A Timeless Classic That Confirmed My Genre Preferences
Joining Discord reading groups has pushed me to venture outside my comfort zone, leading me to H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine. This read taught me two things: I finally understand why this is a classic, and I’ve confirmed that science fiction is simply not for me.
The novella is exceptionally well-written and thoroughly gripping—a true “all or nothing” experience. I found myself unable to put it down, finishing the entire story in a single sitting. Wells offers a haunting vision of the future; rather than a hopeful evolution, he presents a bleak society fractured by a permanent class divide. The Eloi, a privileged and frail upper class, live above ground, while the Morlocks, the subterranean working class, toil in the dark. It is a chilling social commentary suggesting that class division is so ingrained in humanity that it persists even after all other traces of civilization have faded.
What elevates the narrative is the third-person limited perspective, which subtly encourages the reader to question the Time Traveler’s reliability. While the epilogue hints at the story’s legitimacy, the truth is ultimately left to the reader’s interpretation. Despite its brilliance as a social critique, the genre didn’t resonate with me. It is an easy, “light” entry into sci-fi, but since the genre isn’t my cup of tea, I’m giving it 2.5 stars.
