War of the Worlds, by H.G. Wells

A story told in narrative style in the late 1800's about aliens coming from Mars and landing in small countryside England. The natives are curious and think these aliens are harmless, as the Martians build tall tripod structures.

The mood of the story changes, as the Martians begin to move about the countryside in these structures. They have the ability to shoot light rays of destruction and later send out a deadly black smoke that covers everything. The army is able to stop a few, but their numbers increase as they continue to come from Mars. The people continue to hide and run, as the Martians head for London.

The narrator realizes the Martians can't be stopped by any of Earth's technology. While he tries to reach his wife in London , the tripods begin to crash with dead Martians inside the pods. The Martians are brought down by common earthly germs, to which they had no resistance.

Because the story was written in the late 1800's, it was very imaginative and foretold of lasers and poisonous gas.

Reviewed by Marcia, First Regional Library

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