The Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents [Paperback]

H. G. Wells (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2005

Included in this volume are "The Stolen Bacillus," "The Flowering of the Strange Orchid," "In the Avu Observatory," "The Triumphs of a Taxidermist," "A Deal in Ostriches," "Through a Window," "The Temptation of Harringay," "The Flying Man," "The Diamond Maker," "Aepyornis Island," "The Remarkable Case of Davidson's Eyes," "The Lord of the Dynamos," "The Hammerpond Park Burglary," "A Moth -- Genus Novo," and "The Treasure in the Forest."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wells is a prophet." -- New York Times --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Herbert George Wells (1866–1946), historian, journalist, philosopher, and political commentator, is best known for his foundational books in science fiction, including The Time Machine (1895), The Invisible Man (1897), and The War of the Worlds (1898). --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Aegypan (December 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598187236
• ISBN-13: 978-1598187236
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great classic sci-fi - still fresh today, March 17, 2007

By 

K. Sozaeva "Obsessive bibliophile" (Athens, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents (Paperback)

H G Wells wrote and published this book of short stories in 1895; the first book he published, if I remember correctly. The writing style is typical Wells - just like he was sitting in front of you telling you a tale - and the stories themselves are quite entertaining. The topics range from an Anarchist set to destroy London by stealing a vial of cholera bacilla (the title story) to a man describing his time on a deserted island and how he hatched out an egg that had been preserved for 400 years. I think my favorite was the taxidermist story, just because it was really twisted :-) Give this book a try - it's a great introduction to the writings of a classic author of truly tremendous standing.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection of tales, March 29, 2006

By 

Steven Wilber "DragonReader" (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents (Paperback)

I really enjoyed this collection of 15 tales which range from a different way of looking at every day events, to high adventure (complete with buried treasure), mystery, magic, and science fiction. There is something for everyone in this collection.

These tales show imagination and all are beautifully written in Wells' classical style. One of H.G. Wells' biggest strengths is his ability to paint a picture with words. The reader is very much able to visualize what is going on, whithout being told every single detail.

A must read collection for fans of H.G. Wells and classic SciFi alike.

Personal favorites in this collection include "The Lord of the Dynamos", "Trough A Window", and "The Treasure in the Forest".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Collection of Fantastic Short Stories, March 29, 2011

By 

Dr. Bojan Tunguz (Indiana, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents (Kindle Edition)

H. G. Wells is one of the most significant authors of science fiction and fantasy genera. He was a pioneering visionary and many of the themes and plot devices that he used in his stories and novels have become the standard staple of science fiction. It is almost impossible to think of a single standard science fiction plot premise that has not been in some way foreshadowed by H. G. Wells. The most prominent example of this is perhaps his novel "The War of the Worlds" which has been adapted numerous times, and hardly a year passes without a major Hollywood blockbuster that exploits the idea of the alien invasion.

This collection of short stories can be a very accessible introduction to the writings of H. G Wells. All of the stories are highly original and idiosyncratic, but a few familiar themes readily emerge - biological weapons, carnivorous plants, strange creatures in remote parts of the World, hallucinations and telepathic visions, etc. The stories are written in proper Victorian style, and can be a tad bit tedious at moments. Nonetheless, many of them are also infused with dry English humor that lightens them up. Some of the stories contain racial and other prejudices and unflattering descriptions, which can be jarring to modern sensibilities. Hopefully, however, the reader can look beyond those idiosyncrasies and view them as a reflection of a different age. These are after all pretty entertaining stories, and they should especially be of interest to anyone who is interested in vintage science fiction and fantasy.