The Time Machine : An Invention : A Critical Text of the 1895 London First Edition, With an Introduction and Appendices (Annotated H.G. Wells, 1) (Annotated Hg Wells) [Library Binding]

H. G. Wells (Author), Leon E. Stover (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Annotated H. G. Wells | Publication Date: April 1, 1996

The Time Machine is one of the most enduring works of the English language. A hundred years after it was first published, the book continues to be studied. The 1895 London first edition is used as a basis for the exhaustive annotations and other critical apparatus of the world’s foremost Wellsian scholar. The widely reprinted version of 1924 is also fully accounted for. For most students, one of the chief points of interest is what the novel signified to readers when it was first published and how it relates to Wells’s later works. Accordingly, the annotations focus on these questions. The introduction gives in great depth the background of the work and its complex bibliographical history, and a synopsis of the literary conventions that Wells used.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Two of Wells's sf masterpieces get the red carpet treatment here. These "critical text" editions contain the full text plus annotations, indexes, appendixes, and bibliographies. Though these editions are pricey, Wells's works deserve serious consideration. Libraries should at least stock up on a few extra budget paperback copies of Doctor Moreau to meet demand generated by a forthcoming film remake starring Marlon Brando and Val Kilmer.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

“Thorough job” --Interzone

“Fascinating...extremely useful” --Choice

“Enlightening” --Fosfax

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Product Details

• Library Binding: 270 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786401249
• ISBN-13: 978-0786401246
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,102,651 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great novel, poor spelling, February 20, 2004

By 

Purple Wizard (Madison, WI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Time Machine : An Invention : A Critical Text of the 1895 London First Edition, With an Introduction and Appendices (Annotated H.G. Wells, 1) (Annotated Hg Wells) (Library Binding)

The Time Machine is probably my all-time favorite science fiction novel, so I jumped at the chance to purchase the "critical text" when it became available. Unfortunately as I read the text I found spelling errors in it! For fifty bucks and a critical edition, you'd think the editor and publisher would take more care.

The introduction, annotations, and appendices were worth the price, but simple spelling errors cannot be excused.

For the novel: five stars. For the editing job, 1.

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent annotated series of hg well sf works using 1st editions, February 2, 2009

By 

marcabru - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Time Machine : An Invention : A Critical Text of the 1895 London First Edition, With an Introduction and Appendices (Annotated H.G. Wells, 1) (Annotated Hg Wells) (Library Binding)

This is an excellent critical edition of the initial edition of the Time Machine by Leon Stover.
Most reprints of the Time Machine and other of Wells' SF novels typically use later revisions. Stover argues effectively for the greater artistic merit of the initial editions. It is part of a series of extensively annotated editions of Wells' science fiction. The editor also has a lengthy introduction which discusses the context and ideas permeating each novel. Stover makes good use of previous studies while also providing his own illuminating analyses. What I like is that Stover keeps close to what Wells wrote and said in his various books and recorded conversations rather
than spinning some personal take on the novel. Please do not confuse this with a typical reprint of the Time Machine or any of his other sf novels. It is much more. Serious readers of HG Wells should get the series.

2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A glimpse of what is to come, February 1, 2000

By 

Steve Holloway (Grafenwoehr, Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Time Machine : An Invention : A Critical Text of the 1895 London First Edition, With an Introduction and Appendices (Annotated H.G. Wells, 1) (Annotated Hg Wells) (Library Binding)

The Time Machine is a story of a man who prophesized the future. H.G Wells did a great job of setting up the plot of the story and also added a few action scenes. When the main character had went far enough into the future, he discovered a society of mindless people. They did no thinking, just sat around. He found a library of books which hadn't been touched in perhaps a thousand years. Perhaps H.G Wells has given us an insight to our future, or maybe the book is just science fuction. You can read this novel and make that decision for yourself.