«The Time Machine» by Herbert Wells

The Time Machine is a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1898.

H.G. Wells' classic science fiction-fantasy story, in which a scientist known only as “The Time Traveller” tells the tale of his journey to the year 802,701 A.D. and beyond, where he witnesses the end of human civilization as we know it, as well as the beginning of the end of the world. This original time-travel story has been copied many times, but never improved upon.

Surely the Time Traveller threw great dinner parties! His guests were treated to a once-in-forever trial of a miniature time machine — an exquisite miniature that acted so flawlessly as to appear to be stage magic. That his guests did not believe the explanation — the machine vanished into the mists of the future — was patent. Still, a couple of the more thoughtful had reservations about branding the demonstration an outright trickery. And what about the nearly-complete full-size Machine in the Traveller’s laboratory?

Confronted at the next party by the dishevelled Traveller, who had apparently suffered privations and who displayed two curious flowers of no known type, the Narrator's wonderment increased. For the Traveller provided a perfectly arresting story to explain his condition — a surprising tale of a far future where humankind divides into a carefree above-ground race, the Eloi, and a mechanical subterranean race, the Morlocks. A tale in which it appears that the inheritors of the Earth inhabit it as cattle for the feeding of their underground cousins!

Believe, or disbelieve? But perhaps the inventive genius of a man who can translate “thousands of millions of days” of time travel into an exact date should not be doubted!

Herbert George “H. G.” Wells (1866–1946) was an English writer, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing textbooks and rules for war games.

Wells is one person sometimes called “The Father of Science Fiction”, as are Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback. His most notable science fiction works include The War of the Worlds, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man and The Island of Doctor Moreau.