The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 11 January 1999
by H. G. Wells
H. G. Wells lays claim to be one of the very earliest, and most famous, authors of modern science fiction. In this novel, published in 1901, he postulates a fantastic voyage to the Moon. Wells took great liberties with what little was known of our nearest celestial neighbor at the time. Our hero, Bedford, meets the buzzing science-minded Cavor while secluding himself in the English countryside. Cavor, it seems, has invented a material that efficiently negates the pull of gravity (in another story, another mysterious mineral launches a man through time). It isn't long before this duo is off to the Moon, Bedford in hopes of monetary gain, Cavor as an explorer. The Moon is teeming with bizarre life forms, and much of the book is dedicated to descriptive passages. Bedford, however, triggers a violent escape by our heroes that Cavor seems to think entirely unecessary. Bedford's rash actions ruin the trip for Cavor, and Cavor later makes his attitude clear. The book is fascinating for its assumptions about life on the Moon. Wells describes the imperialistic point of view of Bedford, and the gentler point of view of Cavor, with words colored by the politics of the industrial revolution and British colonial hegemony. As a story, the book lacks much in style and detail, but as a document, it shows some of the forms that survive in modern sci-fi today.
Also by H. G. Wells: [The Time Machine] [The War of the Worlds]
[Other Science-Fiction Reviews]