September 21st: The Day H. G. Wells was Born

Herbert George (H.G.) Wells was born on September 21st 1866, and was primarily known for his distinguished science fiction writing. In fact, Wells has even been referred to as 'the father of science fiction' by Adam Charles Roberts. If you aren't much of a literary fanatic, then good old H. G. Wells is the guy who wrote The War of the Worlds, one of the first novels about Martians invading Planet Earth. For the literature geeks, Wells was among the Victorian writers who centralized their plots around the concept of invasion, and it has been argued that The War of the Worlds is touching on topical issues such as Darwin's evolutionary theory; British Imperialism; or general  Victorian fears, prejudices and superstitions. 

   Obviously, The War of the Worlds was not the sole creation of Mr. Wells, though it is the best known, and has been adapted several times for the screen, radio, comic books, television series, and other written sequel attempts by other authors. Other science fiction novels under Wells' name are The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, and The Island of Doctor Moreau - all titles that fit the science fiction stereotype suitably. In The Island, Wells discusses the nature vs nurture debate, and interestingly questions humanity. Despite his somewhat adventurous and radical imagination in the literary world, Wells was known for being a particularly outspoken socialist and during the First World War, he exercised his pacifist views rather strongly.

   His personal life was busy, to say the least. He married several times, had affairs (with consent from his wife) several times, and had children several times. He famously wrote in his 1934 Experiment in Autobiography that: 'I was never a great amorist, though I have loved several people very deeply.' Yeah, although you were a literary great, Herbert, you can't escape the fact you were a player. However, Wells' involvement in art, writing, politics, education and religion have established him as a writer firmly planted in the British literary canon. So, happy birthday, H. G. Wells! Have you ever read Wells, or seen any of the contemporary adaptations of his work?