The World Set Free

By H.G. Wells

In this chilling science fiction novel by H.G. Wells, rich and powerful men wage the ultimate war "to end all wars". Published in 1914, The World Set Free was ahead of its time, telling the story of how newly-acquired nuclear weapons led to warfare between nations.

In the book, Wells explores how social and moral dilemmas can result in self-destruction and chaos before eventually leading to solutions that create a unique utopia. Even today, this classic novel speaks to the challenges society faces due to the rise of science and technology.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
• Release date: Mar 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398832800

H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells is considered by many to be the father of science fiction. He was the author of numerous classics such as The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The War of the Worlds, and many more. 

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Reviews for The World Set Free

[krizia_lazaro_3 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the free copy in return for a review. This is my first H.G. Wells novel. I chose it because of all the good things I heard about HG Wells. Before reading the book, I did some research and found out that H.G. Wells predicted the invention of the atomic bomb and the destruction it brings. At under 200 pages, this was supposed to be an easy read but it was not. It was slow paced and there was no real protagonist. It was a weird book and I was really bored. It took me several days to finish. I think I am not the audience for this book. Despite this, I still hope for the future that this book foresee.

[danielstj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a fairly decent book by H.G Wells. Many of the nightmarish scenario qualities that inhabit this universe are relatable to our modern era and that makes the book less aged and dated than some of the language would make it seem. This is a book focused on its plot, setting, and the implications that it raises instead of its characters. This is the power of the tale, but also its detraction. Overall, a fairly good read for those interested in Wells' science fiction.3 stars.

[pamkaye · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I really did not enjoy reading this book. I like the classics most of the time. But The World Set Free was boring, slow moving, and uninteresting. I'm not generally a fan of war novels, so that may have a small bit to do with my review.

[kurt.rocourt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Similar to Starship Troopers but written well before it. This is a story about what could be or could not be when governments decide to work together instead of against each other. Also an idea of what could have happened if World War 1 could have been avoided.

[randystafford · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My reactions to reading this novel in 1996. Spoilers follow.“Introduction”, Brian Aldiss -- Introduction that emphasizes that Wells’ claim to being a prophet (a reputation he garnered in his day) rests on his prediction of atomic warfare in this novel and tanks in “The Land Ironclads”. The technological inspiration came from the work of Frederick Soddy who won a 1921 Nobel Prize for radioactive chemistry. Soddy wrote a popular account of his work in 1909. Aldiss points out the technical flaws of story construction and character in the novel.The World Set Free, H. G. Wells -- This novel gets much credit for being the first sf story to depict atomic warfare. Wells certainly shows warfare of incredible destructiveness and long lingering effects, but those effects are not from radioactivity but from continuous explosions, in effect perpetual volcanoes where the bombs land. I’m not sure if this accurately reflects the scientific opinion of the day. Still, like atomic warfare in our day, the introduction of the weapon produces social change, massive social change since the weapons are used promiscuously and, like Wells’ The Shape of Things to Come (which I know only from the film not the novel), a new social order – created and maintained by an elite group. If the descriptions of atomic warfare were not totally prescient, this may be the first sf novel to feature the atomic powered future (including cars and planes) that was common in sf until the 1960s. Here the atomic engines even have the side effect of producing gold which ruins Earth’s economy. This is Wells’ attempt to write a mosaic (in the sense of no central characters who take us all the way through the story) future history starting with chapter one which I liked a great deal. It details the history of Man’s growing sentience and increasing use of nature’s energy to better his life. This chapter also glosses man’s social inventions to tame his animal nature. Essentially, that is the typical Wellsian theme of this book. Man has outgrown his social inventions, including the legal system and capitalism. Wells’ replacement is, of course, his notion of a World State with socialism, scientific research, central planning, the “Dawn of Love”, and ruled by self-appointed elite (here seen taking decisive to round up stray nukes). His narrative strategy – memoirs, multiple viewpoint characters (including a central section dealing with the war and its tactics – Wells, author of the wargaming text Little Wars was interested in such things) – is more interesting than the usual (for his later sf) Wells’ story of society transformed from contemporary corruption and archaism (to Wells) to a utopia. King Egbert is implausibly good. “The Slavic fox” is plausibly bad and interesting. (The social prescriptions of this novel are thinner than Wells' A Modern Utopia.) There is some other prescience in this novel. Written before WWI and Woodrow Wilson’s intervention, this novel has the American president usher in the new world. Wells’ is enthusiastic about Americans saying that have a “gigantic childishness”, that they are a “simple peoples by whom the world was saved." Wells, advocator of “Free Love” seems to, in the last chapter, view sex as a young person’s distraction from the “eternal search for knowledge” (a reprise of the search for the sun mentioned in the title of the first chapter). The whole chapter is a plea to go beyond the sexual differentiation in humans (and Wells throws in one of his critiques of women and their fashions).

[ohernaes · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Wells comes off a quite short-sighted in this book, e.g. by describing unemployment among coal workers as a big problem when a cheap, new power supply (nuclear energy) becomes available, not considering that this new power supply could be a net benefit also to these workers. Maybe his position is actually more subtle, but I did not finish the book.

[elpaca · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A reiteration if you will of Wells' classic theme: the price a country, culture, people has to pay as technology advances into the unknown future. I wouldn't really call this a novel, it's almost like Wells is writing-contemplating-focusing on the unleashed and unbridled use of science for war, without developing characters or a standard plot.

[phlll_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

One of my least favorite of the Wells books I've read so far.

The plot moves very slow, and I have a hard time imagining people dropping "atomic bombs" from biplanes, knowing how powerful they truly are... not that the author could really be faulted for imagining bombs weaker than they really turned out to be.

It just really wasn't my bag. There are much better examples of Wells to enjoy, and I'm not just talking "War of the Worlds."

[dadbrazelton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the first of the book because he showed an amazing understanding of human nature. I must admit that I did not quite finish the book. I got bored with it.