
The Greatest Science Fiction Novels & Stories by H. G. Wells (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. The War of The Worlds, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, The Time MachineBy H. G. WellsLength98h 56m
About this audiobook
The Greatest Science Fiction Novels & Stories by H. G. Wells gathers the speculative works that helped define modern science fiction: tales of time travel, alien invasion, biological transformation, invisibility, and utopian or dystopian futures. Wells's prose combines brisk narrative momentum with philosophical inquiry, scientific speculation, and social satire. Written in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, these works stand at the crossroads of romance, Gothic unease, evolutionary theory, and emerging technological modernity. H. G. Wells (1866–1946) was trained in science under T. H. Huxley, and his intellectual formation deeply shaped his fiction. His concerns with Darwinism, class inequality, imperial violence, and the ethical consequences of invention recur throughout his imaginative writing. A journalist, historian, and social critic as well as a novelist, Wells transformed contemporary anxieties into enduring narrative experiments. This collection is essential for readers seeking the origins of science fiction as a serious literary form. It will appeal not only to admirers of adventure and speculative imagination, but also to those interested in how fiction interrogates progress, power, and human vulnerability. Wells remains indispensable because his futures still illuminate our present.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions.
- The Author Biography highlights personal milestones and literary influences that shape the entire body of writing.
- A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation.
- A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists.
- A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths.
- Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts.
- Lastly, our hand‐picked Memorable Quotes distill pivotal lines and turning points, serving as touchstones for the collection's central themes.
Audiobook details
GenreScience Fiction, Literary Classics
Length98 hrs 56 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 21, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
140CHAPTER X. THE BATTLE OF THE DARKNESS
2Introduction
141CHAPTER XI. THE OLD MAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
3Author Biography
142CHAPTER XII. OSTROG
4Historical Context
143CHAPTER XIII. THE END OF THE OLD ORDER
5Synopsis (Selection)
144CHAPTER XIV. FROM THE CROW’S NEST
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6The Greatest Science Fiction Novels & Stories by H. G. Wells
145CHAPTER XV. PROMINENT PEOPLE
7The Time Machine
146CHAPTER XVI. THE MONOPLANE
8CHAPTER I
147CHAPTER XVII. THREE DAYS
9CHAPTER II
148CHAPTER XVIII. GRAHAM REMEMBERS
10CHAPTER III
149CHAPTER XIX. OSTROG’S POINT OF VIEW
11CHAPTER IV
150CHAPTER XX. IN THE CITY WAYS
12CHAPTER V
151CHAPTER XXI. THE UNDERSIDE
13CHAPTER VI
152CHAPTER XXII. THE STRUGGLE IN THE COUNCIL HOUSE
14CHAPTER VII
153CHAPTER XXIII. GRAHAM SPEAKS HIS WORD
15CHAPTER VIII
154CHAPTER XXIV. WHILE THE AEROPLANES WERE COMING
16CHAPTER IX
155CHAPTER XXV. THE COMING OF THE AEROPLANES
17CHAPTER X
156The Shape of Things to Come
18CHAPTER XI
157Introduction: The Dream Book of Dr. Philip Raven
19CHAPTER XII
158Book the First: Today and Tomorrow: The Age of Frustration Dawns
20The War of The Worlds
1591. A Chronological Note
21BOOK ONE. THE COMING OF THE MARTIANS
1602. How the Idea and Hope of the Modern World State First Appeared
22CHAPTER ONE. The Eve Of The War
1613. The Accumulating Disproportions of the Old Order
23CHAPTER TWO. The Falling Star
1624. Early Attempts to Understand and Deal with These Disproportions; The Criticisms of Karl Marx and Henry George
24CHAPTER THREE. On Horsell Common
1635. The Way in Which Competition and Monetary Inefficiency Strained the Old Order
25CHAPTER FOUR. The Cylinder Opens
1646. The Paradox of Over-Production and Its Relation to War
26CHAPTER FIVE. The HeatRay
1657. The Great War of 1914-1918
27CHAPTER SIX. The HeatRay In The Chobham Road
1668. The Impulse to Abolish War; The Episode of the Ford Peace Ship
28CHAPTER SEVEN. How I Reached Home
1679. The Direct Action of the Armament Industries in Maintaining War Stresses
29CHAPTER EIGHT. Friday Night
16810. Versailles: Seed Bed of Disasters
30CHAPTER NINE. The Fighting Begins
16911. The Impulse to Abolish War: Why the League of Nations Failed to Pacify the World
31CHAPTER TEN. In The Storm
17012. The Breakdown of “Finance” and Social Morale after Versailles
32CHAPTER ELEVEN. At The Window
17113. 1933: “Progress” Comes to a Halt
33CHAPTER TWELVE. What I Saw Of The Destruction
172Book the Second: The Days After Tomorrow: The Age of Frustration
34CHAPTER THIRTEEN. How I Fell In With The Curate
1731. The London Conference: the Crowning Failure of the Old Governments; The Spread of Dictatorships and Fascisms
35CHAPTER FOURTEEN. In London
1742. The Sloughing of the Old Educational Tradition
36CHAPTER FIFTEEN. What Had Happened In Surrey
1753. Disintegration and Crystallization in the Social Magma. The Gangster and Militant Political Organizations
37CHAPTER SIXTEEN. The Exodus From London
1764. Changes in War Practice after the World War
38CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. The “Thunder Child”
1775. The Fading Vision of a World Pax: Japan Reverts to Warfare
39BOOK TWO. THE EARTH UNDER THE MARTIANS
1786. The Western Grip on Asia Relaxes
40CHAPTER ONE. Under Foot
1797. The Modern State and Germany
41CHAPTER TWO. What We Saw From The Ruined House
1808. A Note on Hate and Cruelty
42CHAPTER THREE. The Days Of Imprisonment
1819. The Last War Cyclone, 1940-50
43CHAPTER FOUR. The Death Of The Curate
18210. The Raid of the Germs
44CHAPTER FIVE. The Stillness
18311. Europe in 1960
45CHAPTER SIX. The Work Of Fifteen Days
18412. America in Liquidation
46CHAPTER SEVEN. The Man On Putney Hill
185Book the Third: The World Renascence: The Birth of the Modern State
47CHAPTER EIGHT. Dead London
1861. The Plan of the Modern State Is Worked Out
48CHAPTER NINE. Wreckage
1872. Thought and Action: the New Model of Revolution
49CHAPTER TEN. The Epilogue
1883. The Technical Revolutionary
50The Island of Doctor Moreau
1894. Prophets, Pioneers, Fanatics and Murdered Men
51INTRODUCTION.
1905. The First Conference at Basra: 1965
52CHAPTER 1. IN THE DINGHY OF THE LADY VAIN
1916. The Growth of Resistance to the Sea and Air Ways Control
53CHAPTER 2. THE MAN WHO WAS GOING NOWHERE
1927. Intellectual Antagonism to the Modern State
54CHAPTER 3. THE STRANGE FACE
1938. The Second Conference at Basra, 1978
55CHAPTER 4. AT THE SCHOONER’S RAIL
1949. “Three Courses of Action”
56CHAPTER 5. THE LANDING ON THE ISLAND
19510. The Life-Time Plan
57CHAPTER 6. THE EVIL-LOOKING BOATMEN
19611. The Real Struggle for Government Begins
58CHAPTER 7. THE LOCKED DOOR
197Book the Fourth: The Modern State Militant
59CHAPTER 8. THE CRYING OF THE PUMA
1981. Gap in the Text
60CHAPTER 9. THE THING IN THE FOREST
1992. Melodramatic Interlude
61CHAPTER 10. THE CRYING OF THE MAN
2003. Futile Insurrection
62CHAPTER 11. THE HUNTING OF THE MAN
2014. The Schooling of Mankind
63CHAPTER 12. THE SAYERS OF THE LAW
2025. The Text Resumes: The Tyranny of the Second Council
64CHAPTER 13. A PARLEY
2036. Æsthetic Frustration: The Note Books of Ariston Theotocopulos
65CHAPTER 14. DOCTOR MOREAU EXPLAINS
2047. The Declaration of Mégève
66CHAPTER 15. CONCERNING THE BEAST FOLK
205Book the Fifth: The Modern State in Control of Life
67CHAPTER 16. HOW THE BEAST FOLK TASTED BLOOD
2061. Monday Morning in the Creation of a New World
68CHAPTER 17. A CATASTROPHE
2072. Keying Up the Planet
69CHAPTER 18. THE FINDING OF MOREAU
2083. Geogonic Planning
70CHAPTER 19. MONTGOMERY’S `BANK HOLIDAY’
2094. Changes in the Control of Behaviour
71CHAPTER 20. ALONE WITH THE BEAST FOLK
2105. Organization of Plenty
72CHAPTER 21. THE REVERSION OF THE BEAST FOLK
2116. The Average Man Grows Older and Wiser
73CHAPTER 22. THE MAN ALONE
2127. Language and Mental Growth
74The Invisible Man
2138. Sublimation of Interest
75CHAPTER I. THE STRANGE MAN’S ARRIVAL
2149. A New Phase in the History of Life
76CHAPTER II. MR. TEDDY HENFREY’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS
215The Food of the Gods
77CHAPTER III. THE THOUSAND AND ONE BOTTLES
216BOOK I. THE DAWN OF THE FOOD
78CHAPTER IV. MR. CUSS INTERVIEWS THE STRANGER
217CHAPTER THE FIRST. THE DISCOVERY OF THE FOOD.
79CHAPTER V. THE BURGLARY AT THE VICARAGE
218CHAPTER THE SECOND. THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM.
80CHAPTER VI. THE FURNITURE THAT WENT MAD
219CHAPTER THE THIRD. THE GIANT RATS.
81CHAPTER VII. THE UNVEILING OF THE STRANGER
220CHAPTER THE FOURTH. THE GIANT CHILDREN.
82CHAPTER VIII. IN TRANSIT
221CHAPTER THE FIFTH. THE MINIMIFICENCE OF MR BENSINGTON.
83CHAPTER IX. MR. THOMAS MARVEL
222BOOK II. THE FOOD IN THE VILLAGE
84CHAPTER X. MR. MARVEL’S VISIT TO IPING
223CHAPTER THE FIRST. THE COMING OF THE FOOD.
85CHAPTER XI. IN THE “COACH AND HORSES”
224CHAPTER THE SECOND. THE BRAT GIGANTIC.
86CHAPTER XII. THE INVISIBLE MAN LOSES HIS TEMPER
225BOOK III. THE HARVEST OF THE FOOD
87CHAPTER XIII. MR. MARVEL DISCUSSES HIS RESIGNATION
226CHAPTER THE FIRST. THE ALTERED WORLD.
88CHAPTER XIV. AT PORT STOWE
227CHAPTER THE SECOND. THE GIANT LOVERS.
89CHAPTER XV. THE MAN WHO WAS RUNNING
228CHAPTER THE THIRD. YOUNG CADDIES IN LONDON.
90CHAPTER XVI. IN THE “JOLLY CRICKETERS”
229CHAPTER THE FOURTH. REDWOOD’S TWO DAYS.
91CHAPTER XVII. DR. KEMP’S VISITOR
230CHAPTER THE FIFTH. THE GIANT LEAGUER.
92CHAPTER XVIII. THE INVISIBLE MAN SLEEPS
231In the Days of the Comet
93CHAPTER XIX. CERTAIN FIRST PRINCIPLES
232PROLOGUE THE MAN WHO WROTE IN THE TOWER
94CHAPTER XX. AT THE HOUSE IN GREAT PORTLAND STREET
233BOOK THE FIRST. THE COMET
95CHAPTER XXI. IN OXFORD STREET
234CHAPTER THE FIRST. DUST IN THE SHADOWS
96CHAPTER XXII. IN THE EMPORIUM
235CHAPTER THE SECOND. NETTIE
97CHAPTER XXIII. IN DRURY LANE
236CHAPTER THE THIRD. THE REVOLVER
98CHAPTER XXIV. THE PLAN THAT FAILED
237CHAPTER THE FOURTH. WAR
99CHAPTER XXV. THE HUNTING OF THE INVISIBLE MAN
238CHAPTER THE FIFTH. THE PURSUIT OF THE TWO LOVERS
100CHAPTER XXVI. THE WICKSTEED MURDER
239BOOK THE SECOND. THE GREEN VAPORS
101CHAPTER XXVII. THE SIEGE OF KEMP’S HOUSE
240CHAPTER THE FIRST. THE CHANGE
102CHAPTER XXVIII. THE HUNTER HUNTED
241CHAPTER THE SECOND. THE AWAKENING
103The First Men in the Moon
242CHAPTER THE THIRD. THE CABINET COUNCIL
104CHAPTER 1. Mr. Bedford Meets Mr. Cavor at Lympne
243BOOK THE THIRD. THE NEW WORLD
105CHAPTER 2. The First Making of Cavorite
244CHAPTER THE FIRST. LOVE AFTER THE CHANGE
106CHAPTER 3. The Building of the sphere
245CHAPTER THE SECOND. MY MOTHER’S LAST DAYS
107CHAPTER 4. Inside the Sphere
246CHAPTER THE THIRD. BELTANE AND NEW YEAR’S EVE
108CHAPTER 5. The Journey to the Moon
247A Modern Utopia
109CHAPTER 6. The Landing on the Moon
248THE OWNER OF THE VOICE
110CHAPTER 7. Sunrise on the Moon
249CHAPTER THE FIRST. Topographical
111CHAPTER 8. A Lunar Morning
250CHAPTER THE SECOND. Concerning Freedoms
112CHAPTER 9. Prospecting Begins
251CHAPTER THE THIRD. Utopian Economics
113CHAPTER 10. Lost Men in the Moon
252CHAPTER THE FOURTH. The Voice of Nature
114CHAPTER 11. The Mooncalf Pastures
253CHAPTER THE FIFTH. Failure in a Modern Utopia
115CHAPTER 12. The Selenite’s Face
254CHAPTER THE SIXTH. Women in a Modern Utopia
116CHAPTER 13. Mr. Cavor Makes Some Suggestions
255CHAPTER THE SEVENTH. A Few Utopian Impressions
117CHAPTER 14. Experiments in intercourse
256CHAPTER THE EIGHTH. My Utopian Self
118CHAPTER 15. The Giddy Bridge
257CHAPTER THE NINTH. The Samurai
119CHAPTER 16. Points of View
258CHAPTER THE TENTH. Race in Utopia
120CHAPTER 17. The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers
259CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH. The Bubble Bursts
121CHAPTER 18. In the Sunlight
260The War in the Air
122CHAPTER 19. Mr. Bedford Alone
261CHAPTER I. Of Progress And The Smallways Family
123CHAPTER 20. Mr. Bedford in Infinite Space
262CHAPTER II. How Bert Smallways Got Into Difficulties
124CHAPTER 21. Mr. Bedford at Littlestone
263CHAPTER III. The Balloon
125CHAPTER 22. The Astonishing Communication of Mr. Julius Wendigee
264CHAPTER IV. The German Air-Fleet
126CHAPTER 23. An Abstract of the Six Messages First Received from Mr. Cavor
265CHAPTER V. The Battle Of The North Atlantic
127CHAPTER 24. The Natural History of the Selenites
266CHAPTER VI. How War Came To New York
128CHAPTER 25. The Grand Lunar
267CHAPTER VII. The “Vaterland” Is Disabled
129CHAPTER 26. The Last Message Cavor sent to the Earth
268CHAPTER VIII. A World At War
130When the Sleeper Wakes
269CHAPTER IX. On Goat Island
131CHAPTER I. INSOMNIA
270CHAPTER X. The World Under The War
132CHAPTER II. THE TRANCE
271CHAPTER XI. The Great Collapse
133CHAPTER III. THE AWAKENING
272The Chronic Argonauts
134CHAPTER IV. THE SOUND OF A TUMULT
273In the Abyss
135CHAPTER V. THE MOVING WAYS
274The Star
136CHAPTER VI. THE HALL OF THE ATLAS
275The Crystal Egg
137CHAPTER VII. IN THE SILENT ROOMS
276Analysis
138CHAPTER VIII. THE ROOF SPACES
277Reflection
139CHAPTER IX. THE PEOPLE MARCH
278Memorable Quotes