H. G. Wells 
Time Machine 

‘The Time Machine’ is a celebrated sci-fi novella by H. G. Wells that was adapted into a movie starring Guy Pearce in 2002. It is the work that helped skyrocket Wells’ career and its impact on the sci-fi genre can still be felt as it is the first usage of the term ‘time machine’. The protagonist travels 800, 000 years into the future, and he initially believes that Earth has become a utopia. However, he quickly discovers that Earth is more inequitable than ever as there is an underground race of ape-like creatures that ensure the society above remains blissful. These violent creatures capture the protagonist’s time machine, and he must journey through the dark and dangerous underground caves to retrieve it. ‘The Time Machine’ is a gripping read as Wells’ descriptions of the futuristic world and its inhabitants are strikingly disturbing. This is an incredibly poignant story as Wells criticises the rising inequality of Victorian Britain which is still relevant to this day. The blend of adventure and sentimentality in this strange and dark future turns the novel into a remarkable read that fans of shows such as ‘Doctor Who’ and directors such as Jordan Peele will find difficult to put down.-