Sci Fi History: The Time Machine (1960)

H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine has been adapted into two full length films, at least two television series, and comic books. The book has influenced science fiction and science for over a century. In fact, the term time machine originated with Wells. The most famous adaptation came in 1960. The makers adapted the film to the Cold War and included a nuclear holocaust as well as the first two World Wars. The book sympathizes with the working classes in the form of the Morlocks, who live underground, operate machines, and cannibalize the Eloi. The Eloi represent the leisure classes who have developed into child-like sheep. The film ends with the traveler returning to Victorian Britain, grabbing some things, and setting off to the future to be with Weena, whom he saved from the Morlocks. Wells was not the first to ponder time travel, but he popularized it and time travel has been a key component of science fiction ever since.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKP-WkcDT5s

Sci Fi History: War of the Worlds (1953)

The 1953 film is loosely based on the H.G. Wells novel. The film differs from the book in several aspects. In particular, the role of religion, the aliens look, and the alien spacecraft all differ.  Additionally, the original was set in Victorian England while the film has a decidedly Cold War feel including nuclear weapons. In the end, the 1953 adaptation won an Oscar for special effects and included in the National Film Registry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9T9f3UbGuo

Sci Fi History: War of the Worlds (1938)

H.G. Wells wrote War of the Worlds in 1898. Forty years later, Orson Welles broadcast a dramatization of the novel on radio. Many panicked believing the program real. Some attribute the hysteria to worries about Nazi Germany. Whatever the cause, Welles became a star and soon produced Citizen Kane. Meanwhile, the classic broadcast demonstrated the power of mass media, mass hysteria, and science fiction!

Sci Fi History: Things to Come (1936)

Based on a H.G. Wells story, Things to Come covers a century of history from 1940-2036. The film is extremely dark and critical of technological advances. It examines gas attacks, bombers, plague, and endless war. After a century, mankind lives underground and the people are demanding a break from the “rush to progress.”

The screenplay was written in 1934, but missed predicting the beginning of World War II by about a year. It also predicted the bombing campaigns that helped end the war. At the same time, a new world is built from Iraq, which led to the rise of civilization 5000 years ago. It also envisions an eventual world government. So far, that has yet to occur!

Sci-Fi History: The War of the Worlds (1898)

By 2011, we are used to movies and literature pitting mankind against evil aliens. In 1898, the concept was in its infancy. H.G. Wells split The War of the Worlds into two parts. Part One chronicles the alien invasion and the narrator’s attempt to find his wife and flee. Part Two delves into the world under Martian domination. In the end, the military cannot withstand the invaders. However, a naturally occurring pathogen destroys the aliens. Despite their technological advantage, they had no immunity to terrestrial diseases.

One interesting aspect of the novel is the concept of total war. The aliens attack without regard for life. Additionally, they assault with advanced weaponry resulting in maximum casualties and destruction. Wells wrote the novel over a decade before World War I’s killing fields and 40 years before World War II. Some of the other themes in the book include natural selection, evolution, colonialism, imperialism, and Social Darwinism.

The book has spawned many adaptations. In 1938, Orson Welles radio broadcast on Halloween created a mini panic. In 1953, Hollywood released the definitive movie version, which led to a TV sequel in 1988. In 2005, Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise united to film a remake more on par with the book than the 1953 version. There have also been comic books, cartoons, musicals, an audio adaptation featuring Star Trek cast members, and a 2001 version starring Superman.

Sci-Fi History: The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (1897)

A scientist named Griffin discovers a way to reflect light making himself invisible. He successfully tests his theory on himself. Unfortunately, he cannot reverse the process and remains invisible. His circumstance eventually leads to mental instability. Griffin commits some assaults, is beaten by a mob, and dies. At the end, his corpse becomes visible. The Invisible Man has spawned several films, sequels, and adaptations. Perhaps the most clever use of the character occurred in scotch tape commercials in the 1970s.

Sci-Fi History: The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895)

The Time Machine popularized the idea of time travel. In the work, an inventor creates a time machine and travels to 802,701 A.D. The people he meets reflect Wells’ political views. One group, the Eloi, are peaceful and childlike. They live in paradise and do no work. The other group, the Morlocks, live underground and only come out at night. The Morlocks represent the working class and their underground layer represents a factory. It turns out, the Morlock feed on the Eloi, whom are herded like cattle. After leaving this period, he witnesses the end of the world before returning home in a depression. Since The Time Machine's publication, several science fiction entities ranging from Star Trek to the Twilight Zone have developed stories centering on time travel and scientists have studied the feasibility of time travel.