Why H. G. Wells?
H.G. Wells is The grandfather of Science Fiction
H. G. Wells tackles the big subjects
Whilst Verne may have criticised Wells for his implausible use of "Cavorite" in his tale about the first men in the Moon, Wells was not afraid to take on the big subjects of man's exploration: time and space travel.
Why is H. G. Wells important?
Wells was not only a historian and novelist; he was also one of the most preeminent writers of science fiction. In any appraisal of the 20th century, H.G. Wells must be considered among its most important and influential thinkers and authors.
He began his literary career in earnest in 1895 with the publication of his first novel, "The Time Machine" whilst living in The Avenue. Evidence of his influence can be found in Hollywood to this day in recent films such as "The Island of Dr. Moreau," the Dreamworks version of "The Time Machine;" and also the clear influence of his original ideas and themes in films like "Independence Day" and "Hollow Man."
He is the subject of the 1979 movie Time After Time (1979). His main characters often are scientists whose experiments on themselves or others end tragically (examples include 'The Invisible Man', 'The Island of Dr. Moreau', 'The Time Machine'), and this is a concept that has grasped the public imagination for many years.