The War of the Worlds (by H.G. Wells)

A very well-written and compelling science fiction story. Something that is, I think, famous more for its groundbreaking aspects than for any other reason, but it's a damn fun and quick read nonetheless. The writing is compelling, vivid and smart. I love how the word "war" becomes more and more ironic as the book progresses. I love the 19th century perspective on an extraterrestrial invasion. I mean, for its time, it's quite an astonishing achievement.

Speaking of The War of the Worlds, I wonder if Orson Wells was related to H.G. Wells?

Quote: "At most, terrestrial men fancied there might be other men upon Mars, perhaps inferior to themselves and ready to welcome a missionary enterprise. Yet across the gulf of space, minds that are to our minds as ours are to those of the beasts that perish, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes, and slowly and surely drew their plans against us. And early in the twentieth century came the great disillusionment." (p. 1)