The H. G. Wells Library
Books & Literature
About
A curious library stands open at the edge of time. Here, the worlds of H. G. Wells are not merely remembered but awakened, their voices carried once more across the invisible ether. The H. G. Wells Library presents complete readings of tales that peer into futures yet unborn, confront the machinery of progress, and question the destiny of humankind itself. From silent laboratories to distant planets, each episode invites the listener to wander as both observer and traveller, discovering wonders, warnings, and possibilities in equal measure. Step within, and let the turning of pages become a voyage through evolution, empire, and imagination - for the future, as Wells well knew, begins in the act of listening.
Episodes
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 10 - In the Storm
In this chapter of The War of the Worlds, the narrator travels through the storm-swept English countryside, encountering alien machines and witnessing destruction. He manages to escape danger and reach his home after seeing the violent imp…
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 8 - Friday Night
Chapter 8 of The War of the Worlds describes a mysterious cylinder appearing on a common amidst rural life. As a crowd gathers and the military responds, a second eerie light descends from the sky.
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 7 - How I Reached Home
The narrator returns home amidst the Martian invasion, finding a stark contrast between the chaos outside and the domestic calm within. He attempts to explain the terrifying events to indifferent neighbours and comfort his wife, unaware of…
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 5 - The Heat-ray
Chapter 5 of 'The War of the Worlds' depicts a crowd witnessing the Martians' emergence and a subsequent devastating heat-ray attack. The narrator experiences terror and silence after being left alone.
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 6 - The Heat-ray in the Chobham Road
Chapter 6 of The War of the Worlds describes the terrifying and devastating power of the Martian heat-ray, which incinerates everything it touches. The episode depicts the panicked flight of a crowd witnessing the destruction at Horsell Co…
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 3 - On Horsell Common
Chapter 3 of The War of the Worlds details the discovery of a mysterious metallic cylinder on Horsell Common. A crowd gathers, and authorities attempt to investigate the object and its possible contents.
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 4 - The Cylinder Opens
Chapter 4 of The War of the Worlds details the opening of a mysterious cylinder on Horsell Common. The crowd's expectation of a terrestrial being is met with a grotesque alien creature featuring writhing tentacles and luminous eyes, evokin…
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 1 - The Eve of the War
Chapter 1 of The War of the Worlds introduces a humanity unaware of the impending invasion from Mars. While Earth enjoys a peaceful evening, subtle celestial signs hint at the formidable intelligence scrutinizing our world.
- The War of the Worlds Chapter 2 - The Falling Star
Chapter 2 of The War of the Worlds describes the landing of a metallic cylinder on Horsell Common. The discovery of its enigmatic nature and mechanical design stirs wonder and apprehension.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 5 - The Man Who Could Work Miracles - A Pantoum in Prose
The episode features George McWhirter Fotheringay, a clerk who gains the power to perform miracles. Guided by Mr. Maydig, he experiments with his abilities, encountering the complexities and dangers of his newfound power.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 4 - A Story of the Days to Come - Part 4 - Underneath
In this installment of A Story of the Days to Come, Denton and Elizabeth share a moment of reflection before Denton experiences the dangerous realities of labor and survival in the undercity. He must learn to navigate violence and build ca…
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 4 - A Story of the Days to Come - Part 5 - Biindon Intervenes
This episode, 'A Story of the Days to Come - Part 5', focuses on a man's struggles with illness, passion, and fate within a large city, touching on complex emotions like love, hope, and despair.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 4 - A Story of the Days to Come - Part 3 - The Ways of the City
Part 3 of "A Story of the Days to Come" follows a young couple navigating the challenges of a futuristic industrial city, exploring themes of love, loss, and labor.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 4 - A Story of the Days to Come - Part 2 - The Vacant Country
This episode follows two young individuals in a future London who, feeling confined by their society, dream of a simpler life in the abandoned countryside, inspired by past romantic notions and the realities of their world.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 3 - A Story of the Stone Age - Part 5 - The Fight in the Lion's Thicket
This episode follows a wounded man and his companion as they confront dangers from wild beasts and their own tribe, facing ancient fears and rites after the death of a great lion. They must use cunning and bravery to survive in a world on…
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 4 - A Story of the Days to Come - Part 1 - The Cure for Love
This episode follows a family
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 3 - A Story of the Stone Age - Part 3 - The First Horsemaan
This episode depicts a tense encounter between primitive beings and cave bears, followed by a man's attempt to ride a wild horse, illustrating an early struggle between humanity and the natural world.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 3 - A Story of the Stone Age - Part 4 - Uya the Lion
In "A Story of the Stone Age - Part 4 - Uya the Lion," Ugh-lomi finds his tribe menaced by a lion. Amidst fear and superstition, Eudena is captured, placing the tribe's hopes on the outcome of subsequent events.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 3 - A Story of the Stone Age - Part 2 - The Cave Bear
This episode follows early humans Ugh-lomi and Eudena as they seek food and shelter in a prehistoric wilderness, facing challenges from mysterious beasts and a spirit named Uya.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 3 - A Story of the Stone Age - Part 1 - Ugh-Lomi and Uya
This episode, 'A Story of the Stone Age - Part 1', follows a tribe of early humans as their lives become entangled with the wild creatures of a primeval forest. The narrative focuses on themes of survival, kinship, and the challenges of th…
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 1 - The Crystal Egg
In 'The Crystal Egg,' a shopkeeper discovers a luminous crystal egg that displays moving images of a faraway planet with winged beings and advanced technology, observed by an assistant.
- Tales of Space and Time Tale 2 - The Star
This episode describes the sudden appearance of a remarkable celestial visitor, brighter than any star, which captivates observers with its unusual movements and eerie glow. The event inspires a mix of wonder, apprehension, and a sense of…
- The Time Machine Chapter 11
Chapter 11 of The Time Machine sees the protagonist travel far into the future, observing the Earth's decline under a dimming sun. The landscape is desolate, featuring monstrous crustacean-like creatures and a perpetually twilight sky.
- The Time Machine Chapter 12
The Time Traveller returns to his laboratory after an extraordinary journey. His story challenges the beliefs of his listeners and himself, leaving his own fate as an unresolved enigma.
- The Time Machine Chapter 10
In Chapter 10 of The Time Machine, the Time Traveller reflects on the future of mankind and narrowly escapes a dangerous trap set by the Morlocks.
- The Time Machine Chapter 9
In Chapter 9 of The Time Machine, the traveler and Weena enter a menacing forest. Facing exhaustion and dread, the traveler uses fire to confront lurking Morlocks and the solitude of loss.
- The Time Machine Chapter 8
Chapter 8 of The Time Machine describes the Time Traveller's exploration of the Palace of Green Porcelain, a ruined museum containing fossils and machines. He discovers matches and camphor, providing potential protection.
- The Time Machine Chapter 7
In Chapter 7 of The Time Machine, the Time Traveller seeks safety and prepares for conflict as he learns more about the Eloi and their enemies. He reflects on the changed world and humanity's fate with Weena by his side.
- The Time Machine Chapter 6
In The Time Machine Chapter 6, the Traveller descends into a dark underworld, encountering pale creatures and strange machinery. Overcome by fear and fatigue, he eventually escapes back to the surface.
- The Time Machine Chapter 5
Chapter 5 of The Time Machine finds the Time Traveller in despair after his machine vanishes. He investigates the world's inhabitants and learns about humanity's division, while bonding with Weena.
- The Time Machine Chapter 3
In Chapter 3 of The Time Machine, the protagonist begins his temporal journey, experiencing disorientation as time passes rapidly. He arrives in a future where he meets delicate beings that evoke mixed feelings of hope and fear.
- The Time Machine Chapter 4
Chapter 4 of The Time Machine features the Time Traveller's encounter with a gentle, childlike race living amidst ancient ruins. He observes their simple ways and contemplates the fall of human vitality after ages of security.
- The Time Machine Chapter 2
In The Time Machine Chapter 2, the Time Traveller returns unexpectedly, showing signs of a difficult journey. He recounts his recent experiences to his intrigued and skeptical guests over dinner and in the smoking room.
- The Time Machine Chapter 1
This episode covers Chapter 1 of The Time Machine, where the Time Traveller demonstrates a model of his invention, which vanishes, prompting reflection on time as a tangible dimension.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 25 - The Grand Lunar
In Chapter 25 of The First Men in the Moon, Mr. Cavor is taken to the Grand Lunar, a large intellect who questions him about human customs and the chaos of Earth. Their conversation is cut short by an interruption.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 26 - The Last Message Cavor Sent to the Earth
Chapter 26 details Cavor's final, earnest messages from the moon, revealing a tragic error in trust and impending danger. The transmissions cease, leaving a sense of desperate struggle and the profound silence of the lunar landscape.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 23 - An Abstract of the Six Messages First Received from Mr. Cavor
Chapter 23 presents Mr. Cavor's messages about his lunar expedition, detailing the Moon's environment, its inhabitants, and its internal features. The description touches upon the lunar atmosphere and waters.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 24 - The Natural History of the Selenites
Chapter 24 of 'The First Men in the Moon' reveals the bustling society of insect-like Selenites, detailing their intricate variety, specialized functions, and social order through Cavor's observations.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 21 - Mr. Bedford at Littlestone
Chapter 21 of The First Men in the Moon finds Mr. Bedford returning to England in an extraordinary vessel. He faces the incredulity of seaside bathers as he attempts to secure assistance and navigate his changed circumstances.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 22 - The Astonishing Communication of Mr. Julius Wendigee
Chapter 22 describes the narrator receiving remarkable communications from the Moon via a Dutch electrician's wireless apparatus. These transmissions offer clues about Mr. Cavor's situation and the lunar society he has found.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 20 - Mr. Bedford in Infinite Space
In "The First Men in the Moon Chapter 20," Mr. Bedford experiences profound solitude and detachment while adrift in space. He reflects on his cosmic place and prepares for his return journey to Earth.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 19 - Mr. Bedford Alone
Chapter 19 of The H. G. Wells Library follows Mr. Bedford's solitary exploration of the moon. He contemplates humanity's drive for discovery, finds a significant message, and seeks refuge in an unknown sphere as he battles the lunar enviro…
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 17 - The Fight in the Cave of the Moon Butchers
Chapter 17 of The First Men in the Moon details an ascent to a lunar workshop where natives butcher creatures. An intense fight breaks out between the Earthmen and the natives in the dimly lit cavern.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 18 - In the Sunlight
Chapter 18 follows two travellers as they emerge from underground onto the moon's surface. They decide to search for a lost sphere, set a meeting point, and explore the landscape separately.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 15 - The Giddy Bridge
Chapter 15 of The First Men in the Moon describes the captives' journey through the Moon's underworld, facing bewildering sights and pursuing unseen enemies. A faint light offers a glimmer of hope in the alien darkness.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 16 - Points of View
Chapter 16 of The First Men in the Moon details the explorers' discovery of a luminescent fungi forest and their subsequent predicament with lunar inhabitants. They must decide whether to confront the inhabitants or seek understanding as t…
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 13 - Mr. Cavor Makes Some Suggestions
In Chapter 13 of The First Men in the Moon, Mr. Cavor and a companion find themselves imprisoned on the moon. They contemplate their predicament, the intelligence of their captors, and the moon's potential interior, receiving food from the…
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 14 - Experiments in intercourse
Chapter 14 of The First Men in the Moon describes two Earthmen exploring a subterranean lunar cavern with advanced machinery. They attempt communication with the Selenites, but a sudden disturbance disrupts the fragile peace.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 12 - The Selenite's Face
Chapter 12 of 'The First Men in the Moon' finds the narrator and Cavor imprisoned and disoriented. They encounter an alien figure, forcing them to confront their strange and unsettling situation.
- The First Men in the Moon Chapter 11 - The Mooncalf Pastures
In Chapter 11 of 'The First Men in the Moon,' two earthmen explore the moon's pastures, encountering bizarre creatures and their keepers. Their journey takes a perilous turn as hunger and strange fungi lead to an unexpected fall and loomin…