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Contemporary reviews of THE TIME MACHINE

H G Wells

The Time Machine

'The Time machine' is Wells' first published science fiction story. It's a short book - Well's commented 36 years later that this was due to the hurry to get it published and he would like to have written a longer work. However I prefer to read somewhat 'naive' early works of sci-fi writers before they have learnt to write 'proper' literature.

Reading this book gives and insight into what Well's wanted to write - we see that from the beginning he was more interested in possible futures for society than high tech gizmos. It's also worth reading if you've only seen the film version and want to know more about Wells' work.

Of course this book isn't really a story about time travel, which would involve visiting the past and either creating a paradox or making sure things happen the way they should. No, the Eloi and the Morlocks could just as well be living on a different planet. For instance [SPOILER - but you all know the story anyway] at one point in the story Weena disappears and is presumed either burned to death or eaten. Or did the time-traveller return in his time machine to a point just after she disappeared and save her from her fate? No, he didn't seem to think of that. Also the story has a bleak future for humanity, but if it's so far in the future that we seemingly can do nothing to prevent it then so what? If on the other hand knowledge of the future meant something could be done to prevent it, well the time-traveller didn't seem to think of that either.

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Mass Market Paperback 144 pages ISBN: 0812505042 Salesrank: 42643 Weight:0.18 lbs
Published: 1992 Tor (Tom Doherty)
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Paperback 128 pages ISBN: 0141439971 Salesrank: 15783 Weight:0.18 lbs
Published: 2005 Penguin Classics
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Mass Market Paperback 144 pages ISBN: 0812505042 Salesrank: 10351 Weight:0.18 lbs
Published: 1992 Tor Books
Amazon price CDN$ 4.99
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Product Description

Tor Classics are affordably-priced editions designed to attract the young reader. Original dynamic cover art enthusiastically represents the excitement of each story. Appropriate "reader friendly" type sizes have been chosen for each title—offering clear, accurate, and readable text. All editions are complete and unabridged, and feature Introductions and Afterwords.

This edition of The Time Machine includes an Introduction, Biographical Note, and Afterword by James Gunn.

The time? 802,701 A.D.

The place? An Earth stranger than you can imagine.

The people? A pretty, childlike race, the Eloi-and their distant cousins, the Morlocks: disgusting, hairy creatures who live in caves and feed on the flesh of-what?

Enter the Time Traveller, who has hurtled almost a million years into the future. After the Morlocks steal his machine he may be trapped there...and at their mercy.

Cautionary Tales ****

I've gone on a recent reading binge of late 1800s literature. Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, and HG Wells have led the list, but Wells is the most consistently satisfying. He mixes technology and suspense with ethical questions of what we often call "progress."

"The Time Machine" introduces us to the Time Traveller, a scientist who has figured a way to use the Fourth Dimension, Time, to his advantage. The story is told by the the Traveller, his words recorded by an unbiased listener. This gives it a sense of credibility, while forsaking some of the tension that a more modern tale would build by putting us directly in the protagonist's shoes. The story is fast-paced, but lacks the wide-ranging adventure I expected. We see only one period of time in detail--the future, hundreds of thousands of years from now--and the action is limited to the last third of the book.

Wells grew up in the shadow of Darwinian thinking, a time that must have been wide-ranging and unnerving in its effects on mankind's thinking to that point. As in his other books, he seems more interested in considering this evolutionary march and its eventual outcome. In "The Time Machine" he suggests that the pinnacle of mankind's evolution would, in fact, be a regression. The very change and conflict that force us into intelligent responses and reactions would be gone, leaving us to revert to childlike states of innocence, fearlessness, asexuality, and laziness. Or, in a more frightening result, some would become more animalistic and predatory, held down by the higher thinkers but always ready for revolt.

Wells explored genetic manipulation in "The Island of Dr. Moreau," and scientific discovery in "The Invisible Man." In neither case did society benefit from such progress. "The Time Machine" examines progress from the future. Again, he offers a gloomy outlook, a cautionary tale that still resonates despite its references to communism and British colonialism. He was a true visionary, grappling with the discoveries of his own age and trying to balance them with his own social and ethical quandaries.

Classic *****
A short read, but definitely fits in the realm of classic sci-fi. This is nothing like the newer movie remake of Time machine.

Review of The Time Machine ***

The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells, was first published in 1895. It remains a piece of classic literature because it is well written and because many feel that its message about society is still relevant today. H.G. Wells uses formal diction throughout the book, and much of the language used is typical of English literature in the late 19th century. The Time Traveler develops a Time Machine which he uses to travel into the future, to the year 802,701 A.D. While there, the Time Traveler learns about the society of the future, and the reasons for the distinct separation of classes.
Immediately upon arriving in the future, the Time Traveler meets the Eloi, a beautiful, graceful, child-like race. The Time Traveler befriends one of the Eloi after saving her from drowning in the river. Her name is Weena, and the Time Traveler learns about the Eloi from her companionship. The Eloi are a peaceful people, but also weak and stupid. The Eloi live a very leisurely lifestyle, eating strictly fruits. There are no houses in the year 802,701 A.D., and there seems to be no private ownership. The Eloi live, eat, and play as a group. There does not appear to have any form of government, and the Eloi seem to live in a perfected socialist society.
The Time Traveler soon realizes, however, that the Eloi are not the sole inhabitants of the earth in the future, after he returns to find his Time Machine stolen. A separate and very different race, the Morlocks, live below the ground. The Time Traveler describes these subterranean creatures as pale white, clammy, and apelike. The Morlocks have become so accustomed to the darkness underground that they avoid all light. The Time Traveler presumes that it is the Morlocks who have stolen his time Machine and hidden it in the base of a great statue.
It is not until the Time Traveler ventures below ground to search for his Time Machine that he realizes that the Morlocks are cannibalistic, relying on the weaker Eloi for food. The Time Traveler then begins to understand society in the future. The Eloi were once the aristocrats, and the Morlocks the working class. The aristocracy continued to buy the land above ground until the industry was forced below ground. The workers moved below ground with the industry, and the aristocrats stayed above ground, pursuing pleasure and relying on the workers underground for their goods and labor. Gradually, the laborers underground grew to detest the sun and their skin became bleached white, while the aristocrats became so comfortable and so unaccustomed to necessity or hardship that their size, strength, and intelligence waned. Thus, the Morlocks met all of the Eloi's needs so that they would have food. In essence, the Morlocks fattened up the Eloi in much the same way that we fatten up pigs for the slaughter. This society is not at all socialistic, like the Time Traveler first believed, but rather, the deep separation of classes has been caused by capitalism.
I would not recommend The Time Machine to one of my peers, simply because I do not agree with the underlying social message of the book. I do not believe that capitalism would ever produce a separation of classes as great as the one described in The Time Machine. History has shown that when the ruling class abuses its power and harms the working class, the working class will rebel and overthrow the ruling class. I did enjoy the book's story, however, and it is an easy read.

Free SF Reader ****

It will come as no surprise that the protagonist in this story, the
traveller, invents a time machine and uses it to venture into the
future.

The society that he ends up in seems amazing for a brief time, then
he realises that all is not as it seems. There is a large underclass
that is terribly exploited to produce all this for the eloi, as they
are called.

The underclass are named Morlocks, and it is here that the Time Traveler's sympathies reside.

Entertaining, influential story *****

It's hard to believe it took this long for the concept of time travel to enter the body of literature. Of course, it's so obvious once you're aware of the possibility, that's it's probably unfair to judge in hindsight.

Overall the book was quite entertaining. I've seen something like three or four renditions on TV and in movies, and while each puts its own stamp on the telling of the story (e.g. the 1970's version has a model that travels forward five minutes into the future; and the most recent remake includes the death of the inventor's wife), the basic elements all come directly from the book. There's also a scene from the book that takes place in the far future, and that I haven't seen done in any of the movies.

A brilliant example of what happens when one asks "what if..." and follows the answer to its logical conclusions, this book has been hugely influential in opening up entirely new avenues for fiction storytelling.

The Time Machine is awesome ****

I read this novel slowly over the space of about two hours. Ideal train or flight material if you want to look at it in those terms.
It's a fantastic novel told intelligently and is without a doubt a page turner, like, hell, what on earth would you do in that situation? As the novel unfolds it only becomes more exciting and enjoyable. AND it came out the same year as Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure! Hard to believe considering the scientific accuracy. (I'm no scientist, it just seemed that way)
What else can be said? It's wonderful and I'll definitely be reading more of HG Well's works. I'd heavily advise The Time Machine to anyone who reads this review.

A powerful political message. ***

By the final decade of the 19th century society's enthusiasm for liberal romanticism, for geographical exploration, the expansion of empire and the 'progress' of mankind in general, had become infused with more complicated thought processes. Perhaps inspired by such scholars as Darwin, Freud, and above all Marx, all of whose approaches challenged the received assumptions, H.G.Wells was at the forefront of a new literary Zeitgeist.

'The Time Machine' is written like any nineteenth-century adventure story. The Time Traveller learns the language of the inhabitants and begins to understand their world.He even tries to bring one of them back with him. But instead of having bravely journeyed into the interior of a dark continent, or set out to have mapped the world's oceans, he has found a way of travelling to the future. In doing so he discovered, what reviewers of the genre would later call 'dystopia', a civilisation gone wrong.

In the uncertain and insecure years which preceded the first great workers' revolution, the novel's central preoccupation is with dark, subterranean recesses, the frightening world of the industrial proletariat, on the one hand; and on the other the unsustainable future for effete wealth. It is a powerful tract for a nascent socialist society.

An Adventure ***

Synopsis from Amazon:

When a Victorian scientist propels himself into the year 802,701 AD, he is initially delighted to find that suffering has been replaced by beauty, contentment and peace. Entranced at first by the Eloi, an elfin species descended from man, he soon realises that this beautiful people are simply remnants of a once-great culture - now weak and childishly afraid of the dark. They have every reason to be afraid: in deep tunnels beneath their paradise lurks another race descended from humanity - the sinister Morlocks. And when the scientist's time machine vanishes, it becomes clear he must search these tunnels, if he is ever to return to his own era.

In Victorian London, a man known only as The Time Traveller has beaten the odds and made a time machine. He transports himself to the year 802,701 to find out what the world will be like in the future. He discovers two races, the fearful Eloi and the scary Morlocks. It seems the latter, who hide in the darkness of the underground tunnels have taken his time machine. The Time Traveller has to go on quite an adventure to relocate his ticket home.

This was a quick book, and fairly enjoyable, however, Wells makes quite a dire prediction of the future. He writes that humans will split into two races: one will be childish and the other evil. I did not relate to the characters well, yet I wanted to know what happened. Some people have referred to this book as a social commentary but for me it was an adventure book. The Time Traveller had dark roads to travel and all sorts of beings to fight if he wished to get to his era.

I think it is clear why it is a classic. It has elements of excitment and it Wells has thought outside the box to write this book. Although not the best classic around I think this is a book worth reading.

7/10

A classic exploration of Time Travel. *****

The time machine had me gripped from beggining to end! From two perspectives 'the time machine' is incredible from its scientific beggining, through to its dramatic cliff-hanger ending.

The characters, such as the un-named time traveller, are brilliant and so is the story. At only 90 pages long its quite short, but dont be fooled, its a great story and is worth buying!

I highly reccomend 'The Time Machine' for anyone, regardless of whether you're a fan of the genre or not.

Its a classic novella that aall people should read in their lifetime,

Thanks for reading my review :)

Brilliant short SF but not too keen on the edition... *****

Wells ever the socialist and philosopher always had a purpose that reflected these interests when writing and `The Time Machine' is no different. The short novel is not only incredibly important considering that Wells broke from the tradition of using the supernatural to explain such wonders as time travel but in so many other things like the heartfelt social commentary, the earnest and powerful characters and the manner in which he mixes (and establishes) realistic writing and chilling fantastical elements.

The result is a wonderfully engaging and I felt moving story that follows `the time traveller', an unnamed scientist that one night announces to a group of his peers that he has created a time machine and he can prove it. He demonstrates his ideas with a miniature model, although he is faced with disbelief and incredulity he is smug in his assertion that it will work, so he sets out to prove his theories and disappears into the future on the finished larger model. Later when he returns he recounts his story to his bemused guests of his strange time in the future and the people and...creatures he meets in his struggle to return home.

I did find Wells writing terribly moving in many places not only because of his intensely hopeless conclusions concerning humanities future, what will we be when we have achieved all that we hoped to? It is not only human nature he explores but ideas surrounding the survival of species and the progression and deterioration of the world in both natural and unnatural ways. The ending chapters in particular are brilliant and Wells is very good at evoking the sublime in realistic writing, this skill makes his works kind of beautiful and a little poetic. I also love the Time Traveller himself, he takes on the horrors of the future - the chilling Morlocks - with a box of safety matches! He's a hero to challenge the greatest.

I tend to shy away from penguin editions because I just want to enjoy whatever I'm reading without being lectured on how to experience it! Foolish person that I am I read the extensive biography and introduction by Marina Warner before I read the novel and between them both they tell the entire story. I just wish that they had put these behind the story and put Wells preface which is printed at the back at the front. He knows what he's about; his original introduction would have been a much nicer opening. The problem with penguin is that they're so damn smug, any notes that they include should be provided as extras to heighten our experience not a way for intellectuals to show off their knowledge. Wow this really bothers me! This will undoubtedly not annoy that many people and both the notes on Wells life and Warner's short piece are interesting. Anyway rant aside this is a great work and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend and it really, it is all to do with your own preferences whether you take my advice and read the first two segments after you read the story. I would also say that if you trying to decide which of Wells books to start with then maybe go with `The War of the Worlds' as that is a gripping introduction to a brilliant writer.

Masterful *****

A dinner party is set in an uproar, when the host, a brilliant inventor, unveils his latest invention, a time machine. The next week’s party is even more upset when the inventor stumbles in, dirty and damaged, telling the story of a trip some 800,800 years into the future. There he met a world inhabited by two degenerated races of human beings: the Eloi, beautiful and childlike in intelligence, and the Morlocks, vicious and bestial.

Having seen the movie, I had thought that I knew this story, and that there would be no surprises. I was very wrong! This book is masterfully written, and fascinating to read. The political satire of this work is somewhat out of date, but does not damage the story. Overall, I did enjoy this story, and recommend it to everyone!

the Most overrated writer of science fiction!! *

Granted Wells was far, far ahead of his time, but really, his writing stinks. There's no character formation (bland unlikeable protagonists) and no passion for the art of storytelling. If he had a writing partner who could of helped him with these shortcomings, his very original ideas and his true vision of what he was trying to write might have come through better. I'm glad he was there to get the ball rolling for science fiction, but I forced myself to read all his books on the hopes and say-so that these were classics. I'd rather have read Verne, Bester, Miller and Huxley.

The Time Machine ****

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells depeicts the story of a man known as the time traveler who travels into the distant future with a time machine that he creates.

I enjoyed this book pretty well, it is quite short and a quick read. The story is told through the voice of a man who is visiting the time travalers house at one of his many dinner parties. The entire book is written in first person. All and all a good book and an interesting view on what future lies ahead as told in the late 19th century.

Moon *****
I'm only on page 70, but this book seems to be a great one!!!

Fascinating! ****

This is the story of an inventor that travels to the distant future in hopes of seeing how advanced humankind has become.

Instead, he finds humanity divided into two separate but interdependent species. There are the peaceful, beautiful, indolent, and fairly stupid Eloi who live a life of ease in a surface garden where they await being summoned by the Morlocks who are ugly, brutish, and cannibalistic. The Morlocks live underground where they run machines and just about everything else as well.

Ignorant of the Morlocks, the inventor make the acquaintance of an Eloi woman named Weena and, typical of the 19th-century male, finds her lack of actual intelligence rather endearing and falls in love with her. She shows him through the ruins of all that remains of his ancient world. There seems to have been a nuclear war, which is interesting, since this book was written in the 19th, NOT the 20th century.

When the Morlocks introduce themselves to the inventor by stealing his time machine, he must set about to rescue both himself and the Eloi....

The only reason I give this old favorite of mine 4 stars instead of 5 is for the often old-fashioned language that, though fast-paced for a Victorian novel, is still sometimes rather heavy in places. Yet the wonderful story more than redeems itself.

Still a Great Adventure *****

H.G. Wells, in The Time Machine, spins a classic tale full of adventure, vivid landscapes, sci-fi speculation and even a bit of veiled socialist politics.

An eccentric scientist, known only as the Time Traveller to us, invents a machine that can travel along the fourth dimension, which he has discovered to be time. He flings himself into the far future. Is there high civilization? No. Is there high technology? No. What he finds in the future is far more curious...

Personally, I couldn't put it down. I was reading it on a train trip, and I was so involved, I almost missed my station! Well's style really drew me in. It was like being told the story by an old friend. His descriptions are simple and effective, and you can almost feel the curiousity of the Time Traveller. Like him, you will want to know what happens next, from the speculations at the beginning, to the question filled ending.

Though much of it has been imitated and repeated in time travelling stories since, I thought the "scientific" parts of the book were still fresh today, particularly the reasons Wells gives for why we can't naturally go back in time, and why you will never see a person in the process of travelling back in time. Very clever.

In some ways, the "future" part of the book is a cautionary tale, in some ways it's a social commentary. Either way, the general message I got is that the actions of the past will have consequences in the future, even if we might not see them. Extensions of this concept have been very well used in science fiction since.

If you're looking for a well written adventure to capture you're imagination for a few hours, the Time Machine is a book worth checking out. Exciting and thought provoking all the way.

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