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- Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
- Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
- Sprache: Englisch
In "What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War," H. G. Wells delves into the future possibilities shaped by the aftermath of World War I, combining speculative fiction with incisive social commentary. The book is written in Wells' characteristic prophetic style, melding vivid imagination with a deep understanding of societal dynamics. He grapples with themes of technological advancement, political upheaval, and the human condition, ultimately painting a complex portrait of potential futures that echo the fears and hopes of a world emerging from conflict. H. G. Wells, often referred to as the father of science fiction, was profoundly influenced by the tumultuous events of his time, including both World Wars. His experiences and observations prompted him to explore not only the scientific advancements brought about by the conflict but also the ethical and philosophical questions they raised. His unique perspective as a social critic and a futurist enabled him to analyze the impact of war on humanity's trajectory, leading to a compelling narrative about progress and peril. Readers seeking to explore profound questions about society and the future will find "What is Coming?" an essential addition to their literary repertoire. Wells' insights resonate deeply today, offering valuable reflections on our own turbulent times and challenging us to envision the world that lies ahead. In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience: - A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes. - The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists. - A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing. - An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text. - A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings. - Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life. - Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance. - Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
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Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019
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What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War
Table of Contents
Introduction
In 'What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War', H. G. Wells embarks on an introspective exploration of the future post-conflict world. This collection serves as a significant commentary on the societal and technological changes that swiftly transpired during and after the World Wars. Wells examines the repercussions of warfare on humanity and civilization, striving to illuminate possible paths forward for a world seeking restoration and progress. This anthology encapsulates Wells' vision as both a prophet and critic, undertaking a prophetic journey into a realm of potential futures shaped by the frailty of human choices.
The collection embraces diverse genres, primarily focusing on essays that articulate Wells's speculative visions and insightful critiques. Each work, while rooted in its distinct genre, contributes to a cohesive dialogue on the pressing issues of their day. Wells’s writings often delve into socio-political themes and philosophical inquiries about human progress, technology’s role, and the moral responsibilities of society. These essays invite the reader to ponder the implications of the predicted changes on human life, echoing Wells's affinity for both science and art in his reflections.
A unifying theme throughout this anthology is the exploration of the tension between utopian aspirations and dystopian realities. Wells presents an optimistic vision of human potential while recognizing the darker consequences that technological and political advancements may entail. The stylistic hallmark of Wells's prose lies in its vivid imagery and persuasive rhetoric, coupled with a deep sense of urgency regarding the future. His ability to weave narrative and argument into a single coherent thread ensures that these works endure as critical touchstones in understanding historical shifts and the future's ambiguity.
Wells addresses the complexities and challenges presented by the aftermath of war, particularly how humanity can navigate collective fears and aspirations. His perspectives on governance, industry, and social responsibility resonate with readers across generations, making these essays not just relevant but essential. By engaging with Wells's contemplations, readers will grapple with timeless questions about morality and progress, which remain as vital today as they were in his time.
The essays herein explore various locales, such as Braintree and Bocking, where Wells paints a microcosmic reflection of broader societal shifts. In 'BRAINTREE, BOCKING, AND THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD,' Wells utilizes his hometown as a platform to theorize about the transformation of community and identity under the pressures of modernity. His local descriptors heighten the immediacy of his arguments, prompting readers to reflect on their communal ties and the evolving nature of their environments in an ever-globalizing world.
In 'FORECASTING THE FUTURE,' Wells presents a formidable analysis of forthcoming scientific and societal advancements. Through his forecast, he critiques the deterministic views that often accompany progress, arguing instead for a nuanced understanding of potential futures. His prescient insights into political upheaval and ethical implications aligned with scientific discoveries resonate poignantly. This essay reflects Wells's core belief that understanding trends and their ramifications is crucial for shaping a desirable and equitable future.
The collection also delves into journalistic endeavors, as exhibited in 'LAWYER AND PRESS,' where Wells scrutinizes the influence of media on public perception and legal processes. This examination underscores the criticality of responsible journalism and its potential to shape or distort societal narratives. Wells's incisive observations about the press's role in a democracy highlight the ethical dimensions of information dissemination, inviting readers to critically engage with contemporary media landscapes.
In 'THE NEW MAP OF EUROPE,' Wells articulates his vision of a reconfigured continent following the War's upheaval. His compelling geopolitical analysis emphasizes the necessity for restructuring alliances and borders to foster cooperation and avert further conflict. Here, Wells underscores the fragility of human constructs in the face of historical tides and paints a hopeful picture of reconciliation and unity among nations, encouraging a forward-thinking mindset that seeks peaceful coexistence.
The essay '“THE WHITE MAN'S BURTHEN”' confronts the moral dilemmas of imperialism and the responsibilities of the colonizer. Wells deftly dissects the justifications for colonial actions, critiquing the paternalistic mindset that underpinned imperial ventures. Through this critical lens, he challenges readers to examine the ethical complexities of empire and their lasting impact on both colonizers and the colonized, fostering deeper awareness of historical injustices and their contemporary echoes.
Wells's use of speculative fiction as a commentary tool invites readers to envision futures both promising and perilous. His essays function as explorative dialogues rather than prescriptive narratives, urging readers to engage actively with the themes presented. Through his visionary lens, Wells encourages a recognition of the interconnectedness of human actions and their potential ripple effects across time and space, creating a rich tapestry of inquiry for readers to navigate.
A salient aspect of this collection is the multifaceted approach Wells employs, melding personal discovery with collective contemplation. His insights often stem from personal experiences, as seen in his autobiographical reflections intertwined with broader societal critiques. This approach fosters an intimate reader connection, as they traverse both Wells's personal journey and the wider historical landscape he inhabits, underscoring how individual narratives are shaped by and shape collective history.
The interplay of optimism and caution framed in Wells's work reflects enduring concerns about technological advancements and their ethical implications. His ability to project future scenarios, while questioning their repercussions, prompts readers to consider their agency in shaping what lies ahead. Wells's prophetic voice continually challenges conventions, invigorating discourse about progress and its discontents in a world where change is increasingly rapid and multifaceted.
All works included in this collection underscore Wells's monumental contributions to literature and social thought. The essays provoke inquiry while simultaneously offering rich insights rooted in historical context. As both a visionary and critic, Wells's overarching narrative compels readers not only to reflect upon the past but also to engage thoughtfully with the world's evolving landscape, an enduring pursuit of knowledge and understanding across generations.
The significance of 'What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War' extends beyond its temporal context, inviting readers from various backgrounds to resonate with themes of change and adaptation. In an ever-evolving world marked by complexities, Wells’s contemplations resonate as profoundly relevant, prompting reflection on past lessons while daring to imagine future possibilities. His works encourage an active engagement with the social fabric that binds us all.
As readers venture through the pages of this anthology, they will find a repository of wisdom and foresight, enriched by Wells's incisive intellect and evocative style. Each essay serves as a stepping stone into deeper reflections on societal progress and moral accountability, illuminating pathways previously obscured by the tumult of history. The multi-dimensional analysis offered in these essays inspires a comprehensive understanding of humanity's resilience and creativity amidst challenges.
In conclusion, this meticulously curated collection offers an unparalleled opportunity to engage with H. G. Wells's thoughts on the future, making it a compelling addition to any literary or social commentary library. By traversing the folds of societal critique and speculative foresight, this anthology beckons readers to embrace the uncomfortable yet necessary conversations about the world we inhabit. Wells’s prophetic insights urge us to reflect upon our present and actively shape our collective destiny.
As you explore 'What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War,' you are invited to immerse yourself in the nuanced conversations Wells artfully orchestrates. This collection not only serves as a historical archive of thought in a turbulent era but also stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of his insights. Journey through his essays, and consider how they may illuminate issues that persist today, shaping your understanding of history, responsibility, and the unpredictable paths of the future.
Historical Context
H. G. Wells emerged as a prominent figure in the literary and intellectual landscape of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by profound transformation. The Industrial Revolution had reshaped society, driving rapid urbanization and the expansion of a global economy. As the world entered the 20th century, technological innovations spurred new ideologies that questioned traditional social structures and imagined alternative futures. Wells, a keen observer and critic, engaged with these themes in his work, offering readers a lens through which to reflect on the changes brought by both progress and conflict.
The First World War served as a crucial backdrop for his reflections on politics and society. Far more than a clash of armies, the conflict embodied the forces of nationalism, imperial rivalry and entangled alliances. As nations mobilized for total war, established hierarchies were upended and the prospect of sweeping reforms took shape. In his wartime essays, Wells examined how such upheavals might transform human relationships, political institutions and the moral frameworks of post-war society.
The interwar years witnessed immense social upheaval and a widespread reassessment of accepted norms. A growing labor movement pressed for workers’ rights, and women’s contributions during the conflict accelerated demands for political and economic equality. At the same time, the rise of fascist and authoritarian regimes fostered fear of renewed aggression. Wells responded by advocating reforms in governance and social organization, drawing on his progressive convictions to call for more just and equitable systems.
In the cultural realm, early 20th-century Modernism challenged conventional narratives across literature, visual art and philosophy. Writers and thinkers explored new forms of expression to capture the tensions between reality and idealism. Wells participated in these debates as a novelist and social commentator, contemplating the effects of rapid technological change on individual identity, gender roles and international relations.
Throughout his essays and fiction, Wells scrutinized imperialism and colonial practice. He criticized the moral justifications offered for empire and highlighted the ethical implications of domination and exploitation. At a time when European powers were extending their reach around the globe, his work contributed to a growing awareness of the injustices inherent in colonial rule and invited readers to consider paths toward decolonization and global cooperation.
The rise of the social sciences—exemplified by Emile Durkheim’s study of social facts and Max Weber’s analyses of authority—provided new tools for examining societal structures. These developments influenced Wells’s approach, encouraging him to apply sociological and historical insights to questions of war, governance and technological progress. He believed that rational inquiry could chart a course away from conflict and toward a fairer social order.
As a pioneer of speculative fiction, Wells blended imaginative scenarios with interdisciplinary research. His narratives addressed both the promises and perils of scientific and industrial advances, inviting readers to weigh moral considerations alongside technical possibilities. This approach helped establish science fiction as a means of exploring how innovation might reshape human destiny.
The growth of mass communication—through newspapers, magazines, radio and film—transformed public discourse during Wells’s lifetime. He observed how rapidly circulating information could influence political opinion and social behavior, warning of the dangers posed by sensationalism and propaganda. His articles and lectures urged conscientious engagement with emerging media to foster informed citizenship.
In the aftermath of the First World War, Wells proposed reconceiving Europe’s borders and institutions to reflect both national aspirations and the need for collective security. Drawing on the principle that international dialogue offered the best bulwark against renewed conflict, he supported the formation of the League of Nations and urged nations to subordinate narrow interests to common welfare.
The devastation of trench warfare prompted widespread disillusionment with heroic nationalism. Wells captured this mood by depicting the fragility of civilization and the moral urgency of post-war reconstruction. He argued that humanity stood at a crossroads: it could advance toward enlightenment and social justice or lapse into renewed barbarism.
Political debates over socialism and communism further shaped his thinking. Initially sympathetic to calls for radical economic reform, Wells later expressed concern about centralized authority and the risk of new forms of oppression. His nuanced position underscored both the necessity of systemic change and the importance of safeguarding individual liberty.
Economic dislocation after the war intensified labor struggles across Europe and North America. Wells advocated for an economy grounded in cooperation and human welfare rather than unbridled profit. His essays called for policies to improve living standards, reduce inequality and foster international trade governed by fair regulations.
Advances in military technology—tanks, aircraft and chemical agents—led Wells to reflect on the ethical dimensions of scientific progress. He emphasized that inventions born of necessity in wartime could have peacetime applications but also raised profound moral questions. His forecasts urged societies to harness technology responsibly, promoting peace rather than destruction.
New currents in philosophy and social thought, including American pragmatism and progressive reform movements, resonated with Wells’s vision of flexible governance. Influenced by thinkers such as John Dewey, he championed adaptive institutions capable of responding to changing circumstances and advancing public welfare.
Finally, Wells grappled with broader questions of human nature and destiny. While acknowledging the influence of social Darwinist ideas in his milieu, he rejected deterministic interpretations and affirmed humanity’s capacity for empathy, creativity and moral progress. His writings underscored the responsibility of individuals and societies to shape a better future.
His 1916 collection What is Coming? A Forecast of Things after the War reflects this deep engagement with the era’s historical, cultural and intellectual currents. Addressing themes from imperialism to technological ethics, from class struggle to international cooperation, Wells invited readers to take an active role in building a world guided by humanitarian values and collective foresight.
Author Biography
Introduction
H. G. Wells (1866–1946) was an English writer whose innovations helped define modern science fiction and whose social novels and nonfiction made him a leading public intellectual. His early scientific romances—The Time Machine, The Island of Doctor Moreau, The Invisible Man, and The War of the Worlds—married speculative ideas to pointed social critique. He later wrote realist fiction such as Kipps and Tono-Bungay, and ambitious surveys like The Outline of History. Beyond literature, he engaged debates about education, democracy, and the future of civilization. Prolific, argumentative, and imaginative, Wells shaped popular understandings of science and progress while warning about their ethical and political costs.
Education and Literary Influences
Born into modest circumstances in England, Wells spent part of his youth as a draper's apprentice and pupil-teacher before winning a scholarship in the mid-1880s to the Normal School of Science in South Kensington (later part of Imperial College). There he studied biology under T. H. Huxley, absorbing a rigorous, evidence-based approach and the implications of Darwinian evolution. Although financial pressures and ill health interrupted his formal studies, he taught in schools and tutored while writing. He later obtained a Bachelor of Science degree through the University of London's external examinations, grounding his literary imagination in contemporary scientific knowledge and pedagogy.
Wells’s intellectual formation owed much to Huxley’s scientific naturalism and to the broad cultural impact of Darwin. He read widely in sociology and political economy, and he engaged with the Fabian Society’s debates about gradualist social reform. He was aware of, and sometimes contrasted with, Jules Verne; yet his own work pursued speculative biology, time, and social evolution rather than engineering adventure. Utopian and dystopian traditions, from Thomas More to nineteenth-century reform literature, provided frameworks he recast for industrial modernity. This mixture of scientific method, social observation, and reformist argument became the signature matrix of his fiction and essays.
Literary Career
After short stories and journalism in the 1890s, Wells's breakthrough came with The Time Machine, first published in the mid-1890s. The book framed time travel as a scientific conceit to explore class division, entropy, and the fragility of civilization. It inaugurated what he called scientific romances—concise narratives that combined lucid exposition with fable-like clarity. Readers were struck by the brisk pacing and the cool, reportorial tone, while critics noted the satirical edge beneath the apparatus of wonder. The novel’s success established Wells as a major writer and gave him a platform to extend speculative fiction into new conceptual terrain.
He sustained this momentum with a sequence of influential novels: The Island of Doctor Moreau on vivisection and human-animal boundaries; The Invisible Man on isolation, power, and scientific hubris; and The War of the Worlds, an invasion narrative that turned imperial logic back upon Britain. The First Men in the Moon explored extraterrestrial society and the economics of expansion. These books showcased his gift for embedding social and ethical inquiry within arresting premises. They were widely read, sometimes controversial, and quickly adapted or imitated. Their compact style, accessible science, and moral urgency set patterns that later science fiction would repeatedly revisit.
Alongside speculative fiction, Wells wrote realist and satirical novels about English life and mobility: Kipps, Tono-Bungay, The History of Mr Polly, and Ann Veronica. These works examined class barriers, education, and personal freedom, and they provoked debate for their treatment of social conventions. His nonfiction ranged from Anticipations and A Modern Utopia to The New Machiavelli, moving between forecasting, polemic, and institutional critique. After the First World War he published The Outline of History, a sweeping synthesis for general readers that became an international bestseller. The project broadened his audience and intensified arguments with scholars and polemicists over method and interpretation.
Wells also engaged directly with contemporary events and the new media ecology. Mr Britling Sees It Through captured wartime anxieties and home-front experience. The World Set Free imagined atomic weapons released by chain reactions, a forecast later noted for its eerie prescience. The Shape of Things to Come and its cinematic adaptation, Things to Come, blended narrative with speculative planning for a reorganized world. Orson Welles’s 1938 American radio dramatization of The War of the Worlds underscored his continuing cultural reach. He reflected on his path in Experiment in Autobiography, assessing both his literary methods and his public interventions.
Beliefs and Advocacy
Wells identified as a socialist reformer from early in his career. He participated in debates around the Fabian Society but grew critical of gradualist tactics, urging instead a more assertive, scientifically informed program of social transformation. He promoted education, public health, and expanded opportunities as engines of emancipation. The Open Conspiracy articulated his vision of a rationally coordinated world commonwealth arising from organized, international cooperation. Throughout, he argued that experts and democratic institutions should harness science to reduce poverty and insecurity. His novels and essays returned to the theme that social systems, not innate fate, shape human possibilities.
Internationalism anchored Wells’s activism. During the First World War he popularized the phrase the war that will end war while scrutinizing nationalism’s destructiveness. In the interwar decades he traveled, wrote Russia in the Shadows about early Soviet conditions, and later interviewed Joseph Stalin, assessing from the outside the promises and perils of planned economies. As fascism rose, he denounced dictatorship and racialism, arguing for a globally coordinated peace and open knowledge. Works such as The New World Order and related essays sketched institutional reforms oriented toward world security, economic planning, and civil liberties, even as he remained skeptical of realpolitik.
Wells’s confidence in science coexisted with stark warnings about its misuse. His fiction dramatized ethical boundaries—vivisection in The Island of Doctor Moreau, invisibility’s temptations in The Invisible Man—and treated progress as morally contingent. Like some reformers of his era, he entertained ideas about population and heredity that are now regarded as deeply problematic; later writings increasingly stressed welfare, education, and rights-based arguments. He supported women’s autonomy and criticized sexual double standards, themes evident in Ann Veronica and in essays on social reform. Consistently, he defended inquiry and expression as preconditions for intelligent, humane public life.
Final Years & Legacy
By the late 1930s and during the Second World War, Wells’s tone grew more somber. The Fate of Homo Sapiens and The Rights of Man examined the crisis of civilization; The New World Order revisited his case for global governance under democratic control. In The Mind at the End of Its Tether he voiced radical pessimism about humanity’s prospects. Despite declining health, he continued to publish and comment from London. He died in the mid-1940s in London. Contemporary obituaries acknowledged both his storytelling brilliance and his restless role as a social critic, emphasizing his capacity to fuse ideas with narrative.
Wells’s long-term impact is profound. With Jules Verne he is often named as a founder of modern science fiction, having established templates for time travel, alien invasion, and scientific catastrophe that underwrite countless novels, films, and games. The Outline of History influenced popular historical understanding for decades. His scenarios have been repeatedly adapted for radio, cinema, and television, ensuring intergenerational visibility. Later writers and critics, including George Orwell, engaged his ambitions, sometimes sharply, underscoring the breadth of his influence. Today, Wells remains central to discussions of technology’s promise and peril, and to literature that links speculation with social critique.
Synopsis (Selection)
FORECASTING THE FUTURE
This work explores the potential trajectories of human society post-war, emphasizing the importance of foresight in political, social, and technological developments.
BRAINTREE, BOCKING, AND THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD
In this piece, Wells examines the localities of Braintree and Bocking as microcosms, using them as illustrative examples of broader societal trends and the impact of war on community life.
LAWYER AND PRESS
Wells analyzes the evolving relationship between the legal profession and journalism, discussing the implications of media influence on public opinion and justice in the aftermath of conflict.
THE NEW MAP OF EUROPE
This essay presents a reimagining of Europe’s political landscape following the war, focusing on the necessity of new borders and alliances to promote stability and peace.
"THE WHITE MAN'S BURTHEN"
Wells critiques the historical justification of colonialism and imperialism, questioning the moral and ethical responsibilities of the 'white man' towards colonized nations in a rapidly changing world.
