The War in the Air


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(4.2 stars; 59 reviews)

The War in the Air by H. G. Wells is a visionary exploration of the impact of aerial warfare on society and conflict. Set against the backdrop of a world on the brink of change, this novel delves into the implications of technology in warfare, as the skies become the new battleground.

Wells, known for his prescient insights, crafts a narrative that anticipates the use of airplanes in combat long before they became a reality in World War I. Through the eyes of his characters, readers witness the chaos and transformation brought about by this new form of warfare, raising questions about humanity's future in an age of machines.

With its blend of adventure and speculative fiction, The War in the Air stands out as a significant work that not only reflects the anxieties of its time but also serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of technological advancement in military strategy.

Chapters

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01 -- Ch 1, Parts 1-3 24:52 Read by Frank Booker
02 -- Ch 1, Parts 4-6 25:55 Read by Frank Booker
03 -- Ch 2, Parts 1 & 2 31:44 Read by Frank Booker
04 -- Ch 2, Parts 3-5 24:14 Read by Delmar H Dolbier
05 -- Ch 3, Parts 1-3 22:51 Read by Delmar H Dolbier
06 -- Ch 3, Parts 4 & 5 26:29 Read by Delmar H Dolbier
07 -- Ch 4, Parts 1 & 2 29:45 Read by William Tomcho
08 -- Ch 4, Parts 3-5 22:33 Read by William Tomcho
09 -- Ch 4, Parts 6-9 30:54 Read by William Tomcho
10 -- Ch 5, Parts 1-3 18:13 Read by Theresa Sheridan
11 -- Ch 5, Part 4 25:07 Read by Theresa Sheridan
12 -- Ch 5, Parts 5 & 6 14:48 Read by William Tomcho
13 -- Ch 6, Parts 1-3 22:47 Read by William Tomcho
14 -- Ch 6, Parts 4-6 32:05 Read by William Tomcho
15 -- Ch 7, Parts 1-3 19:25 Read by Fred DeBerardinis
16 -- Ch 7, Parts 4-6 19:26 Read by Fred DeBerardinis
17 -- Ch 7, Part 7 10:49 Read by Heather Hamtil
18 -- Ch 8, Parts 1 & 2 24:03 Read by William Tomcho
19 -- Ch 8, Parts 3-5 31:49 Read by William Tomcho
20 -- Ch 9, Parts 1-3 22:09 Read by William Tomcho
21 -- Ch 9, Parts 4-7 26:13 Read by William Tomcho
22 -- Ch 9, Parts 8-10 25:01 Read by William Tomcho
23 -- Ch 10, Parts 1 & 2 23:44 Read by William Tomcho
24 -- Ch 10, Parts 3-5 22:36 Read by William Tomcho
25 -- Ch 11, Parts 1-3 19:44 Read by Corinna Schultz
26 -- Ch 11, Parts 4 & 5 20:23 Read by Corinna Schultz
27 -- Epilogue 34:22 Read by Frank Booker

Reviews

A great post-apocalyptic novel.


(5 stars)

People talk about how accurately HG Wells predicted future combat, but other writers of the period had similar ideas. The unsung gem in this book is the way Wells describes how society collapses. He maps in detail a world where war sparks an economic disaster that turns out to be the main catastrophe.


(4 stars)

Enjoyable story interesting idea of airships and airplanes considering HG Wells wrote it in 1907 just four years after Wright Brothers first powered flight in 1903 and seven years before WWI 1914 the first war with major aviation air battles. A number of plot conveniences, make the story little weak at times. The world economic collapse after the war was an interesting part of the book. Not as good The Time Machine or War of the Worlds, but still worth the effort.

one of the first science fiction books


(5 stars)

An amazing and human look into what for us was an alternate past but to the author was a terrifying future.

COULD HAVE BEEN FAIRLY GOOD IF.......


(2.5 stars)

he had stuck to his story and foregone his usual claptrap about the evils of money and business, etc. His characters are most always wooden, but these were often a bit more realistic than his norm. Until chapter 11 it was a fairly interesting story, but he then reverted to his usual rantings and comments on economics (about which he understood absolutely nothing). No doubt he was ecstatic in 1929 when the great worldwide depression began!