3.5 

The Time Machine

By H. G. Wells
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

The Time Machine is the novel that gave us the concept of—and even the word for—a “time machine.” While it’s not Wells’ first story involving time travel, it is the one that most fully fleshes out the concept of a device that can send a person backwards and forwards in time with complete precision. Time machines have since become a staple of the science fiction and fantasy genres, making The Time Machine one of the most deeply influential science fiction novels of the era.

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The Time Machine Reviews

3.5
“What a fascinating read, 131 years after it’s original publication! It’s important to note going into this that HG Wells considered himself a socialist and was anti-racist in his time.There may have been other issues with his character but I have not done ample research. I found it interesting to see what he predicted for the distant future, and some of it doesn’t seem too far off of the mark. He meets a civilization known as the Eloi who are childlike: unfocused, but seemingly happy. They live in large communal dwellings and Wells even acknowledges this changes in the society as being somewhat “communist”. There is a mention of the warming of the Earth and a distancing, by the people, from the binary of gender expression and gender roles. Everyone appears to be similar in those things. But under the surface is a lack of intelligence, and he explores where that lack of intelligence comes from. In world full of conveniences and tools the people have stopped thinking for themselves. They have lost focus and no longer have to toil for the things that they have, and this lack of intelligence can be exploited other groups. I don’t want to spoil the book so I won’t say more than that, but quite interesting to see the similarities and differences in this novella and our current world where many things are “convenience” based, short form content has eroded our own focus and anti-intellectualism is on the rise. If you’re looking for a short classic to add to your 2026 reading, check this one out!”

About H. G. Wells

Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer. Prolific in many genres, he wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography and autobiography. His work also included two books on recreational war games. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called the "father of science fiction", along with Jules Verne and the publisher Hugo Gernsback.

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