Customer Reviews

The Country of the Blind: With Envelope (Travelman Short Stories)

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"The Country of the Blind" is one of H. G. Wells' best short stories and thus a classic in both science fiction and literature generally. Extremely well-written, it describes a society very different from any existing one so vividly that it seems real, and the suspense is apt. The story can be readily enjoyed for this alone. However, as always with Wells, there is much to provoke thought. Like his best works, there is a strong sociological/anthropological aspect examining in detail mores and other issues that very widely across cultures. Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that Wells questions several preconceptions and gives us substantial food for proverbial thought. Themes include characteristics of isolated societies, the effects of disabilities on culture, and xenophobia; this last is particularly prominent and, for once, seen from both sides. This is simply a great work with which anyone at all interested in Wells, SF, or simply great short stories should be familiar. That said, the fact that it is in innumerable Wells collections and many others makes it very hard to justify a standalone; the important thing at any rate is to read it in some form.