The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first published in 1898. It is a dramatized account of an invasion of Earth by Mars.
The novel’s central narrator is an unnamed English journalist who witnesses the invasion from his home in Surrey. He describes the Martians’ arrival in cylindrical spacecraft that land in several parts of England, including Horsell Common, Ottershaw, and London. The Martians are tall, grey, tentacled creatures with large, intelligent heads and tripod-shaped fighting machines.
The Martians quickly subdue the human military using heat rays and nerve gas. They establish outposts in various parts of England and begin to build more fighting machines. The narrator and his companions narrowly escape capture and destruction several times.
As the invasion progresses, the Martians begin to die from exposure to Earth’s bacteria, to which they are not immune. The narrator and his companions eventually witness the destruction of the Martians by a massive storm.
The War of the Worlds was a critical and commercial success upon its release. It has been adapted into numerous films, radio broadcasts, and television programs. The novel is considered one of the most influential works of science fiction ever written.