Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells Hb (New Mermaids) [Hardcover]

H G Wells (Author)

Book Description

Series: New Mermaids | Publication Date: October 1987

The first one-volume edition of the short stories of H.G.Wells - a total of 84 stories by one of the Great masters of the genre. Herbert George Wells - author of The Time Machine and the war of the worlds - was on of the founding-fathers of modern science fiction. But in his short stories, written when he was a young man embarking on a literary career, that he first explored the enormous potential of the scientific discoveries of his day. He described his stories as ' a miscellany of inventions ', yet his enthusiasm for science is tempered by an awareness of it's horrifying destructive power and the threat it could pose to the whole human race. A consummate story teller, he makes fantastical creatures and machines entirely believable; and by placing ordinary men and women in extroadinary situations he humorously explores what it means to be alive in a century of rapid scientific progress. At the close of the millennium, in the age of Dolly the sheep, Wells fin de Siecle vision is more pertinent than ever before.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

* #24 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written * 'The founding father and presiding genius of UK science fiction' The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction * 'The Prospero of all the brave new worlds of the mind, and the Shakespeare of science fiction' -- Brian --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1038 pages
• Publisher: Black (a&C) (Publishers) Ltd (October 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713629711
• ISBN-13: 978-0713629712
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,933,374 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepare to see the world!, October 9, 2000

By 

S. D. Johnson (La Sierra, CA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells (Phoenix Giants) (Paperback)

This book is a "must have" for any fan of literature, science fiction, or just plain good story telling!

"The Time Machine" is the opening story in this book and starts the reader moving through the world of H.G. Wells. He will entice you with stories that pique the imagination, that range from the ancient past into the far future.

Over sixty short stories adorn this classic work, including:

The Empire of the Ants - killer ants from South America?

The Land Ironclad - land ships with guns can change trench warfare? (written in December 1903)

The Door In The Wall - a man recounts his boyhood memories of a door leading to a magical garden...

The Tempatation of Harringay - an artist is tempted by the devil himself

The Country of the Blind - is the one eyed man King in the land of the blind?

The Flowering of a Strange Orchid - Vampire flowers?

The New Accelerator - a man creates a mixture that allows him to move at ten times normal speed (concept adapted for a "Wild Wild West" episode)

Get the book, you won't be sorry.

(review based on hardback edition)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars classic short stories, should NEVER be out of print!, July 14, 2008

By 

Daniel Barak - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells (Paperback)

h.g.wells was to science fiction what shakespeare was to theatre. his short stories are composed of british warmth and wonder in equal measures. not only do we see the origins of the tank and the insect invasion story- but we see them as insights into human life and civilisation, in a manner that is easily the most similar to the 21th century. why is this landmark collection out of print is beyond me. it's like seeing mark twain or checkov out of print, which is just not done!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars H.G. Wells as you've never known him, April 2, 2008

By 

Norman's friend (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells (Phoenix Giants) (Paperback)

First off, this collection does not contain The Time Machine, I'm not sure what collection the other reviewer was referring to. However, this collection does contain some of the best stories you will ever read.

I discovered H.G. Wells relatively late in life (within this past year, at the age of 33) when I stumbled on a discount copy of "The Island of Dr. Moreau." Like most people, I'd read "War of the Worlds" in high school and thought it pretty good. However, I believe to truly appreciate Wells one must be older. Old enough to have experienced some sort of life and to appreciate fine, clean writing.

After reading "The Island of Dr. Moreau" I was surprised at how current the story felt and how horrific some of the details were (it definitely didn't read or feel like a book written over 100 years ago). As a result, each time I stopped at a used book store I'd peruse the shelves looking for anything Wells. I stumbled on a collection of five of his short stories called "The Empire of the Ants." What? Wells wrote short stories? No way! I bought the book and read it over my vacation. I was amazed. Wells is known for writing in detail, but I'd say his writing is even more detailed in his short stories (possibly because in a short story you don't have to worry about bogging the reader down in too much detail- causing them to lose the thread of the story).

What Wells does, and what he's famous for, is writing in such detail that a scenario becomes supremely believable, then, he adds a touch of the fantastic to really knock the reader's socks off. Since he's already created this ultra-realistic world, the fantastic becomes believable and the reader is left thinking, "that could really happen, couldn't it?"

After reading that collection of shorts, I looked for something more comprehensive and found "The Complete Short Stories of H.G. Wells" edited by John Hammond. I was amazed again! The breadth and scope of Wells' stories is amazing: from a rogue plant with a taste for human blood, to a voodoo shaman out for revenge, to an upstart student with a conscious, Wells' imagination knows no bounds.

I'm about half way through the book and my favorite stories thus far are "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid," "Pollock and the Porroh Man" and "In the Modern Vein: An Unsympathetic Love Story" (the stories I decribed above) also "The Lord of the Dynamos," "The Sea Raiders" and "A Story of the Stone Age." I must also add that I read "The Country of the Blind" as part of the previous book containing Wells' stories and it too is amazing. Also, I admit that sometimes Wells delves into too much detail, which can frustrate the reader and slow the story down. However, of the 30-40 stories I've read thus far, it has only happened a handful of times.

I only wish that this collection contained a short critique before each story. Mr. Hammond is a renowned Wells scholar and has even written a book analyzing Wells' short stories (a book I can't locate, by the way), that book I believe is essential to really understanding these stories (namely due to Wells' tendency to critique society in his writing). Unfortunately, no real analysis is available in this compilation, thus, the reader is left to his own interpretation. For the most part, the stories are pretty self-explanatory, but it would be nice to understand some of the other meanings.

In conclusion, I give this collection 5 stars and I highly recommend it for anyone with a taste for great storytelling. Wells' writing is fantastic, touching, humorous, detailed and very sensitive- I think you'll be surprised at how he'll win you over. H.G. Wells is a master writer, and he's gained me as a fan for life! :)