Review: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

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How does a novella of only 32,000 words become so influential that it spawns an entire subgenre of science fiction? First published in 1895, H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine was almost certainly the first work of fiction to deal with the concept of time travel. Not only has the story hugely affected science fiction, but it may also have given physicists reason to think in more than three dimensions. Wells introduces the concept of time as the fourth dimension at the beginning of this novella and from there he also goes on to discuss the idea of the Earth as a dying planet.

Many of the themes brought up in The Time Machine are still perfectly valid 116 years later. The disparity between the beautiful, leisured but uncaring race, the Eloi, and the mechanically inventive but brutal Morlock could be easily said to parallel the disparity between art and commerce in today’s world. And, of course, with the climate change and extinction scenarios currently being played out, the thought of a dying world is never too far removed from any educated 21st century person.

As a keen sci-fi fan myself, I have to look back at the other novels I have read over the years that have used Wells’ ideas and taken them further. Just about every sci-fi novel uses the concept of time travel, even if only by projecting the story into a future. With his depiction of the society of Eloi and Morlock as a dimorphic racial product of humanity, Wells also set the scene for many fantasy tales, although fantasy obviously takes in many more influences than strange new worlds.

I’m a big fan of Wells’ writing. Even though he was active in my least favourite period of English fiction, he manages to overcome the Victorian tendency to use seventy-three words where one will do. The language of the novel is a little stilted but still enjoyable. The film versions of The Time Machine probably make you expect an adventure story and indeed, there is an element of adventure in the novella, but Wells’ main concern is a discussion of the direction that mankind is heading.

So what writer would you count as most influential? If you write sci-fi then Wells has to be one, but who else? Or if you are not a writer yourself, what writers have massively influenced the authors you read? Do you search for the early influences of your favourite writers and try to understand what they saw in them? I’d love to hear your comments.

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Paul Callaghan is a freelance online-writer and marketer. He welcomes the chance to discuss any of your writing needs such as website copy, articles, blogging,email campaigns, SEO, business letters, editing, proofreading etc. You can see samples of his writing at www.callaghanwrites.blogspot.com