The Evolution of Science Fiction discussion

We are looking for nominations for June 2015 from the author H.G Wells. The only book that cannot be nominated is War of the Worlds as we read it last time round.

Nominations:
The Island of Dr. Moreau
The First Men in the Moon
The Sea Lady

I've read a few H. G. Wells books, but haven't yet read The Island of Dr. Moreau, so I nominate it.

I think i've only read The War of the Worlds and the The Invisible Man. I was wondering about The Time Machine but I wonder if that seems really dated now so i'm going to have a look at what else he's written.

I've been hesitating between In the Days of the Comet and The First Men in the Moon as I love anything space related. Think i've decided on The First Men in the Moon.

Jo wrote: "I think i've only read The War of the Worlds and the The Invisible Man. I was wondering about The Time Machine but I wonder if that seems really dated now so i'..."

There are a handful of H. G. Wells' books that are pretty famous, must reads especially for anyone interested in the roots of science fiction. I think most of them have been named above. So far, I've read only these three.

I've read most of the standard Wells, so I'm going to suggest one a little off the beaten path, The Sea Lady it's available on Project Gutenberg

Jo wrote: "I think i've only read The War of the Worlds and the The Invisible Man. I was wondering about The Time Machine but I wonder if that seems really dated now so i'..."

I haven't read it for a while, but I remember thinking how good the language and ideas were. I recently re-read Stepen Baxter's The Time Ships, which was commissioned by the Wells' estate for the book's 100th anniversary. It does a remarkable job of writing in Wells original voice, while recontextualizing the original time traveller as a 19th C genius with colonial attitudes.

Radiantflux wrote: "I haven't read it for a while, but I remember thinking how good the language and ideas were. "

That's what I thought about The War of the Worlds, I was worried that The Time Machine might spend too much time on the mechanisms of the machine which would be out of date and detract from the story. The Time Ships looks good I think I will try to read the two together it will be good to compare and contrast. I'm half tempted to change my nomination but I guess it's probably only me who has never read The Time Machine.

Jo wrote: " I was worried that The Time Machine might spend too much time on the mechanisms of the machine which would be out of date and detract from the story."

As I remember, Wells didn't elaborate on the technology. The only thing that dates the book is that it is set in the late Victorian era, and necessarily uses that culture and language. That doesn't detract from the book any more than it does from any other book of that time.

Radiantflux wrote: "Jo wrote: "I think i've only read The War of the Worlds and the The Invisible Man. I was wondering about The Time Machine but I wonder if that seems really date..."

Another good book to read with The Time Machine is K. W. Jeter's Morlock Night. It's written as a direct sequel to The Time Machine and is one of the earliest Steampunk novels.

I read them back to back last year. Jeter mixes in some other things too, though I can't remember what. I'm sure I mentioned it in my Goodreads review.

I nominate The First Men in the Moonfor our June group read.