The War of the Worlds (1898) is a science fiction novel by H. G.
Wells. It describes the experiences of an unnamed narrator who
travels through the suburbs of London as England is invaded by
Martians. It is one of the earliest stories that details a conflict
between mankind and an alien race.
The War of the Worlds is split into two parts, Book one: The
Coming of the Martians, and Book two: The Earth under the Martians.
The novel is narrated by a writer of philosophical articles who
throughout the narrative struggles to reunite with his wife, while
witnessing the Martians rampaging through the southern English
counties. Part one also features the tale of his brother, who
accompanies two women to the coast in the hope of escaping England
as it is invaded.
The plot has been related to invasion literature of the time.
The novel has been variously interpreted as a commentary on
evolutionary theory, British imperialism, and generally Victorian
fears and prejudices. At the time of publication it was classified
as a scientific romance, like his earlier novel The Time Machine.
Since then, it has influenced much literature and other media,
spawning half a dozen feature films, radio dramas, various comic
book adaptations, a television series, and sequels or parallel
stories by other authors. It also influenced the real-life work of
scientists, notably the rocket scientist Robert H. Goddard.