H. G. Wells
English
In the late 19th century, humanity is unaware that advanced intelligences from Mars are observing Earth with sinister intent. These Martians, driven by the dwindling resources and cooling climate of their own planet, plan an invasion to colonize Earth. Their mathematical and technological prowess far surpasses that of humans. On Mars' opposition, a fiery spectacle is observed, signaling the launch of their weapons. The first cylinder lands on Horsell Common, near Woking. Initial human curiosity turns to terror as the cylinder opens, revealing horrifying, multi-tentacled creatures. Their devastating Heat-Ray incinerates everything in its path, killing indiscriminately. The narrator, having witnessed the opening and the subsequent destruction, flees to his home, attempting to reassure his wife, but the scale of the invasion quickly becomes apparent. As the Martians deploy their fighting-machines—colossal tripods armed with Heat-Rays and Black Smoke projectors—organized human resistance crumbles. The military’s attempts to combat them are futile, leading to widespread panic and exodus from affected areas. The narrator and a curate become trapped in a ruined house, witnessing the Martians’ horrific methods of sustenance and the systematic destruction of human civilization. After escaping their confinement, the narrator, separated from his wife, encounters an artilleryman who has survived by scavenging and hiding. They witness the Martians' continued advance, their use of Black Smoke to subdue cities, and the desperate, chaotic flight of London’s population. The narrator eventually reunites with his wife, but their ordeal has left them profoundly changed. Unexpectedly, the Martians begin to die. Their own biology, unsuited to Earth's microbes, leads to their swift demise. The narrator, recovering from his ordeal, returns to find London deserted and ravaged, but also witnesses the beginning of humanity’s slow recovery. The experience leaves him with a deep understanding of humanity’s vulnerability and the potential for future threats from space.
