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The Time Machine
The Time Machine
A brilliant fantasy beyond conventional thought...
Book Excerpt
thought of it. It's
plain enough, and helps the paradox delightfully. We cannot see
it, nor can we appreciate this machine, any more than we can the
spoke of a wheel spinning, or a bullet flying through the air.
If it is travelling through time fifty times or a hundred times
faster than we are, if it gets through a minute while we get
through a second, the impression it creates will of course be
only one-fiftieth or one-hundredth of what it would make if it
were not travelling in time. That's plain enough.' He passed
his hand through the space in which the machine had been. `You
see?' he said, laughing.
We sat and stared at the vacant table for a minute or so. Then the Time Traveller asked us what we thought of it all.
`It sounds plausible enough to-night,' said the Medical Man; 'but wait until to-morrow. Wait for the common sense of the morning.'
`Would you like to see the Time Machine itself?' asked the Time Traveller. And therewith, taking the lamp in his hand, he led the way down
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Wow... Amazing story 😍
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Excellent author.
04/20/2020
Real page turner.
04/04/2013
A great story -- held my interest from beginning to end.
06/04/2011
Its accessibility might disguise the astounding level of insight and intelligence within the pages. It may seem like an adventure with a relatively shallow, cursory commentary on social conditions, but a bit of contemplation will reveal some staggering predictions (and warnings!) from Wells.
Take from this story whatever you like (it is simply fun on the surface!). However, if you find yourself dismissing its message as a simple warning against the stratification of society, then I recommend you think a little harder about what it is truly trying to tell you. Perhaps what you thought were metaphors weren't quite as abstract as you thought; and those aspects you dismissed as plot mechanics mean a bit more.
Take from this story whatever you like (it is simply fun on the surface!). However, if you find yourself dismissing its message as a simple warning against the stratification of society, then I recommend you think a little harder about what it is truly trying to tell you. Perhaps what you thought were metaphors weren't quite as abstract as you thought; and those aspects you dismissed as plot mechanics mean a bit more.
04/26/2010
The powerful descriptions alone, especially towards the end, are staggering. Its almost hard to find words for it.
04/01/2010
A fantastic book! Relatively easy to read (saying a lot for some 19th century literature) and the sheer imagination involved given the time is, at times, breathtaking.
03/31/2010
I was surprised at how much I liked this book. It is simple but gripping and introduces some interesting ideas.
01/16/2009
this book is a great book and even tough they never give an exact name "the time traveler"is the best caracter even though he dissapprers in the end
09/18/2007
A great book and while a bit slow at time is still a fascinating read. If you enjoy this book there is a must read that is a sequel to The Time Machine. Written in 1995 by Stephen Baxter, "The Time Ships" picks up the story within minutes of where Jules Verne left this one. Mr Baxter even uses some of the olde-english writing style.
11/07/2005