Book review: The Time Machine by H.G.Wells

The Time Machine – A riveting journey of a time traveller which incites an idea of a future that is very different from what is generally perceived to be the future of humanity. 

About the book 

The Time Machine is written by English author Herbert George Wells in 1895. Wells is well-recognized for this work on science fiction. The book is relatively short having around 130 pages only. The theme is about a time traveller's journey into the future. 

Plot 

The plot commences with the time traveller explaining the science and wonders of time traveling to a group of people from different occupations. They seemed incredulous to the idea of time traveling until one evening when the time traveller enters the dinner party looking famished. When asked about his whereabouts he starts explaining the journey that he embarked upon in the year 802,701. As they listen, he goes on explaining the categorization of the human race into Eloi and Morlocks, his encounter with them and his understanding of the development of Human beings. The Morlocks are technologically advanced than the Elois and they hold the residues of technology. The Time Traveller struggles to acquire his time machine again with Morlocks endangering his chance of going back in time. Does the time traveller's knowledge of the future make him drop by the wayside with the idea of time traveling again? 

My Thoughts

Curiosity and knowledge of the time traveller are well portrayed in the start which enables readers to establish credibility about the time traveller. The author increases the anticipation of readers when he starts to depict the future unconventionally. The evolution of the privileged class was unexpected, and the development of the working class was contrasting. There are instances where Wells makes us apprehend the stark difference in evolution of the human race. Wells puts up a picture of a world that is poles apart from the what was envisioned as an ideal world by us. 

Although my sense of curiosity was satisfied with the different turns taken in depicting the evolution, it made me wonder about the actual logic behind some parts of the storyline. For instance, it is arduous to believe that machine operating Morlocks cannot trap the time traveller with their skills. Although it sounds fascinating to hear about the drastic reduction in mental intelligence of Elois, I felt the depiction could have been a little more realistic giving them a less than average intelligence than absolute denseness.  

The structure of the novel is well crafted, and exaggerations are avoided although the storyline offers ample chances to exaggerate certain parts of the storyline which might have made the novel a dull read. The author depicts the characters adroitly and overall, the novel is engaging. 

I recommend reading Well’s Time Machine to all those interested in fiction and interested in cuddling up with a book on a weekend.