnight?"

"Well?"saidHenderson.

"It'soutonHorsellCommonnow."

"GoodLord!"saidHenderson."Fallenmeteorite!That'sgood."

"Butit'ssomethingmorethanameteorite.It'sacylinder--anartificialcylinder,man!Andthere'ssomethinginside."

Hendersonstoodupwithhisspadeinhishand.

"What'sthat?"hesaid.Hewasdeafinoneear.

Ogilvytoldhimallthathehadseen.Hendersonwasaminuteorsotakingitin.Thenhedroppedhisspade,snatcheduphisjacket,andcameoutintotheroad.Thetwomenhurriedbackatoncetothecommon,andfoundthecylinderstilllyinginthesameposition.Butnowthesoundsinsidehadceased,andathincircleofbrightmetalshowedbetweenthetopandthebodyofthecylinder.Airwaseitherenteringorescapingattherimwithathin,sizzlingsound.

Theylistened,rappedonthescalyburntmetalwithastick,and,meetingwithnoresponse,theybothconcludedthemanormeninsidemustbeinsensibleordead.

Ofcoursethetwowerequiteunabletodoanything.Theyshoutedconsolationandpromises,andwentoffbacktothetownagaintogethelp.Onecanimaginethem,coveredwithsand,excitedanddisordered,runningupthelittlestreetinthebrightsunlightjustastheshopfolksweretakingdowntheirshuttersandpeoplewereopeningtheirbedroomwindows.Hendersonwentintotherailwaystationatonce,inordertotelegraphthenewstoLondon.Thenewspaperarticleshadpreparedmen'smindsforthereceptionoftheidea.

Byeighto'clockanumberofboysandunemployedmenhadalreadystartedforthecommontoseethe"deadmenfromMars."Thatwastheformthestorytook.IheardofitfirstfrommynewspaperboyaboutaquartertoninewhenIwentouttogetmyDailyChronicle.Iwasnaturallystartled,andlostnotimeingoingoutandacrosstheOttershawbridgetothesandpits.

ChapterThree

OnHorsell Common

Ifoundalittlecrowdofperhapstwentypeoplesurroundingthehugeholeinwhichthecylinderlay.Ihavealreadydescribedtheappearanceofthatcolossalbulk,embeddedintheground.Theturfandgravelaboutitseemedcharredasifbyasuddenexplosion.Nodoubtitsimpacthadcausedaflashoffire.HendersonandOgilvywerenotthere.Ithinktheyperceivedthatnothingwastobedoneforthepresent,andhadgoneawaytobreakfastatHenderson'shouse.

TherewerefourorfiveboyssittingontheedgeofthePit,withtheirfeetdangling,andamusingthemselves--untilIstoppedthem--bythrowingstonesatthegiantmass.AfterIhadspokentothemaboutit,theybeganplayingat"touch"inandoutofthegroupofbystanders.

Amongthesewereacoupleofcyclists,ajobbinggardenerIemployedsometimes,agirlcarryingababy,Greggthebutcherandhislittleboy,andtwoorthreeloafersandgolfcaddieswhowereaccustomedtohangabouttherailwaystation.Therewasverylittletalking.FewofthecommonpeopleinEnglandhadanythingbutthevaguestastronomicalideasinthosedays.Mostofthemwerestaringquietlyatthebigtablelikeendofthecylinder,whichwasstillasOgilvyandHendersonhadleftit.Ifancythepopularexpectationofaheapofcharredcorpseswasdisappointedatthisinanimatebulk.SomewentawaywhileIwasthere,andotherpeoplecame.IclamberedintothepitandfanciedIheardafaintmovement