The War of the Worlds, by H. G. Wells - Akasha Classics, [...] - When an army of intelligent aliens from Mars touches down in Victorian England and threatens to destroy the civilized world, humanity's knowledge proves to be of little use. First published in 1898, H.G. Wells's masterpiece of speculative fiction has thrilled and delighted generations of readers, spawned countless imitations, and inspired movies by such masters as Orson Welles and Steven Spielberg. The War of the Worlds is a fantasy that is both startlingly up-to-date and in touch with the most ancient of human fear. In the story things progress from a series of seemingly mundane reports about odd atmospheric disturbances taking place on Mars, to the arrival of Martians just outside of London. At first the Martians seem harmless and hardly able to move in Earth's comparatively heavy gravity. But soon the Martians reveal their true nature and begin laying waste to the surrounding land. The story quickly moves from the countryside to the evacuation of London itself and the loss of all hope as England's military suffers defeat after defeat.