Book
Written in first person from the viewpoint of an unspecified character, the book has a slow pace, with little action, and is far more focused on details. The beginning of the book focuses on how all the inhabitants of Earth unite against a common foe (the martians).
Rich with technical details, at the same time trying to keep it understandable. There are some few action events through the story. The book was richly illustrated compared to many books of the time. This was a result of that it was written in as a series of episodes, each one for a newspaper article, often leaving the characters on a cliffhanger, trying to get the reader back for each new chapter.
The world decided to go attack the Martian before they attack us. Without debate or explanation the story places America as the natural leader for this operation. The monarchs and public figures of the time are described, though presidents are not named but simply added as "president of...". Kaiser Wilhelm II is mentioned several times and is used as comic relief in the book. Queen Victoria is described as a sensible leader. The other monarchs are simply mentioned.
The Martians are described as very smart; however, they are not much more than arrogant cynical humans. In H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds the Martians are distinctly non-human, and their invasion is due to survival; the humans are no more than animals to them. However the Martians in this book are more humanlike, just thinking a bit faster.
Read more about this topic: Edison's Conquest Of Mars
Famous quotes containing the word book:
“Would you approve of your young sons, young daughters—because girls can read as well as boys—reading this book? Is it a book that you would have lying around in your own house? Is it a book that you would even wish your wife or your servants to read?”
—Mervyn Griffith-Jones (1909–1979)
“Common sense should tell us that reading is the ultimate weapon—destroying ignorance, poverty and despair before they can destroy us. A nation that doesn’t read much doesn’t know much. And a nation that doesn’t know much is more likely to make poor choices in the home, the marketplace, the jury box and the voting booth...The challenge, therefore, is to convince future generations of children that carrying a book is more rewarding than carrying guns.”
—Jim Trelease (20th century)
“I wish I could write a beautiful book to break those hearts that are soon to cease to exist: a book of faith and small neat worlds and of people who live by the philosophies of popular songs.”
—Zelda Fitzgerald (1900–1948)