H. G. Wells Books

Chris Mould’s War of the Worlds, inspired by the classic science-fiction story by H.G. Wells, is a stunning illustrated novel designed to introduce the younger generation to this timeless story of aliens and adventure.

War of the Worlds is set in the late 1800s, where our young hero, Leon, witnesses the arrival of strange extra-terrestrial pods from space. The excitement of the people swiftly turns to horror as giant metallic creatures emerge, wreaking havoc, destruction and death on anyone and anything that gets in their way. Leon records this invasion through jottings and sketches, whilst trying to find a way to stop the monsters and keep his loved ones safe.

The story is ‘inspired by’ Wells’ original tale and has been significantly reduced and simplified for a younger audience, but the essence of the story has been captured. Whilst this is described as a graphic novel, there is quite a lot of text among the graphic panels, and we might argue whether this is actually more of a heavily illustrated novel. Essentially,  Mould’s distinctive illustrative style suits the story beautifully and easily captures the imagination of even the most reluctant reader.

Similar to his Iron Man book, Mould has taken a beloved classic and stylistically brought it back to life. I would strongly recommend this to those introducing their pupils to some older classic novels, or reluctant readers who can have a break from reading text to study the incredible and detailed pictures.