H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells is one of the seminal founders of science fiction. His visions of time travel, biological engineering and Martian invaders established science fiction themes that continue to resonate and inspire.

As a young teacher, Wells was deeply impressed by Darwin's theory of evolution, and wrote a series of related essays that became the basis for The Time Machine (1895), his first major work of fiction. He followed that with The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) and The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance (1897), among others.

In The War of the Worlds (1898), Wells introduced aliens into the now-clichéd role of monstrous invaders of Earth. The First Men on the Moon (1901) in turn carried forth the great tradition of fantastic voyages, describing the discovery of a hyper-organized dystopian society on the Moon.

Wells possessed a prolific imagination which remained solidly based in biological and historical possibility. His best works are still regarded as exemplary of what science fiction should aspire to do and be.

Induction Year: 1997

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Time Machine (1895)
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896)
The War of the Worlds (1898)

TV/FILM ADAPTATIONS

The War of the Worlds (1953)
The Time Machine (1960)
The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977, 1996)
The Time Machine (2002)
War of the Worlds (2005