Travel into the future in this abridged retelling of The Time Machine, part of the bestselling Classic Starts® series that has sold more than 8 million copies! After inventing a time machine, the Traveler leaves Victorian London and goes far, far into the future. At first, the world he discovers seems peaceful and prosperous. But as he looks farther below the surface, he realizes that things are not exactly as they first appeared. . . . This abridged retelling is the perfect way to introduce young readers to the imaginative world of science fiction and time travel.

Bealby is a young boy who is absolutely determined not to accept his lot in life as a servant. However, despite having thrown tantrums and argued with his mother about his future he has not been able to change his fate. He reluctantly leaves his home for Shonts, a big country house, to work as a steward's boy. What he hasn't anticipated, howver, are the guests that are arriving for the weekend at the big house, or for the arrival of the eccentric but captivating Lord Chancellor. What follows is an adventure that Bealby will not soon forget. Although better known for his science fiction stories, such as The Time Machine or The War of the Worlds - both of which have been turned into successful films - H. G. Wells was also a journalist, sociologist and historian and wrote over a hundred books, about fifty of them novels. First published in 1915 Bealby was originally entitled Bealby a Holiday.

Wild Boy has been covered in hair since birth and condemned to life in a travelling freak show. Excluded from society, he takes refuge in watching people at the fair - and develops a talent for observation and detection. But when there's a murder, suspicion turns to Wild Boy, so he and the feisty acrobat Clarissa Everett find themselves on the run...

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. "I beheld, unclouded by doubt, a magnificent vision of all that invisibility might mean to a man - the mystery, the power, the freedom." Griffin, a stranger, arrives at the local inn of an English village, entirely shrouded in bandages. Forbidding and unfriendly, he confines himself to his room. Driven away by the villagers and turning to an old friend for help, Griffin reveals that he has discovered how to make himself invisible, and plans to use his condition for treacherous ends. But when his friend refuses to join his quest, Griffin turns murderous, threatening to seek revenge on all who have betrayed him. H. G. Wells' controversial works are considered modern classics of the science fiction genre. Originally serialised in 1897, The Invisible Man is a fascinating exploration of power, corruption and science.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. ’For a time I believed that mankind had been swept out of existence, and that I stood there alone, the last man left alive. When a strange, meteor-like object lands in the English countryside, the inhabitants of Earth find themselves victims of a terrible attack. Ruthless Martians, armed with heat rays and poisonous smoke, are intent on destroying humanity. As the unnamed narrator struggles to find his way across decimated wastelands, the fate of the planet hangs in the balance… First serialised in 1897, The War of the Worlds terrified and thrilled its readers, the fictional alien invasion evoking a new and hair-raising idea: we are not alone. The imagination of H.G. Wells has had a lasting and significant impact on the science fiction genre, and continues to inspire the work of countless writers, artists and directors to this day.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. "For a time I believed that mankind had been swept out of existence, and that I stood there alone, the last man left alive." When a strange, meteor-like object lands in the heart of England, the inhabitants of Earth find themselves victims of a terrible attack. A ruthless race of Martians, armed with heat rays and poisonous smoke, is intent on destroying everything that stands in its way. As the unnamed hero struggles to find his way across decimated wastelands, the fate of the planet hangs in the balance . . . H. G. Wells was a pioneer of modern science fiction. First serialised in the UK in 1897, The War of the Worlds is one of the earliest stories to depict conflict with an extraterrestrial race, and has influenced countless adaptations and sequels.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. "In a moment I was clutched by several hands, and there was no mistaking that they were trying to haul me back . . . You can scarce imagine how nauseatingly inhuman they looked - those pale chinless faces and great, lidless, pinkish-grey eyes!" An English scientist regales his dinner guests with the tale of his travels to the year 802,701, where he discovers that the human race has evolved into two distinct societies. The Eloi, elegant and peaceful, yet lacking spirit, are terrorised by the sinister, light-fearing Morlocks, who live underground, surrounded by industry. And when his time machine mysteriously vanishes, the scientist must descend to the realm of the Morlocks in order to find his only hope of escape . . . H. G. Wells is considered a founding father of modern science fiction, coining the term 'time machine' and popularising the idea of time travel in literature.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. Welcome to Utopia. When Mr. Barnstaple, an Earthling, is accidentally transported to Utopia with a group of others, he begins an adventure that will change how he views the world forever. Utopia has no government. Utopia has no religion. People are governed only by their own conscience and desires, and Barnstaple is drawn into what he sees as a perfect society. But when a disease brought by the Earthlings threatens the existence of the Utopians, Barnstaple must make a choice: take over Utopia, or betray his own people to save a world he has grown to admire...

The narrator tells of his incredible journey into the distant future in this landmark of imagination, cornerstone of science fiction and thought provoking look at the possible destiny of humanity. The Time Machine first appeared in 1896 and stunned readers with a vivid narrative studded with vital ideas unlike any seen in print before. The narrator describes a voyage into the future that depicts the disturbing evolution of society, introduces him to strange companions and stranger foes, and eventually stretches into eras so distant that the dying sun shines dull red an unrecognizable landscape. The sheer scope of the author's imagination still provokes delight and has provided impetus for countless time travel narratives since. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Time Machine is both modern and readable.

H. G. Wells is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called a "father of science fiction".

A mysterious, bandaged stranger arrives in the small village of Iping and shuts himself in his room at the inn. Around the same time, a series of unexplained events begin to occur, perpetrated by an unseen force... Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colourful comic strip form, offering an excellent introduction for younger readers. This edition also includes theme discussions and study questions, which can be used both in the classroom and at home to further engage the reader in the work at hand.

H. G. Wells was one of the first writers of science fiction and his novels have remained extremely popular since they were first released.

HarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics. "That these man-like creatures were in truth only bestial monsters, mere grotesque travesties of men, filled me with a vague uncertainty of their possibilities far worse than any definite fear." Edward Prendick, the sole survivor of a shipwreck in the South Pacific, is set ashore on an island where he meets the mysterious Doctor Moreau. Horrified by the discovery that Moreau is performing vivisection on animals to form monstrous human hybrids, Prendick flees into the jungle. But he soon realises that the island is populated with Moreau's terrible creations, and not all are divested of their savage habits . . . H. G. Wells pioneered ideas of society, science and progress in his works, which are now considered modern classics. Written in 1896, The Island of Doctor Moreau is an imaginative exploration of the nature of cruelty and what it means to be human.

This book, first published in 1943, is a literary anthology purposefully presenting a picture of the Soviet Union to a new audience in the West. It collects together a rich variety of pre-revolutionary Russian literature as well as a host of Soviet literature. Together they reveal the dynamic character of Russian literature, and provide a useful contrast between the two styles of pre- and post-revolutionary writings.

A scientist whose experiments have rendered him invisible veers into madness when he cannot change back in this thrilling and influential cornerstone of science fiction. A mysterious visitor to an inn, bundled up from head to toe and with his face covered in bandages, draws the attention and gossip of locals, but their wildest speculations come nowhere near the bizarre truth. This is the rogue scientist Griffin, who has made himself invisible and will shortly learn he can't return to normal. Brilliant, unhinged and full of undirected rage at his fate, what outrageous crimes might an invisible man commit? The Invisible Man first appeared in 1897 and has resonated in pop culture ever since, with its title character portrayed as both hero and villain in film, television and graphic novels. The author's most celebrated contributions to the fledgling literature of science fiction, The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Invisible Man and The War of the Worlds, appeared over the course of less than five years and mark an extraordinary outpouring of the imagination. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Invisible Man is both modern and readable.

The narrator tells of witnessing the unstoppable onslaught of invaders from Mars, leading toward the seemingly inevitable downfall of mankind in this landmark of the literary imagination and foundational novel of the science fiction genre. First published in 1897 and never out of print since, The War of the Worlds is told in a lucid, almost documentary, style. The realistically depicted setting, with cities and streets accurately described, gives the Martian attack, and the subsequent collapse of order in Victorian England, unforgettable impact. The British Empire brings its mightiest war machines to bear to no avail as the fleeing narrator is reduced to hiding in the ruins of civilization while being stalked by an inhuman enemy. Adapted repeatedly to film and television, the novel's central concept of humanity under attack by extraterrestrials has never ceased resonating in pop culture and may have inspired more imitations than any other trope in the science fiction genre. It is a tribute to the capacious imagination of H.G. Wells that this novel retains both a sense of otherworldly wonder and a harrowing intensity to this day. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The War of the Worlds is both modern and readable.