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BOOK ONE: THE COMING OF THE MARTIANS |
BOOK TWO: THE EARTH UNDER THE MARTIANS
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Introduction
The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells was first published in 1898. This early science fiction novel (or novella), describes the fictional turn of the nineteenth century invasion of Earth by aliens, from Mars, who use laser-like Heat-Rays, chemical weapons (the Black smoke), mechanical three-legged "fighting machines" that could potentially be viewed as precursors to the tank, and crab-like handling-machines. After defeating the resistance, the Martians devastate much of south-eastern England, including London, before being unexpectedly killed by terrestrial diseases, to which they have no immunity. Wells was a firm supporter of the theory of evolution, and saw every species as being engaged in a constant, and often brutal struggle for survival. The Martian/mankind conflict in the book was portrayed as simply another of these struggles. The belief that there was intelligent life on Mars was popular at the time, after the long, straight lines observed on the planet by astronomers were thought to be canals. The book has been viewed as an indictment of European colonial actions in Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. In the mindset of the time, European technological superiority was seen as evidence of all-round superiority, and thus Europeans were more qualified to administer colonized regions than their native inhabitants. The novel challenges this perspective by depicting the injustice of the Martian invasion, the comparative Martian technological superiority notwithstanding. "And before we judge them [the aliens] too harshly, we must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its own inferior races. The Tasmanians, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?" Wells seems to have taken great pleasure in the fictional devastation of locations where he had spent an unhappy childhood. The majority of the action takes place in the countryside of early 20th century southeast England. The first Martian landing is on Horsell common, on the outskirts of the narrator's home town, Woking. Other major action occurs near Southend, where the narrator's brother and his companions gain passage on a steamboat while fleeing to mainland Europe. The story has been repeatedly adapted, most famously as Orson Welles's 1938 radio drama, as several movies, and as a bestselling concept album, all of which have played some part in maintaining the public's interest in the original novel. A radio adaptation by Orson Welles based upon H. G. Wells' classic novel, was performed by Mercury Theatre on the Air as a Halloween special on October 30, 1938. The live broadcast reportedly frightened many listeners into believing that an actual Martian invasion was in progress. Welles' adaptation is possibly the most successful radio dramatic production in history. Many people missed or ignored the opening credits of the program, and in the atmosphere of growing tension and anxiety in the days leading up to World War II, took it to be an actual news broadcast. Contemporary newspapers reported panic ensued, with people fleeing the area, and others thinking they could smell the poison gas or could see the flashes of the fighting in the distance. Later studies suggested this "panic" was far less widespread than newspaper accounts suggested. However, it remains clear that many people were caught up--to one degree or another--in the confusion that followed. Later studies also indicated that many listeners missed the repeated notices that the boradcast was entirely fictional, partly because the Mercury Theatre (an unsponsored "cultural" program with a relatively small audience) ran opposite the very popular Edgar Bergen show. About twelve minutes into Bergen's program an Opera number began, and many listeners presumably began tuning around the dial. Some listeners happened upon the CBS broadcast at the point the Martians emerge from their spacecraft. Many of these listeners were apparently confused--in fairness, it must be noted that the confusion can not be credited entirely to naivete. Though many of the program's actors voices should have been recognizable from appearances on other radio shows, nothing like the "War of the Worlds" broadcast had ever been attempted in the United States, so listeners were accustomed to accepting news flashes as reliable. In some cities, people went outside to ask neighbors what was happening (many homes still did not have telephones at this time). As the story was repeated by word of mouth, rumors began to spread, and these rumors caused some limited panic. Contemporary accounts spawned urban legends, many of which persist and have come to be accepted through repetition as fact: Several people reportedly rushed to the "scene" of the events in New Jersey to see if they could catch a glimpse of the unfolding events, including a few astronomers from Princeton University who went looking for the "meteorite" that had supposedly fallen near their school. Some people, who had brought firearms, reportedly mistook a local farmer's water tower for an alien spaceship and shot the tower. Initially Grover's Mill was deserted, but later crowds developed as people rushed to the area. Eventually police were sent to the area to help control the crowds. To people arriving later in the evening, the scene really did look like the events being narrated on the radio broadcast, with panicked crowds and flashing police lights streaming across the masses. Some people called CBS, newspapers or the police in confusion over the realism of the simulated news bulletins. There were instances of panic scattered throughout the US as a result of the broadcast, especially in New York and New Jersey. Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, who were broadcasting at the same time on NBC, are often credited with "saving the world." It is said many startled listeners were reassured by hearing their familiar tones on a neighboring channel. In the aftermath of the reported "panic," a public outcry arose, but CBS informed officials that listeners were reminded throughout the broadcast that it was only a performance. Welles and the Mercury Theatre escaped punishment, but not censure, and CBS had to promise never again to use the "we interrupt this program" device for dramatic purposes.
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