The War of the Worlds begins with astronomers observing unusual explosions on Mars. Over several years, these phenomena increase, culminating in the arrival of a cylindrical object that crashes into Horsell Common, near Woking, England. The narrator, a philosophical writer, witnesses the arrival and the subsequent emergence of the Martians.
The initial reactions are a mix of curiosity and skepticism. As the cylinder opens, strange, tentacled creatures emerge, followed by the assembly of a massive, tripod-like machine. These tripods, equipped with heat rays and black smoke, begin to wreak havoc, incinerating everything in their path.
Panic spreads quickly as the Martians' destructive power becomes evident. The British army mobilizes, but their conventional weapons are utterly ineffective against the advanced Martian technology. The heat ray instantly vaporizes artillery and soldiers alike, while the black smoke asphyxiates those who cannot flee.
The narrator, caught in the escalating chaos, attempts to return to his wife in London. He witnesses the destruction of Woking and the mass exodus of people fleeing the Martian advance. The narrative vividly portrays the terror and confusion of a society suddenly confronted with an alien invasion.
The Martians, housed in their towering tripods, systematically destroy towns and cities, their relentless advance leaving a trail of devastation. They use their heat-ray to ignite forests and buildings, creating a terrifying landscape of fire and ruin. The black smoke, released from canisters, spreads across the countryside, creating a deadly fog that forces people to flee.
As the Martians move towards London, the city descends into chaos. People attempt to escape by any means possible, creating a massive, panicked exodus. The narrator encounters various individuals, each reacting differently to the unfolding catastrophe. Some succumb to despair, while others cling to hope, seeking refuge in the countryside.
The narrator finds himself trapped in a ruined house with a curate, a man whose religious faith is shaken by the alien invasion. They witness the Martians' behavior firsthand, observing their cold, clinical efficiency and their apparent indifference to human suffering. The curate, driven to madness by fear, endangers their hiding place, forcing the narrator to take drastic measures.
The narrator manages to escape and continues his journey towards London, which is now a smoldering ruin. He observes the Martians' strange, red weed spreading across the landscape, a symbol of their alien presence and the transformation of the Earth.
He eventually finds himself in a deserted London, where he witnesses the Martians' bizarre, metallic handling machines collecting human blood. He learns that the Martians are not simply destroyers but also collectors, harvesting humans for sustenance.
The narrator descends into the ruins of London, encountering the remnants of human resistance. He finds a lone artilleryman, who has adapted to the post-invasion world, living underground and scavenging for supplies. The artilleryman's cynical outlook and his plans for a future of subservience to the Martians offer a stark contrast to the narrator's hope for human survival.
The narrator, however, remains optimistic, clinging to the belief that humanity will find a way to overcome the Martian threat. He observes the Martians' behavior, noting their apparent lack of understanding of Earth's microorganisms. He also realizes that the Martians, despite their advanced technology, are not invincible.
Suddenly, the Martian tripods begin to collapse, one by one. The narrator discovers that the Martians have succumbed to terrestrial bacteria, against which they have no immunity. The very microorganisms that humans have adapted to have become the Martians' downfall.
The narrator returns to his ruined home, finding his wife alive and well. They reunite, their relief tempered by the knowledge that the world has been irrevocably changed. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the fragility of human existence and the unexpected resilience of life.
Commentary
The War of the Worlds is a landmark science fiction novel that explores themes of alien invasion, technological superiority, and the fragility of human civilization. Wells's vivid descriptions and realistic portrayal of societal collapse create a chilling and compelling narrative. The novel's enduring popularity lies in its ability to tap into primal fears of the unknown and the potential for humanity's destruction.
The book is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of humility in the face of the vastness of the universe. It also reflects on the anxieties of the late 19th century, a time of rapid technological change and imperial expansion. The novel's final twist, with microscopic organisms defeating the advanced Martians, underscores the unpredictable nature of life and the power of the seemingly insignificant.