"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own…." So begins The War of the Worlds, the science-fiction classic that first proposed the possibility that intelligent life exists on other planets.
This spellbinding tale describes the Martian invasion of earth. Following the landing in England of ten huge and indefatigable creatures, complete chaos erupts. Using their fiery heat rays and monstrous strength, the heartless aliens threaten the future existence of all life on earth.
This classic chiller, when adapted for radio in 1938 by Orson Welles, was realistic enough to cause widespread panic throughout the United States.
Christopher Hurt delivers the narrative of this early science fiction classic in a peculiar British accent--almost American-sounding except for certain words and dropped "r's"--but he provides the characters' dialogue with familiar British accents. He moves the story along (despite the frequent mention of minor geographical particulars--Wells's attempt at verisimilitude, no doubt--gumming things up) and renders clearly its scientific speculation and social satire, its moments of deep emotion, and its close observation of humanity, in both courage and folly. He conveys suspense but, unfortunately, fails at conveying the excitement of violent and dramatic action. Even so, a solid and accomplished telling still compels. W.M. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine
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