The Time Machine by H. G. Wells: A review

Nineteenth book reviewed as part of the 130 Challenge.

When I started this book, I thought that I might have started a complicated story that would involve wrapping my head around complex ideas of multiple dimensions and the paradox of time travel. I have never been good at visualizing the fourth dimension in my head and whenever I have tried to grasp the concept of time travel, I’ve been discombobulated (what a word!) by it and have given up immediately. The closest I came to understanding time travel, was when J. K. Rowling explains it in the Prisoner of Azkaban. But even that had left me with a lot of questions that befuddled me. So I was preparing myself for a similar struggle as I took up this classic.

But that is not the case at all with this story. H. G. Wells, understanding the plight of someone who is suddenly thrust into the world of the paradoxes of time travel and the mind-boggling universe of multiple dimensions, starts the story with a brief but convincing explanation of how time travel might work. He begins with an explanation of how time is actually the fourth dimension and that it can be traversed just like any other dimension in space. In fact, he says that time is also a kind of space.

Sure, the explanation is not fool-proof and it may even seem counter-intuitive. But this is science fiction, after all and this simple explanation is what makes his story work. After this brief description, he doesn’t even try to go into the specifics of time travel, as he understands that that is not his domain. After introducing the reader to the loose concept, he takes off on a flight of fantasy into the future and paints a picture that one wouldn’t expect from a novel about the future.

You might be wondering what the Sphinx is doing on the cover of a Science Fiction book. But it has an important role to play. And don’t you just love this minimalistic cover?

The story is narrated by an inventor who travels into the future and comes back to relate his incredible story to his peers. It is much like the stories of Sindbad the Sailor, the only difference being that the traveler in this case travels to strange times instead of strange, hitherto unknown lands. The story is simple and gripping and just like all stories of exploration, it is filled with wonder and deep reflections on the nature of life and existence. In fact, the story actually opens with the time traveler questioning the very notion of finite existence and then going on to explain the necessity of it.

The story is wonderful and grim. It is at once a confirmation of the spirit of triumph and discovery that propels our civilization towards the future and of all our worst fears about the transitory nature of existence and the inevitable end of the world. But even though he makes this prophecy, H.G. Wells wraps it up in the reassuring realization that despite all our shortcomings, we as humans will hold on to our humanity and that alone will see us through.

A definite must read for all. Check out the excerpts (there might be some spoilers so tread carefully)

Tags: 130 challenge, book review, h g wells, science fiction, time machine, time travel