The Early Fiction of H.G. Wells : Fantasies of Science

This book explores the relationship between H.G. Wells's scientific romances and the discourses of science in the 1890s and early years of the twentieth century. It investigates how Wells utilizes his early fiction to participate in a range of topical scientific disputes and, increasingly, as a means to instigate social reform. H.g. Wells Erupted Onto The Literary Scene With A Succession Of Brilliant Scientific Novels, Or 'scientific Romances', Including The Time Machine (1895), The War Of The Worlds (1898) And The First Men In The Moon (1901). Generally Acknowledged As The Pioneers Of Modern Science Fiction, Wells's Early Novels Are Immersed In Contemporary Science. In The Early Fiction Of H.g. Wells: Fantasies Of Science, Steven Mclean Offers A Detailed And Comprehensive Study Of The Interconnections Between Wells's Scientific Romances And The Discourses Of Science In The 1890s And Early Years Of The Twentieth Century. Restoring The Author's Early Fiction To The Context Of The Periodical Press And Scientific Publications More Generally, Mclean Investigates How Wells Utilises His Scientific Romances To Participate In A Range Of Topical Scientific Debates, But Also Disputes With Such Leading 'men Of Science' As T.h. Huxley And Herbert Spencer. He Concludes That Wells's Scientific Romances Retain A Definite Resonance In The Twenty-first Century. Heart Of Darkness: The Time Machine And Retrogression -- 'an Infernally Rum Place': The Island Of Doctor Moreau And Degeneration -- Science Behind The Blinds: Scientist And Society In The Invisible Man -- The Descent Of Mars: Evolution And Ethics In The War Of The Worlds -- 'science Is A Match That Man Has Just Got Alight': Science And Social Organisation In The First Men In The Moon -- The Limits Of A Sociological Holiday: Social Progress In A Modern Utopia. Steven Mclean. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 222-232) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 1 Introduction......Page 12 Part I: Misadventures in a Post-Darwinian Universe......Page 20 2 Heart of Darkness: The Time Machine and Retrogression......Page 22 3 ‘An Infernally Rum Place’: The Island of Doctor Moreau and Degeneration......Page 52 Part II: Science and Society......Page 74 4 Science behind the Blinds: Scientist and Society in The Invisible Man......Page 76 5 The Descent of Mars: Evolution and Ethics in The War of the Worlds......Page 100 Part III: Towards the Shaping of Humanity......Page 126 6 ‘Science is a Match that Man Has Just Got Alight’: Science and Social Organisation in The First Men in the Moon......Page 128 7 The Limits of a Sociological Holiday: Social Progress in A Modern Utopia......Page 162 8 Conclusion......Page 200 Notes......Page 204 Bibliography......Page 233 C......Page 244 E......Page 245 G......Page 246 I......Page 247 M......Page 248 P......Page 249 S......Page 250 U......Page 251 W......Page 252 Z......Page 253 This text explores the relationship between H.G. Wells's scientific romances and the discourses of science in the 1890s and early years of the 20th century. It investigates how Wells utilizes his early fiction to participate in a range of topical scientific disputes