The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds is a pioneering 1898 science fiction novel by H. G. Wells about a Martian invasion of Earth and humanity’s struggle for survival. 

The story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed protagonist living in Surrey, England. The narrative follows his experiences and those of his younger brother as Martians invade southern England. The Martians, possessing superior intelligence and advanced technology, including heat-rays and massive tripod war machines, aim to conquer Earth because Mars is an aging, resource-depleted plane. The novel details the chaos, destruction, and human responses to the invasion, including the protagonist’s flight through London and encounters with other survivors.