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BOOK REVIEW: The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

Herbert George Wells starts the book THE TIME MACHINE by arguing that the ‘Time’ is itself a separate dimension. Through the protagonist of the book, Wells present a theory that the first three dimensions are occupied by the space and the time is the fourth dimension. Just like the narrator of the book, as a reader of the text, I felt eccentric while coming across the aforementioned theory of Mr. Herbert G. Wells.

In the book, an unnamed narrator tells the story of a time traveller whom he met and who then takes over the narration to describe about an event that happened to him. The Time Machine is all about imagination. Both of the person who wrote it, and the person who reads it. Wells’ Time Traveller takes a reader 800,000 years beyond his own era where he discovers two bizarre races—the ethereal Eloi and the subterranean Morlocks—who not only symbolize the duality of human nature, but offer a terrifying portrait of the men of tomorrow as well.more

The Eloi are childlike in both stature and behavior. They are the ultimate end result for what happens when people have no responsibilities and everything done for them, which is clearly how Wells sees the then modern-day elite functioning. In contrast, the Morlocks live underground in old industrial tunnels. They are physically strong but have lost their humanity due to a lack of the finer things. They have no contact with the natural beauty of the world and so have turned into these ape-like, cannibalistic creatures.

The book is written in 1895 and the writing resembles the typical style of the writers at that time. Wells’ style, is all about of details and narration. The writer and the reader both are the spectator in this kind of writing. Actually, I feel, due this style the writer is putting an extra effort rather going by first person’s narrative. Another example is Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series. The reader and the narrator, Doctor John Watson, both are the viewers of the incidents described in the story. For most of the times, the reader will feel same what the narrator felt at the time of the incidents. This is one way of controlling a reader’s intellect.

I don’t believe there is a certain and a specific to read a book, well for most books, though after reading The Time Machine I do feel if only I had read it a few years back, I’d felt more eccentric by the concept proposed in the book than I feel now.

3 out of 5!

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leeduigon says: June 3, 2015 at 2:00 AM It always amazes me that a ninny like Wells, who was all for socialism, free love, and atheism, could have written a book like The Time Machine--one of very many examples of a book being a lot smarter than its writer (and I must include myself in that less than flattering category). It's also a tour de force of the imagination. The 1960 movie version of The Time Machine, by George Pal, is one of our all-time favorites. We watch it every New Year's Day.
minellieustacio says: June 14, 2015 at 9:48 AM Thanks for stopping and liking my blog :) I'll have to add 'The Time Machine' to my list, it sounds like the kind of hard science fiction I'm into. Although I'm always a little weary of fiction published that long ago, the language and writing can be enough to completely remove me from the story.

It always amazes me that a ninny like Wells, who was all for socialism, free love, and atheism, could have written a book like The Time Machine--one of very many examples of a book being a lot smarter than its writer (and I must include myself in that less than flattering category). It's also a tour de force of the imagination.

The 1960 movie version of The Time Machine, by George Pal, is one of our all-time favorites. We watch it every New Year's Day.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 3, 2015 at 10:19 AM I haven't watch the movie but I will definitely look into it. Last time you recommended me to see the movie on The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter which I liked. I agree it is a tour de force of imagination. Written at the time the book is a perfect example!

I haven't watch the movie but I will definitely look into it. Last time you recommended me to see the movie on The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter which I liked.
I agree it is a tour de force of imagination. Written at the time the book is a perfect example!

Thanks for stopping and liking my blog :)

I'll have to add 'The Time Machine' to my list, it sounds like the kind of hard science fiction I'm into. Although I'm always a little weary of fiction published that long ago, the language and writing can be enough to completely remove me from the story.

Aman(@amanhimself) says: June 14, 2015 at 12:46 PM You're welcome. I hope you like the book.

You're welcome. I hope you like the book.

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