The War of the Worlds – H.G. Wells

More than 120 years have passed (1898) since the British writer H.G. Wells published this invasion of a technologically superior alien civilisation from the red planet. With this novel, Wells created an iconic image of the extraterrestrial threat in the form of large tripods, and started a whole sub-genre within science fiction – invasions – and published a work of which there have been countless versions, both in radio, film, comics, video games, graphic arts, and by great artists such as Orson Wells and Steven Spielberg.

It is known that Wells intended to use the novel as a critique of the colonial actions of the late 19th century in Africa, Asia and America by the supposedly «advanced» European, and especially British, civilisation. Thus, the «Martians» crush England uncompromisingly, which is only saved by the action of the simplest biology.

With this novel, Wells demonstrates the power of science fiction to generate fantastic stories that serve to reflect on ourselves and our reality. For this reason, it is continually being retold without losing its relevance.