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The Martian War
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Plot Summary of The Martian War
": A Thrilling Eyewitness Account of the Recent Alien Invasion As Reported By Mr. H.G. Wells
Gabriel Mesta
Pocket, Apr 2005, $23.00, 272 pp.
ISBN: 0743446399

In 1894 at London's Normal School of Science elderly biology Professor T.H. Huxley and his young protégé H.G. Wells observe a meteor shower with plenty of enthusiasm. While watching the display they discuss life on other worlds specifically arid colder Mars leading Huxley to conclude with a “war of the worlds” comment.

Huxley decides that Wells has the needed intelligence and imagination to understand that live Martians are on the red planet. He introduces his student and Wells wife Amy Catherine (“Jane”) Robbins to the wonders of the Britain's Imperial Institute, where he meets Dr. Hawley Griffin working on invisibility, Dr. Moreau and astronomer Percival Lowell who have sent a message to Mars. However, Wells, Jane and Huxley are accidentally propelled into space where they meet the Martians and learn how the hive-mind Selenites were enslaved. On Mars, the three earthlings cause a Selenite revolt and unleash disease on the water system of Mars. Desperate for water, the Martians turn to Earth.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Martian War
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%




Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - science fiction story
Political power play Yes
Political plotlets - overthrowing govt/kingdom
If an invasion, from Earth/human POV: - fighting overt invasion (attacking aliens)
War or Invasion Yes
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book

Main Character
Identity: - Male
Profession/status: - scientist
Age: - 20's-30's
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - an entire race
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Which planet? - Mars
Not Earth, in Solar System? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
scientific jargon? (SF only) - some scientific explanation
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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