AnnA H. (stormchaserblue) reviewed on 2/3/2011 + 43 more book reviews

The War of the Worlds is a classic science fiction novel, which I had never read. Written in 1898 by H.G. Wells it is the experiences of an unnamed narrator who survives the invasion of Martians in the suburbs of London England. The narrator lives a mile or so from the first landing, and after the first attack he flees with his wife. They separate and he spends the rest of the book trying to find her.
Several parts of the book are his brothers story of escape from London. How he first hears about the invasion and the disbelief of those who do not see the Martians first hand. The Martians are octopus looking creatures that use heat rays and a gas or black smoke to kill the humans. As more Martians land Londoners flee the city and the English flee the country.
At on point in the book the narrator is trapped in a partially ruined building with a curate, an assistant clergyman, whos mind has snapped from stress. While the two men hide from the Martians who are right next door the narrator tries to calm the clergyman to avoid the Martians. When they see the Martians feeding on the humans like we are just big caprie sun containers the curate losses all control and is knocked unconscious by the narrator and found by the Martians.
After several days the Martians depart and the narrator moves towards London. It is in London that the narrator discovers that the Martians have succumb to the bacteria that live on our planet. When the narrator returns home he finds his wife waiting. She had believed him to be dead and vice versa.

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