Science fiction · Classics
The War of the Worlds
A narrator in Victorian England watches cylinders fall from Mars and unleash towering war machines on the countryside. He tries to survive and find his wife as the army fails and society falls apart.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1898
- Pace
- Fast
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 245
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want the original alien-invasion story, told with a grim, documentary calm.
Skip this if you want a heroic resistance, since the narrator mostly hides, watches and endures.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about The War of the Worlds
- What is The War of the Worlds about?
- A narrator in Victorian England watches cylinders fall from Mars and unleash towering war machines on the countryside. He tries to survive and find his wife as the army fails and society falls apart.
- Who should read The War of the Worlds?
- Read it if you want the original alien-invasion story, told with a grim, documentary calm. Skip it if you want a heroic resistance, since the narrator mostly hides, watches and endures.
- How long and how fast is The War of the Worlds?
- It is a fast-paced, short read of about 245 pages, first published in 1898.
- Does The War of the Worlds have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death, Violence, War.
- Can I borrow The War of the Worlds for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The War of the Worlds; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The War of the Worlds?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Time Machine, The Andromeda Strain, The Three-Body Problem.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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If you loved The War of the Worlds
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The Time Machine
The same author's other short classic, with a similar mix of ideas and quiet dread.
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The Andromeda Strain A scientific, procedural take on a threat from space that spreads before anyone understands it.
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The Three-Body Problem A modern, far larger story about the dread of knowing something is coming from the stars.
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