H. G. Wells The first English Sci-Fi author H.G. Wells • Born in 1866 in Bromley, County of Kent, England. • His family was lower middle class – Dad bought a small china shop that never made much money. He sold cricket bats, gloves, balls, and played professionally to make ends meet. – Mom went to work as a maid when Dad broke his leg and wasn’t able to work. H. G. Wells • Wells attended school until the financial hardship forced him to work to help support the family. • His mother wanted him to be a merchant to the upper classes. • Wells worked unsuccessfully at a number of jobs – draper’s assistant, teacher’s assistant. • 1883 he won a scholarship to the Normal School of Science in London – later known as the Imperial College London. • While there he made good marks in biology and physics, and was a member of their Debating Society. • Worked with TH Huxley, famous biologist. • He failed at geology and lost his scholarship in the spring of 1887. H.G. Wells • Moved in with his Aunt and Uncle and began writing. – – – – – The Time Machine (1895) The Island of Dr. Moreau (1896) The Invisible Man (1897) The War of the Worlds (1898) The Men in the Moon (1901) • Later works were more social commentary than science fiction. • He became a widely respected and well known supporter of socialism, and met with political figures and world leaders a number of times. • Invented the first recreational war game, “Little Wars” in 1913, and is considered the father of miniature war gaming. • Eventually, he lost his faith in humanity, and his later works reflect his belief that human society was in decline. • Died in 1946 of liver cancer. Panorama of Horsell Common The sand pits on Horsell Common