Let me digress a bit and quote from the Project Gutenberg page...
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I had never actually read The Time Machine before. Not unless you count the Classics Illustrated version. I read that sometime early in my youth. But I did see the movie starring Rod Taylor and Yvette Mimieux. My teachers would all be ashamed of me.The story is widely known, I don't have to recap it here. Nor do a book review. But there are so many things buried within it that I will probably read it several times. Observations on human nature, good vs evil, evolution, fear and overcoming it, the meaning of one's existence, love, and much more. I suppose that is why it is considered a classic.
There are some good books that examine the distant fate of humankind. This may be the earliest. It may, therefore, be flawed but also the best. I actually read a sequel called "The Time Ships" written in 1995 by Stephen Baxter which is also quite good.
I am fascinated by visions of the future. I am also fascinated by visions of the past. I am often appalled by visions of the present, however.
4 comments:
I recently saw the Rod Taylor version of the book and recalled how much I loved it as a kid. I also read the book much later and was surprised that the part where George returns and picks out three undisclosed books from his bookshelf to bring with him back to the future wasn't in the story. I always loved that part. Maybe the old copy I read was missing a page or two near the ending. Let me know when you're finished if it's there.
I'd forgotten about the Time Ships. Might have to revisit.
Kindled the Time Machine as well. Now just need to find the time to read it. Aha.
When he leaves the second time, it is unclear where he went and we never
find out. Weena is gone (dead, one presumes, and served up as a tasty
dish for the Morlocks). He takes a small camera and a knapsack as he walks into the lab where the machine sits. And that is the last time anyone sees of the "Time Traveller".
I read the Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosiński (I also recommend this one), given to me by a shipmate/friend in 1966 and did not know the last chapter had been torn out of the book for many decades until I re-read it in the 90's.
I enjoyed The Time Ships more than the Time Machine. The Time Machine is a quick read.
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