
Men Like Gods (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Dystopian Sci-Fi NovelBy H. G. WellsLength11h 6m
About this audiobook
Men Like Gods (1923) is H. G. Wells's bold utopian romance, in which the journalist Mr. Barnstaple and a party of quarrelsome Earthlings are transported into a parallel world whose rational, cooperative civilization exposes the follies of modern society. Written in Wells's lucid, argumentative prose, the novel blends scientific romance, social satire, and philosophical dialogue. Its pastoral yet technologically advanced Utopia places it in conversation with More, Plato, and Wells's own earlier speculative fiction, while reflecting postwar anxieties about politics, violence, and human progress. Wells, trained in science under T. H. Huxley and long committed to social reform, repeatedly used fiction as a laboratory for political and moral speculation. By the 1920s, after the First World War and amid disillusionment with old institutions, he was increasingly preoccupied with world government, education, sexual freedom, and rational planning. Men Like Gods emerges from these convictions, dramatizing his belief that humanity might evolve beyond nationalism, superstition, and coercion. This book is recommended to readers interested in classic science fiction as an instrument of social thought. Though polemical, it remains imaginative, provocative, and revealing of Wells's mature hopes for civilization.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreScience Fiction, Humor
Length11 hrs 6 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 18, 2019
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1H. G. WELLS Ultimate Collection: 120+ Science Fiction Classics, Novels & Stories; Including Scientific, Political and Historical Works (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Author Biography
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6Book I. The Irruption of the Earthlings
7Chapter I. Mr. Barnstaple Takes a Holiday
8Chapter II. The Wonderful Road
9Chapter III. The Beautiful People
10Chapter IV. The Shadow of Einstein Falls Across the Story But Passes Lightly by
11Chapter V. The Governance and History of Utopia
12Chapter VI. Some Earthly Criticisms
13Chapter VII. The Bringing in of Lord Barralonga’s Party
14Chapter VIII. Early Morning in Utopia
15Book II. Quarantine Crag
16Chapter I. The Epidemic
17Chapter II. The Castle on the Crag
18Chapter III. Mr. Barnstaple As a Traitor to Mankind
19Chapter IV. The End of Quarantine Crag
20Book III. A Neophyte in Utopia
21Chapter I. The Peaceful Hills Beside the River
22Chapter II. A Loiterer in a Living World
23Chapter III. The Service of the Earthling
24Chapter IV. The Return of the Earthling
25Analysis
26Reflection
27Memorable Quotes