Happy 143rd Mr. Wells. For those of you un unfamiliar with his work. H. G. Wells was science fiction before there was science fiction. He was steampunk before steampunk existed. He is geek 101.

From Wikipedia:

Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946), was an English author, best known for his work in the science fiction genre. Wells and Jules Verne are each often referred to as “The Father of Science Fiction”.

Wells was an outspoken socialist and a pacifist, and his later works became increasingly political and didactic. His middle period novels (1900-1920) were more realistic; they covered lower middle class life (The History of Mr Polly) and the ‘New Woman’ and the Suffragettes (Ann Veronica). He was a prolific writer in many genres, including contemporary novels, history, and social commentary.

More than that Wells wrote stories that depicted fantastical possibilities that were the stuff dreams were made of for may young boys including myself.

Most people are familiar with War of the Worlds. The Radio adaptation was so realistic at the time that many people were genuinely afraid that aliens had in fact invaded. There are; however, many other works of his that are just as great as that most famous story. To name a few of my personal favourites (You may recognize a few of these.)  The Invisible Man, the Island of Dr. Moreau, In the Days of the Comet, The First Men in the Moon (Movie adapted in 1919), and The Time Machine.

In 1902 La Voyage Dans La Lune was the first science fiction movie produced. It was loosely adapted from Jules Verne’s From the Earth To the Moon, and Well’s The First Men in the Moon.

Geeks of the world, always remember where we came from. Below is an exerpt from the original radio production of War of the Worlds broadcast on October 30, 1938. After that is Well’s speaking on October 31, 1938 about the scare that was followed by  the broadcast. Again happy birthday, H. G. Wells.

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