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The war of the worlds — H. G. Wells

The war of the worlds

H. G. Wells

  • Fantasy
  • Book language: English
  • 164 pages

The War of the Worlds is H. G. Wells's classic science fiction novel. It tells of an invasion of Earth by Martians and the struggles of ordinary people, narrated by an unnamed observer in England. It remains a foundational tale of alien contact, offering suspense and a sober look at human vulnerability.

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Cover of the original edition (Project Gutenberg, public domain).

Text source: gutenberg.org · The work is in the public domain.

Opening of the book

The War of the Worlds
by H. G. Wells
‘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)
Contents
BOOK ONE.—THE COMING OF THE MARTIANS
I. THE EVE OF THE WAR.
II. THE FALLING STAR.
III. ON HORSELL COMMON.
IV. THE CYLINDER OPENS.
V. THE HEAT-RAY.
VI. THE HEAT-RAY IN THE CHOBHAM ROAD.
VII. HOW I REACHED HOME.
VIII. FRIDAY NIGHT.

IX. THE FIGHTING BEGINS.
X. IN THE STORM.
XI. AT THE WINDOW.
XII. WHAT I SAW OF THE DESTRUCTION OF WEYBRIDGE AND
SHEPPERTON.
XIII. HOW I FELL IN WITH THE CURATE.
XIV. IN LONDON.
XV. WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN SURREY.
XVI. THE EXODUS FROM LONDON.
XVII. THE “THUNDER CHILD”.
BOOK TWO.—THE EARTH UNDER THE MARTIANS
I. UNDER FOOT.
II. WHAT WE SAW FROM THE RUINED HOUSE.
III. THE DAYS OF IMPRISONMENT.
IV. THE DEATH OF THE CURATE.
V. THE STILLNESS.
VI. THE WORK OF FIFTEEN DAYS.
VII. THE MAN ON PUTNEY HILL.
VIII. DEAD LONDON.
IX. WRECKAGE.
X. THE EPILOGUE.

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Contents

  1. The War of the Worlds
  2. Contents
  3. BOOK ONE THE COMING OF THE MARTIANS
  4. I. THE EVE OF THE WAR.
  5. II. THE FALLING STAR.
  6. III. ON HORSELL COMMON.
  7. IV. THE CYLINDER OPENS.
  8. V. THE HEAT-RAY.
  9. VI. THE HEAT-RAY IN THE CHOBHAM ROAD.
  10. VII. HOW I REACHED HOME.
  11. VIII. FRIDAY NIGHT.
  12. IX. THE FIGHTING BEGINS.
  13. X. IN THE STORM.
  14. XI. AT THE WINDOW.
  15. XII. WHAT I SAW OF THE DESTRUCTION OF WEYBRIDGE AND SHEPPERTON.
  16. XIII. HOW I FELL IN WITH THE CURATE.
  17. XIV. IN LONDON.
  18. XV. WHAT HAD HAPPENED IN SURREY.
  19. XVI. THE EXODUS FROM LONDON.
  20. XVII. THE “THUNDER CHILD”.
  21. BOOK TWO THE EARTH UNDER THE MARTIANS.
  22. I. UNDER FOOT.
  23. II. WHAT WE SAW FROM THE RUINED HOUSE.
  24. III. THE DAYS OF IMPRISONMENT.
  25. IV. THE DEATH OF THE CURATE.
  26. V. THE STILLNESS.
  27. VI. THE WORK OF FIFTEEN DAYS.
  28. VII. THE MAN ON PUTNEY HILL.
  29. VIII. DEAD LONDON.
  30. IX. WRECKAGE.

and 2 more chapters

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