Book recommendation: The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells

The Time Machine is one of those books that just about everyone knows about, but far too few people read.

For a long time, I was among the many people who had never read it — or anything by H.G. Wells, for that matter. I had it on my to-read list in a vague sort of way, mostly because I wanted to read about “those Morlock things I’ve heard about.” So when I came across the book not too long ago, I decided it was the perfect time to dive in.

The Time Machine is one of those classic novels that has remained popular for more than a century. The story of a time traveller who propels himself thousands of years into the future, it touches on everything from scientific possibilities to the potential downfalls of society. And while either of those subjects can make a novel too heavy, Wells managed to find a balance between heavy subject matter and entertainment that makes the novel an easy and enjoyable read.

I think one of my favourite things about this novel is that I needed to slow down a bit to read. It wasn’t one I could rush through, purely because of Wells’s writing style. There aren’t many novels that I enjoy if I have to slow my reading speed, so I was definitely impressed with that aspect.

But, better yet, I finally learned about Morlocks. Which means I’ll no longer feel like I’m missing out when I come across a pop-culture reference to them.

—

Goodreads summary

“I’ve had a most amazing time….”

So begins the Time Traveller’s astonishing firsthand account of his journey 800,000 years beyond his own era—and the story that launched H.G. Wells’s successful career and earned him his reputation as the father of science fiction. With a speculative leap that still fires the imagination, Wells sends his brave explorer to face a future burdened with our greatest hopes…and our darkest fears. A pull of the Time Machine’s lever propels him to the age of a slowly dying Earth.  There he discovers two bizarre races—the ethereal Eloi and the subterranean Morlocks—who not only symbolize the duality of human nature, but offer a terrifying portrait of the men of tomorrow as well.  Published in 1895, this masterpiece of invention captivated readers on the threshold of a new century. Thanks to Wells’s expert storytelling and provocative insight, The Time Machine will continue to enthrall readers for generations to come.