A versatile
novelist whose work ranges from innovative science fiction through
to social realism, Wells was also the author of works on politics,
society and history. Many of his short stories deal with the
supernatural.
Novels
The
Wonderful Visit, Dent, 1895
The Rev Hilyer shoots what he believes to be a
flamigno but finds it to be an angel. It is only wounded, and
while being restored to health causes trouble on earth.
ditto, Macmillan (U.S.), 1895
The Sea
Lady: A Tissue of Moonshine, Methuen, 1902
A
mermaid comes to land in the hope of winning a young man.
ditto, Appleton (U.S.), 1902
The
Croquet Player, Chatto & Windus, 1936
In
Cainmarsh (which symbolises the state of Britain pre World War
Two) fear has overtaken the local population and they are falling
into violence and crime.
ditto, Viking (U.S.), 1937
Short Stories
The
Stolen Bacillus and Other Incidents, Methuen, 1895
(Includes: The Temptation of
Harringay: An artist finds a figure on his canvas comes to
life. It is the devil tempting him with an offer of creating
masterpieces in return for his soul. The Moth: A scientific fed
results in the death of one of the protagonists, and the other
then sees a spectacular moth which he believes to be the soul of
the dead scientist.)
The
Plattner Story and Others, Methuen, 1897
(Includes: The Plattner
Story: Plattner analyses a strange powder and an
explosion causes him to enter another world in which, along with
others (presumably the dead) can watch our world, but have no
influence on it. The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham: Old Mr Elvesham
tricks a poor student into swapping bodies. The
Apple: A student is offered an apple from a tree in the
garden of Eden, but he rejects it. Under the
Knife: While under the influence of anaesthetic a
patient has a vision of death. Pollock and the Porroh
Man: A trader's attentions to the wife of a medicine
man cause her death, and the medicine man tries to kill him as
well. When the trader has the man murdered he is visited by the
ghost. The Red Room: A young man sleeps in a
haunted room but does not believe it to be infected by a ghost but
by fear itself (often reprinted as "The Ghost of Fear".)
Thirty
Strange Stories, Edward Arnold (U.S.), 1897
(
Includes: The Plattner Story: Plattner analyses a strange
powder and an explosion causes him to enter another world in
which, along with others (presumably the dead) can watch our
world, but have no influence on it. The Story of the Late Mr
Elvesham: Old Mr Elvesham tricks a poor student into
swapping bodies. The Red Room: A young man sleeps in a
haunted room but does not believe it to be infected by a ghost but
by fear itself. The Moth: A scientific fed results in
the death of one of the protagonists, and the other then sees a
spectacular moth which he believes to be the soul of the dead
scientist. Under the Knife: While under the influence of
anaesthetic a patient has a vision of death. The
Apple: A student is offered an apple from a tree in the
garden of Eden, but he rejects it. Pollock and the Porroh
Man: A trader's attentions to the wife of a medicine
man cause her death, and the medicine man tries to kill him as
well. When the trader has the man murdered he is visited by the
ghost.)
Tales of
Space and Time, Harpers, 1900 [1899]
(Includes: The Man Who Could Work
Miracles: Humorous story of a man who discovers that he
can work miracles, and ultimately tries to stop the earth
turning.)
ditto, Doubleday (U.S.), 1899
Twelve
Stories and a Dream, Macmillan, 1903
(Including: The Magic Shop: A magic shop that
only certain people are able to enter. The Truth About
Pyecraft: Pyecraft hopes to loose weight by supernatural
means but the result is not what he hoped for. Mr Skelmersdale in
Fairyland: The protagonist had once managed to enter
fairyland and was rejected. He is unable to return.
The
Inexperienced Ghost: A ghost forgets how to return to the place of
the dead. The Stolen Body: Two young men attempt to
communicate via their astral bodies. A Dream of
Armageddon: The future revealed through dreams.)
ditto, Scribner's (U.S.), 1905
The Door
in the Wall and Other Stories, Grant Richards, [1911]
(Including:
The
Door in the Wall: A green door in a white wall has always offered
Wallace wonderful experiences, but he fears that it has been
closed to him. A Dream of Armageddon: The future revealed through
dreams.)
The
Country of The Blind, and Other Stories, Nelson, 1911
(Including:
The
Magic Shop: A magic shop that only certain people are able
to enter. The Moth: A scientific fed results in
the death of one of the protagonists, and the other then sees a
spectacular moth which he believes to be the soul of the dead
scientist. The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham: Old Mr Elvesham
tricks a poor student into swapping bodies. Under the
Knife: While under the influence of anaesthetic a
patient has a vision of death. The Red Room: A young man sleeps
in a haunted room but does not believe it to be infected by a
ghost but by fear itself. The Man Who Could Work
Miracles: Humorous story of a man who discovers that he
can work miracles, and ultimately tries to stop the earth turning.
A
Vision of Judgment: At the Last Judgement sinners take refuge in the
sleeve of God and end up living on a planet near Sirius.
The
Door in the Wall: A green door in a white wall has always offered
Wallace wonderful experiences, but he fears that it has been
closed to him.)
Boon: The
Mind of the Race, The Wild Asses of the Devil, and The Last
Trump, Unwin,
1915
(Including:
The
Wild Asses of the Devil. The Last Trump: The trumpet that is meant to
be used to herald the Day of Judgment turns up in a junk shop.
When it is played, just for an instant there is a glimpse of the
Day of Judgment.?
The Short
Stories of H.G. Wells, Ernest Benn, 1927
(Including: A Vision of
Judgment: At the Last Judgement sinners take refuge in the
sleeve of God and end up living on a planet near Sirius.
The
Door in the Wall: A green door in a white wall has always offered
Wallace wonderful experiences, but he fears that it has been
closed to him. The Temptation of Harringay: An artist finds a
figure on his canvas comes to life. It is the devil tempting him
with an offer of creating masterpieces in return for his soul.
A
Dream of Armageddon: The future revealed through dreams.
The
Moth: A scientific fed results in the death of one of
the protagonists, and the other then sees a spectacular moth which
he believes to be the soul of the dead scientist. The Plattner
Story: Plattner analyses a strange powder and an
explosion causes him to enter another world in which, along with
others (presumably the dead) can watch our world, but have no
influence on it. The Story of the Late Mr Elvesham: Old Mr Elvesham
tricks a poor student into swapping bodies. The
Apple: A student is offered an apple from a tree in the
garden of Eden, but he rejects it. Under the
Knife: While under the influence of anaesthetic a
patient has a vision of death. Pollock and the Porroh
Man: A trader's attentions to the wife of a medicine
man cause her death, and the medicine man tries to kill him as
well. When the trader has the man murdered he is visited by the
ghost. The Red Room: A young man sleeps in a
haunted room but does not believe it to be infected by a ghost but
by fear itself. The Magic Shop: A magic shop that only
certain people are able to enter. Mr Skelmersdale in
Fairyland: The protagonist had once managed to enter
fairyland and was rejected. He is unable to return.
The
Inexperienced Ghost: A ghost forgets how to return to the place of
the dead. The Stolen Body: Two young men attempt to
communicate via their astral bodies. The Man Who Could Work
Miracles: Humorous story of a man who discovers that he
can work miracles, and ultimately tries to stop the earth turning.
The
Truth About Pyecraft: Pyecraft hopes to loose weight by supernatural
means but the result is not what he hoped for. The Story of the
Last Trump: The trumpet that is meant to be used to herald
the Day of Judgment turns up in a junk shop. When it is played,
just for an instant there is a glimpse of the Day of
Judgment.)
Turnstile
One,
Turnstile Press, 1948
(Including: Answer to
Prayer: Borderline supernatural.)
The Man
With a Nose,
Athlone Press, 1984
(Including: Answer to
Prayer: Borderline supernatural. The Devotee of
Art: A precursor of "The Temptation of Harringay.
The
Presence by the Fire: Rationalised supernatural story. The New
Faust. The Wild Asses of the Devil.)
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