The Time Machine is an excellent book, well written and thoroughly gripping. This book is truly an all or nothing read, because once you start reading you simply cannot put it down. The book covers some interesting social topics as well as providing a vision for the future, but not necessarily one of hope. What makes the story so interesting is the third person limited point of view, which forces the reader to question the legitimacy of the story. The epilogue does provide a reassurance that perhaps the events did occur, but it is ultimately up to the reader to decide.
The idea of time travel has always been the dizziest day dream of scientists and writers alike. H. G. Wells takes a stab at the idea with a take that is not altogether outlandish but perhaps original. H. G. Well’s vision of the future is one of a bleak society divided by a deep class divide. There are the Eloi, the privileged upper class, and the Morlocks, the underworld workers, who slave away for the bettering of the life of the Eloi. This class divide shows an interesting vision of the future, and is an interesting comment on the time that the author is writing in. This story leads one to believe that the division of classes is natural, and will still be retained when all other facets of humanity have faded. The author mentions multiple times that all facets of humanity have fallen away as time as progressed, because we no longer need them. While the year 802,701 is rather far away, this is not a promising ideal.
The story is gripping, easily digested, and a light entrance into the Sci-Fi genre. There is very little about this story that is worth criticizing, and overall it is simply an excellent read.
