<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, (1898) is one of the most enduring science fiction stories, and one of the earliest depictions of an invasion of our world by aliens. It was first serialized in Pearson's Magazine in the U.K. in 1897, then published in book form in 1898. It tells the story of how Martians land in the south of England in the early 1900s, arriving in capsules that crash down like meteorites. These capsules contain various Martian machines, most notably the walking tripod war machines, which shoot heat rays capable of incinerating just about anything. The Martians also employ a gas weapon known as “the black smoke,” which kills humans instantly.

The Martians take control of much of England quite quickly. Using their crablike handling machines, they begin to gather up human survivors to be used as food. But just when things seem to be at their worst, all the Martians suddenly expire from earthly diseases to which they have no immunity.

H. G. Wells was very concerned with European colonialism, and in true science fiction fashion, desired to show what might happen if England were the “backward” society invaded by a technologically superior force. The book also struck a chord in its day due to fears of Germany's increasing militarization. Real invasion was on everyone's mind. This fear of the outsider is arguably one of the reasons the story has had such lasting impact. The times that The War of the Worlds has been adapted into other media correspond to times of heightened fear: Orson Welles' 1938 panic broadcast--the rise of the Third Reich; George Pal's 1953 movie--the Red Scare; Steven Spielberg's 2005 movie--global terrorism (two other, lower-budget film adaptations were also released that year). In addition to these larger works, the novel has inspired a great number of sequels and tangential works. Walking war machines abound in science fiction film and art. Even the little critters in the original Space Invaders game are said to be inspired by the Martians.